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Bill 737

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                      737
Type of Legislation:              Concurrent Resolution CR
Introducing Body:                 Senate
Introduced Date:                  19990420
Primary Sponsor:                  J. Verne Smith
All Sponsors:                     J. Verne Smith
Drafted Document Number:          l:\council\bills\pt\1464dw.doc
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:     19990422
Subject:                          Ms. Louise Smith, "The First Lady of 
                                  Racing", Resolutions


                        History

Body    Date      Action Description                     Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  ______________________________________ _______ ____________
Senate  19990422  Received from House
House   19990421  Introduced, adopted, returned
                  with concurrence
Senate  19990420  Introduced, adopted, sent to House


                             Versions of This Bill

TO EXPRESS THE APPRECIATION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO THE PALMETTO STATE'S "FIRST LADY OF RACING" ON THE NASCAR CIRCUIT, MS. LOUISE SMITH OF GREENVILLE COUNTY, AND TO EXTEND THEIR SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS ON HER INDUCTION INTO THE INTERNATIONAL MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME ON APRIL 22, 1999.

Whereas, "The First Lady of Racing", Louise Smith of Greenville, is on the brink of making history again by becoming the first woman ever to be inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame; and

Whereas, as a driver, Louise Smith was known as much for her spectacular crashes as she was for her hard-charging, gun-it-to-the-flag style of racing; and

Whereas, the woman who gave no quarter and took no prisoners during her stock car days in the 1940s and 1950s no longer mans the wheel of a speed machine, but her spirit and pride is just as strong at age eighty-two as it was fifty years ago. A two-time finalist for induction into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, Ms. Smith deserves her place among the legends of racing; and

Whereas, Ms. Smith's venture into the world of motorsports came courtesy of Bill France. Before he would create and transform NASCAR into the most popular racing circuit in the world, he was a struggling promoter simply trying to put people in the seats; and

Whereas, her first event was at the half-mile Greenville-Pickens Speedway, and fans turned out by the hundreds to see how the woman driver could compete against "real" stock car pilots. Ms. Smith finished third in the event, and Bill France quickly realized she was much more than just a novelty; and

Whereas, Ms. Smith helped Bill France promote events in the pre-NASCAR days, and her performances on the track quickly turned her into a crowd favorite. While the likes of Buck Baker, Curtis Turner, Fonty Flock, Red Byron, and Roy Hall seethed, she went on to win thirty-eight modified races in eleven years, showing her skills at ovals from Daytona to Canada; and

Whereas, Ms. Smith says that early stockers didn't benefit from the big money purses common today, and oftentimes drivers struggled for basic necessities; and

Whereas, she has stayed close to racing, working with Darlington Raceway's pageant and recently participating in NASCAR's Night in Hollywood celebrating the sport's fifty years; and

Whereas, Ms. Smith is glad that NASCAR has finally achieved what she and Bill France hoped it would, and says she is not bitter about being the odd woman out during the sport's formative years. However, she's quick to point out that she never got her due. For a woman who retired from racing in 1956 and went on to sponsor many young drivers, induction for "The First Lady of Racing" is the ultimate honor; and

Whereas, it is appropriate that the members of the General Assembly pause in their deliberations to acknowledge the distinguished career and contributions of one of South Carolina's finest, Louise Smith, upon the occasion of this wonderful accomplishment. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina express appreciation to the Palmetto State's "First Lady of Racing" on the NASCAR circuit, Ms. Louise Smith of Greenville County, and extend their sincere congratulations on her induction into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame on April 22, 1999.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Ms. Louise Smith.

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