20 replies to this topic

[wheel]

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[Ken Nesbit]

Wow... that's when you had to have a pair to race !!!

[Johnny D]

That's what he said...

http://www.bing.com/...VR5&FORM=LKVR12

J~

[wheel]

Some of those clips were shot not too long after I started racing. Seat belts were required, and a roll bar, but that was all pretty new.
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[Ernie Jr.]

im never going on the track without a HANS.

[Scottie]

wow. those dudes clicked when they walked.

[Keith Novak]

Wow... that's when you had to have a pair to race !!!

With some of them, you needed a pair but they had to be bundled up tight or they'd get wrapped around the exposed drive shaft running right between your legs.

[wheel]

One famous racer, of that era was famous for jumping out of his car, as it crashed. Nuvolari, Fangio, or one of those dudes. Car slides off track at warp speed....I know I'm going to crash, better bail out right here......Thump... thump..... thump. I'm ready for the next race.

[dmathias]

Don't confuse bravery with stupidity.

What gets me is after witnessing a few of these shunts, wouldn't someone, anyone, think "Hey, there's got to be a better system than getting thrown from the car."

And who the Hell thinks it's a good idea to stand RIGHT BESIDE A RACETRACK when cars are speeding by.

Clear evidence that people really are getting smarter, even though it doesn't seem like it sometimes.

[Jerry Cabe]

And who the Hell thinks it's a good idea to stand RIGHT BESIDE A RACETRACK when cars are speeding by.

Uh Denny, Your friendly Corner Worker does it all the time; half the time with their back to the oncoming traffic. That is why there are such close bonds developed between Corner Workers, since you are literally trusting your partner to cover your back. I'm not saying that there isn't some missing "rational person" gene in any of our makeup though.

[dmathias]

I'm not saying that there isn't some missing "rational person" gene in any of our makeup though.

Remember, you said it, not me.

[Ken Nesbit]

@ wheel, I think I remember Moss saying something like that in one of his books. I also remember when they changed the rule from a single hoop with two braces going back and added the bar from the top of the hoop to the floor, and the real sad part ...not being able to afford putting the single bar in.

[Sphinx]

And who the Hell thinks it's a good idea to stand RIGHT BESIDE A RACETRACK when cars are speeding by.

WRC fans? Thanks, but I'll watch on TV.

edit: I just got to watch this from home (work firewalls). Holy smokes. Sorry, but that was just insanity. Amazing that some of those guys walked away. Obviously, many didn't.

[Kudo]

As a young guy who is getting into the sport, its good to know the history. This is a... graphic... reminder of why we have all those safety systems. And I'm happy to say that I'm glad Hans are going to be mandatory.

I could never imagine anyone ever saying their life was not worth the price of a Hans. I recall reading some people being all up in arms, and its like, just factor the price into the already expensive cost of maintaining a car/suit/helmet. The cost is negligible and the benefit is so major.

Anyway, thanks for the reminder of racing's past.

[Elliott Skeer]

And who the Hell thinks it's a good idea to stand RIGHT BESIDE A RACETRACK when cars are speeding by.

Right beside? Group B went past that
http:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4UuZ5mauKk

[Brian Laughlin]

I agree with both sides, though I wear a hans myself. What happened to having the balls/guts to get in a racecar. That's why the old timers were treated like rock starts. They we're a form of gladiator if you will. Knowing death could be around the next turn. Crazy stuff there. The only thing I don't completely agree with is the guys that would get a few lines of coke in their system to run 12-16hrs at a 24hr long race. That's a little over the top. I like reading the old scca rules "Do not approach an over turned car with a cigarette, don't cross the racking surface while cars are going by, etc.."...oh have the times changed.

[Jim Boemler]

Our great grandchildren will marvel that people actually raced while IN the cars. That is, after they make allowances for our stupidity and self-centered disregard for the environmental consequences of wasting energy on endeavors not sanctioned by the Government. If racing was good for you, the Government would require it.

[Keith Novak]

Our great grandchildren will marvel that people actually raced while IN the cars.

Without significant consequences, there is far less excitement. That probably comes with the next generation of video games. You get zapped with a tazer and it charges your debit account every time you hit something or blow the engine. Kinda like paintball where it hurts bad enough that you really don't want to get shot.

[wheel]

Boemler,
You got it. The only way the government will allow your grand children to take a risk, and go out on the edge, will be in the military. Then they will still deny them proper medical care, when they get fk'd up, just like they do today.
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[Jim Boemler]

Without significant consequences, there is far less excitement. That probably comes with the next generation of video games. You get zapped with a tazer and it charges your debit account every time you hit something or blow the engine.

By then they'll just up your taxes. Not sure what they'll do a couple of generations later, when taxes are already 100%.