More From Big Daddy (2 Viewers)

[stitcherbob]

 

[stitcherbob]

 

[none]

Mad respect for Big Daddy and proud to call him a friend.
As for the name part, I guess Steve Torrance and Mike Salinas could do that. But I'm struggling with Ron Capps telling NAPA that his name needs to be bigger than theirs.
Alan

 

[stitcherbob]

I guess like in NASCAR, certain drivers become synonymous with their car colors and sponsor. Dale Earnhardt could change some portions of his car design but it had to be a black number 3 Chevrolet. My inflatable #3 from the Daytona in which we lost him has Oreo cookies as a main sponsor. Same with Capps. If it’s NAPA , blue and yellow, we know who it is. Except for when he does the tribute car schemes. Other drivers change teams and sponsors so much it’s hard to keep up. So put their name in big letters first and then the sponsor gets the rest. Until they get a following their name should be first. When Montana brands sponsored Austin Prock, I thought it was a drink! It was industrial drill bits. How many spectators know, care or bought any drill bits from them?
Like Capps, we all know who this was even with the huge sponsor name on it...

 

[the guy]

Mad respect for Big Daddy and proud to call him a friend.
As for the name part, I guess Steve Torrance and Mike Salinas could do that. But I'm struggling with Ron Capps telling NAPA that his name needs to be bigger than theirs.
Alan

With all due respect, in my opinion knowing those three..Id say the odds of Steve putting his name as the marquis on his car would be 9 out of 10 no, Mike would be like 100 out of 10 no...Capps...probably 10 out of 10 no...as you say not arguing, just discussing...I could see guys like Rupert or B Littlefield or Larry Jr doing tributes to their dads...which would be awesome, but also unlikely..which sucks for the rest of us...would love to see throwback style paint jobs designed by Blood or Pugh or any number of old school guys...but were kinda stuck right now...times are a changing though right?

 

[twostep]

With all due respect, in my opinion knowing those three..Id say the odds of Steve putting his name as the marquis on his car would be 9 out of 10 no, Mike would be like 100 out of 10 no...

Not a case of no, they wouldn't but Alan was pointing out that yes, they could seeing as both Salinas and Torrence are self-sponsored. They could have stuck Let's Go, Brandon! and displayed the cars at Trump rallies had they chosen to do so. Not that they would; Salinas in particular is way too reserved to shine the light on himself. But he COULD.

Garlits understandably longs for drag racing's glory days. Not that it was necessarily better or easier. But 1 on 1 relationships between drivers, their cars and the fans were what helped make drag racing fun, exciting and personal. It's why John Force will be remembered forever - not because he won 16 championships but because he was - John Force.

Sadly, there's not nearly enough personality in racing anymore and the sport, in that respect, is for the worse on account of it. Garlits knows it's not coming back; knows STEVE TORRENCE isn't going to be on the side of the Capco car in foot-tall letters anytime soon. But that doesn't mean his heart forgot what that meant back in the day when the person in the seat who often built the engine and the car itself - like Garlits - WAS drag racing, not the sponsors.

 

[Nunz]

I think we have a lot of great personalities in the sport today. There are literally too many to list. Pay attention, and watch what a lot of drivers do on social media. We really have a lot of characters. And not every single racer is going to be a John Force. We all miss a lot of what drag racing offered in the early days, but I've said this a million times, nothing stays the same. And drivers do have responsibilities to their sponsors. I really believe too many people spend too much time longing for the old days and old ways to enjoy what's happening right now. JMO

 

[Ponyhntr]

I think we have a lot of great personalities in the sport today. There are literally too many to list. Pay attention, and watch what a lot of drivers do on social media. We really have a lot of characters. And not every single racer is going to be a John Force. We all miss a lot of what drag racing offered in the early days, but I've said this a million times, nothing stays the same. And drivers do have responsibilities to their sponsors. I really believe too many people spend too much time longing for the old days and old ways to enjoy what's happening right now. JMO

Amen!

 

[twostep]

I really believe too many people spend too much time longing for the old days and old ways to enjoy what's happening right now. JMO

I miss certain things about the "old days" like dry hops, exhibition cars, long burnouts, throttle whacks, 75 cars trying to make a 32-car Comp Elim field - and Jungle Pam. But not all. Bennett put up a pretty good piece about old vs new here a couple of weeks ago that points out the progress we've made and for sure, it ain't all bad.

