Now this TICKS me OFF!!!

[Don Nerone]

what is bone man dooing with rustys shorts.don62

[Frasson118]

Okay..... who pissed in Rusty's Wheaties?

Seriously Rusty, until you posted something the other day, I hadn't heard anything about it. Most people don't have a clue about the Marion Edwards story, or anything about the history, past winners, etc.

How about some hype from the track? Someone has to tell WHY it's important, not just that it IS important.

If your intent is to pass around the blame why this hasn't gotten more attention, then you're blaming the wrong people.

[Boneman]

Right on Frass, we need a historian to fill us in on the story of the racing Edwards family, and the sad loss of one of their sons.

[Boneman]

what is bone man dooing with rustys shorts.don62

Ha! Good one. Those are actually MY rah rah shorts.

[JD99]

Okay..... who pissed in Rusty's Wheaties?

Seriously Rusty, until you posted something the other day, I hadn't heard anything about it. Most people don't have a clue about the Marion Edwards story, or anything about the history, past winners, etc.

How about some hype from the track? Someone has to tell WHY it's important, not just that it IS important.

If your intent is to pass around the blame why this hasn't gotten more attention, then you're blaming the wrong people.

Yep, this is where I am on this.....

[al_tere_go_05]

who was Marion Edwards? was he the one who's car cought fire and couldnt bet his belts undone?

[Denman]

Yes, that's correct, it was "Little" Marion Edwards. Frass ,Boneman or others prob have more info on the man and his family.

[Trash Inturn4]

Marion Edwards Jr., Memorial Race
A young Marion Edwards, Jr., "Little Marion" was a second generation driver. He learned helping on his father's cars and by the late 1960's he was fielding his own Chevelle late model. A familiar face as a child at Hialeah Speedway as his father was active with the Greater Miami Racing Association. The G.M.R.A. operated the speedway from its inception in 1954 until it's closing.

On July 5, 1969 Sunday Marion and others from South Florida went to New Smyrna Speedway for a 100 lap late model special event. Fuels cells were not yet mandatory in short track cars nor were drivers required to wear fire suits for protection.

Edwards' car had a leaking fuel tank and despite his and others best efforts they could not completely stop the leak. In the feature Edwards' car made contact with the wall and the leaking fuel ignited and the car was ablaze. The bigger problem was that Edwards was using a seat belt and shoulder harness setup with a different locking mechanism and it would not release.

Despite the efforts of Edwards and some other drivers and crewmen, they could not release Edwards' belts and he perished in the fire.

The inaugural Marion Edwards Memorial 200 was held at Hialeah in October 1969 with Bobby Brack the winner and it continued each year (except 1995) through 2004.

Hialeah Speedway closed in August 2005. Of all the big special events held yearly at Hialeah the Marion Edwards was easily the most popular and carried the most prestige over time

[Trash Inturn4]

Past Winners

At Hialeah Speedway & New Smyrna Speedway

Marion Edwards Jr., or “Little Marion” as he was known, was fatally injured in a late model race at New Smyrna Speedway on Sunday afternoon July 5, 1969 when his Chevelle caught fire and he was unable to release his belts and harness and escape. Despite the efforts of many he perished in the fire. A second- generation driver of a well-respected racing family at Hialeah Speedway, this race annually honors his memory.

Click on Winner to see Pic

10-25-69 Bobby Brack #0 (1st win) 200 laps

10-24-70 Randy Tissot #0 (1) 200 laps

11-17- 71 Butch Sousa #29 200 laps

11-11-72 Randy Tissot #74 (2) 200 laps

11-17-73 Billy Barnwell #6 200 laps

11-16-74 Bobby Brack #74 (2) 200 laps

10-25-75 Larry Rogero #17 (1) 200 laps

10-30-76 Mike McCrary #M5 200 laps

11-12-77 Speedy Reeves #21 200 laps

11-11-78 Gary Balough #30 (1) 200 laps (105 rain)

10-27-79 Larry Rogero #17 (2) 150 laps

11-08-80 Bobby Coyle #237(a) 50 laps

Dick Anderson #92 50 laps

11-21-81 Tom Duckworth #25 (late model) (1) 50 laps

Mike Borghi #94 (limited late model) 50 laps

11-13-82 Tom Duckworth #25 (2) 100 laps

11-12-83 Mike Eddy #88 200 laps

11-10-84 Gary Balough #112 (2) 200 laps

11-09-85 Gary Balough #112 (3) (b) 200 laps

11-23-86 Dick Anderson #92 (1) 100 laps

Dick Anderson #92 (2) 100 laps

11-07-87 Lee Holloway #25 (a) 100 laps

Dick Anderson #92 100 laps

11-19-88 Joe Winchell #37 (1) 100 laps

11-18-89 Larry Rogero #17 (3) (c) 100 laps

11-17-90 Darryl Shelnut #7 (1) (c) 100 laps

Larry Rogero #17 (4) 100 laps

11-16-91 Dick Anderson #92 (3) 100 laps

03-20-93 Larry Rogero #17 (5) (a) (d) 100 laps (rain in ’92)

11-13-93 Darryl Shelnut #7 (2) 100 laps

11-20-94 Jim McCoy #64 100 laps

1995 No Race

11-23-96 Larry Rogero (6) 100 laps

11-15-97 Joe Winchell #57 (tie) (2) (e) 100 laps

Danny Maddox #82 (tie) (e)

11-21-98 David Russell #36 (f) 125 laps

10-30-99 Dick Anderson #00 (4) (f) 125 laps

12-09-00 Mike Franklin, Jr #72 50 laps

12-08-01 Darryl Shelnut #7 (3) 100 laps

12-07-02 Joe Winchell #2 (3) 100 laps

12-06-03 Darryl Shelnut #77 (4) 100 laps

10-23-04 Wayne Anderson #84 (1) 100 laps

2005-2008 No Races

11-15-08 Wayne Anderson #84 (2) (g) 75 laps



(a) Had better combined finish and was declared overall winner.

