Friday, August 19, 2011

Function over fashion...


Note:  the older fellow in the ball cap was the driver of the 57 pictured below...


The photos were taken back in the late 80's or early 90's at Bakersfield (Famoso).  This pre-dates the whole fashion of a "gasser".  No dis-respect to those that have built or are building a "gasser".  I just miss the days of a car doing what it was built to do.  It seems that the hot thing is to put a straight axle under just about anything and call it a gasser.  I realize back in the day, there were some unusual race cars out there.  Case in point, Packards, Studebakers, and so on.  But that doesn't mean you grab the first P.O.S. you find, throw a huge motor in it, build a cage out of exhaust tubing and claim it was an old race car.  In the old days, there were plenty of cars that pulled double duty.  Transportation by day, racer by evening and weekend.  The cars and owners above are not confused about their role.  The owners role is to plant their right foot on the floor and point the car straight and make a good pass.  The cars role is to launch straight and keep all of it's drivetrain where it belongs.  There is no question in anyones mind, what is happening when you line up next to them...