Post by Bubba G on Jun 5, 2006 11:34:03 GMT -5
I believe the earlier days of stock car racing need to be well preserved and remembered. Especially true for those of us that have been around a bit longer than others. I stopped by the Talledega Hall of Fame and Museum last week, and was amazed by the hundreds of old photographs of drivers, cars and just saturday night special moments.
It made me think back to my early days at the Fairgrounds Motor Speedway in Louisville, back in the late 60's. Even with all of the local racing stars and heroes, as a driver and spectator, ONE person stands out in my mind after all these years. A VERY COLORFUL but unvalidated Flagman. That guy was in a league of his own, anyone who ever watch races there, can't forget his "FLYING STARTS". Not the cars, but the flagman! He would crouch down in the Center of the track, giving that evil eye to the cars and they came around from their slow pace lap, starring at them to make sure they were lined up correctly for a good start, and as they came out of turn four he would LEAP into the air 2 feet off the ground wildly waving the green flag and at the same time, scurrying across the track to the infield to avoid becoming roadkill. THEN he would run right back across the track to the flagmans stand , before we came around again to take a shot at him.
And then he had his patented CRISS-CROSS move for setting the field for features and special races. All of the cars would be lining up on the track single file, on the "One to Go" lap, he would kneel in the center of the track, and the cars would criss cross him to get in Double File for the start, we all pretty much tried to get as close as we could to him without putting him in the hospital. It was quite a sight, but i never saw him budge.
He was a man a bit short in stature, but you didn't want to tangle with him. He would stand nose to nose with any man, if he thought he was right...............and he usually WAS. But he would also do the same for YOU, if he thought you got a raw deal.
A bit older now, a bit slower now, maybe even a bit LOUDER now, but he still hasn't given up his love for this great sport. His name is John Potts.
It made me think back to my early days at the Fairgrounds Motor Speedway in Louisville, back in the late 60's. Even with all of the local racing stars and heroes, as a driver and spectator, ONE person stands out in my mind after all these years. A VERY COLORFUL but unvalidated Flagman. That guy was in a league of his own, anyone who ever watch races there, can't forget his "FLYING STARTS". Not the cars, but the flagman! He would crouch down in the Center of the track, giving that evil eye to the cars and they came around from their slow pace lap, starring at them to make sure they were lined up correctly for a good start, and as they came out of turn four he would LEAP into the air 2 feet off the ground wildly waving the green flag and at the same time, scurrying across the track to the infield to avoid becoming roadkill. THEN he would run right back across the track to the flagmans stand , before we came around again to take a shot at him.
And then he had his patented CRISS-CROSS move for setting the field for features and special races. All of the cars would be lining up on the track single file, on the "One to Go" lap, he would kneel in the center of the track, and the cars would criss cross him to get in Double File for the start, we all pretty much tried to get as close as we could to him without putting him in the hospital. It was quite a sight, but i never saw him budge.
He was a man a bit short in stature, but you didn't want to tangle with him. He would stand nose to nose with any man, if he thought he was right...............and he usually WAS. But he would also do the same for YOU, if he thought you got a raw deal.
A bit older now, a bit slower now, maybe even a bit LOUDER now, but he still hasn't given up his love for this great sport. His name is John Potts.
