Yup, reversing tires was common on cement (pavement?) tracks. Pulling a stone boat as in pictured was common before flat sleds on dirt became popular. Tracks were shorter & narrower.

Thanks for posting those photos. You can see from those 2 how the safety rules we have today have evolved. I'm wondering how long the track judged in photo #1 lived if he continued standing by hitch during wheelstand-spinouts.

I realize it was a different time though.