1961 Sunliner Travels nearly 10,000 miles with NO Engine
This story is still in editing
SCENIC GALAXIELAND NEWS
Hello everyone,
It has been a wet summer here in northeastern NC. The events have about wound down for 2013 with the Carolina Auto Fair in Raleigh on November 15th, 16th, &17th.
As most know by now Fireball Roberts, Florida's NASCAR hero was nominated for the Hall of Fame and will be inducted in Charlotte, on January 29th, 2014. The decision as to which car would represent him for the year has been made. As much as we would like a Ford to be there, the 1962 Pontiac that was from his winning and record breaking season will be in the HoF.
Imagine one of today's stars in any February, winning the annual NASCAR season opening "Shoot Out" at Daytona which kicks off the speed week, winning one of the twin 150 mile Daytona 500 qualifying races, winning the Daytona 500 pole, and winning the Daytona 500, all in one week. To top it off, coming back to Daytona and winning the July Coke ZERO 400 event. BUT, imagine it in the EXACT SAME CAR. It is impossible for that to happen in today's NASCAR racing world with the rules, engine risks, and so on, but Fireball DID it, all in 1962...all in a Pontiac. Jimmy Kellet of Laurens, SC a dear friend of the family owns the car and when the HoF staff made the decision NOT to use the Talladega museum car that is in deteriorated condition, I personally was called by their historian and got to make the call to Jimmy and pop the question of the Pontiac availability.
Back to the Fords, most also know of the 1963 Galaxie painted in 1956 Lincoln Premier factory color of Wysteria...a NASCAR tribute car built in 2006 by race pioneer Olin Hopes and owned the late Harold Reeves, both Daytona natives. This car was in tribute to Fireball's 1963 follow up Firecracker win at Daytona, after the year before previously mentioned. 1963 was the first year the race was 400 miles, from 250 miles. Harold was there 50 years ago this past July for Fireball's Daytona win and his dream was to build his hero's car... and he did. After his passing in 2012, it was sold after months of anticipation, to yours truly.
Took the car to Dawsonville, Ga for the annual event there in October, which was a blast. The car won the best race car display award, which was a surprise. Will be doing a few more Fireball tribute events with it in 2014, starting with Daytona Speed Weeks in February.
Looking forward to other non race events as well. with many in this area also. That will do it for this lap, and as always. Galaxies are "XL" 'lent.
It has been a wet summer here in northeastern NC. The events have about wound down for 2013 with the Carolina Auto Fair in Raleigh on November 15th, 16th, &17th.
As most know by now Fireball Roberts, Florida's NASCAR hero was nominated for the Hall of Fame and will be inducted in Charlotte, on January 29th, 2014. The decision as to which car would represent him for the year has been made. As much as we would like a Ford to be there, the 1962 Pontiac that was from his winning and record breaking season will be in the HoF.
Imagine one of today's stars in any February, winning the annual NASCAR season opening "Shoot Out" at Daytona which kicks off the speed week, winning one of the twin 150 mile Daytona 500 qualifying races, winning the Daytona 500 pole, and winning the Daytona 500, all in one week. To top it off, coming back to Daytona and winning the July Coke ZERO 400 event. BUT, imagine it in the EXACT SAME CAR. It is impossible for that to happen in today's NASCAR racing world with the rules, engine risks, and so on, but Fireball DID it, all in 1962...all in a Pontiac. Jimmy Kellet of Laurens, SC a dear friend of the family owns the car and when the HoF staff made the decision NOT to use the Talladega museum car that is in deteriorated condition, I personally was called by their historian and got to make the call to Jimmy and pop the question of the Pontiac availability.
Back to the Fords, most also know of the 1963 Galaxie painted in 1956 Lincoln Premier factory color of Wysteria...a NASCAR tribute car built in 2006 by race pioneer Olin Hopes and owned the late Harold Reeves, both Daytona natives. This car was in tribute to Fireball's 1963 follow up Firecracker win at Daytona, after the year before previously mentioned. 1963 was the first year the race was 400 miles, from 250 miles. Harold was there 50 years ago this past July for Fireball's Daytona win and his dream was to build his hero's car... and he did. After his passing in 2012, it was sold after months of anticipation, to yours truly.
Took the car to Dawsonville, Ga for the annual event there in October, which was a blast. The car won the best race car display award, which was a surprise. Will be doing a few more Fireball tribute events with it in 2014, starting with Daytona Speed Weeks in February.
Looking forward to other non race events as well. with many in this area also. That will do it for this lap, and as always. Galaxies are "XL" 'lent.
FIREBALL-ROBERTS.COM NOW UNDERWAY
Construction is now underway for the new, and FAMILY supported Fireball Roberts website. It is more that a book written from someone's opinion or a fantasy website with statistics and memories. It includes photos and items brought and shared by those that remembered and want to share their thoughts, as well as the family heirlooms and the tributes of all kinds from those abroad. This is a live website that is always open for criticism and corrections from facts, thus creating a never ending change. Please check out the ongoing work in progress as we have barely scratched the surface and lingering now in 1952 and the beach era.
Check Out THE STARLINER CONNECTION On Facebook.
ZACK STRAITS of Staunton, Va. has a COOL website on face book called the STARLINER CONNECTION. A must see for the 1960-61 Starliner folks..
NASCAR HALL OF FAME VOTING DAY
Richard Trivette (L) & Leonard Wood (C) at the 2013 HoF Voting day. In the left back ground, with his back turned is late model Sporstman/ Bush champion Jack Ingram.
The photo on the back of the Fireball Roberts Tower in Daytona Beach. A reminder that after four years, not to give up.
GALAXIELAND is EXPANDING. No longer covering the Florida area only, "Scenic" Galaxieland is now based out of the heart of NC. To increase GALAXIE member contacts and events further north in the southeast, Galaxieland is forming a group in the NORTHERN NC area, including WV, and VA. This is a SCENIC GALAXIELAND. For those interested in this chapter of the FORD GALAXIE CLUB of AMERICA, please contact us on this site.