November 1, 2007
By Larry Cottrill

Larry Cottrill

Are you a sports bar owner, or does your game room just look like one? Maybe you’re even more severely inflicted as I am, where your entire house has become a shrine to the sport. Allow me to point out a few offerings now listed on that great on-line flea market for your considerations. Some of the following are tracked in collectors guides at hefty values, while others are simply unique, obscure, or just plain . . . well, cool.

Leading off this weeks showcase ....

Item #1

Junior Johnson Moonshine ~ Autographed

Long before Junior Johnson became a household name in NASCAR circles (or the "Last American Hero" in Tom Wolfe’s Esquire magazine essay) he was the Wildman of Wilkes County. Possibly the most famous of all bootleg whiskey haulers, Johnson was the delivery man for his family’s illegal moonshine whiskey. Never caught behind the wheel, Johnson was a legend before he had any thought of driving a racecar for a living. With 50 Cup victories as a driver, and 6 Cup Championships as an owner, Johnson went on to become the most single influential individual in NASCAR history outside of the France family.

Now retired from the racing business, Johnson has resurrected an old family recipe, but this time, it’s being sold legally. The bottle is adorned with the likeness of one of Johnson’s old Ford "Whiskey cars", and this particular one also sports Junior’s signature.

Currently listed at the time of this writing with a high bid of $59.
Item #1

Item #2

One "Heavily Armed Recreational Vehicle"

Leave the sedan or the SUV at home. THIS is how you tailgate is style. This converted school bus has all of the proper track-side accouterments. This specimen comes with a built-in roof deck for infield viewing, a brand new Clarion MP3 player, speakers and sub-woofers built into the limo-style seats, built-in cooler storage. This ‘84 Ford has an automatic transmission and is built like... well..., a school bus! These things run forever, and if all you’re using it for is race weekends, your kids may be taking it to Bristol long after you’re gone.

This one is still under a grand, and would probably be a bargain at five times that.
Item #2

Item #3

NASCAR Encyclopedia by Peter Golenbock (2003)

Yes, with this book you too, like me, can become the nerd that knows every statistic that has ever been recorded in NASCAR. This book has everything short of who peed in their firesuit the most often. And, with Peter Golenbock’s and Greg Fielden’s names on the sleeve of any book, you can rest assured of the authenticity of the records and numbers. This IS the bible of NASCAR stats. Over 2 inches thick, this 5 + ½ pounder would be a lethal weapon if dropped out of a 2nd story window.

A must have at a Buy-it-Now price of $9.99 + S&H
Item #3

Item #4

Dale Earnhardt Sr. T-Bird NASCAR Go Kart

This rare Wrangler promotional Go-Kart is from way-back-when, before the "Man in Black" WAS the "Man in Black". In fact, it’s from his Ford days with Bud Moore.

This Kart has a Tecumseh 4hp motor with kill switch under the butterfly steering wheel. It measures 7 ft long and 2 ft 10in wide, and stands 2 ft high. The paint is near perfect for its age. Opening bid is $500 with a Buy-it-Now price of $1500
Item #4

Item #5

NASCAR Race Used Sheetmetal Kenny Wallace Stacker Side

Look, ... up on the wall above the bar!, ...it’s a bird!, ... it’s a plane!, ... it’s the side off of the Hermanator’s car! Yup, it’s a wheel-to-wheel side panel from one of the most colorful cars ever to grace a Busch series race ( and driven by one of the most colorful drivers too! ).

This doorskin is from Kenny Wallace’s #22 Stacker2 car from a few years back.

Currently listed for only $13.83 + S&H (yes, that’s NOT a typo, at this writing it’s less than $14 for this beauty).
Item #5

Happy hunting this week!

The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.