The short documentary The Fabulous Flocks will make its public debut at the Cobb International Film Festival in Marietta, Georgia, on August 7, shining a light on a little‑known nexus between illicit moonshining and the birth of modern stock car racing.
A Family Legacy
At its core, the film traces the story of the Flock family, whose patriarch Carl Flock turned to illegal distilling during the Great Depression to keep his household afloat, a venture that later intersected with the nascent world of NASCAR.
Moonshine Kingpin and the Mechanics of Speed
Leonard “Peachtree” Williams, a notorious moonshine kingpin portrayed by actor Robert McLeroy, emerges as a pivotal figure; his network of suppliers and mechanics, including former mechanic Red Vogt, helped fuel the early racing circuits that would eventually formalize into what is now NASCAR.
From Bootlegging to the Track
The narrative also follows the Flock brothers, particularly Tim Flock, whose racing pedigree earned him a place in the NASCAR Hall of Fame, illustrating how the underground economy of bootlegging fed directly into the sport’s early talent pool.
Behind the Camera
Producer Allegra Deneroff discovered the tale during a Thanksgiving conversation with her husband, a moment that sparked the project and led to a collaboration with McLeroy, who brings the larger‑than‑life character of Peachtree to the screen.
Screening Details
The film’s production design leans on historic locations, most notably the preserved mansion of Asa Candler in Inman Park, Atlanta, which served as a fundraising venue and a visual anchor for the story’s 1920s Alabama setting. The screening will take place at the Cobb International Film Festival, a venue that highlights the cultural intersections of American sport and cinema.