In 1967, Shelby Drag Strip was only “one of two quarter mile drag strips” located in North Carolina. I’m not sure of the other as Rockingham was not built until 1969, but did not open until 1970.

The following photograph is a Google Satellite image of what’s left of the Shelby Drag Strip, which is center-left and in the wooded area, behind the “Jaws of Life” facility.

Local drag racer Butch Greene from Polkville, raced in the very first event at the Shelby Drag Strip, during the summer of 1967. Butch was driving a 1955 Chevrolet, with a special 396 cubic-inch “crate engine” and 450 horse power, but unfortunately broke an axle on that first night. However, after repairs, Butch came back in a week or so to beat Van Hatley in the modified class, who was also driving a 1955 Chevrolet, but with a small block.

The Shelby Drag Strip was an NHRA sanctioned track. I didn’t realize this, until reading an old newspaper clipping “saved ” by Butch Greene, as following…

Friday night drag races:

I’d go with my brother Phillip, sometimes to race our 1951 Henry J, but at times, we’d just go to watch. When Phillip was not able to go on occasion, I’d ride with Robert Miller, who was a French teacher at Burns High School. Robert raced most every week with his orange and white 1956 Oldsmobile. I was only 14 years old at the time, so I always needed a ride.

Remnants of the Shelby Drag Strip still exist today as shown in the following recent photos.

Walter McIntyre, was a regular who raced a 1967 Ford Fairlane with a 427 cubic-inch tunnel-port engine. This was a Ford factory drag race car.

Jim Bridges brought two 1966 Ford GT-350’s Mustangs with high-performance 289 engines. One was white (which he raced) and the other was red. He would drive the red one, and tow the white one behind. The stock GT-350 (289 engines) produced 306 horsepower and would run in the 12.40’s at Shelby.

In 1968, Bridges purchased a race engine from Bud Moore Racing with ~400 plus horsepower. He raced this car at both Bristol and Rockingham and others. His best times were in high ~11’s, in the quarter mile. (Bridges was a former Marine pilot, flying an A4 Skyhawk).

Below: Butch Greene and his 1955 Chevrolet with a 396-cubic inch “crate engine” with 450 horse power.

Butch Greene and his 1955 Chevrolet with the “special” 396 cubic-inch race engine at the Shelby Drag Strip. The date as shown on the following newspaper clipping is June 9th 1967.

A regular was Ralph Ledford with his 1962 white Plymouth Valiant, and a world record holder in its class. It was owned and driven by Ralph who I talked with via telephone this afternoon, while visiting Butch Greene. (Date: Wednesday, September 18th 2024)

The Plymouth Valiant had the special “Hyper-Pak” 6-cylinder engine. The Valiant’s best time in the 1/4 mile was in the high 13-seconds at about 98 mph.

Then there was Garland Buff from Casar, who would later own Shady Side Drag Strip, with his son Ronny. Garland raced an English Ford using two engines: One being a Chevrolet 409 stroker engine and at other times using a stroker Oldsmobile engine. He used the same transmission for both engines.

Shady Side Dragway is still owned by the Buff family, but both Garland and Ronnie are now deceased. Shady Side is now one of the most active drag strips in the country, with bracket racing, and hosting national gasser and pro-modified events. From starting out in the 50’s as a dirt strip to now an all concrete state of the art race track. Shady Side is well known throughout the southeast as a world class facility by top drag racers, and is currently in the process of becoming IHRA certified.

Back to the Shelby Drag Strip:

Garland Buff won the gasser class most every week at Shelby. One Friday night, my brother Phillip was runner-up in our 1951 Henry J. Garland took the winning purse of $50, but gave Phillip the trophy, which was really exciting to both Phillip and myself. Garland was very a kind, soft-spoken man, and was always willing to help anyone with his many years of drag racing experience.

When it came to engine building, Phillip always said Garland was a genius. He engineered and did the machining for the stroker kits for both the Oldsmobile and Chevrolet engines as mentioned above.

Phillip and myself would go to the Shelby drag strip on many Friday nights. We would also “again” compete in the gasser class on occasion with a 1951 Henry J. We used a tow-bar to pull the Henry J with our Dad’s 1956 Studebaker. Phillip was 17 and I was 14.

One night during a race, Phillip shifted the Henry J a bit too hard and locked up the transmission in high gear. We managed to hook it back up to the Studebaker, and leaving the engine running. I was able to drive the Henry J in high gear, and in tow, using the clutch and gas to balance the speed with the Studebaker. We were successful in getting home, and fixed the transmission the following day. We raced on what might be referred to as a “shoe-string” budget, with our stock 1951 Henry J.

I remember so well, Tommy Mauney driving his white 1965 GTO to the drag strip. He would jack up this car, remove his street tires and put on racing slicks which he’d brought in his trunk. Seems he would also disconnect the headers at the collector. (?)

Tommy never left drag racing and has become one of the “most renowned and successful professional drag racers” in the country today. Mauney was inducted into the North Carolina Motorsports Hall of Fame.

From the Shelby Drag Strip and a 1965 GTO to his current 200 mph plus, under 4-seconds Pro-Modified Camaro in the 1/8th mile. I like the following cover photo of Tommy’s Camaro from Rockingham Drag Way with credit to the same, and all sponsors listed, including the NHRA.

Photo credit Mecum Auctions: The last Ronnie Sox race car by Tommy Mauney.

Ronnie Sox and another Shelby native:

My first cousin, and famous world class drag racer Reid Whisnant, was born and raised in Shelby and bought race engines and even race cars from Sox and Martin.

Reid had a close professional relationship with Ronnie Sox for many years. Reid Whisnant passed away in December 2005, from complications from hip surgery, after falling in his race car shop.

Reid moved from Shelby to Atlanta, during the 50’s and founded “Atlanta Race Cars” some years later. I remember going with my older brothers to visit Reid, for a few times in about 1967 and 1968. We were amazed when touring his shop. It was filled with incredible amounts of racing equipment, including race engines on stands, race car chassis, and so much more…even a Sox & Martin Barracuda sitting in the corner.

Click on the following link to read about the restoration of Reid’s 1972 Pro Stock Plymouth Duster:

https://hot-cars.org/2021/12/13/reid-whisnants-plymouth-hemi-duster-restoration-story/

Reid never raced at Shelby, as he had moved to Atlanta during the mid-50’s, and began racing mostly in Georgia and South Carolina.

The following is one of Reid’s earlier Pro Stock Plymouth Dusters, which he raced at most all national events. Photo credit “hotcars.org“

Reid was involved in an “infamous event” with Frank Iaconio from New Jersey, at the 1983 World Championships. An event that is still talked about to this very day! Reid was driving a Dodge Charger at this time.

Click on the following link to read all about this drag racing historical event! Note the incredible “hole-shot” that Reid had over Iaconia, as can be seen in the following link!

https://competitionplus.com/drag-racing/news/9220-encore-iaconio-no-longer-wondering-what-if

Explore posts in the same categories: Roger's Articles

This entry was posted on September 15, 2024 at 3:03 pm and is filed under Roger's Articles. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. Both comments and pings are currently closed.