When NASCAR Mattered / Article in Hot Rod Magazine

There is an article in the May 2012 issue of Hot Rod Magazine titled, "When NASCAR Mattered."

Almost sounds as if the author has been peeking at our site or auditing the Goat Rodeo.

Legend, you should particularly enjoy the photo of the #43 Plymouth with tail fins on the high banks!

Some interesting, if familiar, thoughts are expressed about the appeal and connection of NASCAR in the 60s and now. Some pretty good old photos, also.

The article is available online at this link below :

http://www.hotrod.com/thehistoryof/retrospective/hrdp_1205_when_stock_cars_nascar_mattered/viewall.html

Here's a teaser excerpt closing the article discussing Electronic Fuel Injection:

The intake manifold and throttle-body configurations are virtually identical to the previous single-plane, single Holley setup, which eases the transition for engine suppliers and allows NASCAR to continue its restrictor-plate system, which is used to limit speeds on the big tracks at Daytona and Talladega.

One odd wrinkle is the high location of the eight injectorsjust below the throttle-body. Whats that about? The high location introduces the fuel into the intake port well upstream from the intake valve, explains Jim Covey, engine technical manager at GM Racing. This prevents any one manufacturer from gaining an advantage in efficiency of the fuel delivery downstream. Once again, NASCAR seems to have its hand on everything .

Tell us what you think of the piece.

It's a good article. I can see both sides. On one hand, you've got to maintain a certain level of safety and parity which automatically necessitates a certain level of 'spec' in the cars but on the other hand, you can still do far better to preserve the 'stock' in stock cars than has been done for most of the past decade. Now it's good to see a return to some semblance of stock car again atleast from a visual standpoint with the 2013 bodies. Another point to consider is that today's production cars are bland and identical themselves and not unique works of art like they were in the 50s and 60s either.

That is an excellent article. Dave, you're right! The 1960 Plymouth was one of my favorites. Those were the "Thumper I, Thumper II, Thumper, III" series as indicated up by the headlights. A neighbor up the street from me back then bought a brand new 1960 Plymouth Fury Convertible, red with white top and white interior. For years I thought that was the prettiest car I ever saw. About a year or so ago, I came across a car identical to that on one of the on-line auctions sites and the bid was up to $85,000.00 then. I was wondering what old Ms. DeLoach would think if she had kept that car and could have gotten that for it.

The 50s and 60s are the years I truly embrace as loving the sport the most. 70s were ok. Not sure how much of that love is memories enhanced by the years. I believe in the safety issues, but there is not, in my opinion, one thing involved with safety that would require the cars to look like they do these days. Of course, the showroom versions are nothing to write home about. All cars now look alike. Oh well, shut my mouth! I'm gone.

Sah-WEET pic! Look at the contrasting mirror mount locations. Squirrel Jr's is dash mounted. Whitey Gerkin's mirror is in the traditional roof mount location.

I remember those dash mounted mirrors in the Chrysler Corp. line around that time. My aunt had one in her Plymouth. I could never get used to it. Hers was a Red & White '58 Plymouth with Red & White interior. Not a convertible like Tim's neighbor though.

I also remember those push button automatic transmissions in the Chrysler Corp. cars. I taught driver education for Richmond Public Schools on Saturdays of my senior year in high school and we had a fleet of Dodge Coronets equipped with the push button deals. It was a problem for the instructor to see what gear the student was "pushing."

As both Sandeep and Legend point out, today's cars look alike. I certainly can't distinguish them on the racetrack or highway. That was definitely not the case in the 50s-60s. There was no mistaking the difference between a Plymouth/Ford/Chevy or most any other make.