Warren, T. Taylor (Thomas Taylor), 1925-2008

Wright, Christina

Charlotte, North Carolina

J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

2006-01-12

1 audio file (2:31:37) : digital, MP3

sound recording-nonmusical

spoken word

eng

T. Taylor Warren was an 80-year-old man at the time of interview, which took place in J. Murrey Atkins Library (University of North Carolina at Charlotte). He was born in Delaware, Wyoming, on July 4, 1925. He was educated at Rochester Institute of Technology, and was employed as a motorsports photographer.

Motorsports photographer T. Taylor Warren reflects in this second interview on the culture of NASCAR during the 1950s-1980s and on how the stock car industry has changed through the time of the interview in 2006. He begins by discussing the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) and preseason motorsports promotional activities, which generate interest among fans and include photo opportunities for professional photographers. Mr. Warren describes different drivers and their approaches to driving, noting that some drivers, including "Herman the Turtle" (Herman Beam), aimed not to finish first but to avoid damage while placing well enough to win money and earn a living. He shares his thoughts on the role of women and African Americans in stock car racing and why the sport is largely dominated by white men from the South. Mr. Warren then discusses the founder of NASCAR Bill France Sr., whom he worked for as a photographer, and how he feels that Mr. France was an effective businessman and strong leader who could lack compassion at times. He shares his recollections of Charlotte Motor Speedway, its notable personalities including Howard "Humpy" Wheeler Jr. and Bruton Smith, and of the track's place in NASCAR. He concludes the interview by describing recent changes in motorsports that he views as negative, including extreme stock car engineering for speed, which can increase the risk of injury for drivers; decreased camaraderie between drivers; and the emergence of the International Race of Champions (IROC), where all drivers race the same car.

MP3 access copy created on ingest from WAV optimized production master file. Interview originally recorded on two minidiscs and digitized using a Digidesign 003 rack.

Sports photographers
Photographers

Warren, T. Taylor (Thomas Taylor), 1925-2008
France, Bill, 1909-1992

NASCAR (Association)
Charlotte Motor Speedway (Concord, N.C.)

Sports photographers
Photography of sports
Photojournalism
Stock car drivers
Stock car racing
Motorsports
Motorsports--Economic aspects
Women automobile racing drivers
African American automobile racing drivers
Automobile racing managers
Automobile racing--Employees
Automobile racing--Sociological aspects

North Carolina--Charlotte
North Carolina--Concord
Virginia--Martinsville

Interviews
Oral histories

1940-2010

Motorsports

Living Charlotte : the postwar development of a New South city

T. Taylor Warren collection, 1959-2008. J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

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Digitization made possible by funding from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources.

audio/mpeg

T. Taylor Warren oral history interview 1, 2005 December 7, J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections and University Archives, University of North Carolina at Charlotte (https://goldmine.uncc.edu/islandora/object/uncc%3A128)

T. Taylor Warren papers concerning NASCAR, 1959-2009, J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections and University Archives, University of North Carolina at Charlotte (https://findingaids.uncc.edu/repositories/4/resources/30)

OH-WA0415