1
00:00:01,100 --> 00:00:02,667
[Josh] When these moonshiners
were bootlegging,
2
00:00:02,667 --> 00:00:03,767
they had souped up cars
3
00:00:03,767 --> 00:00:06,266
and they'd leave the cops
in the dust.
4
00:00:06,266 --> 00:00:09,600
[narrator]
The centuries-old conflict
in the American South
5
00:00:10,266 --> 00:00:14,100
between moonshiners
and revenuers
6
00:00:14,100 --> 00:00:18,600
spawned fast cars,
daring drivers,
7
00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:21,000
and countless
criminal exploits.
8
00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:23,300
[Mark] Police had factories
show 'em stock cars
9
00:00:23,300 --> 00:00:25,667
in which to chase
these bootleggers.
10
00:00:25,667 --> 00:00:29,166
Bootleggers had a little bit
of expendable mining.
11
00:00:29,166 --> 00:00:31,100
[narrator]
But one crime stands out
12
00:00:31,100 --> 00:00:34,367
in the history of these
dangerous back roads.
13
00:00:34,367 --> 00:00:37,567
[Tim] The thing is,
when you're in an illegal
liquor business,
14
00:00:37,567 --> 00:00:39,767
anytime you start dealing
with money and family,
15
00:00:39,767 --> 00:00:40,533
more than unlikely,
16
00:00:40,533 --> 00:00:42,100
you're gonna have
some problems.
17
00:00:42,700 --> 00:00:44,467
[narrator] In 1941,
18
00:00:44,467 --> 00:00:46,166
moonshiner Lloyd Seay
19
00:00:46,166 --> 00:00:50,100
was one of the fastest outlaws
the South had ever seen...
20
00:00:50,100 --> 00:00:51,567
[announcer]
Spike drop, they're off.
21
00:00:51,567 --> 00:00:55,266
[narrator]
...and on the cusp of becoming
a national racing champion.
22
00:00:55,266 --> 00:00:58,000
Until he was murdered
in cold blood
23
00:00:59,266 --> 00:01:01,767
over a few bags of sugar.
24
00:01:01,767 --> 00:01:05,000
[Josh] How awful to die
at 21 years old
25
00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:07,300
and be one of the most
promising race car drivers
26
00:01:07,300 --> 00:01:09,266
that's ever walked
the face of the planet.
27
00:01:09,266 --> 00:01:10,900
It just don't even seem real.
28
00:01:10,900 --> 00:01:13,867
[narrator]
The shocking tragedy
would cement Lloyd's legacy
29
00:01:13,867 --> 00:01:17,700
as the founding martyr
of American stock car racing,
30
00:01:17,700 --> 00:01:20,767
and serve as a warning
to others on the dangers
31
00:01:20,767 --> 00:01:24,066
of the outlaw life
in the Appalachian backwoods.
32
00:01:24,066 --> 00:01:27,967
The fact that Lloyd was shot
over a bag or two of sugar,
33
00:01:27,967 --> 00:01:30,266
it makes me feel
that there was a conflict
34
00:01:30,266 --> 00:01:33,000
that went much deeper
than some sugar.
35
00:01:49,700 --> 00:01:52,266
Here we are
in downtown Dawsonville,
Georgia.
36
00:01:52,266 --> 00:01:54,800
Lived here all my life,
changed very little.
37
00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:55,800
Nearly like it was.
38
00:01:56,867 --> 00:01:59,800
This was the moonshine capital
of the world.
39
00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:03,667
The moonshining era
has become popular again,
40
00:02:03,667 --> 00:02:07,400
and the moonshine stories
is on TV now.
41
00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:08,867
Well, it was authentic here.
42
00:02:08,867 --> 00:02:11,634
There was no story.
It was a way of life.
43
00:02:12,767 --> 00:02:16,100
I was a star race car driver,
44
00:02:16,100 --> 00:02:17,867
and my dad was Gober Sosebee,
45
00:02:17,867 --> 00:02:20,500
one of the early
stock car pioneers.
46
00:02:20,500 --> 00:02:21,867
And he ran moonshine.
47
00:02:21,867 --> 00:02:25,367
That's where he honed
in his driving skills.
48
00:02:25,367 --> 00:02:28,967
[narrator] The skills
these moonshine runners learn
hauling liquor
49
00:02:28,967 --> 00:02:33,467
contributed directly
to Dawsonville's
other claim to fame.
50
00:02:33,467 --> 00:02:35,367
Dawsonville has
a lot of titles,
51
00:02:35,367 --> 00:02:38,567
and one of them
is the birthplace
of stock car racing.
52
00:02:38,567 --> 00:02:41,967
People said, " Well,
there's never been a racetrack
in Dawsonville."
53
00:02:41,967 --> 00:02:43,367
We had Highway 9
54
00:02:43,367 --> 00:02:46,200
that the moonshine runners
ran down to Atlanta.
55
00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:47,800
The curves were treacherous.
56
00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:49,600
That's a pretty
good racetrack.
57
00:02:50,367 --> 00:02:52,667
[narrator]
As early as the 1920s,
58
00:02:52,667 --> 00:02:56,400
bootleggers souped up
stock cars to outrun the law
59
00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:59,667
and deliver illegal liquor
to thirsty drinkers
60
00:02:59,667 --> 00:03:02,000
first on back country roads
61
00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:04,634
then for prize money
on oval tracks.
62
00:03:08,367 --> 00:03:09,266
[commentator] And they're off.
63
00:03:09,266 --> 00:03:11,767
It's a sight to thrill
to any race man.
64
00:03:11,767 --> 00:03:14,667
[narrator]
After prohibition ended
in the 1930s,
65
00:03:14,667 --> 00:03:18,367
the sport of stock car racing
exploded in popularity
66
00:03:18,367 --> 00:03:20,500
with hard-charging
former outlaws
67
00:03:20,500 --> 00:03:24,367
like Red Byron,
the Flock Brothers
and Gober Sosebee,
68
00:03:24,367 --> 00:03:27,166
who wowed fans
with the daredevil
driving skills
69
00:03:27,166 --> 00:03:29,133
they learned
from hauling liquor.
70
00:03:29,767 --> 00:03:31,500
But one of the fastest drivers
71
00:03:31,500 --> 00:03:33,700
to ever compete
with these legends
72
00:03:33,700 --> 00:03:37,367
never got his chance
to become a household name.
73
00:03:37,367 --> 00:03:40,000
[Daniel] Most people today
have never heard
of Lloyd Seay.
74
00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:42,967
And he is really
the first superstar
75
00:03:42,967 --> 00:03:44,333
of stock car racing.
76
00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:48,800
[David] Lloyd Seay's nickname
was Lightning Lloyd,
77
00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:51,867
because of his fast
driving skills.
78
00:03:51,867 --> 00:03:54,166
[narrator] And as a gifted
race car driver,
79
00:03:54,166 --> 00:03:57,533
Lloyd Seay grew up
in the perfect time and place.
80
00:04:00,567 --> 00:04:05,066
[Mark]
Lloyd Seay was born in 1919
in Dawsonville, Georgia.
81
00:04:05,066 --> 00:04:07,500
You know, Lloyd grew up poor,
82
00:04:07,500 --> 00:04:09,800
grabbing at whatever straws
he could, I'm sure,
83
00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:11,133
to try to make a living.
84
00:04:12,367 --> 00:04:13,400
[Cody] In Dawsonville,
85
00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:14,433
we had a lot of big families
86
00:04:14,433 --> 00:04:18,300
that were all connected
to each other somehow.
87
00:04:18,300 --> 00:04:21,400
And so he had a lot of cousins
and two brothers.
88
00:04:21,900 --> 00:04:23,200
Fifty miles out of Atlanta,
89
00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:25,300
I mean,
we were in the sticks up here.
90
00:04:29,166 --> 00:04:30,066
[Cody] This area right here,
91
00:04:30,066 --> 00:04:32,400
we're between Dawsonville
and Dahlonega.
92
00:04:33,500 --> 00:04:35,467
This is where Lloyd Seay
would have grew up,
93
00:04:35,467 --> 00:04:39,166
where he would've resided at
with different family members
94
00:04:39,166 --> 00:04:40,667
and things like that.
95
00:04:40,667 --> 00:04:42,367
And it's where he lived
and where--
96
00:04:42,367 --> 00:04:43,634
it's where he died.
97
00:04:45,467 --> 00:04:48,600
[Daniel] Dawson County
was this rural county
98
00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:52,867
where it's very difficult
to make a living as a farmer.
99
00:04:52,867 --> 00:04:55,767
There's just a long history
in the South
100
00:04:55,767 --> 00:05:01,567
of the decline of agriculture
and the rise of industry.
101
00:05:01,567 --> 00:05:03,266
But there's a certain
class of people
102
00:05:03,266 --> 00:05:04,667
that the last thing
they wanted
103
00:05:04,667 --> 00:05:08,133
was to leave their farms
and lose their land.
104
00:05:09,266 --> 00:05:10,800
[Mark] You know,
Dawsonville, Georgia
105
00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:13,567
is about the size
of a little town I grew up in,
106
00:05:13,567 --> 00:05:15,266
Newport, Tennessee.
107
00:05:15,266 --> 00:05:18,567
Back in the 20s, you know,
things were very shy.
108
00:05:18,567 --> 00:05:21,467
Not anything for people to do
to earn an honest living.
109
00:05:21,467 --> 00:05:23,400
So, you know, naturally,
110
00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:25,834
it drove 'em
into the moonshine business.
