12.29.03_045_MYS_WAL_0060

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Date:	Visitor's Name:	Comment:
01/05/04	Terry Kelleher	Wow. There is a great story behind that picture! This photo of Bobby Allison was taken at Wall Stadium on a Wednesday evening in late August 1965. The Sunday before the Annual Trenton 200 had been washed out and rescheduled for the following Sunday. All of the NASCAR and open greats of Modified Stock Car Racing from all over the East Coast had come to Trenton, New Jersey for a shot of the big pay-off. Some had traveled great distances and the tow home and back to New Jersey would be too much of a strain on both time and budget. Therefore many elected to stay in the New Jersey area and hope for some local speedway "tide me over" money. As it happened the late Jenny Nicole (always one to help local health- care charities) had months earlier to let some local first-aid squads plan to promote a special Wednesday night 100 lap Modified race. Knowing this many "out of town" hot shots decided to take on Wall Stadiums high banks. A truly spectacular field of cars and drivers were in the pits that intervening Wednesday. Bobby Allison had just sold his # 312 Chevrolet Coupe to former NASCAR national champion Jack Hart (a Wall Stadium regular) and would then drive the Perk Brown coupe, as he would in Trenton. Time trials were used to set the starting grid. When the dust settled Allison and Joe Kelly driving Dick Barneys 3 window coupe had set fast time. (in later years Dick Bergrin of Stock Car Racing Magazine would call that little coupe "The car that changed Modifieds forever.") Kelly always the showman and crowd pleaser walked to Allison's pit before the start of the feature and asked him if he would want to make a show of it for the crowd. Allison a National Modified Champion was not inclined to do so and told Kelly in no uncertain terms that he was going to run and run hard, and for him to keep out of my way. As usual for a Dick Barney race car the 14 was handling perfectly that night. Kelly was able to pass on the inside or the outside something not having been seen before on the high banks. Kelly toyed with Allison all race long. By the time the checker flag dropped Kelly had lapped the entire field not one but twice! Back into the pits Kelly slowed as he passed Allison's pit gave him a grin of the victorious and a wave of the hand. Allison, a might unhappy at point, unfastened his helmet THREW it out of the coupe then stormed over to the Barney/Kelly pit. "Don't you ever do that again", he said to all who would hear. Considering his volume that was probably most of New Jersey. Later on that evening a calmer Allison was heard to have said, "We got a problem come next Sunday."
01/12/04	Tom Adamec	It just so happens that Bobby kept that car a Racz's Garage in Keasby. My dad worked on the yellow and black #41. The Saturday before they had to tear down the motor. When they decided what parts were needed, my dad took Bobby to get what he needed Sunday morning of the race, after Bobby and his pregnant wife went to church....
05/28/04	Kerry Viar	Let's see......Allison goes to Wall Stadium, one of the toughest little bowls to drive anywhere, qualifies second,then finishes second behind a driver that has driven the track hundreds of times. I've never read much about Kelly doing well at Martinsville or Bowman Gray either. Kerry Viar

Photo ID #	12.29.03_045_MYS_WAL_0060_1
Car #:	#45
Driver (s) :	Bobby Allison
Location:	Wall Stadium
Date:	1960's
Photographer:	Charlie Taylor
Photo provided by:	Lee Taylor
Comments:	Imagine my surprise when I went to post this picture and saw this fellow standing next to the #45 usually driven by Perk Brown..... See the story below for the rest of the story.