My dad grew up in Burke Co., NC in the 40's and 50's. He said he could count the smoke from 7 stills in the hills around his home when he came out to play on Saturday morning. Told me the sheriff could catch all the moonshiners except he never was able to catch his own brother.
Just a small addendum to Junior's story about the Sheriff: I had an uncle who was the long-time Sheriff of one of those western NC counties (Madison, I believe). When I was about 12, I listened to him telling tales about the 1930s-1950s moonshining. This was about 1955, and I asked him, "Bob, if the liquor business was illegal, why didn't you arrest these guys? I mean, you say you knew them, so you must've known where they lived and all that." Uncle Bob looked at me and kind of squinted one eye and said, "Shit, boy, I was an ELECTED official. If I was to start busting liquor guys, they'd find somebody to run against me in the next election and I'd be out of a job!'
Yeah at almost 73years old (July 15th of this year, 2023) I can remember seeing films and videos of junior Johnsons career winding down and interviews about his joining Nascar which were the basis for the movie about his days of running "shine " before he became one 1⃣ of the first big names in Nascar along with Ralph Earnhardt, and others who raced on the dirt short tracks that became the early roots of Nascar and the Robert Mitchem movie you're thinking was "Thunder Road " and y the influences of "Thunder Road " were obvious in the Burt Reynolds movie, "White Lightning and also his Gator McClusky movies and a lot of the movie "Days of Thunder " was based on a lot of true stories about Nascar around the time Sr , DW and others were just getting started in Nascar and some active and retired drivers actually drove in some of the racing scenes because the director and producers wanted the realism of actual Nascar drivers racing onthe tracks used for filming
I had the great pleasure of meeting Junior , he was totally down to earth and so much fun to talk I could have listened to him all day . My father in law liked him to and I sure miss both of them .
When the old timers started retiring and passing away, was the day Nascar died. The new drivers can't hold a candle to these guys. Personally Nascar died for me when Dale Earnhardt passed away.
I could listen and learn something from Junior all day long. His stories about haulin' "Al Kee Haul" are incredible and fascinating. Sure don't make the like Jr. Anymore. GOD Bless Junior Johnson.
Thanks Gregory for your comment. I enjoyed shooting this interview with Junior. He had some great stories to tell us after the interview. He will be missed around racing but not forgotten. Jimmy Wentz
Yeah Junior was still a big name in Nascar when I first became a fan of Nascar and God bless him he can still be very entertaining when telling stories about him getting started in Nascar on weekends and running "shine " Monday through Friday 😊😅😮😂❤😊
And maybe they drunk that akkehall with a feller that got his arm chop up at the mill, but they didn’t drunk with no feller that chopped up his beans n frank for fun.
I agree with them that we need to keep her animal stories about the early days alive. It may not have been legal, but it was a part of life. I always thought I’d either make a real good missionary or a real good moonshine Rado this is a Godly Redneck says hi. Enjoy the video more than you’ll ever know. Keep on keeping on and keep it safe godly redneck out.
Wow If this isn't different My grandfather broke a so call Federal law society locked him up for 28 years Junior here on other hand gets pardoned never sees a day in jail extremely different here wonder why thx. Thx. Concerned
What's with the guy constantly holding the gearshift wants it stay in gear without him holding it there or does he just like to rest his hand on the gear shift
I have no doubt that Junior knew just what he was doing, but in many later model cars, it isn't' recommended that you rest you hand on the shift lever. It holds pressure on the syncros and they tend to wear prematurely. I'm not very familiar with the cars of the '40s & '50s and their weaknesses/tendencies or whatever you would call that. I never met Junior but I did get to talk with Richard Petty once and talked with Buddy Baker on his Sirius/XM radio show several times. Listening to Junior is much like hearing those other guys talking about their backgrounds and experiences. I could sit there for days and not get tired of visiting... it reminded me much of sitting with my grandfather who was born in 1898. Their old stories were always the best!! Wonderful memories...
Thanks Trudy, for your comment but I don't know the answer to your question. I was just enjoying the ride.Sad to say Mr. Miller is no longer with us.Jimmy Wentz
@@MrGaryGG48 Gary I got to meet Richard Petty at Daytona on pit road a few years back Did't have anything for him to sign so he autographed my T-Shirt. Will never wash it. Jimmy Wentz
We need to keep these stories alive because this is our history 🇺🇲
My dad grew up in Burke Co., NC in the 40's and 50's. He said he could count the smoke from 7 stills in the hills around his home when he came out to play on Saturday morning. Told me the sheriff could catch all the moonshiners except he never was able to catch his own brother.
Just a small addendum to Junior's story about the Sheriff: I had an uncle who was the long-time Sheriff of one of those western NC counties (Madison, I believe). When I was about 12, I listened to him telling tales about the 1930s-1950s moonshining.
This was about 1955, and I asked him, "Bob, if the liquor business was illegal, why didn't you arrest these guys? I mean, you say you knew them, so you must've known where they lived and all that." Uncle Bob looked at me and kind of squinted one eye and said, "Shit, boy, I was an ELECTED official. If I was to start busting liquor guys, they'd find somebody to run against me in the next election and I'd be out of a job!'
