Governor's Cup memories

[Boneman]

The last lottery was won by a very questionable character...

Ha, and you guys never figured out how. The secret was to pick last. Yep, that is how I controlled the action on the track.

Rest assured that I spent the money foolishly.

I seem to remember another year when one of the Frassapoolsa guests put up a tent in the driveway of the NSS parking lot, and due to his incredibly advanced state of inebriation, required lots of expert help with the "erection process", so to speak. Fortunately I was on hand to chronicle the action with my camera, and to make a website about it.

[Frasson118]

The infamous Ian. That was hilarious.

My first Gov Cup was at GG about 1983 or 84. Jimmy Cope win, but I don't recall much of the race itself. Mainly because it was the first time I'd ever seen most of the racers in the field. I was in awe about WHO was there much more than how they ran.

Guys I'd only read about before like Denny Nyari, Ed Howe, Mark Malcuit, Dave Weltmeyer, etc... That was the coolest part.

Since it moved to NSS, I've seen most, if not all of them. The BBQ's have been a lot of fun, and grateful to have put names with faces. I'm sure there's been well over 100 people that have come to it through the years.

[egspeedway]

I have to concur with Dave regarding Wayne's win over Bobby. 2 things stand out in my memory. Wayne actually exited turn 4 wide enough for Bobby to get a fender under him but Bobby did not drive through and Wayne won. The second is that one of my favorite photos is the one of Buzzie running through the infield towards the finish line. Also where ese could you sit in the shade outside the pits.

[Jimmy McKinley]

My first Gov Cup was at GG about 1983 or 84. Jimmy Cope win, but I don't recall much of the race itself.

If it was Cope's win, it was the 1982 race. Mike Eddy won it in '81, and LeRoy won the last one at the 'Gate in '83.

I really appreciate you guys posting all these old memories and pictures you have. I started going to asphalt races in 1980 at New Smyrna, but didn't attend attended a Gov Cup until it was at NSS. Question, what was Golden Gate Speedway like? Does it compare to any current tracks?

Golden Gate doesn't really compare to any other Florida track that I can think of. It was a 1/3-mile, fairly narrow, no wall from turn one all the way to turn four; the pit entrance/exit was a ramp off of turn three that "bridged" a ditch; that "ditch" also ran from turn one all the way around to turn three. Many cars ended up either driving or sliding off. There was a steel "fence" also around the track's corners, outside of the "ditch". Long corners and short straightaways, almost a circle. Covered grandstands down the fronstretch; high-backed stadium-style seats in turn four; had a Figure 8 in the infield as well, that served as "pit road" during the Governor's Cup races. Teams would set up their pit along the "X" and elsewhere in the infield.

I *believe* that the first Governor's Cup at New Smyrna was 1988, with Dickie Anderson winning in Buddy Foster's car...

Aerial shot of the track; pits are off of backstretch:



Here's the car that Bobby Allison drove to a second-place finish in the first Governor's Cup race (1965), that Wayne Reutinmann won:

[Jimmy McKinley]

Until today, I have *never* seen a picture of Jack Arnold's 1971-Governor's Cup -winning car. Jack was a staunch Ford guy and normally drove a Mustang, but, I believe (if I recall the story) that the Mustang either was wrecked or blew up a motor the week preceding the Cup that year, and they wouldn't have that car ready in time. He proceeded to stomp the field by a full two laps that year:

[jacko241]

Jimmy, thanks for the great info and pictures!

[Richard Golardi]

Thanks for starting the thread Boneman.

My Governor's Cup memories are minimal, so I went to the guy who won the inaugural Governor's Cup race 50 years ago, Wayne Reutimann. His memories make a much better story, and here it is:

http://www.hoseheads.com/richard.html

[lmracer]

Governor's Cup tailgate?