111
00:05:27,467 --> 00:05:30,767
[Cody] Like most people,
Lloyd grew up very poor.
112
00:05:30,767 --> 00:05:32,100
And here in Dawsonville,
113
00:05:32,100 --> 00:05:35,100
everybody was involved
with moonshine.
114
00:05:35,100 --> 00:05:37,467
[Tim] Well, you know,
when you're part
of a moonshine family,
115
00:05:37,467 --> 00:05:40,266
everyone chips in
and at all ages.
116
00:05:40,266 --> 00:05:43,166
I mean, even if you was a kid,
they call it squirrel hunting.
117
00:05:43,166 --> 00:05:45,367
You know, you can go out
and be on the lookout,
118
00:05:45,367 --> 00:05:47,000
you can be helping mashing in,
119
00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:48,300
you can carry raw goods in,
120
00:05:48,300 --> 00:05:50,767
you can carry
finished product out.
121
00:05:50,767 --> 00:05:53,600
Everyone in the whole family
plays a part.
122
00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:56,467
But particularly young men
like Lloyd Seay,
123
00:05:56,467 --> 00:05:59,100
their role was driving liquor
to market.
124
00:06:00,667 --> 00:06:02,500
[narrator] Up until the 1930s,
125
00:06:02,500 --> 00:06:05,200
transporting liquor
to market in Dawson County
126
00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:07,400
was mostly a local endeavor.
127
00:06:07,900 --> 00:06:10,000
Access to cars was limited.
128
00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:13,300
So, a moonshiner's
customer base was small.
129
00:06:13,967 --> 00:06:16,767
But 1932 marked a major moment
130
00:06:16,767 --> 00:06:20,400
for the automotive industry
and moonshiners.
131
00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:23,667
[Mark]
The flathead Ford engine
that came along in 1932
132
00:06:23,667 --> 00:06:26,667
was a game changer
for the bootleggers.
133
00:06:26,667 --> 00:06:29,000
Now, this right here
is the go-to car
134
00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:31,100
back in the day
for moonshiners.
135
00:06:31,100 --> 00:06:33,800
Pretty affordable
for the average family.
136
00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:36,600
It had the powerful Ford
V8 flathead.
137
00:06:37,266 --> 00:06:38,400
Right off the bat,
138
00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:42,600
they were much more powerful
than the previous engine.
139
00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:45,767
They started out originally,
I think, at 60 horsepower,
140
00:06:45,767 --> 00:06:48,166
which was more
than any model by far.
141
00:06:48,166 --> 00:06:51,467
By '39, they was up to
85 horsepower.
142
00:06:51,467 --> 00:06:53,300
'40, they was up to 100.
143
00:06:53,300 --> 00:06:56,500
Of course,
it wouldn't have been
a '53 Mercury engine in it.
144
00:06:56,500 --> 00:06:59,100
But you know,
everything was basically
the same.
145
00:06:59,100 --> 00:07:00,367
This is just more power.
146
00:07:01,667 --> 00:07:04,367
[narrator] The introduction
of cheap speed to the masses
147
00:07:04,367 --> 00:07:08,667
transformed bootlegging
by connecting the backwoods
to the city.
148
00:07:08,667 --> 00:07:11,500
Demand for homemade liquor
was sky high
149
00:07:11,500 --> 00:07:14,066
and showed no signs
of slowing down,
150
00:07:14,066 --> 00:07:18,000
even with the repeal
of prohibition in 1933.
151
00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:20,467
[Cody] I think
back in the day,
152
00:07:20,467 --> 00:07:23,100
a lot of people
sought out moonshine
153
00:07:23,100 --> 00:07:24,600
from this part of Georgia.
154
00:07:25,266 --> 00:07:28,200
They knew it was quality made.
155
00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:30,600
You know, a lot of people
took pride in what they did
156
00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:33,900
and it sold very well
down in Atlanta.
157
00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:35,934
[David] At one time,
158
00:07:35,934 --> 00:07:41,133
7000 gallons a week
was going from Dawsonville
to Atlanta.
159
00:07:41,567 --> 00:07:42,767
That's unheard of
160
00:07:42,767 --> 00:07:44,200
when you're making moonshine
161
00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:46,300
on just a copper still
up here.
162
00:07:46,300 --> 00:07:47,567
Who consumed all of it?
163
00:07:47,567 --> 00:07:50,233
It, it's hard for me
to imagine that today.
164
00:07:51,500 --> 00:07:54,600
[Daniel]
So, this is the environment
where Lloyd Seay grew up.
165
00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:58,400
And so, as a very young man,
he started hauling liquor.
166
00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:02,467
[Cody] About the age of 13
167
00:08:02,467 --> 00:08:05,600
is when Lloyd Seay ran
his first load of moonshine.
168
00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:08,000
And it's hard to imagine
a 13-year-old kid
169
00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:11,600
driving this bulky V8 Ford,
but he did it.
170
00:08:13,700 --> 00:08:16,166
The bootleggers would make
at least one load a night.
171
00:08:16,166 --> 00:08:18,367
You know, you could make
200 bucks on a load of liquor.
172
00:08:18,367 --> 00:08:22,367
And so, it was very lucrative
for the bootleggers.
173
00:08:22,367 --> 00:08:26,467
[David]
Some of 'em even tried to make
two trips a night to Atlanta.
174
00:08:26,467 --> 00:08:27,800
[chuckles]
That was pushing it.
175
00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:29,266
Because if you wrecked,
176
00:08:29,266 --> 00:08:32,367
you could lose your life
like any other wreck.
177
00:08:32,367 --> 00:08:35,967
Most of these roads,
they got bootleg turns in 'em.
178
00:08:35,967 --> 00:08:37,266
Windy, treacherous,
179
00:08:37,266 --> 00:08:40,100
back and forth
through the mountains.
180
00:08:40,100 --> 00:08:41,767
Crashing the car
during a bootleg run,
181
00:08:41,767 --> 00:08:43,867
that was always a big risk.
182
00:08:43,867 --> 00:08:47,100
[Mark]
Every trip these guys made,
they had very high stakes.
183
00:08:47,100 --> 00:08:49,400
That was the dangerous part
of the business.
184
00:08:54,567 --> 00:08:55,533
[Cody] I think
Lloyd got involved
185
00:08:55,533 --> 00:08:58,166
with the moonshine trade
in the first place
186
00:08:58,166 --> 00:09:01,000
just because of the money
that he could make from it.
187
00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:03,100
Lloyd may have made more money
in one night
188
00:09:03,100 --> 00:09:04,700
hauling in bootleg liquor
189
00:09:04,700 --> 00:09:07,700
than he made all week
farming or in a factory.
190
00:09:08,667 --> 00:09:10,300
But then, on the other hand,
191
00:09:10,300 --> 00:09:11,600
if you get caught, you know,
192
00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:15,000
you're probably going
to the penitentiary
for a little while.
193
00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:17,700
And if you're not willing
to accept that risk,
194
00:09:17,700 --> 00:09:19,600
they got in another line
of work.
195
00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:21,600
Everybody can't haul liquor.
196
00:09:22,367 --> 00:09:24,600
[narrator] For some
like Lloyd Seay,
197
00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:26,100
the danger of hauling liquor
198
00:09:26,100 --> 00:09:28,200
was a gamble
they were willing to take
199
00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:30,266
-in order to escape poverty...
-[police siren wailing]
200
00:09:30,266 --> 00:09:34,367
...despite the clear
and present threat of the law
in Dawsonville.
201
00:09:34,367 --> 00:09:35,667
[David]
Let me tell you something.
202
00:09:35,667 --> 00:09:38,266
This right here
is the jail that Lloyd Seay
203
00:09:38,266 --> 00:09:40,767
and all the other moonshiners
had been rounded up.
204
00:09:40,767 --> 00:09:42,867
This is where they bring 'em
right here.
205
00:09:42,867 --> 00:09:44,300
The sheriff and his wife
were the people
206
00:09:44,300 --> 00:09:45,800
that actually fed
the prisoners.
207
00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:48,166
So, you better be pretty good
once they get you locked up,
208
00:09:48,166 --> 00:09:50,967
'cause that's where
your meals came from.
209
00:09:50,967 --> 00:09:53,500
[Tim] Lloyd Seay,
he was laying his life
on the line,
210
00:09:53,500 --> 00:09:55,266
doing what he was doing,
hauling liquor
211
00:09:55,266 --> 00:09:57,000
against the cops chasing him.
212
00:09:57,667 --> 00:09:59,867
But it was almost, like,
preparing him
213
00:09:59,867 --> 00:10:01,700
to be the best
stock car driver
214
00:10:01,700 --> 00:10:03,934
that the state of Georgia
has ever had.
215
00:10:13,266 --> 00:10:14,400
[Tim] Back in the day, uh,
216
00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:17,100
Lloyd Seay getting
an automobile,
217
00:10:17,100 --> 00:10:20,133
I mean, it'd be like me today,
getting a jet airplane.
218
00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:23,467
They jumped
from a horse to a car.
219
00:10:23,467 --> 00:10:25,867
I mean, God,
this is day and night.
220
00:10:25,867 --> 00:10:29,600
I can travel
further and faster
and deliver moonshine.
221
00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:30,700
If you make more
and sell more,
222
00:10:30,700 --> 00:10:32,100
you get more money.
223
00:10:32,100 --> 00:10:33,734
I mean, I probably
would never sleep.
224
00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:37,867
[narrator] Once bootleggers
like Lloyd Seay
225
00:10:37,867 --> 00:10:41,700
gained access to faster cars
in the early 1930s,
226
00:10:41,700 --> 00:10:45,367
their moonshine customer base
expanded rapidly.
