Racing enthusiast gather for luncheon

Pat Nanney Photo

Several past and current local automobile racers and others interested in local racing gathered for a luncheon Thursday, August 27 in Forest City. The date was chosen as it was the anniversary of the death of Herman Beam on August 27, 1980. Beam, a native of Rutherford County, raced in NASCAR's premier division in the early 1960s. He graduated from Cool Springs School and graduated with honors with a chemistry degree from UNC Chapel Hill. After serving in the Naval Reserve, he worked at a plant in Elizabethton, TN. He then became interested in racing. His father was employed by Clinchfield Railroad.

Beam, who as a driver and car owner, was known for getting results from limited resources, and was called "The Turtle" for his cautious driving style. He held the record for the longest streak of finishing races without a DNF (did not finish), 84 races from 1961-1963. A blown engine ended the streak. The record was broken by Greg Biffle in 2014.

1959 was Beam's best year entering 30 of 44 races with 12 top-10 finishes, his first top-5 and 4th in the points standings. He won a pole position in a drawing at Richmond Raceway but quickly pulled over to let the other drivers pass. He retired from driving in 1963 but fielded cars for Ned Jarrett and Cale Yarborough. His one visit to victory lane was as crew chief for Paul Lewis who won a race in Tennessee.

The event was organized by Phil Combs who operates the Combs Family Museum in Shelby. His dad, Roby Combs, was the flagman for early NASCAR races and his mother was a track steward. The museum is filled with automobile and go-kart racing memorabilia.

After the luncheon several of the participants traveled to the Beam Cemetery near Ellenboro to place flowers, an American flag and a checkered flag on his grave. Herman is the fifth generation of the family buried there.