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A Living History Of VIR - The Early Years - Now Available
Bill King, longtime motorsports publicist, journalist and race series organizer, has just completed the first installment of a history of Virginia International Raceway. “The Early Years (1956-59)” covers the history of the southern Virginia plot of land from the 1800s; its transformation into a very fast and technical race track; and the first three tumultuous years of competition.
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It is available by using the attached order form.
According to King, the history will be published in four serialized installments, taking us to the present. “It’s an unusual presentation with the four sections being printed in loose-leaf format on 10” X 16” pages to be clipped into an official binder,” he explains. “Once we’re up to the present, we’ll print a coffee table version for those who want it. However, we’ll also publish an annual update that can be clipped into the back of your binder – thus, A Living History.
“In Part 1, I’ve put the track’s emergence into the context of road racing in 1950’s America,” King adds. “There are lots of old photos. Emphasis is on the founders and on the racing stars of the day, many of whom were early members of the Road Racing Drivers Club – Walt Hansgen, Briggs Cunningham, Carroll Shelby, Dick Thompson, Bob Holbert, Roger Penske, Gaston Andrey, Ed Crawford, Charlie Wallace, Doc Wyllie, Fred Windridge, Frank Dominianni, Frank Baptista, Paul O’Shea and a dozen others.
“I’m starting work on “Part 2, The Rembold Years” that will take us to the track’s closing in 1974. Paul Rembold was the promoter. I’m hoping to have this section done by late summer."
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