When the old timers and factory drivers were trying to beat Nelson Stacy before the '61 Southern 500 even started, they told him all about how newcomers would need oxygen before the race was over and how tough "the Lady in Black" was on rookies and Fireball Roberts said that he couldn't believe that Stacy's Ford didn't have power steering.
All that stuff fell on the deaf ears of a former tank driver for Patton that chased Rommel's Afrika Corps all over the desert. By the time the race was over Fireball was in the pits getting oxygen himself and his relief driver Marvin Panch was watching Stacy's yellow Ford pull into victory lane after having run him down and pass him in the closing laps.
I always thought that was one of the prettiest racing Fords ever so when I found a mint '61 Starliner I couldn't wait to scrape off the chrome side trim and yank out the seats. After thoroughly ruining a collector's item, this is what I wound up with, just another Ol' Redneck Race Car!
