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anyone excited for the Daytona 500?

#43
bluesblaster said:
....Computer technology has changed motorsports, the genies out of the bottle, some say for the better but I'd say thats debatable. I think it was more exciting when it was just man and machine and the years of experience that told them how to tune or drive the car.They didnt have to worry about screwing up there pre programed computer settings. Sure, call me Old School, but I just liked it better that way. I know some would disagree, but if you grew up watching F1, Can Am, Trans Am, or NHRA drag racing in the 60,s and 70,s you know what Im talking about. It had a "cool factor" that seems to be lacking in most modern forms of motorsport, it was filled with men (and some women) that had style and guts, not fresh faced kids to eager to sell gum or toothpaste or whatever for there sponsors to keep them in a ride for the season. Like most other kinds of professional sports it just gets sad when its all about the money.
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This has alot to do with my enjoyment of participation at the amateur level. No fancy gizmos, just plain old racing technology, raw horsepower, your traction control is in your feet not some computer. When F1 first came to Detroit I attended the first couple of years and I was hooked after that. They had some limited technology but the cars back then were just plain BEASTS!!!!! You had to know how to REALLY DRIVE them.
Still, speed is speed, and there are not alot of people that can milk the best out of any givin form of race car even today.
Granted, many of todays superstars would have a rough time pushing the older race cars to the limits that the old drivers explored.
Jeff
 
#44
Nah, I think that's BS. Give the guys who are good today the same amount of time and the same background growing up with the same cars, and they'd be just as good. Some of them would probably be a lot better as most of the guys today have much better athletic training and the weeding out/whittling down process is much more extensive.
 
#46
Back in the day a lot of drivers had engineering backgrounds so they understood the mechanics and the physical limits of a race car, Im not so sure the new kids on the block have that kind of understanding about what they,re driving. That being said there is something to raw talent behind the wheel, like someone above said, speed is speed. "Go fast" takes a cool head, finesse and cat like reflexes.
 
#47
JHandley said:
This has alot to do with my enjoyment of participation at the amateur level. No fancy gizmos, just plain old racing technology, raw horsepower, your traction control is in your feet not some computer. When F1 first came to Detroit I attended the first couple of years and I was hooked after that. They had some limited technology but the cars back then were just plain BEASTS!!!!! You had to know how to REALLY DRIVE them.
Still, speed is speed, and there are not alot of people that can milk the best out of any givin form of race car even today.
Granted, many of todays superstars would have a rough time pushing the older race cars to the limits that the old drivers explored.
Jeff
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I,ve seen where some of the big show guys get behind the wheel of a nostalgia funny car probably thinkin "how hard can it be? my race car goes much faster than this one" and proceed to get there asses handed to them.
 
#48
bluesblaster said:
I,ve seen where some of the big show guys get behind the wheel of a nostalgia funny car probably thinkin "how hard can it be? my race car goes much faster than this one" and proceed to get there asses handed to them.
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Ever been to the Don Garlits museum in Ocala, Florida? They have many of don's cars there, and others from the name racers back then like Prudhomme, Muldowney, Karamesines, etc.... Some of those cars were downright scary just to look at. It's a wonder they got down the track in one piece. You had to have some incredible skill to pilot one of those ill handling beasts.
 
#49
Mike N said:
Ever been to the Don Garlits museum in Ocala, Florida? They have many of don's cars there, and others from the name racers back then like Prudhomme, Muldowney, Karamesines, etc.... Some of those cars were downright scary just to look at. It's a wonder they got down the track in one piece. You had to have some incredible skill to pilot one of those ill handling beasts.
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I have, though its been a few years and Im sure hes got alot more stuff on display. Kind of erie to see swamp rat XIII sitting there with all the parts from the infamous clutch explosion at Lions in 1970. I will have to make a point of getting there again next time I can make it down for the Gators in march. If your ever in L.A. go check out the Petersen Automotive museum, lots of cool stuff in there as well. Its just down the street fom the Labrea tarpits.
 
#50
bluesblaster said:
.... If your ever in L.A. go check out the Petersen Automotive museum, lots of cool stuff in there as well. Its just down the street fom the Labrea tarpits.
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I went there several years ago.
Great automotive museum.
Did they still have the old truck/ fifth wheel combo in the parking area. That thing was cool as all get out, probably the first fifth wheel combo ever produced.
Jeff
 
#51
yes, its parked in the garage by the front door. They had a Bugatti Veyron on display upstairs . One of the featured exhibits was old motor scooters, they must have had a couple hundred, kind of fun to see those. I guess the basement is the place to go see, thats where they store everything. I think you have to be a member and they only do a tour a couple times a year, I can only imagine whats down there.
 
#52
bluesblaster said:
I have, though its been a few years and Im sure hes got alot more stuff on display. Kind of erie to see swamp rat XIII sitting there with all the parts from the infamous clutch explosion at Lions in 1970. I will have to make a point of getting there again next time I can make it down for the Gators in march. If your ever in L.A. go check out the Petersen Automotive museum, lots of cool stuff in there as well. Its just down the street fom the Labrea tarpits.
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If I can find my way to LA I'll check it out.

Lucky for me my in-laws live a few miles from the Garlits museum. Makes it convenient to go to the museum and Gainesville when we're down there.
 

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