227
00:10:45,367 --> 00:10:48,300
And the town of Dawsonville
expanded as well.
228
00:10:49,166 --> 00:10:50,867
Dawsonville hasn't really
changed much
229
00:10:50,867 --> 00:10:54,700
since when Lloyd was alive
and driving these kinda cars.
230
00:10:54,700 --> 00:10:57,867
So, we're coming into
the old Harben Brothers
Service Station,
231
00:10:57,867 --> 00:10:59,567
the first place in Dawsonville
232
00:10:59,567 --> 00:11:01,166
to have public
telephone service.
233
00:11:01,166 --> 00:11:04,400
And the big reason for that
was for the moonshiners.
234
00:11:05,266 --> 00:11:08,200
They'd wait on calls
for a load of moonshine.
235
00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:10,400
Sometimes they'd use,
um, code words
236
00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:12,467
like, "order a bushel
of apples,"
237
00:11:12,467 --> 00:11:14,200
or, or something
to that effect.
238
00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:16,467
And then they would leave
out of Harben Station.
239
00:11:16,467 --> 00:11:18,166
It was right here
on Highway 9,
240
00:11:18,166 --> 00:11:19,700
and we could come down
to Atlanta.
241
00:11:23,567 --> 00:11:26,467
[narrator] Harben Station
opened in 1932
242
00:11:26,467 --> 00:11:30,567
and was one of the first
24-hour gas stations
in the country,
243
00:11:30,567 --> 00:11:33,100
playing an integral role
for bootleggers
244
00:11:33,100 --> 00:11:36,166
moving moonshine
at all hours of the night.
245
00:11:36,166 --> 00:11:37,900
[David] This right here
is the gathering place
246
00:11:37,900 --> 00:11:40,000
for the moonshiners
and the trippers.
247
00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:41,967
This hasn't changed
a whole lot.
248
00:11:41,967 --> 00:11:42,734
Back in the day
249
00:11:42,734 --> 00:11:44,567
when Lloyd Seay
was still alive,
250
00:11:44,567 --> 00:11:46,567
if you can imagine
all the Fords
251
00:11:46,567 --> 00:11:48,400
that were sitting in the area
at that time
252
00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:51,133
were getting ready to go,
to head to Atlanta.
253
00:11:52,100 --> 00:11:53,200
[David] You wouldn't wanna say
254
00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:55,567
moonshine money
built Dawsonville,
255
00:11:55,567 --> 00:11:58,300
but it probably did. [laughs]
256
00:11:58,300 --> 00:12:01,467
It probably even started
the first banks here.
257
00:12:01,467 --> 00:12:04,200
I'll be in trouble now
sure enough, won't I?
258
00:12:05,166 --> 00:12:08,133
But it's the truth.
So, what you gonna do?
259
00:12:09,667 --> 00:12:12,567
[Cody] Lloyd, he was driving
for his cousin, Raymond Parks,
260
00:12:12,567 --> 00:12:15,667
one of the kingpins of Atlanta
during the 1930s,
261
00:12:15,667 --> 00:12:17,634
when it came
to the moonshine trade.
262
00:12:18,266 --> 00:12:20,266
Parks early on had recruited
263
00:12:20,266 --> 00:12:22,667
both Lloyd and his cousin,
Roy Hall
264
00:12:22,667 --> 00:12:24,367
to transport the moonshine
265
00:12:24,367 --> 00:12:26,500
from the mountains
down to Atlanta.
266
00:12:28,467 --> 00:12:31,000
[David] Raymond was a tall,
lanky guy.
267
00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:32,667
Didn't say that much.
268
00:12:32,667 --> 00:12:35,667
Always wore
his business suit and hat.
269
00:12:35,667 --> 00:12:39,300
My dad and Raymond
was within one year
of each other's age,
270
00:12:39,300 --> 00:12:41,533
and my dad
still called him Mr. Parks.
271
00:12:43,066 --> 00:12:44,934
He was looked up highly.
272
00:12:45,667 --> 00:12:48,300
What Lloyd Seay did
for Raymond Parks,
273
00:12:48,300 --> 00:12:50,867
taking a car, filling it up
with illegal liquor,
274
00:12:50,867 --> 00:12:54,367
and then going down Highway 9
from Dawson County,
275
00:12:54,367 --> 00:12:56,066
which is mountainous.
276
00:12:56,066 --> 00:12:58,767
And so,
it is very curvy and hilly.
277
00:12:58,767 --> 00:13:01,200
[Cody] We're now on, uh,
Georgia Highway 9,
278
00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:05,133
which is more
commonly referred to as
the old Thunder Road.
279
00:13:06,100 --> 00:13:09,000
[Mark] There's thunder roads
all over the South.
280
00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:11,867
Thunder Road was any road
that was a main route
281
00:13:11,867 --> 00:13:13,300
for bootleggers and trippers
282
00:13:13,300 --> 00:13:16,467
transporting moonshine
to the big cities.
283
00:13:16,467 --> 00:13:18,900
The thunder being the roar
of their engines.
284
00:13:20,667 --> 00:13:22,800
At night,
you could just lay in bed
285
00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:24,600
and hear all these
moonshine cars,
286
00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:27,767
these trip cars
just blaring through
the mountains.
287
00:13:27,767 --> 00:13:29,900
And so, it was kinda like
thunder coming.
288
00:13:31,367 --> 00:13:33,500
[Mark] These cars
had four headlights on 'em.
289
00:13:33,500 --> 00:13:35,967
I could just imagine
what it would've been like
290
00:13:35,967 --> 00:13:37,266
flying down Thunder Road
291
00:13:37,266 --> 00:13:39,767
with the cops
chasing you after dark,
292
00:13:39,767 --> 00:13:41,600
running off the side
of one of these roads.
293
00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:43,834
They've got the opportunity
to die.
294
00:13:44,767 --> 00:13:48,166
A lot of moonshine
haulers and trippers
295
00:13:48,166 --> 00:13:51,166
were actually killed
in the process.
296
00:13:51,166 --> 00:13:52,433
You know,
you don't hear a lot
about that
297
00:13:52,433 --> 00:13:56,166
because there's nothing
romantic about somebody
being killed.
298
00:13:56,166 --> 00:13:57,367
But, uh, it happened.
299
00:13:57,367 --> 00:13:58,934
It was a very dangerous job.
300
00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:00,567
[David] Thunder Road.
301
00:14:00,567 --> 00:14:02,567
That's where
it really made the drivers.
302
00:14:02,567 --> 00:14:03,867
'Cause that was
treacherous road
303
00:14:03,867 --> 00:14:04,934
and they were loaded
304
00:14:04,934 --> 00:14:07,467
and they had to make sure
they didn't get caught.
305
00:14:07,467 --> 00:14:08,900
Brakes were small,
306
00:14:08,900 --> 00:14:12,166
so you had to learn
how to maneuver the curves
with little brakes.
307
00:14:12,166 --> 00:14:13,567
Once you thought
you had it made,
308
00:14:13,567 --> 00:14:15,000
there'd be another curve
down there.
309
00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:17,000
And that's where
everybody had to watch out.
310
00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:18,266
'Cause a lot
of the bad curves,
311
00:14:18,266 --> 00:14:20,333
the law could be
even sitting there.
312
00:14:20,767 --> 00:14:21,667
Thunder Road.
313
00:14:21,667 --> 00:14:22,967
That's where Lloyd Seay'd go
314
00:14:22,967 --> 00:14:25,400
with his load of liquor
for his runs.
315
00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:27,900
That's where
his driving ability grew.
316
00:14:27,900 --> 00:14:30,767
And his maneuverability
with his driving skills,
317
00:14:30,767 --> 00:14:32,700
that's what made him
Lloyd Seay.
318
00:14:33,567 --> 00:14:35,400
[Cody] When Lloyd
was hauling moonshine,
319
00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:37,133
he was absolutely fearless.
320
00:14:37,867 --> 00:14:39,567
He wouldn't really
slow down for the turns.
321
00:14:39,567 --> 00:14:42,200
He'd accelerate
through the turns,
322
00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:44,500
whereas a lot of people,
they would break.
323
00:14:44,500 --> 00:14:46,333
And once you do that,
you lose all your momentum.
324
00:14:47,100 --> 00:14:48,767
So, Lloyd bashed the gas,
325
00:14:48,767 --> 00:14:52,266
and this is how
he would lose people.
that would be chasing him.
326
00:14:52,266 --> 00:14:54,000
[Josh] I can only imagine
what it felt like
327
00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:56,867
being 13 years old,
hauling a load of moonshine
328
00:14:56,867 --> 00:14:58,767
and making a pile of money
doing it.
329
00:14:58,767 --> 00:15:01,000
Lloyd Seay
must've felt untouchable.
330
00:15:02,867 --> 00:15:05,166
[Mark] You know, bootleggers
employed a lot of means
331
00:15:05,166 --> 00:15:08,000
to get their liquor
from point A to point B.
332
00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:11,266
Back in the day,
speed was the ultimate factor.
333
00:15:11,266 --> 00:15:13,867
[Josh] Cops didn't have
the technology
that we do today.
334
00:15:13,867 --> 00:15:16,467
If you got away, you got away.
335
00:15:16,467 --> 00:15:18,567
[Mark]
There was no two-way radios.
336
00:15:18,567 --> 00:15:19,867
They couldn't call ahead
337
00:15:19,867 --> 00:15:21,900
and get roadblocks
established.
