Nascar Did You Know?

[race crazy]

This is the first installment of Nascar DYK-Ill try to do at least one every week-they could be like this one or way different lol-sorta whatever I guess-could be longer or shorter but the point is to provide some interesting information on the people and the sport that some might not know-anyways: Here we go:

RC’s DYK: Nascar’s first Wildman:

Before Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt, before Mr. Excitement and Tony Stewart, there was Curtis Turner.

Curtis Turner was Nascar’s first wildman-and he is known for doing some of the craziest and most dangerous things ever attempted by anyone-his no holds barred lifestyle caught up with him in 1970 when he died in a plane crash:

The following are some things you may not have known about Nascar’s first wildman, Curtis Turner:

By his peers Turner was considered the best driver on the track, but his no holds barred approach to racing probably costed him wins.

It was common knowledge that Turner knew no such thing as saving his equipment-he would go all out no matter what which often resulted in crashes or blown engines-his methods did work sometimes though as he did win over 300 late model and modified races during his career.

Most people know that Curtis Turner was involved in building Charlotte (now Lowe’s) Motor Speedway and that he was the one behind the notorious driver’s union that drove Bill France nuts-most don’t know that these things were related-Turner and partner Bruton Smith had underestimated the price of building the track, so in order to try and get a loan Turner tried to Unionize the drivers-it was the only way it would work (Bill France shut down the union and Turner and Smith went bankrupt-they later got the track back of course).

Like many in his profession, Turner was a known moonshiner, the cops supposedly never caught him-Turner, knowing that they were looking for his car, often switched cars to confuse the police.

Turner was a known thrill-seeker-he would drag race anyone on the street when he got the chance and he was a daredevil as a pilot-once landing his plane on the backstretch at Darlington Speedway.

I hope you enjoyed the first installment of Nascar DYK!

[ashley832]

Niiice Stephen! I didnt know he helped build Lowes Motor Speedway! Very interesting.

Ashley

[Shayne1911]

Great job Stephen! I didn't know most of that. Very interesting. Can't wait to read next week's DYK!!

[race crazy]

Time for another installment of Nascar DYK!

I thought I would shed some light on the story of the only co-driver in Nascar history-and it just happened to be a monkey lol:

Credit to Tim Flock's website for the info:

Tim Flock was sort of ummm-crazy-very much a free spirit, he though it would be fun to have a pet monkey ride with him on raceday lol:

His name: Jocko Flocko

Jocko Flocko was a Rhesus monkey and remains the only known "co-driver" in NASCAR history. On May 16, 1953, Jocko helped Tim win the Grand National race at Hickory, N.C. - becoming the only winning monkey to date. Unfortunately, Jocko was forced to retire from "driving" duties two weeks later in Raleigh, N.C. Tim Flock recalls the incident:

"I actually raced with a monkey, which I named Jocko Flocko, for eight races in 1953. It started as a publicity stunt, and we gave him his own driving uniform and a specially designed seat."

"Back then the cars had a trap door that we could pull open with a chain to check our tire wear. Well, during the Raleigh 300, Jocko got loose from his seat and stuck his head through the trap door, and he went berserk! Listen, it was hard enough to drive those heavy old cars back then under normal circumstances, but with a crazed monkey clawing you at the same time, it becomes nearly impossible! I had to come into the pits to put him out and ended up third. The pit stop cost me second place and a $600.00 difference in my paycheck. Jocko was retired immediately. I had to get that monkey off my back!"-as told by Tim Flock.

Heres a pic:

[ashley832]

That one is pretty cool! It'd be pretty neat racing with a monkey. Before Tony Stewart got rid of his, I wonder if he ever would have done that. haha From the picture it looks like a cute little thing!

Ashley

[Labontebrothersfan]

"Jocko Flocko" that is too funny
I can almost picture him trying to control a monkey & drive at the same time
Wish they had in car camera then - LOL

[Lea DeFoote]

Boy was racing different back then! Was anyone else struck by the fact that an unscheduled pit stop cost him a whopping ONE SPOT??



-Tom