Everybody knows about NASCAR, even those of you who aren’t fans of racing. But do you know how it all got started? Much of it started right here in Northeast Georgia, in Dawsonville, which has been called the “former moonshining capital of Appalachia.” It was Dawsonville, where moonshiners tried to outrun and outsmart the law every night of the week, that “produced the nation’s first and best stock car racers…,” says Neal Thompson in his book “Driving with the Devil.”  Some of the people who knew those first and best racers will be at the Northeast Georgia History Center:

       The Early Years of Racing: Tuesday, July 10, from 7:00- 8:00 p.m.

       The Later Years of NASCAR: Tuesday, August 14, from 7:00- 8:00 p.m.

Moderator: Capt. Herb Emory, who gives traffic reports on WSB radio and hosts his own shows on NASCAR.

Special Guests:

       Linda Petty, wife of famous driver Richard Petty;

       Raymond Parks, a Dawsonville native who owned three winning cars during the early days;

       Jimmy Mosteller, who announced auto races for years;

       Charles Mincey, a former driver;

       David Sosebee, son of well-known driver Gober Sosebee of Dawsonville and a former driver himself;

       Dan Elliott, who served as crew chief and on the pit crew for his brother, driver Bill Elliott;

       Gordon Pirkle, who has promoted racing in his native Dawson County for decades.

An early winning stock car will also be on display at the History Center.  The history forums are free to members of the center and $3 for non-members. For more information, please call the History Center at 770-297-5900. 322 Academy Street Gainesville, GA 30501