Moonshiners, Racers Reunion to roar into town

MOUNT AIRY — Two elements that helped shape the history of stock car racing will converge once again in Mount Airy later this month.

The fifth-annual Moonshine and Racer’s Reunion is scheduled on Sept. 14, a Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

It will feature a display of vintage race cars downtown and an opportunity for fans to get autographs from celebrities representing both the racing and moonshining cultures.

They will be set up in an area near Old North State Winery on North Main Street.

The event is free and open to the public, coordinated by the Downtown Business Association.

Those who have been drivers will attend along with former NASCAR crew members and others, according to a list provided Monday by Phil Marsh, an official of the downtown group.

Included are Ronnie Thomas, the NASCAR Rookie of the Year for 1976; Brownie King, an early driver on the circuit who raced at the Daytona beach course in the 1950s; former NASCAR Crew Chief Mike Hill; local drivers Frank and Chris Fleming, modified racers known for their long careers at Bowman Gray Stadium

Jerry Cook, a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame as a modified champion; engine builder Waddell Wilson, another Hall of Famer; and many other figures from the sport, including a possible appearance by Dave Marcis.

Marilyn Green, the first Miss Winston Cup in 1971-72, also will be among the guests for the Mount Airy Moonshine and Racer’s Reunion, along with Renee Perks, who held that title in 1996.

Those representing the moonshine part of the equation are to include Charles “Big Chuck” Battison, who appeared on the Discovery Channel’s “Moonshiners” reality television show.

Bobby Allison, a former NASCAR champion and one of its winningest drivers who has been a regular attendee at the Moonshine and Racer’s Reunion, is not listed as a participant this year.

The 86-year-old founder of the Alabama Gang of racers is said to be suffering from health issues.

Moonshine stills and demonstrations additionally are planned, along with live music and a silent auction. Those attending also are encouraged to take in the Mount Airy Stock Car Racing Wall of Fame across from the Earle Theater on North Main Street downtown.

“And the cars will be up and down Main Street,” Marsh said. “I think last year we had 80.”

A green flag for history

The Moonshine and Racer’s Reunion has attracted folks from throughout the Southeast and also New York and the western U.S., according to Marsh.

He believes they are drawn here by a common interest.

“It’s the history of it,” Marsh said. The autograph sessions also are a popular aspect that relates to the history, since fans can interact with the drivers and others and share memories of the sport.

The event on Sept. 14 will include a side trip to the former Mount Airy Speedway/White Dirt Race Track on Race Track Road west of town, which is scheduled for 3 p.m.

That facility opened in 1946 and drew some noteworthy racing figures of the period, including Curtis Turner and the Wood Brothers, according to Marsh.

The grounds have been relegated to agricultural uses in more recent years, although the outlines of the old dirt bleachers are said to still be visible.