Drivers Expected for Reunion
Former Grand National Driver Gene Hobby of Apex, NC, our Grand Marshall for the Fairgrounds Speedway Racer’s Reunion, Saturday, from 11am-3pm, has been on the phone for the last month contacting our legendary drivers and family members inviting them to the Eighth Annual Raleigh Fairgrounds Speedway Racer’s Reunion.
We will also have many members of Bill Mangum’s Virginia-Carolina Early Dirt Racer’s Association with us. We will be conducting interviews and get 1st hand racing stories from behind the scenes of the past!
The following drivers, crew members, promotors and associates are expected to attend:
- Robin Agner, China Grove, NC
- Wayne Andrews, Staley, NC
- Billy & Karen Biscoe, Denton, NC
- Hank Thomas, Winston Salem, NC
- Bill Blair, Thomasville, NC
- J.D. Blue, Carthage, NC
- David Boggs, Rock Hill, SC
- Johnny Handy, Greensboro, NC
- Raymond Williams, Hillsborough, NC
- Jerry Earl Hatcher, Mt. Airy, NC
- Roy Hendrick, Mosely, VA
- Bob Hissom, Denver, NC
- Ray Lamm, RIchmond, VA
- Bill Mangum, Danville, VA
- H. L. “Peanut” Turman, Dugspur, VA
- Larry Laney, Randleman, NC
- Randy Myers, King, NC
- Dink Widenhouse, Concord, NC
- Lloyd Lane, Concord, NC
- Terry Anderson, Lenoir NC
- Gene Hobby, Apex, NC
- Laura Pugh, Gretna, VA
- Larry Glenn, Bunn, NC
- Johnny Dolen, Winston Salem, NC
- Garland Rickets, South Boston, VA
- Wallace Smith, Durham, NC
- Robbie Watson, Durham, NC
- Wayne McGhee, Hillsborough, NC
- Issace “Pete” Dease, Oxford, NC
- Earl Arnold, Clayton, NC
- Red Justice, Burlington, NC
- Monk Tate, Draper, NC
- Ronnie Hartsville, Apex, NC
- Herbie Poole, Randleman NC
- Gary Lewallen
- Kent Fogleman
- Clyde Mangum
- Ray Lamm
- Ronnie Thomas
- Gary Myers
- Randy Myers
- Chocolate Myers
- Tiger Tom Pistone
- Gary Lloyd
- Phillip Walker
- Clyde Still
Other drivers who ran at this famed 1/2 Mile Dirt Track and other Regional Tracks are invited to attend.
We honor the memory of the following Friends of the Piedmont Racing Expo and the Raleigh Fairgrounds Racers Reunion:
- Carl Horton (2018)
- Carlton Pugh (2016)
- Donnie Carver (Flagman, 2016)
- Phil Finley (2015)
- Maurice Hill (2015)
- Earl Sears (2015)
- Jim Massey (2015)
- Glen McDuffie (2015)
- Rickey Page (2015)
- Senator Martin L. Nesbitt, Jr. (2014)
- Bobby Proctor Sr. (2014)
- Ronnie Barnette (2013)
- Rodney Cook (2013)
- Dan Honeycutt
- Margaret Moss Cooper
- Donnie Watson
- Larry Dease
- Cecil Gordon
- James Jones
- Bill Hollar
- Wayne Patterson
- and others that we may not know about.
Saturday, 10am-2pm Autograph Session
Raleigh: The RacersReunion held in conjunction with the 33rd Annual Piedmont Racing Expo this weekend is expected to draw notable drivers and family members of drivers who raced at the Raleigh Fairgrounds Speedway between 1955 and 1970. The Reunion will take place on the Saturday, January 19th in the Expo Building on the Fairgrounds, just a few yards from the historic grandstands of the old race track. Some of the front straight is still present and is used for Tractor Pulls and other activities. The Racers Reunion is sponsored by Carolina Collector Autofest.
The Racing Expo is a two-day event, Friday and Saturday, January 18 – 19. It features a short-track trade show with over 40 vendors ranging from racing parts and accessory distributors to area speedways discussing new rules and schedules.
There will be a special autograph session for the Racers Reunion Legend drivers on Saturday during the Reunion. There will be scrapbooks and photos for everyone to view with many historic photos on display. There will also be live interviews with drivers telling tales of the sport from their prospective.
The mainstay of the Expo, the Racing Auction will start at 12 Noon on Friday and again at 9am on Saturday selling over 1200 lots of used racing equipment, tools, and parts.
Admission is $10 daily, Kids 13-15, $5 daily, and women and children 12 & Under Free. Hours are 10am-9pm on Friday and 8am-5pm Saturday. Details may be found at www.piedmontracingexpo.com.