Marshall Teague & Herb Thomas

[Deleted User]
[Deleted User]
edited November -1 in HUDSON
I see lots of info about Marshal online associated with Hudson and winning lots of races, but I also noticed Herb Thomas seems to have won more races (I guess Marshall's death didn't help) but he doesn't get the fan fare and link to Hudson as much as Marshall did. Is there any reason why this is the case?





ALSO...I'm not a hugh NASCAR buff, but with all the new fan fare with the "CARS" movie I'd like to WOW my buddies who just can"t get enough of NASCAR. Would some of you please help me win a few bets and beers by suppling me with some Hudson racing facts that most NASCAR buffs may not know?



Thanks and I'm off to my new Hudson racing history quest :-)



Herb Mooney

Dillsburg, PA

Comments

  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    Here's a couple I can almost guarentee your NASCAR buddies won't know the answer to:

    1) Where was the Memphis-Arkansas Speedway located (Lehi, AR, just west of West Memphis:

    2) What was the length of the M-A Speedway: (1.5 miles)

    3) How many years did the track operate: (1954-1957)



    http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/auto_racing/article/0,1426,MCA_462_4749091,00.html



    Yeah, it existed - I raced on it a couple times in 1956, but not with the big boys from Grand National. There were some "local" races, but it really was to big for small operators, like us, who ran on a shoe string and a prayer.



    Hudsonly,

    Alex B
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The Fact I Enjoy The Most Is Hudson Won 27 Out Of 32 Nascar Races In 1952, Also Check Dick Rathmans Record, Pretty Impressive For A Small Pa. Dealer Named Walt Chapman
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    That old track is just 2 miles from my house. You can still see the banked turns from I-40. Also, when I was a kid, I used to go to the local races, and yell myself hoarse for Hooker Hood. When I grew up, and finally made it to SprintCars,can you imagine how I felt,racing against my Childhood Idol? Even though he was in his late 60's, he could still run with the Big Dogs! Last race I saw him in, was a "Legends" race at RiverSide Speedway. During hotlaps, he went into turn 1 so hard, the car flipped, went airborne, and got hung-up in the cables supporting the fence, with the car about 5 feet off the ground. They finally got him out of the car, and he stood and waved at the crowd. One of the nicest racers you'll EVER meet, and I considered it an honor when he helped me with my car. I hope he hangs around for a LOOOoooog time!
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    wkitchens wrote:
    That old track is just 2 miles from my house. You can still see the banked turns from I-40. Also, when I was a kid, I used to go to the local races, and yell myself hoarse for Hooker Hood. When I grew up, and finally made it to SprintCars,can you imagine how I felt,racing against my Childhood Idol? Even though he was in his late 60's, he could still run with the Big Dogs! Last race I saw him in, was a "Legends" race at RiverSide Speedway. During hotlaps, he went into turn 1 so hard, the car flipped, went airborne, and got hung-up in the cables supporting the fence, with the car about 5 feet off the ground. They finally got him out of the car, and he stood and waved at the crowd. One of the nicest racers you'll EVER meet, and I considered it an honor when he helped me with my car. I hope he hangs around for a LOOOoooog time!



    Wes,

    Sort of figured you might be close enough to hit it with a rock - I'm planning on going over to take a look come next trip to Memphis in Dec/Jan. For it's day it was absolutely HUGE!!! To bad they didn't have enough cash to finish building it, ie paving, better grandstands. Who knows, might be supporting Left Memphis to this day. It was just about 10, 15 years ahead of the rest of NASCAR.



    Hudsonly,

    Alex B
  • brnhornet52*
    brnhornet52* Senior Contributor
    Hi Herb,

    Marshall Teague contributed a lot to the Hudson racing program, and many of his suggestions resulted in the racing modifications to the Hudson engines. Marshall Teague was a very outgoing person, and an excellent engine mechanic, while Herb Thomas was more laid back, and preferred to let Teague have the lion's share of the publicity. While Herb Thomas did some work to his car, he didnt do any engine work and left that to the mechanics like Smokey Yunick.

    Although Marshall Teague was one of the original founders of NASCAR, he was suspended from the organization because of his participation in the 51 Mexican road race which was not sanctioned by NASCAR. He then raced almost exclusively in the AAA races at the time, while Herb Thomas, the Flock bros, Dick Rathmann, and others raced in NASCAR.
  • SamJ
    SamJ Senior Contributor
    Herb: The invaluable source for all Hudnuts for early NASCAR info is a book called "Forty Years of Stock Car Racing - The Beginning, 1948-1958 by Greg Fielden, published by The Galfield Press, P.O. Box 3210, Pinehurst, NC 28374. This book covers every race in that period, with a complete list of drivers and their finishing status, as well as the complete list showing final driving points for each year. Photos, too. In it you will find many races where Hudsons took 3-4 of the top 5 places and placed 1-2-3. It is available used on Amazon:



    Amazon.com
  • SamJ
    SamJ Senior Contributor
    Oh, and this book has a fantastic color photo of Herb Thomas and Marshall Teague at Daytona with their Hudsons on the cover.
  • SamJ
    SamJ Senior Contributor
    Here's the cover:
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    SamJ wrote:
    Oh, and this book has a fantastic color photo of Herb Thomas and Marshall Teague at Daytona with their Hudsons on the cover.



    Thanks SamJ! On my way to Amazon :-)
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Herb, ask your buddies if they know what 2 states in the Mid-West where there have been only 1 sanctioned NASCAR event (Grand Nat'l. back then) ever recorded in history? Answer: 1)South Dakota - Rapid City, July, 1953

    2)Nebraska -- North Platte, July, 1953

    Both of these events were won by Hudson Hornets



    '47HUD
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