Forum Activity for @nick-sinclair

A twist in voting--The LEAST popular Driver list

Trivia

Interesting thread!

I can't question the selection of Kyle Busch as LEAST popular at this time since, despite his obvious driving talent, he is just totally clueless PR-wise. plus his appearance is against him, as is Kurt's.

The rest would not have made my list, especially not Keselowski, JPM or Harvick, who are all exciting to watch.

I'd have included Joey Logano, Scott Speed and possibly Kasey Kane.

But you all should recall that some of the greatest drivers of all time in top racing series were once pretty doggone unpopular ~ AJ Foyt, DE Sr, Tazio Nuvolari for example.

What fond memories of them we have now!

Modern Media Hype Vs Real Genuine Old Time Happenings!

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Along this train of thought, Robbie, what can you make of an outfit that "lays off" the SPOTTER for a 3 time champion??? WTF??? Who on the entire team works closer with the "pilot" of the COT?Of course, to me, the very concept of a "spotter" is totally absurd. Looks like for a mega-million salary the driver might actually look around, decide & make his own move?Why don't we just put the drivers up on a tall platform, let 'em run it remote control like slot car racers? That would be about as exciting as it is now.Then to further "cut costs" the TV guys could use a computerized background, allowing 'em to run all the races on a single track. The TV audience wouldn't know or care, and the track promoters wouldn't have to sweat ticket sales. Plus more un-needed shopping malls can then be erected on the old track sites. The guys in charge respect tradition so much that a Walmart at Darlington should suit 'em fine! They can hire use a lady in black as a greeter ~~~This is an obvious solution to the whole economic mess ~~~ no haulers running cross country, lay off the truck crews! No expensive motor homes, the drivers can go home every night!Next is "fuel savings" ~~~ the trucks & motor homes alone save a bunch, now we work on running the "race cars" on "green fuel" ~~~ perhaps solar power? Use solar panels as spoilers, park 'em in the sun all day & run 'em under the light of th' silvery moon? Or stuff a propane tank in the back, crew guy plugs in a fresh one every so many laps during the pre-planned caution?Run a pumped up CD through big ol' speakers built into the roll cage (see, we don't need it to be strong anymore) to get motor noise, along with whatever rapper the driver chooses as his theme music!Tires? We don't need no stinkin' tires ~~~what ya see are painted on the side ~~let's use hidden casters under the frame, no more flats or blow outs.Pretty ridiculous sounding scenario, isn't it? But if you'd described today's Nascar to Curtis, Little Joe or the other early pioneers of the sport it would probably have sounded just as strange.

Modern Media Hype Vs Real Genuine Old Time Happenings!

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This is kind of a rant, maybe, but don't you all get a bit tired of hearing how these guys today have just become the 8th wonder of the world for doing something "never done before in the history of NASCAR".... which is mostly because the twits that write that BS don't KNOW the history, or else because it wasn't ever recorded at the time!The recent "amazement" when Kyle Bush won 2 races in a day, a "never before accomplished feat" is just the last of this. Heck, I saw Tiny Lund do it, at Augusta, in about '67, back to back LMS 100 milers. And don't tell me that doesn't count as a touring series, 'cos we damn sure toured our poor worn-out sorry asses off!!!Joe Thurman, of Rocky Mt, Va famously won the LMS National championship by aggressively "touring" in a small plane, allowing him to compete at enough tracks to pile up sufficient points to make up for lack of speed in the borrowed or "loaner" cars he drove. He never tore up or damaged anything, just raced carefully for position, getting all he could from the car without forcing the issue, a lesson I wish I'd learned better!He was a pioneer in use of the light airplane, along with Bobby Allison, and both made it work way before it was safe or easy.
updated by @nick-sinclair: 12/03/16 05:48:07PM

Lee Roy Yarbrough

Stock Car Racing History

Any of you that ever ran against Lee Roy will recall what a hard & tough competitor he was, and how long he would hold a grudge. He was somewhat of a notorious terror on the SC/Ga/Fla dirt tracks in the mid 60s! He'd race you as hard for an extra $25 position payoff as he would for a $1,000 win. That was real money back then! Columbia, Charleston, Savannah were the main places I remember him from, he and his brother Elton both raced Jacksonville sometimes on Saturday nights at the "track with no lights".Lee Roy had what we would today call "personal problems"; self esteem issues and depression that lead to marital trouble. He had trouble living with fame, but he sure could drive!The DNF's mentioned were more due to low budget cars that weren't all that reliable even for the big teams. Hell, back then usually less than half the field would finish a race, often only 1 or 2 cars would be on the lead lap. Lots of us ran almost street stock motors to save money, or because the factory "good stuff" wasn't available to just anyone.

Which current drivers could have competed then?

Current NASCAR

Robby Gordon is a real good pick, Wendy. He would have been right at home on the dirt tracks, and is a superior road racer with a good feel for a car. Also anybody who has raced a Hummer sure oughta feel okay in the big old tanks of the sixties.Paul, I think Mark Martin certainly has the heart, but possibly not the utter brute strength required in those days. I don't wanto arm wrassle him, though! And given what Tiger Tom Pistone accomplished I'd hate to bet against Mark~~Tommy, I seem to recall that Bobby Allison had an odd happening contribute to his condition; it involved a boat and some very cold water.The Carl Kiekhoffer Chrysler team in mid 50s was the first NASCAR outfit I ever heard of that pushed an exercise program.

Which current drivers could have competed then?

Current NASCAR

Yessiree ... and now they're gonna be team mates! I am sure looking forward to watching 'em!

Which current drivers could have competed then?

Current NASCAR

Boys, this a subject I can go on about all day & night!Yep, I have driven my race car 30 miles to a dirt track, raced it & driven what was left back home. This with a locked rear & major wedge & offset; flashlight taped in place for a tailight. Borrowed an oilfilter w/permission off a fan's car once at Calloway Speedway; a close competitor loaned me a radiator at Augusta & gave me a clutch at Smyrna Beach, plus tires lotsa times! Thanks, Tom, Tiny & others!!But times & cars are different now. Money changes things. Not many guys today could deal with the massive 3900# cars, with no power steering or radials, no trained pit crews, spotters or radios, etc.Anyone here remember pulling the cord to open the little fenderwell door so you could check tire wear on the rt front? Or checking laps from the scoreboard for fuel? Anyone ever pitted & got out to pour his own fuel 'cos he had no crew on hand?Tony Stewart is probably the closest we have today to an "old time driver", and Carl Edwards seems likely to be the type also. Juan Pablo has the heart & fire too, IMHO.Thanks!