Your interpretive abilities are greater (considering what I wrote and the fact that you deciphered it as I intended).
"Racing is jointly advertisement and R&D."
>It's the necessity of either, I question.
Years back, it was cheaper and achieved a greater exposure for the car companies. Now, it may be necessary to give their company the slight edge needed to gain a customer's consideration (perhaps, what was old is, not new, but needed again?)
The ol' "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday" was really so
The translation to the factory floor was get it out of the door, not dis-similar to the dealership (I worked in both). Lee Ioccococa lead a turn around that may be the last we see in the auto industry.
Yes, you're communicating with one of the "somes". LOL
Eh, so was I at the time (even though a greater percentage of the parts coming into the plant were boxed/made out of country)
Got *special* privileges because of that man, long before there were to my knowledge, "Pit Passes" available to the general public for a price.
Think that you just summed up four decades of racing.
I tell you this because my first internship job was with a Swedish outfit named ASEA. Look it up.
(chuckles...) No need to look up ASEA, had one of the first robots in our Framingham, MA GMAD plant (might have been CPC then). It was strictly for dimensional checks, but every now and then it would go off on it's own. I was among the few (non IE) to deal with the carnage.
In my engineering background, particularly in the beginning? "Learning Curves" were often "Learning Walls".
It was the same on the production floor, whether it be mechanics or people. We presumed the 14th floor was no different (which affected the engineering division and all those below... engineering IS the top tier).
I'm merely an unamused spectator these days. :^)
Me too, also two, but I suppose we should be thankful that racing is still allowed and gas made available.
Anything we got out of the showroom were built to specs much less; hence, more reliable so the theory went.
Yes and lead was an available lubricant (amongst all of the other special stuffs, such as and up to Sunoco 260?). There were engineers whose production specs made it through the process (Duntov/Shelby come to mind)
You brought up the current and future of NASCAR which made me think of the recent problems and expansion that the NFL is considering.
Ah well, at least we have some entertainment from their antics (even if it's those off course/field).
Agree that it's enjoyable 'jawin' with you and others. (lawn chairs, coolers, a grille and the smell of meat and petrol in the air would add to it though)
LOL!!
I call it right once in a while, my friend. Broken clock & all that. ;^)
>It's the necessity of either, I question. (market'g & R&D)
"Years back, it was cheaper and achieved a greater exposure for the car companies."
Yes, exactly. You've nailed the nail squarely on the proverbial head. It was fiscally feasible doing R&D *and* advertising via NASCAR and/or NASCAResque activities like the NHRA. Before TV. Before the super ego.
"Now, it may be necessary to give their company the slight edge needed to gain a customer's consideration (perhaps, what was old is, not new, but needed again?)"
Deja vu all over again? Personally I don't *think* it's the same, my friend. The people, they've changed. A lot, and by no accident. Another matter for another time; but, suffice to say the marketers are aiming at a different market using different shticks. That's where the viability of a NASCAR becomes suspect, must withstand scrutiny considering the enormous costs.
Big Bill France was at the bottom. The "track" was a public beach. Lots of growth potential fueled by all those post WWII fellas, their growing families etc. We are, frankly, bloated & hit the top. In the world according to me, anyway. LOL
>The ol' "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday" was really so
"The translation to the factory floor was get it out of the door, not dis-similar to the dealership (I worked in both)."
Right again, and "quality" not much of a consideration. We paid a dear price for the short sightedness. Still are.
"Lee Iaccoca lead a turn around that may be the last we see in the auto industry."
Sadly, I must agree.
A man leading men in a man's world.
They broke the mold, anyway.
Where're the "Chicago" bands today to sing for a savior to come as they did their great song Harry Truman?
Ain't none, no greatness a'tall.
>Yes, you're communicating with one of the "somes".
"Eh, so was I at the time (even though a greater percentage of the parts coming into the plant were boxed/made out of country)"
Yes, you're correct. Again. LOL
Guess there's a grain of truth to the ol' tome, "Last refuge of a scoundrel is patriotism" after all. Hey, I'm a victim. LOL
>Got *special* privileges because of that man, long before there were to my knowledge, "Pit Passes" available to the general public for a price.
"Think that you just summed up four decades of racing."