338
00:15:21,900 --> 00:15:24,000
Uh, there was no
traffic cameras.
339
00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:26,800
Speed was their key to escape.
340
00:15:28,867 --> 00:15:31,166
[narrator] When it came
to outrunning the law,
341
00:15:31,166 --> 00:15:34,400
bootleggers relied on
daredevil driving skills
342
00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:36,867
and a willingness
to live on the edge.
343
00:15:36,867 --> 00:15:39,700
But they also got creative
under the hood,
344
00:15:39,700 --> 00:15:41,700
and transformed
their stock cars
345
00:15:41,700 --> 00:15:43,700
into supercharged machines.
346
00:15:45,767 --> 00:15:48,266
[Daniel]
Bootleggers bored out
the engines,
347
00:15:48,266 --> 00:15:51,567
they added
additional carburetors.
348
00:15:51,567 --> 00:15:54,400
[Mark] The V8 flatheads
were very easy to modify.
349
00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:57,066
A lot of speed parts
were made for 'em.
350
00:15:57,066 --> 00:15:59,600
You know,
it was a moonshiner's dream.
351
00:16:01,900 --> 00:16:06,133
Red Vogt
was the chief mechanic
on Raymond Parks' cars.
352
00:16:06,767 --> 00:16:08,767
He had a shop
in downtown Atlanta,
353
00:16:08,767 --> 00:16:12,600
and he was just a wizard
with the Ford flathead.
354
00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:15,300
In fact, Henry Ford himself
even came down to visit
355
00:16:15,300 --> 00:16:17,400
just to see what he was doing
with these engines.
356
00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:20,900
Red Vogt was asked one time,
who gets the best car,
357
00:16:20,900 --> 00:16:23,433
and he said the bootleggers
because they pay in cash.
358
00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:27,100
[Cody] "Money equals speed"
was one of his sayings.
359
00:16:27,100 --> 00:16:30,300
And the more money you paid,
the faster your car can go.
360
00:16:32,066 --> 00:16:34,367
[Mark]
Police had factory showroom
stock cars
361
00:16:34,367 --> 00:16:36,700
in which to chase
these bootleggers.
362
00:16:36,700 --> 00:16:40,467
Bootleggers had a little bit
of, uh, expendable money.
363
00:16:40,467 --> 00:16:43,700
[Daniel]
Lloyd Seay had an incredibly
well-prepared car
364
00:16:43,700 --> 00:16:45,567
not only with
a high speed engine,
365
00:16:45,567 --> 00:16:47,667
but with the suspension
modified
366
00:16:47,667 --> 00:16:50,400
to handle the curves
and hills of the roads
367
00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:51,900
that he hauled liquor on.
368
00:16:51,900 --> 00:16:53,667
[Josh]
When these moonshiners
were bootlegging,
369
00:16:53,667 --> 00:16:54,767
they had souped up cars
370
00:16:54,767 --> 00:16:57,266
and they'd leave the cops
in the dust.
371
00:16:57,266 --> 00:16:59,166
[Cody] One of my favorite
Lloyd Seay stories,
372
00:16:59,166 --> 00:17:01,100
just south of the courthouse
in Dawsonville,
373
00:17:01,100 --> 00:17:03,100
he was pulled over
for speeding.
374
00:17:03,100 --> 00:17:05,800
And the officer said, "Fine,
for speeding it's $5."
375
00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:07,500
And Lloyd hands a $10 bill.
376
00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:09,266
Lloyd said, "Keep the change.
377
00:17:09,266 --> 00:17:11,800
I'm paying it in advance
'cause next time
I come back through,
378
00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:13,433
I'm not gonna be willing
to stop."
379
00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:21,066
[Daniel]
It was one thing to outrun
the police or law enforcement.
380
00:17:21,066 --> 00:17:23,467
For the most part,
that wasn't a great challenge.
381
00:17:23,467 --> 00:17:25,367
But when the guy down the road
382
00:17:25,367 --> 00:17:27,667
thought he had a better car
than you did,
383
00:17:27,667 --> 00:17:29,767
you know, them's fighting
words in many ways.
384
00:17:29,767 --> 00:17:32,667
And so, you gotta get out
and see who's fastest.
385
00:17:32,667 --> 00:17:33,967
More than anything,
386
00:17:33,967 --> 00:17:37,166
they wanted to show
their competitors
what their cars could do
387
00:17:37,166 --> 00:17:39,100
and what they could do
with their cars.
388
00:17:39,100 --> 00:17:42,166
Before racing become a thing
and they raced on tracks,
389
00:17:42,166 --> 00:17:45,000
bootleggers would race
on old country roads
390
00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:46,266
and open fields,
391
00:17:46,266 --> 00:17:48,767
anywhere they got
the opportunity.
392
00:17:48,767 --> 00:17:50,367
[Cody] And in a roundabout
sort of way,
393
00:17:50,367 --> 00:17:53,066
that is directly what started
stock car racing
394
00:17:53,066 --> 00:17:54,433
in this part of the country.
395
00:17:55,367 --> 00:17:56,634
That's what propelled it
396
00:17:56,634 --> 00:18:00,166
to the first organized
stock car race
in the Southeast.
397
00:18:00,166 --> 00:18:01,800
It's history from there.
398
00:18:05,266 --> 00:18:08,233
[Daniel]
The buildup was huge
in the Atlanta papers.
399
00:18:08,767 --> 00:18:11,367
20,000 people showed up.
400
00:18:11,367 --> 00:18:13,567
[David] You had all kinds
of avenue of people
401
00:18:13,567 --> 00:18:14,700
to see what this was,
402
00:18:14,700 --> 00:18:16,467
never heard
of such [bleep] before.
403
00:18:16,467 --> 00:18:19,000
[Cody]
Lloyd was only 18 years old
at the time,
404
00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:21,600
and he convinced
his cousin Raymond Parks,
405
00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:24,634
who he worked for moonshining,
to enter a race car for him.
406
00:18:25,367 --> 00:18:26,433
He had a broken arm,
407
00:18:26,433 --> 00:18:29,967
and a lot of the competitors
wanted to ban him,
408
00:18:29,967 --> 00:18:31,667
saying that
he was unsafe to drive
409
00:18:31,667 --> 00:18:33,100
because his arm
was in a sling.
410
00:18:33,100 --> 00:18:36,600
And he said, "I don't use
that arm to drive anyway."
411
00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:37,800
And, uh, he went out
412
00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:40,500
and he drove
a 1934 Ford Roadster.
413
00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:46,100
When Lloyd Seay
came on the scene
of stock car racing,
414
00:18:47,367 --> 00:18:49,900
no one had really heard of him
at all.
415
00:18:51,767 --> 00:18:54,100
[David] Lloyd had
a unique driving style.
416
00:18:54,100 --> 00:18:56,367
Where most people
wrapped their hands
around the steering wheel,
417
00:18:56,367 --> 00:18:58,000
he drove it open handed.
418
00:18:58,000 --> 00:18:59,033
I don't know
how he's doing it,
419
00:18:59,033 --> 00:19:02,266
because there was
no power steering back then.
420
00:19:02,266 --> 00:19:04,900
[Daniel] And then,
Lloyd Seay shocks everyone.
421
00:19:04,900 --> 00:19:06,700
[Cody] He went out
and he won the race
422
00:19:06,700 --> 00:19:08,467
with his left arm in a sling.
423
00:19:08,467 --> 00:19:10,400
He was just
a natural born driver.
424
00:19:11,667 --> 00:19:14,300
[David] The word of that
went out everywhere.
425
00:19:15,166 --> 00:19:16,800
[Daniel] The next day,
The Atlanta Constitution
426
00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:18,667
has a major article
on Lloyd Seay,
427
00:19:18,667 --> 00:19:22,400
and it said
the racing community
did not know Lloyd Seay,
428
00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:23,700
never heard of him.
429
00:19:23,700 --> 00:19:26,233
But the Atlanta police
sure did.
430
00:19:28,967 --> 00:19:32,367
Bootleggers back in the day,
they was unstoppable.
431
00:19:32,367 --> 00:19:36,166
I mean, they was fearless
and it was aggressive.
432
00:19:36,166 --> 00:19:39,000
This is how
they made their money
for their families.
433
00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:41,400
And Lloyd Seay was right
in the heart of this.
434
00:19:42,367 --> 00:19:44,100
And I think
because of his background
435
00:19:44,100 --> 00:19:47,266
of moonshining
and driving a fast car,
436
00:19:47,266 --> 00:19:49,900
made him so great
at stock car racing.
437
00:19:51,367 --> 00:19:54,367
[Daniel] In 1938
at the age of 18,
438
00:19:54,367 --> 00:19:57,166
Lloyd Seay shocks
the racing community
439
00:19:57,166 --> 00:20:00,200
and wins a major
stock car race.
440
00:20:01,767 --> 00:20:04,200
[Cody]
After Lloyd won his first race
at Lakewood,
441
00:20:04,200 --> 00:20:05,567
his cousin Raymond Parks
442
00:20:05,567 --> 00:20:07,834
dove into stock car racing
headfirst.
443
00:20:09,266 --> 00:20:12,100
He bought two
brand new 1939 Fords.
444
00:20:12,100 --> 00:20:14,300
One for Lloyd Seay
and one for Roy Hall,
445
00:20:14,300 --> 00:20:15,900
and they started
a racing team.
446
00:20:16,667 --> 00:20:17,600
[Daniel] Raymond Parks,
447
00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:20,066
he hires Red Vogt
to prepare the cars
448
00:20:20,066 --> 00:20:23,000
and then having these
liquor-hauling drivers
449
00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:27,800
to finance on his business
of bootleg.
