Patsy, sorry I didn't get to meet you Saturday night. I was all around Jimmy's truck and Pete's car. Maybe next time. I wish I knew Jack's son was there (Rick is it?), would have liked to talk to him.
Bobby, I've often thought about how many of Bell & Bell drivers are born and raised in NC? Though I've lived here 30 years I can't be considered a native and, neither can all the snow birds that make up about half of the series. It's just a sign of the times, the world is a much smaller place than it was when I was born in 1961, and the last time a North Carolina driver didn't compete in a NASCAR event. However, there are plenty of local drivers from North Carolina I would pit against a lot of the spit and polished drivers today. Even the ones from North Carolina in the Nationwide Series (the Dillon bros.) are not really considered "blue collar" however, at least in a few years there will be a few more in the ranks now that the of the Son's of the South's kids and grand kids are up and coming.
I may have misread Andy in his statement "Each one of these.....bitter disappointments." My mention of him "reflecting fondly of the past" could be a misrepresentation.
Bobby, I searched and found this book after your recommendation on The Goat Rodeo, and yes, it is a fantastic book, an insight to the hardships of racing. It's not all fame and fortune, to the contrary, it's more the hardships and pitfalls that keeps us chasing the cup.
I just finished reading the book by Andy Granatelli "They Call Me Mr. 500" but, the book was ironically written and titled before Andy ever won the "500". His quest for the "500" lasted over 20 years when this book was written and in the end someone else already left with the cup.
Granatelli's early successes and failures came with the fabled Offy engines, reliable and true but fate would sideline his efforts year after year. His boldest move was the turbine engine in 1967 when driver Parnelli Jones had the win in sight but another twist of fate would come apart with a transmission bearing while Jones was leading with 3 laps to go. However, old Andy wouldn't let it get him down, he would look toward the future while reflecting fondly on the past.
Andy had a great attitude, a winning attitude and eventually he would win in `69, the year after his book was published in another ironic twist with a 2-year-old Ford Hawk with Mario Andretti. Andy's main car; a new concept 4-wheel-drive wedge-shaped Lotus, was wrecked in practice.
A quote for Andy sums it up:
"Well, it has been a great race. Each one of these bumps, accidents, events, crashes---bitter disappointments---that you have read about, has left me a bit wiser. I am now wary of the world. But I'm still eager to face it." - Andy Granatelli
Andy Granatelli exemplifies what racing is all about. It's not always the triumphs we tend to relish in that strengthen us rather, it's the tragedies that make us grow wiser.
Jim Wilmore original slides from personal collection. Do not duplicate
Well my Detroit Tigers beat the Oakland A's and lead 2 games to none in the playoffs. As for Denny Hamhock and Jimmie Jaywalk, they are pros at sandbagging, it's their style and one reason Jimmie won 5 straight in my opinion.
Was anyone really surprised to see the Big One? Everyone knew it was coming, the same finish in every Talladega race, there's no surprise ending, it's the same old story. A pretty spectacular wreck no doubt.
