Spirits. Booze. Hooch. The Hard Stuff

No matter how we refer to it, alcoholic beverages have been a part of human existence since mankind first needed a diversion. Whether fermented, brewed, or distilled, the comfort of strong drink eased the burden of many a 19th-century traveler, some foraging along the baked clay backcountry dirt roads of western North Carolina. Parched visitors fortified themselves for the rest of their perilous and wearisome journey. So, when Hickory Tavern keepers offered a mug of something, patrons drank it and likely asked for a refill.

Once the Hickory community outgrew its origins, some citizens questioned the need for a dram to wash down their troubles. Prohibition came, went, and came back again. Still, the demand remained, and despite the law, thirst was slaked covertly if necessary. The job of supplying the alcohol trade became an art as a new conveyance, the automobile, upped the ante. Those intrepid drivers got good at evading sheriffs.

Naturally, bragging about who was best behind the wheel had to be settled. First at the fairgrounds, then on a dedicated track, fans came to see who could put down enough pedal to take the checkered flag. With the creation of speedways like Hickory and North Wilkesboro, a new sport was born, fueled by the legacy of whiskey.

Historians Suzanne Mayo and Richard Eller take the thread of alcohol and weave an intoxicating story that ties Hickory from its earliest days to a racing culture, still attracting crowds. Drinking and driving may not mix, but they certainly share a connection.

6x9 111 pages