| Old Rockingham Speedway by Joe Pruitt |
| I love dirt track racing. I have seen it in Rockingham, Fayetteville, Colorado, Panama, and on TV from other places. The old Rockingham Speedway was located just a few miles from the new speedway, just beyond the intersection of Roberdel Road with US 1. Some of the best dirt track racing was seen here. Sometime after the construction of the new speedway, it went into history. My uncle, Clyde McCaskill, took his daughter Sandra McCaskill and me to the car races at the old Rockingham Speedway when we were just youngsters. I have been attracted to fast cars and racing ever since. I remember that the grandstand side where people sat had a railroad crosstie fence backed up by dirt to keep the cars in the track, but the far side of the track had no guardrails to keep them in. Sometimes the cars would get bumped off the track on the far side, go over the big drop off, and be lost to view of the spectators. There might be a big cloud of dust, or if they flipped high enough in the air, you could see them briefly. Some of them would just drive back up on the track, and sometimes the race would be stopped to make sure no one was hurt and haul the cars out of the way of the next crash. Maybe a hundred feet or so away from that back side were some small pine trees where some people would save the cost of admission by sitting in the trees. One night I remember a car or two went off the back side. At least one of them stayed on all four wheels and managed to make it into the trees, dislodging at least one person from a tree. It was hilarious, and just added some more fun to the outing, as long as no one was hurt. Since I was too young at the time, I don't remember any of the big names racing there, but I do remember one race with three names that still stand out. Big John Sears, and I believe his brother was Bobby Sears, (11.18.03 Informed by Les Keziah that Big John's brother's name was Jimmy Sears, and he was killed at the StarLite Racetrack in Monroe, NC and also that Bobby Webb was another driver) that were driving in that race. Winding Wayne Andrews, I am pretty sure the other driver's name was. Winding Wayne was from Siler City and drove a '57 Chevrolet that was just slightly better than Big John's car, a Ford, I believe. This was old dirt track racing at its best. Winding Wayne could pass Big John and get in the front, with Big John just behind. In the turns, Big John could get alongside, but couldn't quite get the pass made. The reason they called Wayne "Winding", was the way he drove that '57 Chevy. He would keep the car in the most power producing gear, and wind up the motor to a high rpm's. He would enter a turn completely sideways in a four wheel slide, and just at the apex of the turn he would get back on the gas with the wheels turned to exit the corner perfectly. I have never seen anyone so good, and I have seen racing in many places. He would get the car straightened out at the middle of the straightaway, only to turn the wheels and take it sideways into the next turn. It was a beautiful ballet at the highest speed possible for that dirt track. If no other car interfered, he could do it time after time and stay in front. Big John and Bobby were infamous at the track for blocking. If one got in front, the other would be behind and try to keep faster cars from getting in the front to try for the lead. This one particular race, Winding Wayne made it past Big John. John was close on his bumper, and could get beside him in the turn, until Wayne got back fully on the gas and pulled away until the next turn. This went on lap after lap. What came next, whether it was intentional or not, I don't know. Wayne was in his big power slide, and Big John moved over several feet suddenly and tapped Wayne's left rear fender with his car. Wayne's right rear dug in and whipped his car to the right, and with the front wheels turned all the way to the right in the slide, Wayne didn't have a chance. He ended up driving straight into the front grandstand railroad ties backed by solid earth, head on. The violence of the impact and sudden stop was so great, that the rear of the '57 Chevrolet came up in the air and back down. In those days, race cars maybe had lap belts, no shoulder belts, no special seats and just helmets for protection. Wayne must have been one tough guy, because he did come out of that mangled car. I don't ever remember seeing him race again, but I never forgot the thrill of seeing him dancing with that '57 at high speed on dirt. |
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