ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 10, 1995 TAG: 9512290110
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C10 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: MARTINSVILLE
SOURCE: SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
THE ALLISON LEGACY Cars may be downsized, but they're big fun for drivers.
Kenny, Ronald and Donald Allison couldn't have been happier after watching their Allison Legacy Cars, downsized versions of NASCAR Winston Cup cars, turn their first competitive laps during Saturday's Souvenir Days at Martinsville Speedway.
The Allison Brothers, sons of ex-Winston Cup driver Donnie Allison, have designed and built the approximately five-eighths scale cars from the ground up. Saturday, they watched as 10 cars competed for 30 laps.
``I thought it was great,'' Kenny Allison said. ``It was a good race, but I'd like to see about 40 of them out there.''
Allison said it was rewarding to finally see the cars, that they have developed, over the past four years, compete.
``I'm happy with everything on the car,'' he said. ``We'll talk to the drivers and get their thoughts. I thought it was a good show.''
Race winner Tim Williams of Mount Ulla, N.C., started first as a result of drivers drawing for positions and swapped the lead with a couple of drivers during the race.
``It was the luck of the draw, but the 10 car [Patrick Lawler] and I had a good run,'' said the Late Model Stock driver who competes at Concord (N.C.) Speedway. ``It handles with the same characteristics of a Late Model.''
The field included Jim France, executive vice president and secretary of NASCAR, who finished fifth after starting ninth.
``It's a lot of fun, the cars look good and I think people can relate to them,'' France said of the Legacy Cars.
Other competitors included Kevin Diomedi of Roanoke, Royce Peters of Kingsport, Tenn., Rory Goodwin of Durham, N.C., Jeff Craig of Charlotte, N.C., Billy Roach Jr. of Liberty, N.C., Gale Beasley of Dunn, N.C., and Lawler of Dallas. Goodwin finished second, and Peters was third.
Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell raced, but he was involved in a wreck on the first lap and forced out with rear-end damage.
The exhibition race was part of Souvenir Days at Martinsville Speedway. Souvenir trailers of Winston Cup race teams were at the speedway with year end sales and the track is collecting toys for underpriveleged children. Souvenir Days will continue today from noon to 5 p.m.
The speedway collected 1,427 toys on Saturday and is hoping to finish with more than 2,000 toys this evening. The toys will be given to the Martinsville and Henry County Departments of Social Services. Shoppers who donate a toy will receive a free Martinsville Speedway T-shirt and a Taco Bell coupon.
A total of 14 souvenir trailers are at the track, including those of Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Bill Elliott, No Fear and the Ford Motorsports trailer with Mark Martin, Rusty Wallace, Ernie Irvan and Dale Jarrett souvenirs.
Santa Claus will be in Victory Lane to greet children today from noon to 5 p.m.
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines KEYWORDS: AUTO RACINGby CNB