Perhaps, but interestingly enough NASCAR with all their MBAs et al ad naseum can't see they'd be better by being less. It simply isn't necessary to have Fox or whoever show us the colonoscopy of their favorite driver. Aside from overkill it grossly misses the point of racing: The race.
>I tell you this because my first internship job was with a Swedish outfit named ASEA. Look it up.
"(chuckles...) No need to look up ASEA, had one of the first robots in our Framingham, MA GMAD plant (might have been CPC then). It was strictly for dimensional checks, but every now and then it would go off on it's own. I was among the few (non IE) to deal with the carnage."
BWWWWWWHAAAAAA!!! Yes, in the beginning.
Man at the start of all the automation craze, approximately early 80s, the corporate daddy warbucks of the country envisioned dumping raw materials into one end of their dark facility, finished products spewing from the other into waiting trucks. Their Lincolns backed up to a loading dock filling their trunks with loot. Funny stuff.
The misapplication of automation, particularly robotics, spawned an entirely new business: Robot Brokers. LOL
Oh the stories of idiots setting up these device 500 of feet from a forge shop (w/ *big* hammers) are legion, and damned funny. The brokers "cleaned-up" on mega buck devices that'd been pushed off into the corners of grimy, dingy manufacturing operations because they just couldn't keep 'em in spec for some *reason*!! LOL!!
>In my engineering background, particularly in the beginning? "Learning Curves" were often "Learning Walls".
"It was the same on the production floor, whether it be mechanics or people. We presumed the 14th floor was no different (which affected the engineering division and all those below... engineering IS the top tier)."
Presumption's the stepchild of assumption. Often we didn't have a clue at the 14th and it got no better as we descended to the basement. LOL
Were continually up against the wall, unrealistic deadlines were the rule. Got so bad at one outfit, P&H Harnischfeger, I recall equipment suspended in the air heading for flat bed rail cars/trucks with painters walking underneath spraying the bottom of the product!!
Man, talk about shoddy. As I said we paid and still are.
>I'm merely an unamused spectator these days.
"Me too, also two, but I suppose we should be thankful that racing is still allowed and gas made available."
These days? Yes. And that we aren't required, by law, to grovel for the privilege. Yet. LOL
[That] is the A#1 reason I went out & blew the wad last spring. Snagged one of Detroit's crown gems while they're here. Because they, the supercars, sure won't be for too much longer. While racing will always live in my heart? A little *piece* will always live in the garage, too. Won't be caught regretting I'd not hung on to a L-88, 340 or whatever. Not gonna happen again. ;^) LOL
>Anything we got out of the showroom were built to specs much less; hence, more reliable so the theory went.
"Yes and lead was an available lubricant (amongst all of the other special stuffs, such as and up to Sunoco 260?). There were engineers whose production specs made it through the process (Duntov/Shelby come to mind)"
Granted, and great men to which we must add Harley Earl & Virgil Exner. ~sigh~ Those were the days.
"You brought up the current and future of NASCAR which made me think of the recent problems and expansion that the NFL is considering."
The NFL's considering *expansion*??
Good grief, as it is there aren't enough quality players to go around. Benches ridiculously thin. And the imbecile Goodell wants to dilute the pool even further? LOL!!
"Ah well, at least we have some entertainment from their antics (even if it's those off course/field)."
Y'know, T_f? After the NFL gang banged Limbaugh? Personally I couldn't care less what the NFL does or doesn't do, anymore. And mind you we live a scant 150 miles south of Green bay, too. Pro ball runs awfully deep 'round here.
That last stunt simply knocked the wind out of my enthusiasm in ways I cannot describe, never thought possible. Isn't unlike the last MLB strike. Murdered my interest in the game, to this day.
Curiously enough I've found other things to do, in short I got a life. LOL
Moreover the disinterest *infection* has now spread to my love of college ball, also.
Anyway sorry to veer --wildly-- OT, but, you mentioned it & I of weak character couldn't resist. LOL
"Agree that it's enjoyable 'jawin' with you and others. (lawn chairs, coolers, a grille and the smell of meat and petrol in the air would add to it though)"
Now you're talking.
Just one thing, my friend.
Best wait for next spring. ;^) LOL