PLNewman

I covered my first Daytona race on July 4, 1970 as a sports reporter/photographer for WFTV (Channel 9) in Orlando. There were four photo nests on the roof of the old grandstand. The broadcast network was assigned one (shown here on the right) for a camera position. The other three nests went to each of the three local TV stations. WESH (Channel 2) got the one closest to the network nest. Channels 9 and 6 got the nests on the western side of the grandstand. Getting to them was as frightening as standing on them. Each had a rickety wooden 3-foot-wide boardwalk leading out to it. No handrails. The nest itself had a laughable 3-foot-high banister of rotted wood and rusty nails. When the field went by, the grandstand shook and we were peppered with flying chunks of tire rubber. That's Richard Petty behind the wheel with an open-face helmet, wearing a t-shirt. And, yes, they had a telephone pole in the middle of the tri-oval...but it was protected by orange cones.

Mike Roblin

That telephone pole was obviously there to protect the flagpole...

But in all seriousness, what a cool photo and story!

PLNewman

Treaded tires. Trash on the grill. Pouring gas in with a funnel. Probably a lap seatbelt. A hard steering wheel ready to cave your teeth in. The good old days.

needmoregarage

Any more photos? Great story - thanks for sharing. My husband especially enjoyed reading your comments and studying the photo.

We were talking about David Pearson and how he had a cigarette lighter installed in his dashboard so he could smoke during pit stops (as they poured fuel in)!

Veloce Raptor

Wow!!!!

br911

Very cool. Thank you for sharing

Mahler9th

Thanks for sharing.

I remember watching NASCAR races on TV around that era... I was in grade school.

Great memories.

LuigiVampa

Very cool and also explains why drivers died so much more frequently.

I think about similar issues when I drive any of my vintage cars around town.

PLNewman

Glen Fisher, a TV pal of mine who worked at a Jacksonville station back then adds.... "My first experience at Daytona was 1969 for WFGA now WTLV CH-12. Same far end roof location. When that 42-car starting field came down for the green flag, the roof was shaking and the noise deafening. It’s a moment forever etched in my memory. Love covering Daytona." Glen was one of the few people in local media who covered the racing exploits of Peter Gregg, who lived in Jacksonville and was a 4-time winner of the Daytona 24 Hours.