the old rutherfordton race track
Stock Car Racing History
Located in near-by Gaston county, does the name "Lowell Fairground" Raceway ring a bell with anyone?
Forum Activity for @bobby-williamson
Stock Car Racing History
the old rutherfordton race track
Stock Car Racing History
I've been told that the old Rutherford Co. Speedway was a fairground track, and the site is occupied by (Rutherford) county governmental offices.
"Old" Gordon?
Current NASCAR
I've always been a fan of Jeff Gordon, and Ray Evernaham...the combination, in its prime, was among the best to ever play the game. I remember years when Gordon fans had to virtually exist underground as the animosity aimed at Wonder Boy was constant, insane, and non-stop..and that was beforethe internet. However, after Ray, and after Brook, and after kids it seemed like Jeff was going down the path..................Back in the day, he'dfinda way to win. As Ray once stated.....Jeff Gordon don't have many 2nd place finishes, if he's that close, he'll find a way to win.........and it was true.
In recent years, it seemed Jeff just didn't put that extra ummph into it. The car was too loose, or too tight, or it was that infernal aero-push, or just continually get slower as the race progressed. And, unlike in the Ray days, no amount of adjustments, or heroics, could (or would) fix it. It seemed Jeff was content to ride the ride. The fire-in-the-belly was (indeed) a dying ember.
Saturday night's unlikely and dramatic series of events at Richmond, was classic Gordon and crew. The oldrefuse to loose attitude was back. Will we see the 'old' Gordon in the Chase? Could be interesting.
updated by @bobby-williamson: 12/05/16 04:04:08PM
NASCAR Rear Steer Rules
General
As more info is coming forward on this topic, I'm not so sure............is all this rear steer stuff aTrojan horse?. The very limited movement than can be realized from a compressing bushing does not explain the total domination the 48 displayed at Indy.....and that run away performance at Michigan (only foiled by engine failure). Johnson/Knaus may have thrown every Chase competitor off their game with all this rear-steer smoke-screen. The Hendrick R&D dept. may have turned up it up a notch.....but the Hendrick intelligence strategy dept. may havereallyturned it up. Knowing his command of the social media and all things hi-tech, did the Hendrick group deliberately divulge the rear suspension saga to Brad?
NASCAR Rear Steer Rules
General
Thanks Dave.......Brad Keslowski did notseeJimmy Johnson's axle move (as he claimed) at Indy....or anywhere else. Nope, alreadyknewor suspected the suspension enhancements that were aboard the #48. Brad was calling as much attention, with as much drama as he possibly could, with his team-radio outburst at Indy. For a moment, though, it was exciting to think NASCAR teams were truly working with a new suspension concept.
My old friends accuse me of being addicted to racing
Stock Car Racing History
Jim, I'm in the same boat....... been there all my life!
Latest Trick
Current NASCAR
The NASCAR inspectors, if they were aware of the 'new' technology, never divulged anything. Nope, it was Brad, on the radio, at Indy, where the 'movement' was such that Brad could it see it.... at speed. (could thermoplastic bushing compression be significant enough for another driver to observe?) Or, maybe Brad really did not observe anything, but was grandstanding for a rule change against Johnsnon/Knaus. The 48 may not be using the new system on every track, but Indy with its flat 4 corners, or Martinsville (where the 48 is real racy) would be better applications of any rear-steering system, than say, Michigan with its long sweeping turns. After Brad publicized the issue, claiming "components are moving afterthe car has passed tech........"NASCAR made a ruling declaring the mystery suspension "legal"......
Latest Trick
Current NASCAR
Paul, I've spent a moment of two thinking about what could be done on the front suspension of a dirt chassis....could a 4-link or some other out of the box idea come into focus? I think so. Sounds like the guys at Rocket are already on the path.
Latest Trick
Current NASCAR
I've wondered the same, Paul. OMG, those old truck arm systems are ancient and literally have been used since the late 1960's. I think part of the answer, lies in the pavement world's attitude of "superiority"........"we're running asphalt, we're in NASCAR, we know everything, and that makes us better,smarter, more likely to be successful, etc. etc........." And to that end, many pavement racers don't evenknowwhat goes on in the dirt world. The modern dirt late model is, without question, the most technically sophisticated stock car.. period. It does not take a rocket scientist to visualize the 4-link's potential advantage, if if could be adapted to a pavement. Guess the Hendrick group was the only with a clue. and to look outside the (truck arm) box.