 

[mgty3whlr]

I miss certain things about the "old days" like dry hops, exhibition cars, long burnouts, throttle whacks, 75 cars trying to make a 32-car Comp Elim field - and Jungle Pam. But not all. Bennett put up a pretty good piece about old vs new here a couple of weeks ago that points out the progress we've made and for sure, it ain't all bad.

I understand how some people miss the Good ole days but how did you guys adapt when they came out with the Color T.V.?

 

[mick]

....... how did you guys adapt when they came out with the Color T.V.?

promptly bought an atari system

 

[Litefoot]

I understand how some people miss the Good ole days but how did you guys adapt when they came out with the Color T.V.?

Still watching black and white,

 

[*******]

Every time somebody gets a personality and doesn't toe the line on TV everybody slams them and calls them trouble makers. You people here are the biggest offenders. When Coughlin kicked his door off a few weeks ago you all jumped on him for being a hot head. When Bazemore spoke out against Force you all hated him. When the Gray's stirred up stuff in PS years ago you all laughed and made fun of him. Make up your mind, do you want corporate spewing puppets that make me sick to watch like Ashley or do you want some personality? I miss the hell out of people like Warren, Bazemore and Hoffman.

 

[Nunz]

Every time somebody gets a personality and doesn't toe the line on TV everybody slams them and calls them trouble makers. You people here are the biggest offenders. When Coughlin kicked his door off a few weeks ago you all jumped on him for being a hot head. When Bazemore spoke out against Force you all hated him. When the Gray's stirred up stuff in PS years ago you all laughed and made fun of him. Make up your mind, do you want corporate spewing puppets that make me sick to watch like Ashley or do you want some personality? I miss the hell out of people like Warren, Bazemore and Hoffman.

Boom.

 

[65 Goatboy]

Hate to say it but when Ashley is interviewed I have to mute the sound. Much rather listen to Doug!

 

[65 Goatboy]

I think we have a lot of great personalities in the sport today. There are literally too many to list. Pay attention, and watch what a lot of drivers do on social media. We really have a lot of characters. And not every single racer is going to be a John Force. We all miss a lot of what drag racing offered in the early days, but I've said this a million times, nothing stays the same. And drivers do have responsibilities to their sponsors. I really believe too many people spend too much time longing for the old days and old ways to enjoy what's happening right now. JMO

Watched Buddy Hull's interview with Big Jim. Yes he spent most of the time talking about the past but it's fascinating history and is their anyone left who can tell those stories? The man is 92 years old and he lives very much in the present, he's still out their racing and he accepts change better then most.

 

[ZWeinstein]

I really believe too many people spend too much time longing for the old days and old ways to enjoy what's happening right now. JMO

This not only applies to us drag racing/NHRA fans but a lot of fans in different sports. Case in point, I spent the last two days at PIR for the NASCAR championship weekend. I've been going out there long before I went to drag races and vividly remember as a kid in the late 90s & early 00s when NASCAR was at its peak in popularity. I ate, breathed and revolved a lot of my childhood around NASCAR. I lived and died with how good Dale Sr./Jr. and Mark Martin did week to week. Those were good times, and yes I believed NASCAR in some ways lost their way for a few years in the late 00s and early 10s but when I take the rose colored glasses off, the on-track product is about as good now if not better than it was during its peak. Now there is plausible arguments for TV coverage and points/championship structures and things like that but the competition is as tight as its ever been. In the last three years they have had 15/18/14 different winners each season respectively. From '04-'06 you had 13/15/13 and 11/11/14 from '98-'00 respectively. Not only that the amenities tracks like Phoenix provide are miles ahead of where it was when I started going out there in '98. Things like parking trams, picnic areas in the shade, wifi, the infield setup they have now is amazing.

To get off the NASCAR soap box and jump onto the NHRA side, Its been almost 20 years since I've attended my first race and been going to at least one, more often multiple races a year since. Things have changed since 2007 but the racing is still great and in fact, closer and tighter than it was even 20 years ago. Yes car counts are often discussed and is something that needs to be improved on but the guys/gals that show up are bunched tighter than before. I also remember a few hour long oil downs and pace of the event dragging to a hault. Not everyone wants to or is willing to spend 10-12 hours at a race. Not saying improvements cant & shouldnt be made but it cant go back to like it was in 1977, you have to evolve with the times. If you stay stagnant you die and it does not matter what industry you are in. Its not about newspaper ads, tv/radio commercials now, its about social media engagement and views. For in person experience its about amenities and events. Dallas has done a fantastic job with its Stampede of Speed and the attendance shows. Even here in Phoenix in the last few years things like Saturday night concerts, social media engagement leading up to the race, giveaways, etc has increased the number of butts in the seats and it shows with us selling out Saturdays and Sundays the last several years.