450
00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:29,800
[narrator] Lloyd Seay
and other moonshiners
451
00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:33,467
saw racing as a way
to escape the dangers
of their outlaw life
452
00:20:33,467 --> 00:20:37,467
by harnessing
the skills they learned
bootlegging liquor.
453
00:20:37,467 --> 00:20:41,233
But it wasn't easy leaving
their high-risk past behind.
454
00:20:42,266 --> 00:20:44,000
[Mark] Well, you know,
even after Lloyd
455
00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:46,166
began having
a lot of success racing,
456
00:20:46,166 --> 00:20:48,867
he continued to bootleg
and haul moonshine.
457
00:20:48,867 --> 00:20:52,100
And it's absolutely
because of the money.
458
00:20:52,100 --> 00:20:54,600
Racing did not support racers.
459
00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:04,133
You know, if you grow up
in the moonshining business...
460
00:21:05,967 --> 00:21:07,500
it was really treacherous.
461
00:21:08,767 --> 00:21:11,700
Especially in the mountainous
areas of the South.
462
00:21:12,967 --> 00:21:15,300
But it seems like
once you get it in your blood,
463
00:21:15,300 --> 00:21:16,800
it's hard to shake it.
464
00:21:17,967 --> 00:21:20,200
You know, you know
it's a dangerous job.
465
00:21:21,300 --> 00:21:22,700
There's just something
about it
466
00:21:22,700 --> 00:21:24,800
that keeps
winding you back in.
467
00:21:28,867 --> 00:21:32,400
[narrator] Stock-car racing
spread quickly through
moonshine country
468
00:21:32,400 --> 00:21:34,100
following Lloyd's win,
469
00:21:34,100 --> 00:21:38,900
and the lines between
moonshine, bootlegging
and racing were blurred.
470
00:21:38,900 --> 00:21:42,166
Not only were the drivers
primarily bootleggers,
471
00:21:42,166 --> 00:21:45,266
but the car owners, the fans
and even the tracks
472
00:21:45,266 --> 00:21:48,400
were all closely tied
into moonshine culture.
473
00:21:49,867 --> 00:21:51,567
[Daniel]
We're in Hillsborough,
North Carolina,
474
00:21:51,567 --> 00:21:53,200
at the Occoneechee Speedway.
475
00:21:53,700 --> 00:21:54,900
We're in the grandstands here.
476
00:21:54,900 --> 00:21:57,400
This is one
of the great historic tracks
477
00:21:57,400 --> 00:21:59,300
in stock-car racing history.
478
00:21:59,300 --> 00:22:02,800
The Occoneechee Speedway
was formerly a horse track,
which was a common thing
479
00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:05,667
in the early days
of stock-car racing.
480
00:22:05,667 --> 00:22:09,800
Many Hall of Famers raced
on this track up until 1968.
481
00:22:14,100 --> 00:22:17,867
You could put
8,000 or more people,
and then all around the track,
482
00:22:17,867 --> 00:22:19,000
people would have
been standing.
483
00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:20,967
So, there's just
tremendous excitement
484
00:22:20,967 --> 00:22:23,266
generated in a place
like this.
485
00:22:23,266 --> 00:22:25,100
And people would be
drinking moonshine,
486
00:22:25,100 --> 00:22:27,767
perhaps a fight
would break out.
487
00:22:27,767 --> 00:22:32,266
There might be some
disreputable behavior
involving women.
488
00:22:32,266 --> 00:22:34,967
You know, anything goes,
pretty much.
489
00:22:34,967 --> 00:22:36,767
It's kind of an unusual track
for those days
490
00:22:36,767 --> 00:22:39,066
because it was a mile,
and you can see
491
00:22:39,066 --> 00:22:41,467
very long straightaways,
which allowed the drivers
492
00:22:41,467 --> 00:22:43,934
to get to over
100 miles an hour.
493
00:22:44,500 --> 00:22:45,967
But very tight turns.
494
00:22:51,300 --> 00:22:54,266
We're heading down the track
here at Occoneechee Speedway.
495
00:22:54,266 --> 00:22:56,700
This type of track
was perfect for the skills
496
00:22:56,700 --> 00:22:58,700
that a lot of these
bootleggers perfected
497
00:22:58,700 --> 00:23:01,266
trying to outrun
law enforcement
on dirt roads.
498
00:23:01,266 --> 00:23:02,767
-[tires screeching]
-[engine accelerating]
499
00:23:02,767 --> 00:23:05,600
[Daniel] They understood
how to slide through turns.
500
00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:07,867
[commentator]
Look at that dust.
501
00:23:07,867 --> 00:23:10,400
Here's where air cleaners
come in handy.
502
00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:13,567
[Daniel] They understood
how to drive at high speed.
503
00:23:13,567 --> 00:23:17,100
[commentator] How would
you like to loan your car
to one of those fellas?
504
00:23:17,100 --> 00:23:20,367
And they had the courage
to drive side by side.
505
00:23:20,367 --> 00:23:23,367
[commentator]
Both are driving Fords,
and how they are driving it!
506
00:23:23,367 --> 00:23:24,367
[Daniel] To be really good,
507
00:23:24,367 --> 00:23:26,867
you had to be able
to push it to the very edge.
508
00:23:26,867 --> 00:23:28,266
I mean, it goes
without saying,
509
00:23:28,266 --> 00:23:29,867
if you make a good bootlegger,
510
00:23:29,867 --> 00:23:31,800
you're gonna make
a great race car driver.
511
00:23:33,100 --> 00:23:35,000
[Daniel] When the race starts,
the cars would come
512
00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:37,266
two by two
down by the flag stand,
513
00:23:37,266 --> 00:23:38,900
and they'd throw
the green flag,
514
00:23:38,900 --> 00:23:42,367
and they hammer
those accelerators.
515
00:23:42,367 --> 00:23:45,166
And then off they would go
down the track.
516
00:23:45,166 --> 00:23:47,400
The cars freaking rumbling
like hell.
517
00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:49,767
The smell in the air,
it was the best part,
518
00:23:49,767 --> 00:23:52,467
that burning racing fuel,
oh, my gosh, I love it.
519
00:23:52,467 --> 00:23:55,166
You got these cars
that are souped up
and they're loud,
520
00:23:55,166 --> 00:23:58,400
you can feel them all the way
through your freaking soul.
521
00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:00,500
The whole experience
is just amazing.
522
00:24:01,700 --> 00:24:03,166
[Cody] The people
that ran the moonshine
523
00:24:03,166 --> 00:24:05,400
were local folk legends,
you know?
524
00:24:05,400 --> 00:24:07,400
And so they brought
fans to the stands.
525
00:24:08,166 --> 00:24:09,667
[Daniel] In those early days
of racing,
526
00:24:09,667 --> 00:24:12,000
Lloyd Seay was the guy.
527
00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:13,967
He was this hard-charger,
528
00:24:13,967 --> 00:24:16,500
working-class
Dawson County bootlegger.
529
00:24:16,500 --> 00:24:20,000
Just a compelling story
for so many people.
530
00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:23,100
[Cody] People like Lloyd Seay
and Roy Hall were looked at
531
00:24:23,100 --> 00:24:25,100
as local legends
and local heroes.
532
00:24:25,100 --> 00:24:27,367
They just had these
Hollywood good looks.
533
00:24:27,367 --> 00:24:29,967
They had a cool job,
they drove cool cars.
534
00:24:29,967 --> 00:24:33,266
They were not
the overall-wearing
hillbillies from the sticks.
535
00:24:33,266 --> 00:24:35,400
I mean, they played
the part very well.
536
00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:39,433
The roots of stock-car racing
are in the Piedmont South.
537
00:24:40,166 --> 00:24:41,133
They're working-class people
538
00:24:41,133 --> 00:24:44,467
who'd become very tied
into car culture.
539
00:24:44,467 --> 00:24:47,266
You can imagine
the passion of these fans,
540
00:24:47,266 --> 00:24:51,600
as they're watching drivers
that they see as one
of their own,
541
00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:56,100
who have, in some ways,
made it in a world
that's very difficult
542
00:24:56,100 --> 00:24:58,000
for people
in the working class.
543
00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:00,066
And so you see
this intersection
544
00:25:00,066 --> 00:25:02,400
in a powerful way
in this place
545
00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:05,500
between the world
of moonshining and bootlegging
546
00:25:05,500 --> 00:25:07,200
and early stock-car racing.
547
00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:10,467
Even the track itself
was built by a group
548
00:25:10,467 --> 00:25:14,700
of what we're refer to
in the newspapers
as "sportsmen"
549
00:25:14,700 --> 00:25:17,166
from Wilkes County,
North Carolina.
550
00:25:17,166 --> 00:25:19,467
And all of these individuals
were involved
551
00:25:19,467 --> 00:25:21,166
in the illegal
liquor business.
552
00:25:21,166 --> 00:25:24,700
And so this was a track
that was built by moonshine.
553
00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:27,500
[narrator] While many tracks
in the South
554
00:25:27,500 --> 00:25:29,166
were built by moonshine,
555
00:25:29,166 --> 00:25:31,667
stock car's most famous track
of the era
556
00:25:31,667 --> 00:25:33,800
was defined by speed.
557
00:25:35,500 --> 00:25:38,600
[Cody] Daytona is known
as The Birthplace of Speed.
