By Brandon Reed
Posted in Feature Stories 9/11/09

On August 17, the city of Arcade, Georgia, officially turned 100 years of age.

As part of their centennial celebration, city officials chose to honor and recognize the Jackson County Speedway, which was located nearby.

The Jackson County Speedway was built in 1947, and operated until sometime in the early 1950s.  The track was notoriously known for an accident that led to the death of driver Swayne Pritchett, as well as for two separate accidents that took the lives of race spectators.

The speedway was mentioned during Mayor Doug Haynie’s opening speech during the official recognition ceremony, as well as by a resolution passed by the state senate.

As part of that recognition, the city invited former NASCAR and ARCA driver David Sosebee to display the car his father, the late Gober Sosebee, who was a member of the inaugural class of inductees into the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame, at the city’s centennial celebration festival on August 15.

The car, which twice won modified events at Daytona Beach, is believed to likely have been the winner of the Swayne Pritchett Memorial event held at the Jackson County Speedway.

The city was also kind enough to invite GARHOFA (the Georgia Auto Racing Hall of Fame Association) to set up its display as well, to help spread the word about the history of auto racing in the area and throughout Georgia.

Several GARHOFA members were on hand, as were Harold and C.L Pritchett, the sons of the late Swayne Pritchett.

City officials say plans are being discussed for a permanent memorial to the speedway at Arcade City Hall.

Our thanks to GARHOFA, David Sosebee and the city of Arcade for helping us to have the opportunity to continue to tell the stories of Georgia’s rich racing heritage.

Here’s a look at some of the sights from our visit to Arcade’s Centennial Celebration.