Anyway the point of this long winded rant is I agree with what Nunzio says. Its ok to fondly remember and enjoy the "good old days" and we all do it, but you cant let your rose colored view of the good old days prevent you from enjoying what is going on now.

 

[Nitro Bass!]

This not only applies to us drag racing/NHRA fans but a lot of fans in different sports. Case in point, I spent the last two days at PIR for the NASCAR championship weekend. I've been going out there long before I went to drag races and vividly remember as a kid in the late 90s & early 00s when NASCAR was at its peak in popularity. I ate, breathed and revolved a lot of my childhood around NASCAR. I lived and died with how good Dale Sr./Jr. and Mark Martin did week to week. Those were good times, and yes I believed NASCAR in some ways lost their way for a few years in the late 00s and early 10s but when I take the rose colored glasses off, the on-track product is about as good now if not better than it was during its peak. Now there is plausible arguments for TV coverage and points/championship structures and things like that but the competition is as tight as its ever been. In the last three years they have had 15/18/14 different winners each season respectively. From '04-'06 you had 13/15/13 and 11/11/14 from '98-'00 respectively. Not only that the amenities tracks like Phoenix provide are miles ahead of where it was when I started going out there in '98. Things like parking trams, picnic areas in the shade, wifi, the infield setup they have now is amazing.

To get off the NASCAR soap box and jump onto the NHRA side, Its been almost 20 years since I've attended my first race and been going to at least one, more often multiple races a year since. Things have changed since 2007 but the racing is still great and in fact, closer and tighter than it was even 20 years ago. Yes car counts are often discussed and is something that needs to be improved on but the guys/gals that show up are bunched tighter than before. I also remember a few hour long oil downs and pace of the event dragging to a hault. Not everyone wants to or is willing to spend 10-12 hours at a race. Not saying improvements cant & shouldnt be made but it cant go back to like it was in 1977, you have to evolve with the times. If you stay stagnant you die and it does not matter what industry you are in. Its not about newspaper ads, tv/radio commercials now, its about social media engagement and views. For in person experience its about amenities and events. Dallas has done a fantastic job with its Stampede of Speed and the attendance shows. Even here in Phoenix in the last few years things like Saturday night concerts, social media engagement leading up to the race, giveaways, etc has increased the number of butts in the seats and it shows with us selling out Saturdays and Sundays the last several years.

Anyway the point of this long winded rant is I agree with what Nunzio says. Its ok to fondly remember and enjoy the "good old days" and we all do it, but you cant let your rose colored view of the good old days prevent you from enjoying what is going on now.

Totally agree....

 

[LoPony]

Every time somebody gets a personality and doesn't toe the line on TV everybody slams them and calls them trouble makers. You people here are the biggest offenders. When Coughlin kicked his door off a few weeks ago you all jumped on him for being a hot head.

Not me, I thought it was great.

When Bazemore spoke out against Force you all hated him. When the Gray's stirred up stuff in PS years ago you all laughed and made fun of him.

He shook things up alright.

Make up your mind, do you want corporate spewing puppets that make me sick to watch like Ashley or do you want some personality? I miss the hell out of people like Warren, Bazemore and Hoffman.

Hmm. Good post.

I’m with you. Those were to me the best days. But who are the modern likenesses of these people? There are some good soldiers out there right now.

Gotta pay the bills. They almost all spew during interviews and “just can’t say enough” about somebody or another, the help, or the sponsor except those that don’t have any. A lot of good self funded teams, although it’s sad that they can’t afford to run more than they do. That’s just the way it is. I miss it.

It’s a mixed bag, but it always has been. There are, and were, people I love, and people that I love to hate. On this forum, you get beat up by voicing just about any opinion. I accept that. At least most here can have conversations, but there are exceptions.

I used to hate on Glidden and Bernstein, because they won so much. Can you believe that? I still root for the underdogs, but I look back and think what amazing pioneers those guys were. We will think the same thing about Greg Anderson and similar people in 10 years.

 

[LoPony]

Hate to say it but when Ashley is interviewed I have to mute the sound. Much rather listen to Doug!

Justin Ashley? I ffwd through anything that has him talking.