Featured Driver Profile

12/06/2008

Herbert Allen Tillman

"Herbie"

Herbie Tillman was born Herbert Allen Tillman on August 13, 1929 in Tarboro, North Carolina. 

Herbie started racing in Florida back before there were tracks to race on around1949.  In one of the first places he raced was a one mile old dirt horse track in Pompano.  Herb said he would hang his head out of the window of an old 1933 Ford Convertible while he raced, looking back now, he says he’s lucky he wasn’t killed.

The next couple of races were a couple of make shift tracks.  One of the first races was on the beach in Cocoa where he raced down the beach about a half mile then around a couple of barrels and back.  Another was in Homestead where a few local businessmen used an airstrip, that race included Herbie's brother Hank and the winner was Shorty Johns.  After that race, Herbie was hooked.

Around 1950, Jim Fenly started promoting a track in Opa Locka.  Herbie would drive the T1 ’32 Ford Coupe and his brother, Hank drove the T2.  Herbie was also racing at the old Palm Beach Dirt track.

In 1954, Herbie was the first driver to win at the new Hialeah Speedway, driving for George Nelson in the #72 Ford Coupe.

Through the fifties, Herb raced all over the South.  He and his friend, Bill Flingos, would race in the Carolinas, then back in time for work Monday at his job as a cement finisher. 

In 1958, Herbie went to New York to see his wife’s family.  Herbie had heard that racing was very profitable because you could race four to five nights each week.   Herbie raced for Ralph Stark at tracks like East Windsor, Redding, PA, Wall Stadium, Flemington, Middletown and Nazareth.

When Herbie came back to Florida, he would tell his friends about racing in the northeast.  Drivers like Gary Balough, Pee-Wee Griffin, Bobby Brack and Gil Hearn all went to see for themselves what Herbie already knew. 

In 1960 Herb began racing at Nascars’ big tracks like Bristol, Atlanta, Charlotte and Darlington.   In 1961, Herbie was the crew chief for Buck Baker.

Herbie’s racing career lasted about thirty years, from the beginning years of South Florida short tracks to the super speedways of NASCAR to the famous dirt tracks of the northeast.  From dirt to asphalt, open wheel modified to sedans, Herb Tillman has done it all!

So, where is he now?

Herb Tillman lives with his wife, Joan, in Mooresville, North Carolina.  I paid Herb a visit in March of 2008 at his home, the first thing I noticed is that it was a lot like the first time I met him back in 1978; some 30 years ago.  Herb was working in his garage just as he was then, on some elaborate project, with his hand bandaged from an injury. Herb was trying to get as much work done as he could before dark.

I was lucky Joan called us in for lunch and then Herb shared some great old racing stories and pictures.

After lunch I said my goodbyes and he was already on his tractor as I drove away.