Nero Steptoe Info

All - I have a friend who is asking for confirmation that Nero Steptoe used to race at the "Suicide Circle" in Albany, GA back in the 50's. It is also believed that his car was called "Mule Train". Can anyone confirm this? Thanks for your help.

 

google his name - it comes up all over the place

 

contact k9racer on here he should be able to help you

 

I've heard his name all my life, but way before my time. He was a flathead guru around here.

 

I saw hum drive @ Lakewood Speedway, a 1 mile dirt track in Atlanta back in the 50s. The car was "The Golden Rocket", a '53 Studebaker coupe with a setback Caddy engine and a front mounted GMC blower, on alky plus ???????
Car was a beast, powerful as all Hell, but a bear to handle.
Several different drivers tried the car in hot laps but were unable to get it around the track, Nero finally tried it and managed to herd the thing around the track at a pretty good time, so he started the race, ran well, but fell out due to mechanical problems.
All sorts of bad ass modifieds there, but IIRC, Jack Smith won in a '34 Ford, flathead Ford with 4 97s and iron heads.
Dave

 

Now you are talking about a real caracture .. Nero raised flowers for a living. Gladiolias I think. His daughter was named ""Rose"" He lived in albany maybe atlanta and Birmingham alabama. One of his best friends was Freddy Fryar.. What a pair.If you look on the Alabama Auto Racing Pioneers web site you will see several photos of him ...................... Also one of the mule train car at the Iron Bowl in B'ham................... His most famous stunt was in 1954 or 53 he lost the left front wheel assembly while leading a race. several times he was black flaged but he would not stop as he was leading the race. He went on the win. The cars then had straight axels and ran off the right front and very little weight on the lf....................................................... For a short time he also drove the JP Rotton/ Hugh Babb supercharged studebaker that was studebaker powered ..................... Back then you had to use family engines like a cad in a chevy or a lincon in a ford. and a chrysler in a plymouth...... The Hugh Babb mentioned was the same one who headed up the Black Widow project for Chevrolet. . Nero was one hell of a showman.. I hope this helps... Bobby..I will PM you contact info on a Ga auto racing historian who can tell you all about suicide circle.

 

Thanks for your input k9 and dirty. Quite a character indeed. Wish I had seen him race... especially in that Studebaker (I've owned several and am a Studebaker Driver's Club member). Thanks guys.