Wednesday
May182011
"Open Wheel tribute"
Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 11:08 PM I've been spending a lot of time lately studying racing history, particularly dirt-track racing in the 1950s and 60s. Many race fans consider that period the golden age of auto racing, when ever-growing speeds and technology ran head first into unforgiving tracks built for slower times.
This video -- a mashup of Dick Wallen race video and musician Moby -- is a touching reminder of how cool those old cars and drivers were, and how many of those circle-track heroes left the track in ambulances.
Reader Comments (2)
I 'came of age' in USAC racing at the Syracuse 100 mile race and then followed the sport to Trenton and the short tracks eventually trying my hand at it in Midgets. My first start was at the banked 1/2 mile N.Y. track near the Mass. border which I survived due to being too slow. Back in '65 with ARDC you had to be fast to make the show. I recognized most of the drivers. My favorites were Ward, Ruttman, Sachs, Bettenhausen (sold my car to one of them), Foyt, and Thompson, 3 of whom survived the racing wars. 'Still think they were the best cars and drivers of all time.
Yeah, it's hard to top the quality and depth of the fields, week in and week out, during that era. Thanks for sharing your memories. And glad you are still with us today.