(b) All Pro (Bob Harmon) sanctioned event.

(c) GMRA/USA (Don Nerone) co-sanctioned event.

(d) Three race The Winston style format.

(e) Winchell flagged the winner but post-race decision declared tie after controversial lap 96 incident.

(f) Florida Pro Series (Bert Ashleman) sanctioned event.

(g) Race held at New Smyrna Speedway

[Winger]

Thanks for the history Doug. I've never heard the story before and I'm sure many others haven't either.
Rusty, I applaud your enthusiasm, but I think your anger is targeted at the wrong people. Also, if you're still fighting the Civil War, the north/south line is know as the Mason/Dixon line, or The Missouri Compromise line if you're talking about slavery. I know the definition in Florida varies. To the snowbirds, north refers to the area they are from. To the local crackers, north refers to any location north of where that person is standing. To the Florida racers, north refers to any track north of the Florida border, although the tracks in the panhandle are considered northern tracks by some. Now I have relatives in much of the US and the sister I have in Louisiana is much more southern than anyone I've met in Florida. In every way possible. LOL

[Mark Keeler]

To add to the above:

Oct. 23, 2009 - #33 Jeff Choquette (Sunbelt Series Event)(Orlando Speedworld) - 100 laps
Oct. 23, 2010 - #36 Tim Russell (Bright House Race)(New Smyrna Speedway) - 50 laps
Oct. 29, 2011 - #27 Bobby Good (Bright House Race)(New Smyrna Speedway) - 50 laps

I used to have a complete breakdown and back story for this race printed in the Souvenir Programs every year. BIG THANKS to Marty Little and Dave Westerman as they have been instrumental in preserving the history of this event.

As a side-note, in my research this morning, I found this will be the 40th running of this Race this year.

[Rusty the 50/50 Guy]

THANK YOU!!! This post did EXACTLY what I wanted it to do!!!! This folks is OUR history in Florida racing!!! This young man gave it ALL and that needs to be respected and remembered! Did you by chance look at the names of the winners of this race? WOW!

Marty Little was the driving force in getting this race back on track...for this we should be grateful! The family...who are wonderful by the way...had concerns as to if this race should be brought back...maybe it should be put away into the archives of racing history. They (the family) graciously let it come back! I for one do not want them...especially..disappointed!

WE....WE..the racers and the fans have control over this aspect of racing..WE can keep our history alive! We do not have to leave it up to the tracks to do this...WE can do it! AND if we don't all of our history will be forgotten about!

If you look at my other post about the race...only just over 100 looks...look at the number of looks this one had! I feel vindicated that we have educated some folks on this event and what it means to Florida racers!

I REALLY hope it is a GREAT event!!! And I want to give a HUGE THANKS to the Edwards family for letting us have it back!!!

[Frasson118]

"WE" educated people....?

Update that to "Doug Wachtel educated us". Thanks a bunch Doug for taking the time to search out and post the story. It's hard to drum up support and interest in a tragic story that happened 43 years ago.

Face it.... most of us were either not in Florida at the time, or maybe not even born yet. This wasn't a story that most of us were close to. Blaming the fans for 'not getting behind this' isn't a fair assessment.... most just don't have a CLUE who Marion Edwards was....

Why not a Bruce Everett Memorial? He affected a LOT of local racers and fans. I know Speedworld did do one for Bruce several years ago, I did attend to support the survivors, but I thought the track did a LOUSY job of honoring the man. He was barely mentioned all night, nobody ever told his story to the fans, and to my knowledge, the Memorial race was never repeated.

If ANYONE ever showed full support for the Fascar tracks, it was Bruce.

[Denman]

Thanks to everyone for getting the story posted. As Frasson 118 has mentioned, I was one of those who didn't live here at the time. I remembered part of Marion Edwards disaster from a program I had purchased at the OSW/NSS event. Also thanks to Voice/Mark for getting us the recent races at OSW/NSS. Will there be a program for this year's event? If not, why couldn't a Marion Edwards article be added to the Gov Cup program?

[Mark Keeler]

I will have the handouts like we've been doing all year this year. I will be adding the story (from the past Souvenir Programs / Same story that is posted above that I published for a couple years) as well as past winners and some other info to the handout, similar to what I did for the Clyde Hart Race.

There will not be an actual "Souvenir Program" for sale at this event as we have not been able to do any of the multi-page, larger publications this year.

I should know later today if I will be able to do a Governor's Cup Program and that is certainly a great idea and something to keep in mind. If I am allowed to do a Governor's Cup Program this year, I will be posting the info here as I will need to start selling advertisements fairly soon.