The Winston-Salem Fairgrounds (previously known as the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds)[3] was a dirt oval track spanning 0.500 miles (0.805 km)[2] in addition to its primary purpose as a fairground. During the times of the year that it wasn't expected to host a stock car race, this fairground was the home of the annual Winston-Salem Fair/Dixie Classic Fair for Northwest North Carolina[5] along with other events related to the Piedmont Triad area of North Carolina. The annual fair would traditionally take place in the first week of October.[5] On December 1, 1969, the Winston-Salem Foundation gave the Fairgrounds, the Memorial Coliseum, and $75,000 to the City of Winston-Salem.
59.016 miles per hour (94.977 km/h) (Lee Petty, Petty Enterprises, August 7, 1955, NASCAR Grand National Series)
Racing historyedit
The Winston-Salem Fairgrounds as taken with a color photo camera
The race track component of the fairgrounds was used primarily for NASCAR-style stock car racing and was discarded by the Grand National Series after their 1955 season.[2] Most of the races took place on either the summer or early autumn months; although one race took place after what is now called the Dixie Classic Fair (October 31, 1948).[4]
Lee Petty won both the May 29 and August 7 unnamed Grand National Series races on this race course.[1][2][4][6]Fred Dove would be notable for participating in his last NASCAR Cup Series career race on this track; he would finish in third place out of 23 competitors. Outside of the Cup Series, Fonty Flock (in his NASCAR modified vehicle), Curtis Turner (driving in a stock car race that preceded the NASCAR Cup Series), and Jack Harrison (driving in the SAFE Convertible Series) would win races at this ½-mile dirt oval.[4] The SAFE (Society of Auto Sports, Fellowship, and Education) Convertible Series would eventually be bought out by NASCAR to become the NASCAR Convertible Division in 1955.[7] However, even the NASCAR Convertible Series would be short-lived and become permanently disbanded after 1959.[8] This was due to the fact that multiple sedan passenger automobiles could race on the track much more safely with the increasingly faster speeds than their convertible counterparts.
Both of the Cup Series races spanned 100 miles (160 km) and the most expensive purse was $3,765 ($41,129.7 when adjusted for inflation).[1] Driving speeds of up to 59.016 miles per hour (94.977 km/h) could be sustained on this race track through single-car qualifying.[2] When all cars were on the track, the fastest average speed would be reduced to 50.583 miles per hour (81.405 km/h).[2] The speeds are considered to be slightly inferior to the typical modern highway which can sustain speeds up to 110.000 kilometres per hour (68.351 mph). Races would typically last less than two hours;[2] with the longest race lasting one hour, fifty-nine minutes, and forty-four seconds.[9]
All forms of automobile racing was discontinued on this track after 1963. The fate of motorcycle and horse racing on the track were left uncertain after the stock cars stopped racing in this venue.
winston, salem, fairgrounds, previously, known, dixie, classic, fairgrounds, dirt, oval, track, spanning, miles, addition, primary, purpose, fairground, during, times, year, that, wasn, expected, host, stock, race, this, fairground, home, annual, winston, sale. The Winston Salem Fairgrounds previously known as the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds 3 was a dirt oval track spanning 0 500 miles 0 805 km 2 in addition to its primary purpose as a fairground During the times of the year that it wasn t expected to host a stock car race this fairground was the home of the annual Winston Salem Fair Dixie Classic Fair for Northwest North Carolina 5 along with other events related to the Piedmont Triad area of North Carolina The annual fair would traditionally take place in the first week of October 5 On December 1 1969 the Winston Salem Foundation gave the Fairgrounds the Memorial Coliseum and 75 000 to the City of Winston Salem Winston Salem FairgroundsLocationWinston Salem North Carolina 1 2 Time zoneUTC 05 00Capacityover 7 000Opened1929 exclusively for horses and motorcycles 3 July 5 1948 for stock car racing 4 Major eventsSAFE Convertible 4 NASCAR Modified 4 Grand National Series 4 Dirt oval track 2 Length0 500 miles 0 805 km Turns4Race lap record59 016 miles per hour 94 977 km h Lee Petty Petty Enterprises August 7 1955 NASCAR Grand National Series Racing history edit nbsp The Winston Salem Fairgrounds as taken with a color photo cameraThe race track component of the fairgrounds was used primarily for NASCAR style stock car racing and was discarded by the Grand National Series after their 1955 season 2 Most of the races took place on either the summer or early autumn months although one race took place after what is now called the Dixie Classic Fair October 31 1948 4 Lee Petty won both the May 29 and August 7 unnamed Grand National Series races on this race course 1 2 4 6 Fred Dove would be notable for participating in his last NASCAR Cup Series career race on this track he would finish in third place out of 23 competitors Outside of the Cup Series Fonty Flock in his NASCAR modified vehicle Curtis Turner driving in a stock car race that preceded the NASCAR Cup Series and Jack Harrison driving in the SAFE Convertible Series would win races at this mile dirt oval 4 The SAFE Society of Auto Sports Fellowship and Education Convertible Series would eventually be bought out by NASCAR to become the NASCAR Convertible Division in 1955 7 However even the NASCAR Convertible Series would be short lived and become permanently disbanded after 1959 8 This was due to the fact that multiple sedan passenger automobiles could race on the track much more safely with the increasingly faster speeds than their convertible counterparts Both of the Cup Series races spanned 100 miles 160 km and the most expensive purse was 3 765 41 129 7 when adjusted for inflation 1 Driving speeds of up to 59 016 miles per hour 94 977 km h could be sustained on this race track through single car qualifying 2 When all cars were on the track the fastest average speed would be reduced to 50 583 miles per hour 81 405 km h 2 The speeds are considered to be slightly inferior to the typical modern highway which can sustain speeds up to 110 000 kilometres per hour 68 351 mph Races would typically last less than two hours 2 with the longest race lasting one hour fifty nine minutes and forty four seconds 9 All forms of automobile racing was discontinued on this track after 1963 The fate of motorcycle and horse racing on the track were left uncertain after the stock cars stopped racing in this venue References edit a b c Everything Stock Car Forsyth County Fairgrounds a b c d e f g h Racing Reference Forsyth County Fairgrounds General information a b Google Documents Early NASCAR History 1940 1958 a b c d e f g Ultimate Racing History Forsyth County Fairgrounds a b The Dixie Classic Fair History Internet Archive mcubed net NASCAR Forsyth County Fairgrounds Bob Pronger Biography Stan Kalwasinski Chicagoland Auto Racing Retrieved October 24 2010 Coulter Bill 1998 Building and Detailing Scale Model Stock Cars Kalmbach Publishing Co p 5 ISBN 0 89024 285 2 Racing Reference Untitled August 7 1955 RaceExternal links editLegends of NASCAR36 07 28 N 80 15 14 W 36 124565 N 80 253754 W 36 124565 80 253754 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Winston Salem Fairgrounds amp oldid 1040977342, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
