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In the early 1960's a teenager by the name of Charles Leroy Simmons began driving the water truck on Saturdays at the Banks County (GA) Speedway. A short while later he began his journey, as a driver, into the dirt racing world. Simmons drove jalopies, modifieds, super modifieds, skeeters, and dirt late models to 1,012 checkered flags. In 2001 he was inducted into the inaugural class of the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame. The year 2003 saw him climb out of his famous #41 for the last time. By then he was known to the dirt racing world as "The living Legend." Buck Simmons: The Living Legend includes100 photos with many pictures by award winning photographers such as David Allio, Gene Lefler, Robert Turner, and Tony Hammett.
About the author
Racing Historian Gary Parker attended his first dirt race at the famed Boyd's Speedway in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1955. Over 60 years, he has watched hundreds of races all over the South and at several historic tracks that no longer exist. He traveled and became close friends with some of the icons of Southern dirt racing and helped drivers in the pits. He was a member of Jody Ridley's crew from the late 1960's through all of the 1970's, and he was part of H.E. (Doc) Vineyard's pit crew for several years in the 1980's.
He has written a number of articles for such racing publications as Dirt Late Model Magazine. Parker holds a PhD. in Anthropology. He lives with his wife in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