558
00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:41,900
[Daniel] By the 1930s,
you started getting vehicles
559
00:25:41,900 --> 00:25:43,567
that were specifically made
560
00:25:43,567 --> 00:25:46,467
to try and break
the land speed record.
561
00:25:46,467 --> 00:25:49,467
In 1936, Daytona held
its first stock-car race.
562
00:25:49,467 --> 00:25:52,300
[commentator] The hard-packed
sands of Daytona Beach
Speedway
563
00:25:52,300 --> 00:25:53,900
for the stock-car races.
564
00:25:53,900 --> 00:25:56,367
Marking the golden jubilee
of automobile progress.
565
00:25:56,367 --> 00:25:59,100
Ooh! My aching tires.
566
00:25:59,100 --> 00:26:03,433
Daytona was the biggest race
of the year anywhere.
567
00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:08,767
Up until 1958, races were ran
on Daytona Beach itself.
568
00:26:08,767 --> 00:26:11,400
They would run two miles
right on the sandy shores,
569
00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:12,600
and they'd make a sharp turn
570
00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:15,000
and run two miles
up Highway A1A.
571
00:26:16,266 --> 00:26:19,000
The crowd at Daytona
loved Lloyd Seay's driving
572
00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:21,000
because he was such a showman.
573
00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:23,367
He would put his car
up on two wheels,
574
00:26:23,367 --> 00:26:26,767
and he would bicycle his car
through the turn
of the racetrack.
575
00:26:26,767 --> 00:26:30,000
And in July of 1941,
there's a very famous picture
576
00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:31,767
of him doing this
at Daytona Beach,
577
00:26:31,767 --> 00:26:34,667
where his car is completely up
on two wheels,
578
00:26:34,667 --> 00:26:36,467
like it was a movie stunt.
579
00:26:36,467 --> 00:26:39,100
[Daniel] He would go through
the North Turn on two wheels.
580
00:26:39,100 --> 00:26:41,066
I mean, it's just crazy.
581
00:26:41,066 --> 00:26:42,066
And people just loved it.
582
00:26:42,066 --> 00:26:43,967
He just showed no fear.
583
00:26:43,967 --> 00:26:45,767
That's just something
that he wanted to do
584
00:26:45,767 --> 00:26:48,967
'cause he could do it
and he wanted to show off.
585
00:26:48,967 --> 00:26:51,800
[narrator] Lloyd's previous
performances at Daytona
586
00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:53,166
had wowed the crowd,
587
00:26:53,166 --> 00:26:54,867
but he entered
yet another race
588
00:26:54,867 --> 00:26:58,667
at the famed track
on August 24, 1941,
589
00:26:58,667 --> 00:27:01,200
still looking
for his first win.
590
00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:02,367
[Cody] In 1941,
591
00:27:02,367 --> 00:27:04,767
Lloyd's biggest goal
was to win at Daytona.
592
00:27:04,767 --> 00:27:06,467
He had raced there
several times before,
593
00:27:06,467 --> 00:27:07,800
and he always had
some bad luck.
594
00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:11,000
He flipped his car
or had mechanical troubles.
595
00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:14,367
He just couldn't seem
to finish a race in the front.
596
00:27:14,367 --> 00:27:18,166
In August of 1941,
he qualified 15th.
597
00:27:18,166 --> 00:27:20,066
[commentator]
These jalopy jockeys
are in
598
00:27:20,066 --> 00:27:22,600
for a jarring, jolting time,
and they know it.
599
00:27:23,200 --> 00:27:25,166
He's flying blind.
600
00:27:25,166 --> 00:27:26,867
One thing you could do
at Daytona,
601
00:27:26,867 --> 00:27:28,133
because the beach was wide,
602
00:27:28,133 --> 00:27:31,700
if you're daring enough
to get down close
to the water,
603
00:27:31,700 --> 00:27:33,667
you can really make up
a lot of ground.
604
00:27:33,667 --> 00:27:37,100
So that's what Lloyd Seay
was able to do in this race.
605
00:27:38,600 --> 00:27:40,667
[Cody] By the end
of the first lap,
he was in first
606
00:27:40,667 --> 00:27:42,300
and never gave up
the lead again.
607
00:27:42,867 --> 00:27:44,100
[David] It was his day.
608
00:27:44,100 --> 00:27:47,000
He was the star of the show.
And it wasn't even a sport,
609
00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:49,967
it was just the birth
of a sport then.
610
00:27:49,967 --> 00:27:52,100
[Mark] I think Lloyd
would have been loving it.
611
00:27:52,100 --> 00:27:54,467
He is so young,
and he's proven hisself
612
00:27:54,467 --> 00:27:58,300
over and over again
as a bootlegger
and a race driver.
613
00:27:59,100 --> 00:28:00,333
[Tim] Lloyd is on his way
614
00:28:00,333 --> 00:28:04,100
to becoming the best
bootlegger-turned-
stock-car-driver
615
00:28:04,100 --> 00:28:06,166
that the South
has ever seen.
616
00:28:06,166 --> 00:28:09,000
But the thing is,
when you're in the illegal
liquor business,
617
00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:10,567
it's hard to leave.
618
00:28:10,567 --> 00:28:13,300
And Lloyd could
never outrun his past.
619
00:28:19,300 --> 00:28:21,700
[Cody] Lloyd Seay
just won at Daytona,
620
00:28:21,700 --> 00:28:23,967
and he had won
at High Point, North Carolina,
621
00:28:23,967 --> 00:28:25,700
so he was on a hot streak.
622
00:28:25,700 --> 00:28:28,867
[David] He won major
stock-car races back to back,
623
00:28:28,867 --> 00:28:32,300
and then came back to Lakewood
for the famed Labor Day race.
624
00:28:33,266 --> 00:28:35,166
[Daniel] Lakewood Speedway,
it's in Atlanta,
625
00:28:35,166 --> 00:28:38,567
so you have
a huge population of fans.
626
00:28:38,567 --> 00:28:40,400
And they had
the largest crowds,
627
00:28:40,400 --> 00:28:42,567
particularly for
the Labor Day race.
628
00:28:42,567 --> 00:28:44,867
That was one of the few days
629
00:28:44,867 --> 00:28:47,100
working-class people
would have off,
630
00:28:47,100 --> 00:28:49,300
and so that was a big deal.
631
00:28:54,066 --> 00:28:56,767
[Cody] Lloyd showed up
to Atlanta late,
632
00:28:56,767 --> 00:28:58,700
and he had
to start dead last...
633
00:28:59,700 --> 00:29:01,100
because he missed qualifying
634
00:29:01,100 --> 00:29:02,900
because he was racing
the day before.
635
00:29:05,266 --> 00:29:07,066
So, he started last.
636
00:29:07,066 --> 00:29:11,400
And by the midway point,
he had taken the lead over
from Bob Flock.
637
00:29:12,166 --> 00:29:14,000
And he went on
to win the race.
638
00:29:15,667 --> 00:29:18,300
Lloyd Seay, coming
from being dirt poor
639
00:29:18,300 --> 00:29:22,166
to being a moonshining,
hell-raising champion,
640
00:29:22,166 --> 00:29:25,066
he probably felt like
he was on top of the world.
641
00:29:25,066 --> 00:29:27,467
[Cody] After Lloyd Seay
got the checkered flag
at Lakewood,
642
00:29:27,467 --> 00:29:31,000
he was very celebrated
by his fans, by the press.
643
00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:32,000
And after it was all said
and done,
644
00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:33,100
he collected his winnings
645
00:29:33,100 --> 00:29:35,000
and headed home
to Dawsonville.
646
00:29:37,567 --> 00:29:39,433
He was heading home
on Highway 9.
647
00:29:40,367 --> 00:29:42,700
He decided to stop
at his brother's house
648
00:29:42,700 --> 00:29:44,533
to spend the night.
649
00:29:47,800 --> 00:29:49,000
[narrator]
The following morning,
650
00:29:49,000 --> 00:29:53,767
just hours after Lloyd won
$1,000 at Lakewood Speedway,
651
00:29:53,767 --> 00:29:57,266
valued at nearly
$22,000 today,
652
00:29:57,266 --> 00:30:00,200
his cousin, Woodrow Anderson,
arrived at the house,
653
00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:02,133
claiming Lloyd owed him money.
654
00:30:03,567 --> 00:30:04,900
[Daniel]
Woodrow came after him
655
00:30:04,900 --> 00:30:06,300
because he'd just won
this race
656
00:30:06,300 --> 00:30:08,367
and he had the prize money,
and so he thought
657
00:30:08,367 --> 00:30:10,500
this would be the time
to approach him.
658
00:30:11,767 --> 00:30:14,700
[Cody] Woodrow
was a business partner
in the moonshine still
659
00:30:14,700 --> 00:30:16,066
with Lloyd and his brother,
660
00:30:16,066 --> 00:30:18,066
although Lloyd
was more as an investor.
661
00:30:18,066 --> 00:30:21,100
[Mark] You know, moonshining
is a family business.
662
00:30:21,100 --> 00:30:23,000
There's nothing out
of the unusual
663
00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:25,200
for them to share
a still or a still site
664
00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:27,500
and be partners
in the business.
665
00:30:27,500 --> 00:30:31,100
Lloyd had charged
a few 50-pound bags of sugar
666
00:30:31,100 --> 00:30:32,600
on Woodrow's store account.
667
00:30:32,600 --> 00:30:35,100
Now, why this took place,
who knows.
668
00:30:35,100 --> 00:30:37,567
But, uh, Woodrow
took exception with it,
669
00:30:37,567 --> 00:30:40,200
and he came
and was ready to settle up.
