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Any old Racers in those days?

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Incredible...
 
fascinating and macabre at the same time - 1:37 looks like a Bugeye in the background.
 
We,( My Dad), started racing in 1949. Oval, clay, gravel, asphalt, oiled dirt. Went from stock to modified, even ran open wheel midgets for a while, they were too dangerous and Mom told him it was the midgets or her!! He sold the midget! So, yes, I grew up in that era. It was a lot of work, a lot of fun and very exciting. Got out of the game when I went into the Navy and from that point on got into flying. Always loved oval racing, Even had a midget of my own setting in the barn when I came home from the Navy. When I married my high school sweet heart, the midget had to go, I think mom had a talk with her behind my back. Mom hated racing, I guess because of what your looking at in the videos. Dad made it through with minor injuries and then just got too old. Sold everything. I still have a couple old race engines buried in the back of the barn somewhere. Memories, how nice. PJ
 
What I don't understand is why it took so long for the roll bar to develop. Seems to me, first guy I see that happen to and I'm making adjustments. Open wheel cars too, I just don't get it. Everyone knows how dangerous they are yet still...

I'd rather learn to play the song inna video. There's a certain peace that comes with a dirty 'bucker :wink:
 
mikephillips said:
There was a time too when it was thought safer to be flung out rather than possibly be trapped in a burning ball of metal.
Click to expand...

Then there was Masten Gregory that used to jump out:

"Whenever Masten was faced with a major crash, he would stand up in the cockpit of his car and jump out just before impact. Shortly after the accident, Riddelle talked to him on the telephone while he was in the hospital. Masten stated that he lost control of his car when he got into the grass going into a corner as an evasive maneuver when a "little Porsche" moved over unexpectedly in front of him. When Riddelle asked him why he jumped out of the car Masten replied, "You should have seen what I was going to hit! A huge earth embankment!"
 
I witnessed a 'jump out' at the first Daytona Continental when, I can't remember who it was but a 'name' driver of the era ( maybe Walt Hansgen), drove his Ferrari over the debris left by an E Jag engine blow up at the start/finish line and blew out most or all of his tires. As his car headed toward the outside wall, he stood up and jumped onto the chain link fencing. To be fair, the car had slowed considerably and stopped about two car lengths beyond where he was hanging on the fence. It was still a sight to see.

Dan Gurney won the race on his starter motor.
 
kellysguy said:
What I don't understand is why it took so long for the roll bar to develop. Seems to me, first guy I see that happen to and I'm making adjustments. Open wheel cars too, I just don't get it. Everyone knows how dangerous they are yet still...

I'd rather learn to play the song inna video. There's a certain peace that comes with a dirty 'bucker :wink:
Click to expand...

Billy, don't know if you have seen this video - very powerful and more than a little troubling. It wasn't as "obvious" to everyone that safety was a priority.

 
Thanks for posting that JP.
 
JPSmit said:
Billy, don't know if you have seen this video - very powerful and more than a little troubling. It wasn't as "obvious" to everyone that safety was a priority.
Click to expand...

Not sure if you've had a chance to read Jackie Stewart's autobiography "Winning Is Not Enough," I highly recommend it. His battles to make the sport safer were amazing.
 
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