The Ford Barn

rockfla · 03-12-2025, 03:33 PM

Came across this picture today....Not sure exactly what year but it was taken at Jacksonville Raceway. The driver was LeeRoy Yarbourgh....Jacksonville saw many of the founding drivers of what is now NASCAR race here quite frequently.....LeeRoy lived here and ultimately died here in Jax. Looks like it "WAS" quite the nice two door and obviously had not been race much, YET!!!

34fordy · 03-12-2025, 03:39 PM

[QUOTE=rockfla;. Looks like it "WAS" quite the nice two door and obviously had not been race much, YET!!![/QUOTE]

One of the "good ol' boys! When ya lead the pack ya don't get beat up. LOL

rockfla · 03-12-2025, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 34fordy

One of the "good ol' boys! When ya lead the pack ya don't get beat up. LOL

34fordy
LeeRoy was one of the Top Dogs back in the day.....And he raced against Tiny Lunde, Fireball Roberts and plenty of good "local" drivers.

34fordy · 03-12-2025, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockfla

34fordy
LeeRoy was one of the Top Dogs back in the day.....And he raced against Tiny Lunde, Fireball Roberts and plenty of good "local" drivers.

Yes, I remember all those names. That was dirt track and sand and more enjoyable and exciting to me than all the high dollar "Team" racing of today! I went to an Indy car race in Newton Iowa a few years ago. Never saw such boring racing in my life.

Tim Ayers · 03-12-2025, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 34fordy

One of the "good ol' boys! When ya lead the pack ya don't get beat up. LOL

Your right. The grille even looks pretty straight

petehoovie · 03-12-2025, 04:10 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by rockfla

Came across this picture today....Not sure exactly what year but it was taken at Jacksonville Raceway. The driver was LeeRoy Yarbourgh....Jacksonville saw many of the founding drivers of what is now NASCAR race here quite frequently.....LeeRoy lived here and ultimately died here in Jax. Looks like it "WAS" quite the nice two door and obviously had not been race much, YET!!!

1942deluxe · 03-12-2025, 06:42 PM

The first NASCAR race I remember was the 1969 Daytona 500 which LeeRoy won in a Torino Talladega. I suspect he had too many head injuries, but Jr. Johnson said he was the most fearless driver he ever saw. His life ended in a very sad way. Ronnie Van Zant and buddies (Lynyrd Skynyrd) used to stop at LeeRoy's to watch them work on the race cars. He said he wanted to become as famous as Leeroy. No doubt he did but died in a plane crash. Both just tragic stories but both had their moment of glory.

rockfla · 03-13-2025, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1942deluxe

The first NASCAR race I remember was the 1969 Daytona 500 which LeeRoy won in a Torino Talladega. I suspect he had too many head injuries, but Jr. Johnson said he was the most fearless driver he ever saw. His life ended in a very sad way. Ronnie Van Zant and buddies (Lynyrd Skynyrd) used to stop at LeeRoy's to watch them work on the race cars. He said he wanted to become as famous as Leeroy. No doubt he did but died in a plane crash. Both just tragic stories but both had their moment of glory.

1942Deluxe
You seem to know some pretty intimate details on Jacksonville history? Two of the VanZant boys had the paper route in our neighborhood back in 66 when my parents moved here. There was also a couple of pretty well known performance/engine builders here from back in the day and from the racing circuit. Towards the end LeeRoy didn't even know who he was!!!!

1942deluxe · 03-13-2025, 08:17 AM

Leeroy.jpg
Rockfla,
Just what I've read on both subjects. There was an article I think titled "LeeRoy doesn't live here anymore" several years back that detailed his decline. I remember reading an article where he had a bad crash in Texas I think and caught a ride home on Cale Yarborough's airplane. Cale said LeeRoy didn't even know who he was on the return flight. NASCAR today has a concussion protocol which was long overdue. I credit Dale Jr. for that. In the old days if you missed a race, you likely lost your ride and maybe career. Fred Lorenzen's daughter was convinced his dementia was caused by concussions.

petehoovie · 03-13-2025, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1942deluxe

