Forsyth County Fairgrounds
Encyclopedia
The Forsyth County Fairgrounds (now Dixie Classic Fair
grounds) was a dirt oval track spanning 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) in addition to its primary purpose as a fairground. During the times of the year that it wasn't expected to host a stock car race, this fairground was the home of the annual Winston-Salem Fair/Dixie Classic Fair for Northwest North Carolina along with other events related to the Piedmont Triad
area of North Carolina. The annual fair would traditionally took place in the first week of October.
The location of the race track (which is now exclusively a fairground) could be best described as "near the heart of Winston-Salem
, North Carolina
" as it was positioned near the middle of an important Interstate
junction (with Interstate 40
as the most notable road).
-style stock car racing
and was discarded by the Grand National Series after their 1955
season. Most of the races took place on either the summer or early autumn months; although one race took place after what is now called the Dixie Classic Fair (October 31, 1948).
Lee Petty
won both the May 29 and August 7 unnamed Grand National Series races on this race course. Fred Dove
would be notable for participating in his last NASCAR Cup Series career race on this track; he would finish in third place out of 23 competitors. Outside of the Cup Series, Fonty Flock
(in his NASCAR modified vehicle), Curtis Turner
(driving in a stock car race that preceded the NASCAR Cup Series), and Jack Harrison (driving in the SAFE Convertible Series) would win races at this ½-mile dirt oval. The SAFE (Society of Auto Sports, Fellowship, and Education) Convertible Series would eventually be bought out by NASCAR to become the NASCAR Convertible Division
in 1955. However, even the NASCAR Convertible Series would be short-lived and become permanently disbanded after 1959. This was due to the fact that multiple sedan passenger automobiles could race on the track much more safely with the increasingly faster speeds than their convertible counterparts.
Both of the Cup Series races spanned 100 miles (160.9 km) and the most expensive purse was $3,765 ($ in today's money). Driving speeds of up to 59.016 mi/h could be sustained on this race track through single-car qualifying. When all cars were on the track, the fastest average speed would be reduced to 50.583 mi/h. The speeds are considered to be slightly inferior to the typical modern highway
which can sustain speeds up to 110 kilometre per hour. Races would typically last less than two hours; with the longest race lasting one hour, fifty-nine minutes, and forty-four seconds.
All forms of automobile discontinued on this track after 1963. The fate of motorcycle and horse racing on the track were left uncertain after the stock cars stopped racing in this venue.
Dixie Classic Fair
The Dixie Classic Fair is an annual fair held in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The fair takes place every autumn on the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds , which is part of the Winston-Salem Entertainment-Sports Complex; the grounds are located adjacent to the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum...
grounds) was a dirt oval track spanning 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) in addition to its primary purpose as a fairground. During the times of the year that it wasn't expected to host a stock car race, this fairground was the home of the annual Winston-Salem Fair/Dixie Classic Fair for Northwest North Carolina along with other events related to the Piedmont Triad
Piedmont Triad
The Piedmont Triad, or Triad, is a north-central region of the U.S. state of North Carolina that consists of the area within and surrounding the three major cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point. This close group or "triad" of cities lies in the Piedmont geographical region of the...
area of North Carolina. The annual fair would traditionally took place in the first week of October.
The location of the race track (which is now exclusively a fairground) could be best described as "near the heart of Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
" as it was positioned near the middle of an important Interstate
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
junction (with Interstate 40
Interstate 40 in North Carolina
Interstate 40 runs through the state of North Carolina from the Tennessee state line in the west to its eastern terminus in Wilmington.-Pigeon River Gorge:...
as the most notable road).
Racing history
The race track component of the fairgrounds was used primarily for NASCARNASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
-style stock car racing
Stock car racing
Stock car racing is a form of automobile racing found mainly in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain, Brazil and Argentina. Traditionally, races are run on oval tracks measuring approximately in length...
and was discarded by the Grand National Series after their 1955
1955 in NASCAR
The 1955 NASCAR Grand National Season began on November 7, 1954 and ended on October 30, 1955. Even though the season was resolved in the course of two different years, all NASCAR personnel were allowed to have their traditional two-month silly season that traditionally comes between mid-November...
season. Most of the races took place on either the summer or early autumn months; although one race took place after what is now called the Dixie Classic Fair (October 31, 1948).
Lee Petty
Lee Petty
Lee Arnold Petty was an American stock car driver in the 1950s and 1960s. He was one of the pioneers of NASCAR, and one of its first superstars. He was born near Randleman, North Carolina.-Career:...
won both the May 29 and August 7 unnamed Grand National Series races on this race course. Fred Dove
Fred Dove
Fred Dove was a NASCAR Grand National driver from Martinsville, Virginia, USA.He competed in 47 races from with one finish in the top-five, 12 top-ten finishes, and 3919 laps of racing experience - the equivalent of . In his entire four-year career, Dove never won a race, led a lap, or started...
would be notable for participating in his last NASCAR Cup Series career race on this track; he would finish in third place out of 23 competitors. Outside of the Cup Series, Fonty Flock
Fonty Flock
Truman Fontello "Fonty" Flock of Fort Payne, Alabama was an early NASCAR driver.-Flock family:He was the brother of NASCAR pioneers Tim Flock and Bob Flock, and the second female NASCAR driver Ethel Mobley...
(in his NASCAR modified vehicle), Curtis Turner
Curtis Turner
Curtis Turner was an early NASCAR driver. In addition to his success in racing, he made a fortune, lost it, and remade it buying and selling timberlands. Throughout his life he developed a reputation for drinking and partying...
(driving in a stock car race that preceded the NASCAR Cup Series), and Jack Harrison (driving in the SAFE Convertible Series) would win races at this ½-mile dirt oval. The SAFE (Society of Auto Sports, Fellowship, and Education) Convertible Series would eventually be bought out by NASCAR to become the NASCAR Convertible Division
NASCAR Convertible Division
The NASCAR Convertible Division was a division of convertible cars early in NASCAR's history.-History:NASCAR purchased SAFE 's all-convertible Circuit of Champions “All Stars” circuit late in 1955. Most drivers did not make the transition to NASCAR's sanction. NASCAR ran the division from 1956...
in 1955. However, even the NASCAR Convertible Series would be short-lived and become permanently disbanded after 1959. This was due to the fact that multiple sedan passenger automobiles could race on the track much more safely with the increasingly faster speeds than their convertible counterparts.
Both of the Cup Series races spanned 100 miles (160.9 km) and the most expensive purse was $3,765 ($ in today's money). Driving speeds of up to 59.016 mi/h could be sustained on this race track through single-car qualifying. When all cars were on the track, the fastest average speed would be reduced to 50.583 mi/h. The speeds are considered to be slightly inferior to the typical modern highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
which can sustain speeds up to 110 kilometre per hour. Races would typically last less than two hours; with the longest race lasting one hour, fifty-nine minutes, and forty-four seconds.
All forms of automobile discontinued on this track after 1963. The fate of motorcycle and horse racing on the track were left uncertain after the stock cars stopped racing in this venue.