Odum Library
dc.contributor.author | Berrien County Historical Society | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2025-07-23T16:59:04Z | |
dc.date.available | 2025-07-23T16:59:04Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2025 | |
dc.identifier.other | CA/012/002/017 | |
dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10428/7599 | |
dc.description | This item contains 1 PDF with 4 pages in addition to 4 JP2 files | en_US |
dc.description.abstract | This document details the history and cultural significance of dirt track racing in South Georgia, particularly within Berrien County. From its early "Jalopy" days in the 1940s and 50s to "Stock Car" racing by the 1960s, it became a staple Saturday night activity for many families. The Thunderbowl Speedway in Valdosta, a 3/8-mile oval, was a prominent venue that operated from 1959 until its final closure in 1999, attracting numerous local teams. A key figure highlighted is Jimmy Griffin of Nashville, Georgia, renowned for his ingenuity as a racecar builder. Griffin famously challenged the dominance of Ford flatheads by building a highly successful Chevrolet #60, which, despite bending rules, became a fan favorite and a formidable competitor, even leading to rule changes to accommodate its innovation. The newsletter also mentions other area tracks, such as the short-lived Ocilla Speedway, which closed in the 1950s due to liability concerns after an accident. | en_US |
dc.language.iso | en_US | en_US |
dc.subject | Berrien County (Ga.) | en_US |
dc.subject | Berrien County Historical Foundation (Nashville; Ga.) | en_US |
dc.subject | Nashville (Ga.) | en_US |
dc.subject | Newsletters | en_US |
dc.subject | Periodicals | en_US |
dc.subject | Berrien County (Ga.)--History--Sources | en_US |
dc.subject | Electronic records | en_US |
dc.subject | Grady County (Ga.)--History | en_US |
dc.subject | Historic preservation--Georgia--Berrien County | en_US |
dc.title | Old Berrien Newsletters Vol 7. No.2. | en_US |
dc.type | Text | en_US |