670
00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:43,200
[Tim] This sugar was used
to make moonshine back then,
671
00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:45,000
and it was a hot commodity.
672
00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:46,867
So, anytime someone
was dealing with moonshine,
673
00:30:46,867 --> 00:30:49,133
you know, they was
dealing with sugar.
674
00:30:50,266 --> 00:30:53,767
[Cody] So, Woodrow, Lloyd
and Lloyd's brother, Jim,
675
00:30:53,767 --> 00:30:55,166
all got in Woodrow's car,
676
00:30:55,166 --> 00:30:57,266
and he said, "We're gonna go
to our aunt's house
677
00:30:57,266 --> 00:30:58,900
so she could do the figuring."
678
00:31:00,200 --> 00:31:02,300
You know, neither one
of them was really educated,
679
00:31:02,300 --> 00:31:04,867
so they were gonna go down
to, uh, Dawsonville,
680
00:31:04,867 --> 00:31:07,533
and let their aunt
kind of figure out
how much it was that...
681
00:31:08,266 --> 00:31:09,667
each owed what.
682
00:31:09,667 --> 00:31:11,700
Along the way,
Woodrow asked,
683
00:31:11,700 --> 00:31:14,634
"So, do you think
that number 13
was lucky for you?"
684
00:31:16,166 --> 00:31:19,166
Lloyd had drove number seven
for most of his career,
685
00:31:19,166 --> 00:31:22,500
and on the last race,
he actually drove number 13.
686
00:31:23,767 --> 00:31:25,567
Mostly because all
of his competitors said
687
00:31:25,567 --> 00:31:26,867
that was the only reason
he was winning,
688
00:31:26,867 --> 00:31:28,667
was 'cause of
lucky number seven.
689
00:31:28,667 --> 00:31:31,300
And so Lloyd basically
said, "I'll show you,"
690
00:31:31,300 --> 00:31:34,266
and he took some paint,
crossed out the number seven
691
00:31:34,266 --> 00:31:35,934
and put number 13.
692
00:31:38,100 --> 00:31:40,500
They set off to Dawsonville
through the aunt's house.
693
00:31:42,300 --> 00:31:46,233
But Woodrow Anderson
pulled the car over
at his father's house.
694
00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:50,634
He said, "I need to get
some water for the radiator."
695
00:31:51,967 --> 00:31:54,467
He pulled the car up,
he opened the hood,
696
00:31:54,467 --> 00:31:57,100
acting like he was going
to fill the radiator.
697
00:31:59,367 --> 00:32:01,333
I... I guess something
snapped in him.
698
00:32:02,166 --> 00:32:05,500
And as he was uncapping
the radiator...
699
00:32:05,500 --> 00:32:07,567
Woodrow pulled a pistol out
of his pocket,
700
00:32:07,567 --> 00:32:09,000
come over to the door.
701
00:32:10,400 --> 00:32:12,600
Shot Lloyd's brother
in the neck.
702
00:32:14,767 --> 00:32:16,767
And then he turned to Lloyd...
703
00:32:16,767 --> 00:32:18,533
and shot him
right in the heart.
704
00:32:19,266 --> 00:32:21,133
And he was killed
almost instantly.
705
00:32:23,967 --> 00:32:30,066
Lloyd Seay died not even
24 hours after standing
in victory lane in Lakewood.
706
00:32:30,066 --> 00:32:32,467
[Josh] It's really hard
to believe that one
of the most promising
707
00:32:32,467 --> 00:32:35,867
race car drivers
that's ever walked
the face of the planet
708
00:32:35,867 --> 00:32:38,133
was killed over
a few bags of sugar.
709
00:32:38,400 --> 00:32:39,600
Crazy.
710
00:32:39,600 --> 00:32:42,867
The first thing
that Woodrow did
after Lloyd was killed,
711
00:32:42,867 --> 00:32:44,200
he told his brother, Jim,
712
00:32:44,200 --> 00:32:46,700
to get the money
out of his pocket
713
00:32:46,700 --> 00:32:48,667
and give Woodrow $120 of it
714
00:32:48,667 --> 00:32:52,000
because that's how much
he felt like he had owed him.
715
00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:56,500
So, he collected $120
and a silver dollar
from his pocket
716
00:32:56,500 --> 00:32:58,400
and went about his day.
717
00:33:00,100 --> 00:33:01,667
[Mark] You know, it's sad
for a young man
718
00:33:01,667 --> 00:33:04,467
to lose his life over a bag
or two of sugar.
719
00:33:04,467 --> 00:33:09,000
It makes me feel that
there was a deeper conflict
between him and his cousin
720
00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:11,400
and went much deeper
than some sugar.
721
00:33:11,400 --> 00:33:14,567
[Tim] You know,
it sounds pretty rough
to shoot someone
722
00:33:14,567 --> 00:33:15,867
over a bag of sugar.
723
00:33:15,867 --> 00:33:17,834
But, I mean, this is
the way it was back then.
724
00:33:18,600 --> 00:33:21,266
I can tell you
that back in the day,
725
00:33:21,266 --> 00:33:23,867
people were cut
from a different cloth.
726
00:33:23,867 --> 00:33:27,367
Like, my grandpa
cut a man's throat over $20,
727
00:33:27,367 --> 00:33:30,467
and it was over the principle,
not over the money.
728
00:33:30,467 --> 00:33:32,166
So, that may have
been the same thing
729
00:33:32,166 --> 00:33:34,000
that was going on
back in the day.
730
00:33:38,100 --> 00:33:39,767
We don't really know
where it was,
731
00:33:39,767 --> 00:33:42,600
but, you know,
somewhere in this area
is where Lloyd got shot,
732
00:33:42,600 --> 00:33:44,767
and it's where he, uh,
would have lost his life,
733
00:33:44,767 --> 00:33:46,634
would have took
his last few breaths.
734
00:33:49,600 --> 00:33:54,166
The last words that Lloyd
spoke was, "Tell Raymond."
735
00:33:54,166 --> 00:33:56,100
And that was it.
736
00:33:56,100 --> 00:33:59,600
Raymond being Raymond Parks,
his cousin and car owner.
737
00:34:00,567 --> 00:34:02,800
I wish I could know
what that meant.
738
00:34:02,800 --> 00:34:04,867
Like, what did he need
to tell Raymond
739
00:34:04,867 --> 00:34:07,367
in those last few moments?
What could it have been?
740
00:34:07,367 --> 00:34:09,133
There's... there's no telling.
741
00:34:14,800 --> 00:34:16,300
[Tim] The moonshine background
742
00:34:16,300 --> 00:34:17,900
that Lloyd Seay
was dealing with,
743
00:34:17,900 --> 00:34:20,166
you know, it just
caught up with him.
744
00:34:20,166 --> 00:34:24,467
His life was cut short
before he could achieve
his full potential
745
00:34:24,467 --> 00:34:26,500
and become a stock-car legend.
746
00:34:27,266 --> 00:34:29,266
When you're in
an illegal business,
747
00:34:29,266 --> 00:34:31,667
anytime you start
dealing with money
and family,
748
00:34:31,667 --> 00:34:33,934
more than likely
you're gonna have
some problems.
749
00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:37,100
You know, it was just
a matter of time.
750
00:34:47,100 --> 00:34:49,266
[Mark] You know, driving
these old Fords,
751
00:34:49,266 --> 00:34:51,300
I mean, there ain't
nothing like it.
752
00:34:53,967 --> 00:34:55,800
You know, they're not like
modern cars.
753
00:34:55,800 --> 00:34:57,700
There's nothing easy
to drive about 'em,
754
00:34:57,700 --> 00:34:58,567
but I love 'em.
755
00:35:01,500 --> 00:35:03,900
Yeah, they rattle,
they shake, they be.
756
00:35:03,900 --> 00:35:06,767
But, I mean, I'm as happy
as I can be
757
00:35:06,767 --> 00:35:09,900
behind the wheel
of a '39 or a '44.
758
00:35:09,900 --> 00:35:12,433
I mean, this is
Mark's happy place.
759
00:35:13,800 --> 00:35:16,300
You know, I mean,
just look at the hood
on this thing.
760
00:35:16,300 --> 00:35:17,567
Ooh! Damn.
761
00:35:17,567 --> 00:35:19,834
It's just like
you're following an arrow.
762
00:35:20,767 --> 00:35:22,800
I can just imagine
what it would've been like
763
00:35:22,800 --> 00:35:25,200
flying down Thunder Road,
hauling liquor,
764
00:35:25,200 --> 00:35:27,200
cops chasing you.
765
00:35:27,200 --> 00:35:29,600
You know, for me, that would
have been the ultimate high,
766
00:35:29,600 --> 00:35:32,900
and I think it was
for the bootleggers
back in the day.
767
00:35:32,900 --> 00:35:35,967
These cars, you know,
they're not for everybody,
768
00:35:35,967 --> 00:35:37,634
but they're for Mark Ramsey.
769
00:35:40,700 --> 00:35:42,767
[Tim] Lloyd Seay's cousin,
Woodrow Anderson,
770
00:35:42,767 --> 00:35:46,200
shot him in the chest
over a bag of sugar
for some moonshine.
771
00:35:47,100 --> 00:35:48,967
I know it was just
a bag of sugar,
772
00:35:48,967 --> 00:35:52,767
but, you know, you could just
see how times was hard.
773
00:35:52,767 --> 00:35:54,367
And if you had did
something wrong,
774
00:35:54,367 --> 00:35:55,900
even if it was family,
775
00:35:55,900 --> 00:35:57,300
it was time to pay up.