Guys like Junior, with those personalities are so desperately missed in modern NASCAR.
100%
Yeah at almost 73years old (July 15th of this year, 2023) I can remember seeing films and videos of junior Johnsons career winding down and interviews about his joining Nascar which were the basis for the movie about his days of running "shine " before he became one 1⃣ of the first big names in Nascar along with Ralph Earnhardt, and others who raced on the dirt short tracks that became the early roots of Nascar and the Robert Mitchem movie you're thinking was "Thunder Road " and y the influences of "Thunder Road " were obvious in the Burt Reynolds movie, "White Lightning and also his Gator McClusky movies and a lot of the movie "Days of Thunder " was based on a lot of true stories about Nascar around the time Sr , DW and others were just getting started in Nascar and some active and retired drivers actually drove in some of the racing scenes because the director and producers wanted the realism of actual Nascar drivers racing onthe tracks used for filming
I had the great pleasure of meeting Junior , he was totally down to earth and so much fun to talk I could have listened to him all day . My father in law liked him to and I sure miss both of them .
Jr had it all
junior makes some good country ham , here in carolina
When the old timers started retiring and passing away, was the day Nascar died. The new drivers can't hold a candle to these guys. Personally Nascar died for me when Dale Earnhardt passed away.
Cry harder!
If you only knew him, he was a true patriot
Love every minute of it great stuff
I could listen and learn something from Junior all day long. His stories about haulin' "Al Kee Haul" are incredible and fascinating. Sure don't make the like Jr. Anymore. GOD Bless Junior Johnson.
Thanks Gregory for your comment. I enjoyed shooting this interview with Junior. He had some great stories to tell us after the interview. He will be missed around racing but not forgotten. Jimmy Wentz
Yeah Junior was still a big name in Nascar when I first became a fan of Nascar and God bless him he can still be very entertaining when telling stories about him getting started in Nascar on weekends and running "shine " Monday through Friday 😊😅😮😂❤😊
They didn't haul no watered down Bud Light that's fer sure .
And maybe they drunk that akkehall with a feller that got his arm chop up at the mill, but they didn’t drunk with no feller that chopped up his beans n frank for fun.
@@blakebarone1809 That's Johnny Cash's brother not JR Johnson .
I enjoyed the show a lot. Thank you for sharing! 👍
Thank you for watching. Junior was really nice to our crew and we enjoyed talking with him after the interview. Wish he was still around. Jimmy Wentz
Jr was my favorite
I agree with them that we need to keep her animal stories about the early days alive. It may not have been legal, but it was a part of life. I always thought I’d either make a real good missionary or a real good moonshine Rado this is a Godly Redneck says hi. Enjoy the video more than you’ll ever know. Keep on keeping on and keep it safe godly redneck out.
Ain’t many folks better than Wilkes county folks
Patrick, I agree. Jimmy Wentz
A thing most folks don't know is the state with the most stills has been for a long time is Pennsylvania.
Jesus is the way, the truth, the life.
That's your opinion.
Daddy had a black 1940 Ford coupe exactly like that.
Awesome video in the history of bootlegging.
GREAT JOB JIMMY WENTZ
Junior is right, it IS more fun to out run the cops.
Wow
If this isn't different
My grandfather broke a so call Federal law society locked him up for 28 years
Junior here on other hand gets pardoned never sees a day in jail extremely different here wonder why thx.
Thx.
Concerned
I'm not American, what kind of federal law gets you a 28 year sentence?
What's with the guy constantly holding the gearshift wants it stay in gear without him holding it there or does he just like to rest his hand on the gear shift
I have no doubt that Junior knew just what he was doing, but in many later model cars, it isn't' recommended that you rest you hand on the shift lever. It holds pressure on the syncros and they tend to wear prematurely. I'm not very familiar with the cars of the '40s & '50s and their weaknesses/tendencies or whatever you would call that.
I never met Junior but I did get to talk with Richard Petty once and talked with Buddy Baker on his Sirius/XM radio show several times. Listening to Junior is much like hearing those other guys talking about their backgrounds and experiences. I could sit there for days and not get tired of visiting... it reminded me much of sitting with my grandfather who was born in 1898. Their old stories were always the best!! Wonderful memories...
Thanks Trudy, for your comment but I don't know the answer to your question. I was just enjoying the ride.Sad to say Mr. Miller is no longer with us.Jimmy Wentz
@@MrGaryGG48 Gary I got to meet Richard Petty at Daytona on pit road a few years back Did't have anything for him to sign so he autographed my T-Shirt. Will never wash it. Jimmy Wentz
THE GREATS I STOPED YEARS AGO WATCHIN SHIT CAR =CSA CSA CSA
Old school is gool. NASCARtoday is for babies whine and cry.
GREAT SHOW
Thank you for watching Charlie wish he was still around to tell all of his stories. Jimmy Wentz