Thanks, I haven’t really kept up with Nascar since the 60’s.
I remember those big Pontiacs, Ford, Chevys and Plymouths with the 427 and 426 engines. It was a different world back then.
Fireball Roberts, Fred Lorenzen, etc.
Speed channel is providing coverage and NASCAR president will be holding a press conference.
“It was a different world back then.
Fireball Roberts, Fred Lorenzen, etc.”
And Smokey Yunick. If you don’t know about Smokey’s famous escapades, read them here. They’re funny as all git out!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smokey_Yunick
Here’s a little sample;
“Another Yunick improvisation was getting around the regulations specifying a maximum size for the fuel tank, by using eleven foot (three meter) coils of 2-inch (5-centimeter) diameter tubing for the fuel line to add about 5 gallons (19 liters) to the car’s fuel capacity. Once, NASCAR officials came up with a list of nine items for Yunick to fix before the car would be allowed on the track. The suspicious NASCAR officials had removed the tank for inspection. Yunick started the car with no gas tank and said “Better make it ten,”[3] and drove it back to the pits. He used a basketball in the fuel tank which could be inflated when the car’s fuel capacity was checked and deflated for the race.”
They had a interview with Fred Lorenzen on NPR(NASCAR on NPR?!?!?!?) this morning. He isn’t doing very well, but, was upbeat.
Saw him race at Darlington in 1971 or 2 in the Rebel 400. They invited some older drivers to participate including Lorenzen, Lee Petty and several other older drivers.
Of course David Pearson won the race. He was the King of the Spring Darlington Race...still is too.
Was there in 1970 to see King Richard flip over on the front straight. That’s why they have window netting now.
Later that year, my Dad took us to North Carolina and we stopped by at the Petty House (we were dumb then). Lee Petty hit our car with a golf ball.
My uncle took me to Bridgehampton Raceway on Long Island back in 1963 ( I was 10 ) for the NASCAR Grand National finals which Richard Petty won . I don’t remember why I liked Fireball , but I did , and after the race I shyly walked over to him standing by his car and asked him to sign my program , which he did . Kept it for years but it got lost or tossed by someone many moons ago .