12 replies to this topic

[Graham Clayton]

For the 19th race of the 1950 NASCAR season, which was held at the Occoneechee Speedway at Hillsboro, North Carolina, Bill Blair's '50 Olsmobile had the unusual number #41.5.
It was the only time that Blair used this number during the season. Does anyone know the reason why he chose such an unusual number?

[Lee Nicolle]

For the 19th race of the 1950 NASCAR season, which was held at the Occoneechee Speedway at Hillsboro, North Carolina, Bill Blair's '50 Olsmobile had the unusual number #41.5.
It was the only time that Blair used this number during the season. Does anyone know the reason why he chose such an unusual number?

The same as the ex Harry Neale 4 1/2 midget.

[arttidesco]

I wonder what the chances are of turning up a photo of Bill Blair in the #41.5 ?

[ensign14]

He used it a few times in 1951. Presumably, as implied by Lee, it was 4 and a half but 41.5 is how it has been typed into the database.

[HistoricMustang]

Not sure if this helps any.

Henry

http://www.historics...ar-numbers.html

[D-Type]

I know nothing about the minutae of NASCAR so can only speculate:
Might it have been "41 and a half" rather than "4 and a half"?
Two cars turn up with "4" or "41" so Bill Blair added the 1/2?
Spare car for numbers 41 and 42 (if they rose to the luxury of spares in 1950), some sort of mickey take in response to petty officialdom?
An advertising reason like the British car #208 which was sponsored by Radio Luxembourg (208 on the medium waveband)?

It will be interesting to find out.

Is there any forum that covers the history of NASCAR? I can only think of Trackforum - but that's really Indianapolis-centric

[RStock]

The results I checked show Curtis Turner ran a car #41.

It's common in short track racing even to this day that when two cars show up with the same number, one must add a number. That was probably just Blair's way of doing do.

[HistoricMustang]

Curtis Turner used #41 that season on his Oldsmobile so the theory that Bill Blair arrived with the same number and added .5 seems to hold some water.

I love a sense of humor.

[HistoricMustang]

Robby, sorry I walked on you.

The plot thickens.

Same number 41.5 used at other tracks. This one Daytona so betting there is a good chance of a photograph.

http://racing-refere.../race/1951-01/W

http://racing-refere.......n=1&yr=1951

Edited by HistoricMustang, 07 January 2012 - 21:08.

[RStock]

Same number 41.5 used at other tracks. This one Daytona so betting there is a good chance of a photograph.

Ask and ye shall receive.


http://www.chautauqu...billrexford.php

[HistoricMustang]

TNF continues to be an amazing place!

More on Bill Blair here.

You will have to sign up which I suggest. Am amazed at the photo base developing at this site.

http://stockcar.race...ch?q=bill blair

Edited by HistoricMustang, 07 January 2012 - 21:32.

[D-Type]

Ask and ye shall receive.


http://www.chautauqu...billrexford.php

How in the name of all that's holy did you manage to find that? I'm impressed!

[RStock]

How in the name of all that's holy did you manage to find that? I'm impressed!

It's takes years and years of experience and knowledge plus countless hours of dedicated research.

Or you can do as I did and go to google images and type in "Bill Blair NASCAR".