Bruce I remember going to the shops of Kuzma and Frank Kurtis and being
invited in. I was young then and in awe everytime I went by. Most of the
early builders were that way. They cared about people and showed it.
Parnelli Jones went to my school for a while and was a little wild but even
at the old Carrol speedway in the pits he would spend time with us kids.
Different world now. At least we got to be part of the good years and neat
racers.
Glen
----- Original Message -----
From: <FastmetalBDF@aol.com>
To: <dlodom@charter.net>; <karhu@california.com>
Cc: <land-speed@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, March 10, 2006 3:16 PM
Subject: Re: tire weight air vs nitrogen
>I was very interested in championship car( Indy type )racing back in the
> late 40s and early 50s, and my understanding was that nitrogen was used
> in the
> tires( and they were those old large diameter / narrow tread Firestones
> later
> used in LSR )in place of ordinary air as the advantage was the increased
> stabiliuty of the tire pressure when nitrogen was used ...... as Doug
> just
> mentioned the moisture found in the air is the culprit that causes
> pressure
> variation, even in those 'old-style' bias tires ........
> I lost all but a passing interest in that racing venue when the
> beautifully crafted and beautiful looking roadsters of the Fifties gave
> way to
> the rear-engine revolution from across the pond ...... a better idea but
> it was
> the start of the super-fast and super-ugly wings-everywhere things that
> are
> the breed for some years now. I do truly believe that the period from
> about
> 1950 to the mid or late Seventies was The Golden Era for most forms of
> auto racing in America ...... but that's just MY opinion. I won't even
> mention what happened to the NASCAR scene, but I do know MANY of the
> other older
> guys feel exactly as I do on that subject ......
> BDF, Recalling the great creations of A.J. Watson, Quinn Epperly,
> Eddie Kuzma, and many other master craftsmen of those Marvelous Indy Race
> Cars of
> Yesteryear ......
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