Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2008 THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS PAGE 3B Down the Stretch Fonty Flock made number 14 successful T ony Stewart recently made the announcement that his racecar next year, as part of his buy-in to the current Haas-CNC team, will be number 14. The reason Tony went with this number was his connection to one of his racing heroes, legendary racer A.J. Foyt. While Foyt is synonymous in racing with the number 14, the man who had the most success in NASCAR with that number was Georgia Racing Hall of Fame member Fonty Flock. Bom in 1921 in Ft. Payne, Alabama, Truman Fontello Flock, better known as Fonty, was the middle of three brothers who would become racing legends. Older brother Bob was an incred ible modified racer, and younger brother Tim would go on to be one of NASCAR’s 50 greatest drivers. Fonty ran his first race at the legendary Lakewood Speedway in Atlanta in 1939, and won his first career race at that same track one year later. In 1941, Fonty traveled to Daytona Beach for the annual beach race, taking the pole for the event. While racing with fellow Georgian Roy Hall, the two made contact in the south turn, sending Fonty’s car out of control, and end over end. Fonty’s seatbelt broke during the accident, and he came away with multiple injuries, including a crashed chest. Fonty returned to rac ing in 1947 in the inau gural event at North Wilkesboro, N.C. in a ride Bob helped to line up. Fonty showed that the years away hadn’t dulled his senses, as he went out and won the race. Fonty began racing on Bill France Sr.’s National Championship Stock Car Circuit, a pre-cursor to NASCAR. Bob was racing for legendary car owner Raymond Parks. When he was injured in an accident, Fonty took over the ride for his brother. The car number was 14. Fonty went on to pilot Parks’ Ford to the championship, with seven wins to his credit. The next year, as France was working hard to get NASCAR off the ground, he promoted Fonty as the 1947 NASCAR champion (although NASCAR refuses to acknowledge that today, just as they refuse to acknowledge any thing that occurred prior to 1972). Fonty won the 1949 NASCAR Modified champion, and won his first cup event in 1950 at the gru eling Langhorne Speedway. 1951 was the year that Fonty put #14 on the map, as he won eight times driving Frank Christian’s “Red Devil” Oldsmobile. Fonty picked up the biggest win of his career in 1952 when he captured the fabled Southern 500 at Darlington, leading 341 laps en route. After taking the checkered flag, he stopped his car on the front stretch, stood on the roof, and led the crowd in the stands in the singing of “Dixie.” His driving suit consisted of a keen pair of Bermuda shorts. Fonty was a fan favorite. Sporting a pencil thin moustache reminiscent of Clark Gable, and hardly ever seen without a smile, fans would come out to see what Fonty would do inside and outside the race car. Fonty would win eight more times between 1953 and 1956, but his career came to an end at Darlington in 1957. Fonty was piloting a Pontiac for the ailing Herb Thomas, and the car had prob lems early on. On lap 27, Fonty spun at the entrance to turn three, coming to rest in the middle of the track. Young Bobby Myers was racing Paul Goldsmith down the back stretch, and didn’t see Fonty’s stalled car until it was too late. Myers hit Fonty at full speed, and Goldsmith was gathered up into the accident, with all three cars rolling end over end several times. Myers was killed. Goldsmith was injured, but climbed out of the car under his own power. Fonty was badly injured, and was taken to an area hospital. He announced his retirement from his hospital bed. Fonty Flock died in 1972, at 51 years of age. Fonty once said that the younger drivers didn’t know how to have fun. He said that they make more money, but “.. .much of the fun for them is gone.” For Fonty, piloting number 14 wearing a pair of Bermuda shorts, racing was fun, and it was fun for those who had the privilege to watch. Brandon Reed is a reporter for Mainstreet Newspapers. E-mail comments about this column to brandon @ mainstreetnews. com. “Myers was killed. Goldsmith was injured, but climbed out of the car under his own power...” brandon reed Auto Racing Racing... continued from page JB The facility was owned by the city of Atlanta. In an attempt to keep out former moonshine runners, the city fathers passed an ordinance barring drivers who had been convicted of hauling liquor from racing at the facility. That led to a day when legendary Georgia racer Bob Flock decided he was going to race, city ordinance be damned. “I remember it well,” Irvin said. “I was lined up out there, and this one car kept circling. Nobody realized at first it was Bob, because he had a handkerchief tied over his face. Then a police car came on the track, then another. They got down to the lower end, and had him hemmed up. “He ran through the fence, and broke some boards. He took off through the field, and went up on the highway, with these police cars chasing him, and they took off down Lakewood Avenue. We found out later that it was Bob, trying to slip in there to race.” Before Irvin raced at Lakewood, he was one of the thousands of fans who came out to watch the events. “When I used to go down there as a spectator, back when Red Byron and Bob Flock and them was the top driv ers, we would go around to the back side and come through the fence and stand up on that bank on the back side of the race track. It was standing room only all around the track. Of course, back then, it only cost you about $2 I guess to go see a race.” The final automobile race at Lakewood was held in 1979. A few years later, a music venue was built on top of the fourth turn, while a parking lot covers the third corner. Very little of the legendary racetrack remains. Irvin believes that Lakewood would still be a viable racing facility today if it had