Have you ever wondered how stock car racing got its start?

A trip out to Rockingham Raceway Park Saturday night might help satisfy that curiosity.

The East Coast Flathead Ford Series will make its first-ever appearance in Rockingham with a special 25-lap feature on the half-mile oval of Little Rock Speedway beginning at 5:45 p.m.

The series features cars dating all the way back to 1937 ­ many older than their drivers. But a common thread running through them is they all feature the famous Ford “flathead” V-8 engine. Both Modified and Sportsman cars compete in the series, with only a few modern safety features separating these racers from their counterparts in the early days of the sport.

The cars harken back to the way stock car racing started in the years just before and after World War II, when the flathead powered early hot rods, drag racers and laid the foundation for modern stock car racing. Modified flatheads even raced at the Indianapolis 500.

For Ronda Smith-McKnight, P.R. director of the East Coast Flathead Ford Racing Association, the series is a family affair. In addition to helping promote the series, McKnight also straps on the gear and races.

McKnight is bringing her father and husband to compete in the East Coast Flathead race Saturday afternoon.

Ronda Smith-McKnight races her No. 6A 1937 Ford, a replica of Hall of Famer Bobby Myers’ famed racer. Her father, Clayton Smith, is “shaking the mothballs out” of his driving suit to race his 1937 Sportsman No. 31 Ford, while her husband Allen 1940 Ford coach No. 1.

“We’re all excited,” Smith-McKnight said.

“We’ve got a lot of interest from our members in running on the half-mile at Rockingham and should really have a great race with everyone there.”

The idea to come to “The Rock” was born with a New Year’s Day visit to Rockingham for the Polar Bear 150, Smith-McKnight said.

“It was a real thrill to get the cars out on the big track,” Smith-McKnight said.

The flathead racing feature, several months in the making, will see the vintage cars join the regular Saturday afternoon Firecracker Challenge races for Bandolero and Legend cars at Little Rock.

A number of the club’s regular drivers will be on hand for the event, including Jim Brock of Roanoke, Va.

Brock, a longtime racer, has been racing the flatheads for about three years now.

“It’s just a bunch of old guys out there having fun,” Brock said.

The flathead association is used to a 3/8-mile track, so the slightly bigger track will offer more room for racing. The cars can reach top speeds of 70-80 mph, Brock said.

There’s not much at stake in the races besides bragging rights, Brock said.

But that’s just fine with the drivers.

“It’s all about having a good time,” Brock said.

Public admission is only $5, with concessions available in the viewing area. All are welcome to attend, with gates opening at 2:30 p.m. for competitors and practice starting at 3:30 p.m.. The 25-lap Flathead race takes the green flag at 5:45 p.m.

Contact sports editor David Vantress at 997-3111, ext 14 or via email at dvantress@yourdailyjournal.com.