By Rudy Coggins
Dunn Daily Record
Created by a father, who shared his passion of NASCAR with his son, the ultimate racing board game is here.
Players experience fierce competition, excitement, strategy, heartbreak and the thrill of victory just like today’s NASCAR drivers and their forefathers.
It all started when Charles Massengill Jr., took his son, Chad Massengill, to his first-ever NASCAR race. He was five years old.
“The sound, smell of burning rubber and high octane engine exhaust mixed with the heat of the sun and 40 race cars going 175 mph was all I cared about from that day on,” Chad Massengill said.
Aware they couldn’t travel to every NASCAR track on the circuit, Charles Massengill vowed to keep his son’s enthusiasm alive. An avid Monopoly player during his younger years, he said to himself, “I will make a game about racing.”
The senior Massengill headed to Rose’s Department Store and bought construction paper, a ruler, a compass, colored pencils and erasers. Using those simple tools, his game began to take shape in the basement of his home.
Bingo chips became race cars. He drew lines for the hood, roof and trunk. Each car had a number and sponsors from left over decals used on model race cars.
He continued to perfect his invention that drew raves from family, friends and neighborhood kids who often didn’t leave the Massengill’s home until they played the game.
Charles Massengill received a copyright for the game in 1987. However, meeting investing requirements from game board companies proved difficult and it seemed as if his creation would stall.
“Last year, about this time, Dad and I considered producing these for sale after we had given up the idea several times over the years,” Chad Massengill said. “In my job, as a banker, I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of different people in different industries that were key in this making this a reality.”
Phone calls, emails, test marketing and persistence paid off for the father-son duo.
A life-long dream, 40 years in the making — The Stock Car Racing Team Game became reality.
“His desire to share this with others is here,” Chad Massengill said. “He and I are not doing this for money or profit. We just want to share the fun that we’ve had over the last 40 years with others.”
On Wednesday afternoon, one of Charles Massengill’s original game boards was put on permanent display at the Dunn Area History Museum.
The Game
Steve Kolacz of Grafixhouse Design Studio in Garner developed the graphics for the logo, game board and box illustrations.
A company in China created tire chips and a deck of cards used to determine position on the starting grid.
Chad Massengill wrote the rulebook.
The length of the game depends on the number of miles, just like a normal NASCAR race. The shorter the distance, the quicker the game moves.
Each player has six cars of the same color.
Movement around the track depends on the roll of three dice: one green and two white. If you roll a “1” with the green die and “5” with the white dice, then car No. 15 moves five spots on the board.
Each roll of the dice is one lap.
“You’re trying to get around, get on pit road, land on your color, get your tires, get out of pit road, get back on track and try to be the first one to get all six of your cars across the checkered flag.
“The game accelerates as you go along,” Chad Massengill said.
Similar to NASCAR, a points champion is determined when the “season” concludes. The winner receives a trophy and earns bragging rights among his competitors.
Are you ready to roll the dice?
How can you order one of these and what are the cost.
Parts made in China?!?! No thank you. #SupportAmericanJobs
Take everything in your home, vehicle, and on your property that comes from China and put it on your front lawn. Also don’t patronize any business that is associated with China. You couldn’t survive as you do now. Like it or not, you are dependent on China goods. The cell phone or computer you are reading this on, also made with China parts.
@PD: Nope, my Samsung was proudly made in South Carolina. I’m not suggesting that we can switch everything, but according to the US chamber of commerce, there are 12 US-based manufacturers that they could have chosen to make the chips and cards. Instead they chose to line the pockets of the Communist enemy. You’re attitude implies that you’ve already given up. #OurChoicesMatter #MakeSmarterDecisions #ChooseUSA #StartWithOneThing
Samsung is a South Koren company. Yours may have been assembled in S.C. but the components are not American made. I don’t care for the situation either, but trade agreements made long ago have us where we are now. China, and other countries, have a hold on consumer goods we use. I haven’t given up, but our elected leaders in the past gave in.
Glad to see you haven’t given up, but I stand by my prior statement. The could have selected a US company, but didn’t. #MakeSmarterChoices
My Honda was made in Alabama and when my husband owned the POS they call a Chevy Silverado, which I was embarrassed to have a Chevy in my driveway…but anyhow, it was made in Mexico. Global free trade is what makes most things affordable and started after WWII when the US and others tried to help Germany rebuild its devastated economy, as was the United Kingdom’s. When I was growing up I think everything was made in Japan. It seems that as soon as – pick a county that is making the most products people use – gets wealthy enough, then they pass on the jobs to another poor country. Then the cycle starts all over again. Been that way for decades.