gotten the proper guidance and attention. “If the city of Atlanta had paved it, I don’t believe there would be an Atlanta Motor Speedway there today,” Irvin said back in 2007. “They had the parking, they had the security, they had the fences, they had plenty of room there, and they had the ideal race track. Everybody loved Lakewood. I’ve seen boys from Illinois and everywhere up north come down to race there. They really had a racetrack down there. “But the city of Atlanta owned it, and they didn’t care if anybody raced there or not.” Fortunately, there are those who care about preserving the memory of Lakewood. Around 400 of those peo ple turned out at Saturday’s reunion to honor not only a legendary facil ity, but also racers such as Tommie Irvin who raced and won at a track that was called “The Indianapolis of the South.” Football... continued from page JB The coach said this year’s Leopard team accomplished more during off season training than any team he has coached. With the scrimmage set this Friday against Johnson, Armstrong said his players are getting an early taste of game week. “We are getting used to what our preparations are going to be like during the week leading up to a game,” he said. “Many of our play ers already know the drill but we are a different team and do have some new players.” The scrimmage will be a 36-min ute contest. The first string players will play the majority of the contest with the second string also getting work. Armstrong said third string players will likely get some playing time late in the scrimmage. “It will mainly be a varsity com petition as we want them to get as much work as possible since they have to get used to playing a 48-minute game,” the coach said. While some schools are scrim maging next week, Armstrong chose to take part in a scrimmage two weeks before to the season opener Aug. 29. “This gives you an extra week to see what you need to work on and adjust,” he said. “Plus, our players are ready for a scrimmage at this point.” Armstrong was the head coach at Johnson High School during the 2002, 2003 and 2004 seasons. He guided the program to the state play offs each of those seasons. Softball... continued from page JB “I feel like our offense this year will have more power 1-9 in the lineup than ever before,” Lord said. “However, we will still have to be able to get bunts down and put hard line drives and grounders in play on a consistent basis.” The Lady Leopards will begin play at their new field at the new BCHS sports complex. The team will get to compete on campus on the first time. “Overall, the program is in good position,” said Lord. “There are many bright spots to point out. We have committed players who want to be successful. Our kids are very coachable and they work hard. We represent Banks County with class and respect on and off the field. “We were one run and three outs away from the state sectionals two years ago. We had some post sea son success and we are striving for more. Our new complex is the best we’ll play at all year. The Board of Education, superintendent, adminis trators and community all banded together to put us in a first-class facility. We are very grateful. The booster club is always willing to get us what we need. We raised money on our own as well and that has really helped build up our summer sched ule. The coaches are very dedicated and committed to the program.” Specializing in Spine, Neck & Joint Pain To serve you better we have extended our hours. Beginning July 29 th at our Athens location only: Open until 7pm on Tuesdays & Thursdays Our board certified pain medicine physicians have extensive experience with advanced diagnostic techniques which determine the origin of your pain. Our specialists then design a comprehensive, progressive treatment plan to help you gain your life back. Specializing in Spine & Neck Pain, Electromyography and Nerve Studies. Visit us at our newest location: 209 Mercer Place Commerce, CA 706-208-0451 Mark A. Ellis, MD Terrance L. Huges, MD Board Certified Associate • Board Certified Pain Management Specialist Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation www. ellispain. com NOW WITH 3 LOCATIONS! ATHENS COMMERCE ROYSTON 1765 Old West Broad St., BJC Specialty Suite Royston Diagnostic Center Bldg. 1, Suite 200 209 Mercer Place 928 Franklin Springs St. 706.208.0451 706.208.0451 706.245.7502 HEALTH NOTIFICATION Are You Hard Of Hearing? A major name brand hearing aid provider wishes to field test a remarkable new hearing instrument in the area. T his offer is free of charge and you are under no obligation. The revolutionary 100% Digital instruments use the latest technology to comfortably and almost in visibly help you hear more clearly.This technology; solves the"stopped up ears/™head in a barrel" sensation some people experience, and have been clinically demonstrated to improve hearing in noisy environments. If you wish to participate, you will be required to have your hearing tested in our office FREE OF CHARGE to determine candidacy. There is no fee whatsoever for participating in this field test. Special testing will be done to determine the increased benefits of this technology. Benefits of hearing aid vary by type and degree of hearing loss, noise environment, accuracy of hearing test, and proper fit. This is a wonderful opportunity to determine if hearing help is available for your hearing loss while you evaluate your performance with this technology! Call Now If You Wish To Be Included In This Field Test Get the new jiftermig cell phone for the active senior $147.00 Bigger, backlit buttons, live 24- hour operators who can assist you. Plans start as little as $10 a month." Bel tone Beltone Hearing Aid Centers 891 Daw£Onvj[l& Highway 1 1490 AlphareMa Highway Sulla 140 Suita 500 Gaines villa, Georgia Roswell, Georgia 770-287-0012 678-566-7468 CALL TODAY TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATION FOR THE HEARING AID FIELD TEST