776
00:35:57,300 --> 00:36:00,800
And when Woodrow
come a-calling,
Seay took the bullet.
777
00:36:11,100 --> 00:36:13,567
[Cody] When Lloyd Seay
died in 1941,
778
00:36:13,567 --> 00:36:15,033
I mean, it was a big deal.
779
00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:19,767
You know, one of the sport's
biggest racing stars
780
00:36:19,767 --> 00:36:23,400
was killed a day after
he won the biggest race
of his career.
781
00:36:24,767 --> 00:36:27,767
[Josh] How awful
to die at 21 years old
782
00:36:27,767 --> 00:36:30,867
and be one of the most
promising race car drivers
that's ever walked
783
00:36:30,867 --> 00:36:32,100
the face of the planet.
784
00:36:32,100 --> 00:36:33,266
It just don't even seem real.
785
00:36:33,266 --> 00:36:35,900
[Daniel]
There was a lot of shock
in the racing community
786
00:36:35,900 --> 00:36:37,767
and in that working-class
community,
787
00:36:37,767 --> 00:36:39,667
where Lloyd Seay was a hero.
788
00:36:39,667 --> 00:36:41,200
[Mark] And I think
it probably shocked
789
00:36:41,200 --> 00:36:44,066
the racing world
as well as his family.
790
00:36:44,066 --> 00:36:46,700
How can something
this tragic happen?
791
00:36:46,700 --> 00:36:49,000
Lloyd's funeral
was a very big deal
792
00:36:49,000 --> 00:36:50,934
for the people of Dawsonville.
793
00:36:51,400 --> 00:36:53,400
Their hometown boy was killed.
794
00:36:54,166 --> 00:36:56,266
Lloyd's Silver Bullet race car
795
00:36:56,266 --> 00:36:58,400
led the hearse
to the cemetery.
796
00:36:58,400 --> 00:37:00,367
And still today, Lloyd's grave
797
00:37:00,367 --> 00:37:01,900
is one of the tallest
798
00:37:01,900 --> 00:37:03,600
monuments out
in the city cemetery.
799
00:37:05,000 --> 00:37:07,867
[David] This right here
is the Dawsonville Cemetery,
800
00:37:07,867 --> 00:37:11,166
where the moonshiners
didn't wanna wind up.
801
00:37:11,166 --> 00:37:15,100
Look at this largest tombstone
in the cemetery, Lloyd Seay,
802
00:37:15,100 --> 00:37:19,100
one of the greatest trippers,
moonshine haulers,
803
00:37:19,100 --> 00:37:21,967
a stock-car driver
in the pioneer days.
804
00:37:21,967 --> 00:37:23,667
No telling
what he could have been.
805
00:37:23,667 --> 00:37:25,900
And Raymond Parks
put this here for him
806
00:37:25,900 --> 00:37:29,867
in commemorance
of what a great person he was.
807
00:37:29,867 --> 00:37:32,567
Looky here,
got a picture of a '39 Ford
808
00:37:32,567 --> 00:37:35,166
with his name
and his number seven,
809
00:37:35,166 --> 00:37:38,867
and even a porcelain inset
put in that in 1941,
810
00:37:38,867 --> 00:37:41,700
at his death,
when the headstone was put up.
811
00:37:41,700 --> 00:37:44,667
Most people never even
start today racing at 21,
812
00:37:44,667 --> 00:37:47,033
and he had done
done it all by that time.
813
00:37:48,600 --> 00:37:51,166
[narrator] Nearly six weeks
after Lloyd's death,
814
00:37:51,166 --> 00:37:54,367
Woodrow Anderson
stood trial for murder.
815
00:37:54,367 --> 00:37:55,867
[Cody] Lloyd Seay's brother,
Jim Seay,
816
00:37:55,867 --> 00:37:58,567
recovered from his injuries
and he stood on trial
817
00:37:58,567 --> 00:38:00,900
to convict Woodrow Anderson.
818
00:38:00,900 --> 00:38:04,367
At the trial, there were
two versions of the story.
819
00:38:04,367 --> 00:38:09,000
Woodrow's story
was that he was jumped
by the Seay brothers...
820
00:38:09,767 --> 00:38:11,000
and he run inside
the house...
821
00:38:11,900 --> 00:38:13,400
to grab a pistol.
822
00:38:14,166 --> 00:38:15,734
And shot in self-defense.
823
00:38:18,400 --> 00:38:21,266
But the jury convicted
Woodrow of his crimes
824
00:38:21,266 --> 00:38:22,600
for killing Lloyd Seay.
825
00:38:23,266 --> 00:38:25,767
[narrator] The trial
lasted one day.
826
00:38:25,767 --> 00:38:28,700
Jurors convicted Anderson
of his cousin's murder
827
00:38:28,700 --> 00:38:31,467
and sentenced him
to life in prison.
828
00:38:31,467 --> 00:38:33,367
Justice had been served,
829
00:38:33,367 --> 00:38:37,500
but Seay's tragic passing left
a huge hole in the community.
830
00:38:38,467 --> 00:38:40,667
Lloyd Seay was an icon
here in the city,
831
00:38:40,667 --> 00:38:44,667
doing things that most people
only wish or wondered about.
832
00:38:44,667 --> 00:38:46,567
He was like an OG.
833
00:38:46,567 --> 00:38:48,567
I feel like I might be
kin to Lloyd Seay
834
00:38:48,567 --> 00:38:51,166
from somewhere down the line
because race cars,
835
00:38:51,166 --> 00:38:54,100
moonshining, bootlegging,
going fast, pretty girls,
836
00:38:54,100 --> 00:38:57,600
all of it, yep, we're probably
long-lost cousins.
837
00:38:57,600 --> 00:38:59,233
[David] Well,
he's a folk hero.
838
00:38:59,867 --> 00:39:00,934
Excuse me.
839
00:39:01,567 --> 00:39:02,600
[sniffles]
840
00:39:09,467 --> 00:39:11,300
Well, it's just, uh...
841
00:39:13,800 --> 00:39:15,300
[voice shaking]
842
00:39:27,700 --> 00:39:28,900
[sniffles]
843
00:39:32,300 --> 00:39:33,867
[in normal voice]
My dad went to Lakewood
844
00:39:33,867 --> 00:39:35,567
and saw Lloyd
run his first race,
845
00:39:35,567 --> 00:39:37,667
he said, "I'll not be back
till I'm in it."
846
00:39:37,667 --> 00:39:40,000
He didn't go
to the second race
and the third race,
847
00:39:40,000 --> 00:39:41,767
he bought
a brand-new '40 Ford.
848
00:39:41,767 --> 00:39:43,700
That's when they built 'em
over there in Atlanta,
849
00:39:43,700 --> 00:39:47,066
out from Sears, Roebuck,
off of Ponce de Leon.
850
00:39:47,066 --> 00:39:51,000
My dad started 18th
out of 24 cars
851
00:39:51,000 --> 00:39:54,367
and ran third that day
to Lloyd Seay and Roy Hall.
852
00:39:54,367 --> 00:39:57,166
And that set my dad
on his career in racing.
853
00:39:57,166 --> 00:39:59,133
That's how much
it means to me.
854
00:40:01,767 --> 00:40:04,967
[Jim] Lloyd Seay's legacy,
from my standpoint,
855
00:40:04,967 --> 00:40:07,266
the guy did
what he loved doing.
856
00:40:07,266 --> 00:40:10,200
And, you know,
even though he died
at a young age,
857
00:40:10,200 --> 00:40:11,900
he started at a young age.
858
00:40:11,900 --> 00:40:14,667
I mean, think about it.
The guy started
at 13 years old,
859
00:40:14,667 --> 00:40:17,400
and he was making money,
picking up his end
860
00:40:17,400 --> 00:40:19,500
of the family deal here.
861
00:40:19,500 --> 00:40:20,500
And he found the best way
862
00:40:20,500 --> 00:40:23,166
he could get in
was to drive cars.
863
00:40:23,166 --> 00:40:25,700
I think he went out on top.
864
00:40:25,700 --> 00:40:29,266
[Mark] Who knows what
he would have brought
to the racing world.
865
00:40:29,266 --> 00:40:31,867
His skill
was definitely there,
866
00:40:31,867 --> 00:40:34,100
but sadly,
it wasn't meant to be.
867
00:40:34,100 --> 00:40:38,266
Lloyd Seay's legacy is
an incredibly talented driver,
868
00:40:38,266 --> 00:40:41,100
a pioneer in the sport
of stock-car racing
869
00:40:41,100 --> 00:40:45,367
and largely responsible
for the growth and popularity
870
00:40:45,367 --> 00:40:48,400
of stock-car racing
in the pre-World War II era.
871
00:40:52,867 --> 00:40:55,600
[Mark] I think the time
has passed for moonshiners
872
00:40:55,600 --> 00:40:59,567
to get their due
from their contribution
to stock-car racing
873
00:40:59,567 --> 00:41:04,600
because most of the ones
that had any part of it
are no longer with us.
874
00:41:04,600 --> 00:41:08,600
However, their legacy
should never be forgotten.
875
00:41:10,166 --> 00:41:12,667
As the moonshine run out
of the mountains here
876
00:41:12,667 --> 00:41:14,600
at the Appalachian foothills
877
00:41:14,600 --> 00:41:18,567
as freely as water runs
from Amicalola Falls...
878
00:41:18,567 --> 00:41:21,767
here lies a person
that will never be matched.
879
00:41:21,767 --> 00:41:24,200
Lloyd Seay,
may you rest in peace.