The South Boston-Halifax County, Virginia area and South Boston Speedway are well-known for its racing history. A special event will be held at South Boston Speedway Sunday afternoon, May 8, to honor the area’s racing heritage.
The Second Annual Historic Racing Celebration, which starts at 1 p.m. Sunday at South Boston Speedway, is being held as part of the Halifax County Heritage & Antique Machinery Festival that will be ongoing throughout the weekend at the adjacent Halifax County Fairgrounds.
Spectators attending Sunday’s historic racing celebration will see pre-1960’s historic racers, post-1960’s historic racers, original Ford Flathead racers, historic former NASCAR Grand National cars and vintage racers from the Southern Ground Pounders club take turns turning hot laps on the .4-mile oval throughout the afternoon.
Sunday’s Historic Racing Celebration will mark the first time a group of members of the Southern Ground Pounders has participated in the event.
“My guys are excited about coming to South Boston Speedway Sunday and seeing some of the cars that were there last year and some of the new cars that will be there this year,” said Southern Ground Pounders President Mack Tatum, who expects between 10 to 12 of the organization’s members to participate in Sunday’s celebration.
“This will be a good opportunity where people can come up and really see the history by talking to the guys with the cars. Every single person with a car will tell you the complete history.”
Having the Southern Ground Pounders on hand for Sunday’s Second Annual Historic Racing Celebration at South Boston Speedway is a plus for the spectators attending the event and those club members that will be participating.
The Southern Ground Pounders will be competing at South Boston Speedway on Saturday night, May 14, as part of South Boston Speedway’s slate of NASCAR Whelen All American Series races. Sunday’s event will give members of the Southern Ground Pounders what amounts to a free practice session at the speedway.
Over two dozen historic vintage racecars were at South Boston Speedway for last year’s inaugural event, and organizers are that number to swell for this weekend’s event.
“South Boston and Halifax County and South Boston Speedway have a very rich history and tradition in racing, and it is a natural fit to celebrate our racing history in conjunction with the Halifax County Heritage & Antique Machinery Festival,” said Historic Racing Celebration Committee Co-Chairman Butch Blanks.
“We appreciate the support of the people that will be participating in the event, and we invite the public to join us Sunday afternoon at the speedway and also to stop at the fairgrounds and enjoy the displays and activities at the Halifax County Heritage & Antique Machinery Festival.”
The schedule for Sunday’s Second Annual Historic Racing Celebration at South Boston Speedway has registration for event participants and cars starting at 11:30 a.m. Gates at the backstretch area of the speedway will open for spectators at 12 noon, and opening ceremonies will start at 1 p.m.
Following the opening ceremony, a parade lap of all of the participating cars will be held. Hot laps for the groups of participating cars and drivers will be held from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.
Closing remarks will take place at 3:30 p.m., and afterward, spectators can enter pit area, see the cars up close and visit with the celebration’s participants. The event will close at 4 p.m.
SBS PR
