If you're a fan of NASCAR, you probably remember the 1950's Grand National Series. You'll remember Tim Flock, Curtis Turner, and Joe Merola. You might remember Darlington Raceway, as well. But what was it like to be a fan back then?
Tim Flock
Tim Flock was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion twice. While he was a star of the sport, he had a number of battles with NASCAR over the years, dating back to the formation of the sanctioning body. It wasn't all racing.
Flock was thirteen when he started racing. His father was a professional bicycle racer and owned his first vehicle. His brothers and younger sister, Reo, were also competitors. Reo was an expert skeet shooter. Ethel was his older sister and a skilled stock car driver.
Curtis Turner
Curtis Turner is one the most accomplished and colorful drivers in NASCAR's 1950 history. He was the first to win two NASCAR race in a row and lead every lap. His racing career began in southern states, and he worked in the logging and moonshining industries. Later, he turned to business, becoming a member of the board of the Atlanta Speedway organization and then building a race track in Charlotte.
Turner's career spanned four decades and predated superspeedways. He won Darlington Raceway's Southern 500 in 1956. He also won his first American 500 at Rockingham Speedway. He won 38 out of the 79 races that he took part in. He was also the first driver ever to win a race from a pole. In addition, Turner competed in the first "Strictly Stock" event in Charlotte. He is the only driver to have won two consecutive NASCAR premier Series races, while also leading every lap. He raced with many legends in NASCAR.
Joe Merola
Although Joe Merola's nickname may be misleading, it is true. Merola was one of the most popular drivers in 1950's NASCAR. Joe Nagel, Jr., the Pittsburgh-based dealership sponsoring his car, sponsored him. Merola only had one Grand National start. However, Merola broke his right rear axle in lap one. Preston was well aware that this problem existed, but he couldn't fix it before the race.
Merola, in addition to driving Tucker in NASCAR races. The car was so torque-rich that it broke in the first gear. Merola's story is not the same. The car was retired from NASCAR. 1951 was the year Merola retired as a racer and became a successful aviation salesman. Merola moved to Florida later and became an aircraft salesman. In his later sixties, he died.
Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway remains one of the oldest and most popular superspeedways hosting Winston Cup races. The track's unusual shape is a hallmark of its coarse racing surface. The track's preferred racing line lies dangerously close a retaining wall. The track was nicknamed the "Track Too Tough to Tame", and the "Lady in Black". This track was home to many NASCAR's most important moments, including 1951 Daytona 500.
The race was the very first of its kind and legitimized it. Bootleggers, who used to run moonshine on mountain roads, built the Darlington Raceway. Wendell Scott won this race. Scott has accumulated 20 top five finishes and one championship over a decade of his career.
Daytona 500
The 1950 Daytona 500 was an important race in the history of NASCAR. The race was home to many cars, drivers, or teams, in the early 1950s. Many drivers had a big impact on the race. While some drivers were well-known while others were less so. This article will provide a brief overview of some of the most notable drivers from the 1950s.
Daytona 500 was one the first stock car races when NASCAR was created. Bill France organized this event. He wanted to move the NASCAR franchise from the beach to a racetrack. It has been a huge success and it has grown in speed and popularity. The event has led to an increase in the price of cars. Despite these changes however, track owners have maintained their entertainment empire. They now control the Watkins Glen racetrack, New York, as well the Darlington racetrack, South Carolina.
FAQ
What makes a race car driver use these cars?
Modern racing cars usually use engines. These engines are similar to those found on normal passenger vehicles.
Instead of using petrol they run on compressed Air.
Why do race car drivers dress in special clothes?
Many race car drivers sport special clothing.
These clothes keep them cool during races.
This fabric prevents sweat from running down their bodies.
It also protects their skin from being damaged by the wind.
Is it easy to become a race car driver?
It takes effort and dedication. It takes practice. You will not succeed if your efforts and time aren't consistent.
It is necessary to be willing to make sacrifices for your dream. It's more than a race to be fast.
Many people dream of driving but fail to realize that they don’t have the drive skills. They want to live an easier life.
They want to be able to go home at night with no extra effort. To succeed, you must be willing to sacrifice everything.
If you want to be a race car driver, you have to put in the hours and the effort.
How quickly can a race car accelerate?
The acceleration rate of a racecar will differ depending on its weight.
For instance, a lighter car accelerates quicker than a heavy one.
Statistics
- According to Toyota, the 390-hp-plus 2019 Yaris WRC runs out of gearing after 124 mph, 19 mph less than the crazy Yaris GR that's currently sitting on dealer lots outside of the U.S. BONUS: (motortrend.com)
- According to AutoSport, IndyCar's top speeds are 380km/h or 236 mph. (motorbiscuit.com)
- Acceleration is a little gentler (relatively speaking) too, with 0-100km/h taking an estimated 3.1 seconds and 0-200km/h covered in 7.8 seconds. (autosport.com)
- Forget the 200-mph battles of the late 1980s; no one, not even McLaren itself, predicted the inimitable F1 would go as fast as it did. (motortrend.com)
- Petty has won 200 NASCAR Cup Series races, a likely unbreakable record, along with a series record seven Cup championships. (frontstretch.com)
External Links
How To
How to get around corners quickly
During a race, you want to get your car out of the way of others so you can go faster. This means you have the responsibility of turning before any other driver. Doing this correctly will cause everyone to brake, as they won't know what is ahead. You'll also avoid getting into accidents with cars coming from different directions. So how do you corner fast?
You must first understand where you are going. If you don’t know where your destination is, you might end up in a completely new place. That's why you need to plan carefully. To see where you are going at any particular moment, make a map. While it might seem like a lot to do, having a clear idea of where you want to go will save you many headaches down the road.
Next, figure out when your turn will be. After you have passed the first corner, it is the best place to start. Once you have reached the first corner you will know where you want to start. Now you just need to decide whether you'll use the inside lane or the outside lane.
If you are planning to travel in the inner lane, it is best to wait until you see no traffic. Then you'll be able to move quickly without worrying about hitting someone. It is crucial that you stay in the inside lanes once you are in them. Don't let yourself drift back into the outside lane. If you do so, you may hit someone moving slowly. You should also keep in mind that crossing the line dividing both lanes could cause your vehicle to lose control and make you vulnerable to crashes.
Once you have chosen the lane, it's time to decide where to turn. There are many options for tackling this problem. Some people prefer to look for a gap in traffic. Others prefer to look for an open space in the road. Some others try to find a point where a road curves around a mountain or hill. Whatever method you choose, remember that you need to be careful not to block the entire road. You could cause traffic jams in the whole town.
Once you have selected a location to turn from, you must decide whether to make a sharp left-hand or a gradual right. A sharp turn is much easier to perform than a gradual one. It takes more effort and takes more time. You may also find it difficult to control your car correctly. These are the main reasons why most drivers prefer gradual turns.
Finally, you must accelerate only enough to pass the car in front. Accelerating too early will cause you to crash into its bumper. If you accelerate too slowly, you will run off of the road. In either case you will lose control of your vehicle and crash. Accelerating slowly is the best way to avoid this. Start slowly, but increase the acceleration as you reach the end of the road.
After you finish cornering, it is important to immediately slow down. This is especially important in heavy traffic. This could result in you running someone over.