美国国家公共电台 NPR--Remembering Wendell Scott, first Black man to compete in NASCAR's highest category

Remembering Wendell Scott, first Black man to compete in NASCAR's highest category

Transcript¹

This week's StoryCorps tells the story of Wendell Scott, who drove during the Jim Crow era and was the first African American to win a race at NASCAR's elite² major league level.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

It's Friday, which is when we hear from StoryCorps. And this one reflects on the coming weekend because Sunday, NASCAR holds the first on-track competition of its 75th anniversary season. We remember Wendell Scott today. He drove during the Jim Crow era of segregation³ and was the first African American to win a race at NASCAR's elite major league level. His family was his racing⁴ team. They would travel to races together from their home in Virginia. And his sons served as his pit crew. Wendell Scott died in 1990. His son, Frank, and grandson, Warrick, sat down to remember him for StoryCorps.

FRANK SCOTT: He started racing in 1952. And, you know, it was like Picasso, like a great artist doing his work. And he was in that car. And he was doing his work. And as children, we didn't have that leisure time, you know? We couldn't go to the playground. He said to us, I need you at the garage. I can remember him getting injured. And he'd just take axle grease⁵ and put it in the cut and keep working. But he wasn't allowed to race at certain speedways. He had death threats not to come to Atlanta. And Daddy said, look; if I leave in a pine box, that's what I got to do. But I'm going to race. I can remember him racing in Jacksonville. And he beat them all. But they wouldn't drop the checkered⁶ flag. And then, when they did drop the checkered flag, they had my father in third place. One of the main reasons that they gave was there was a white beauty queen. And they always kissed the driver.

WARRICK SCOTT: Did he ever consider not racing anymore?

F SCOTT: Never. That was one of my daddy's saying. When it's too tough for everybody else, it's just right for me. Like, I can remember one time when we were racing the Atlanta 500 and he was sick. He needed an operation. And I said, Daddy, we don't have to race today. He whispered to me and said, lift my legs up and put me in the car. So I took my arms and put behind his leg. And I kind of acted like I was hugging him and helped in the car. He drove 500 miles that day.

W SCOTT: How did his racing career officially end?

F SCOTT: Well, finances⁷, you know? He couldn't get the support. Where other drivers that we were competing against had major sponsorship providing them engineers, as many cars as they needed, he did everything that he did out of his own pocket. He always felt like, someday, he's going to get his big break. But for 20 years, nobody mentioned Wendell Scott. At one point, it was like he never existed. But he didn't let it drive him crazy. I think that's what made him so great. He chose to be a racecar driver. And he was going to race until he couldn't race no more.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

INSKEEP: Frank and Warrick Scott for StoryCorps. Their conversation is archived at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

3 segregation   

n.隔离，种族隔离

参考例句：

• Many school boards found segregation a hot potato in the early 1960s.在60年代初，许多学校部门都觉得按水平分班是一个棘手的问题。
• They were tired to death of segregation and of being kicked around.他们十分厌恶种族隔离和总是被人踢来踢去。

4 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

5 grease   

n.动物脂，油脂，润滑脂；v.抹油，润滑

参考例句：

• He puts grease on his hair to make It'shiny.他往头发上擦油，使之发亮。
• You have a grease spot on your shirt.你的衬衣上有块油斑。

6 checkered   

adj.有方格图案的

参考例句：

• The ground under the trees was checkered with sunlight and shade.林地光影交错。
• He’d had a checkered past in the government.他过去在政界浮沉。

7 finances   

n.(pl.)财源，资产

参考例句：

• I need a professional to sort out my finances. 我需要专业人士为我管理财务。
• The company's finances are looking a bIt'shaky. 这个公司的财政情况看来有点不稳定。