Attachment 562621
Rockfla,
Just what I've read on both subjects. There was an article I think titled "LeeRoy doesn't live here anymore" several years back that detailed his decline. I remember reading an article where he had a bad crash in Texas I think and caught a ride home on Cale Yarborough's airplane. Cale said LeeRoy didn't even know who he was on the return flight. NASCAR today has a concussion protocol which was long overdue. I credit Dale Jr. for that. In the old days if you missed a race, you likely lost your ride and maybe career. Fred Lorenzen's daughter was convinced his dementia was caused by concussions.

alchemy · 03-13-2025, 09:33 AM

Not to pick bits, but the sedan is a 33. Even on race cars back then they were tossing the 33 grilles to replace with 34’s.

rockfla · 03-13-2025, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alchemy

Not to pick bits, but the sedan is a 33. Even on race cars back then they were tossing the 33 grilles to replace with 34’s.

Or in this case, grill & hood. AND Standard since we are picking "bits"

rockfla · 03-13-2025, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alchemy

Not to pick bits, but the sedan is a 33. Even on race cars back then they were tossing the 33 grilles to replace with 34’s.

SO.....I know there are differences between 33 & 34 in the belt molding are and around the window openings IF I remember correctly BUT Is that how you are telling its 33???

alchemy · 03-13-2025, 11:08 AM

Yes. I guess it could be all 34 with just 33 doors.

cas3 · 03-13-2025, 11:12 AM

Does not have the thinggys for the smoker window at the back of the door

rockfla · 03-13-2025, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cas3

Does not have the thinggys for the smoker window at the back of the door

Ahhh, Yes!!!

scicala · 03-15-2025, 05:11 PM

Also has two latches on each side of the hood, which is '34.

03-12-2025, 03:39 PM	#2
34fordy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Fort dodge, Iowa Posts: 1,228	Re: 34 race car [QUOTE=rockfla;. Looks like it "WAS" quite the nice two door and obviously had not been race much, YET!!![/QUOTE] One of the "good ol' boys! When ya lead the pack ya don't get beat up. LOL

03-12-2025, 06:42 PM	#7
1942deluxe Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Albion, PA Posts: 986	Re: 34 race car The first NASCAR race I remember was the 1969 Daytona 500 which LeeRoy won in a Torino Talladega. I suspect he had too many head injuries, but Jr. Johnson said he was the most fearless driver he ever saw. His life ended in a very sad way. Ronnie Van Zant and buddies (Lynyrd Skynyrd) used to stop at LeeRoy's to watch them work on the race cars. He said he wanted to become as famous as Leeroy. No doubt he did but died in a plane crash. Both just tragic stories but both had their moment of glory.

03-13-2025, 08:17 AM	#9
1942deluxe Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Albion, PA Posts: 986	Re: 34 race car Leeroy.jpg Rockfla, Just what I've read on both subjects. There was an article I think titled "LeeRoy doesn't live here anymore" several years back that detailed his decline. I remember reading an article where he had a bad crash in Texas I think and caught a ride home on Cale Yarborough's airplane. Cale said LeeRoy didn't even know who he was on the return flight. NASCAR today has a concussion protocol which was long overdue. I credit Dale Jr. for that. In the old days if you missed a race, you likely lost your ride and maybe career. Fred Lorenzen's daughter was convinced his dementia was caused by concussions.

03-13-2025, 09:33 AM	#11
alchemy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: middle of Iowa Posts: 890	Re: 34 race car Not to pick bits, but the sedan is a 33. Even on race cars back then they were tossing the 33 grilles to replace with 34’s.

03-13-2025, 11:08 AM	#14
alchemy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: middle of Iowa Posts: 890	Re: 34 race car Yes. I guess it could be all 34 with just 33 doors.

03-13-2025, 11:12 AM	#15
cas3 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Beverly Kansas Posts: 5,301	Re: 34 race car Does not have the thinggys for the smoker window at the back of the door

03-15-2025, 05:11 PM	#17
scicala Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Detroit suburb, MI Posts: 3,794	Re: 34 race car Also has two latches on each side of the hood, which is '34.