By David G. Firestone

Recently, Paul Lukas covered the history of league logos in sports. 1969 was a banner year for logos.That same year, The MLB silhouette logo came into being.  The other logo is interesting as well. It is the NBA logo. It is based on a photo of Jerry West and was introduced in 1969.  That got me to thinking, and I realized something. In 1969, another photo got turned into an icon. It was this photo of Jack Jones…My thanks to Michael E. Mescher of Northidge Alumni Bear Facts for use of this photo!

If that photo looks familiar, it is because that photo became the legendary Wally trophy. That photo of Jack Jones in his driver suit, holding his helmet, and resting a pair of gloves and Nomex hood on a rear tire became the standard NHRA trophy. Named after NHRA founder Wally Parks, this trophy, in varying sizes and weights is given to all winners of all national events, and other trophies have integrated the Wally design.This example is from a class winner at the 2003 Gatornationals. Held at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville Florida since 1970, the Gatornationals is one of the opening events in the NHRA season. Since this is a Lucas Oil series trophy, it is much lighter and scaled down than it’s Mello Yellow Drag Racing Series trophy. This trophy weighs 2 or 3 pounds and is a little over a foot tall. The Mello Yellow trophies are 18 inches tall and weigh 12 pounds each. The trophy is made with a composite-standard metal mix and is plated in antique brass. The base is solid walnut.

Since these are the only trophies given to event winners, trophy shelves of drivers look awesome. That is the collection of former pro stock motorcycle legend George Bryce who has 77 event wins in total! John Force has 140 national event wins, the most of any driver, and his collection is awe inspiring!

The origin of the photo is interesting. According to the June 30, 1995 edition of National Dragster, the story goes that in early 1969, Jack Jones was at his day job, and got a call from Wally Parks. Parks asked him if he would be willing to pose for pictures for a trophy at Ponoma Raceway. Ponoma is a 16 minute ride from Glendora where the NHRA is based. Jack agreed and a number of pictures were snapped, including the now iconic photo of him with his equipment and a tire. Later that year, the famous Wally trophy was introduced. It is perfect because it is still the same design as in 1969. It does not evolve because it does not have to. Looking at it close, it really is a beautiful trophy.

It is amazing how a sports photo can evolve into something much more than a photo. It has been said by those much wiser than I that a picture is worth a thousand words. Well photos that become iconic, whether it be in logos or trophies or stuck in public consciousness are not just worth a thousand words, they are priceless.

That’s going to be all for this week, there was not enough paint schemes to warrant an entry this week, so I’ll save it for next week!

By David G. Firestone

I don’t often do mid-week posts, but this week warrants one. Tonight at 7PM EST on Fox Sports 1 the CarCash Mudsummer Classic Presented by CNBC Prime’s ‘The Profit’ will be held at Eldora Speedway in Rossberg Ohio. Since that name is a bit too long, I’ll just call it the Mudsummer classic. This will be the second year in a row the Camping World Truck Series will host a points paying event on the dirt track.

Last year, Ken Schrader qualified on the pole, and Austin Dillon went on to win the race. Kyle Larson, Michael Annett, Ty Dillon, Matt Crafton, and Norm Benning will be among the drivers who will join them on this historical dirt track owned by Tony Stewart. The trucks and tires will be modifiend from their normal configuration to accommodate the dirt track. Further info can be found here. I did a little research after watching the video and found that the Truck Series switched from Goodyear Eagles to Goodyear Wranglers in 2005.

The heat race style format from last year will be back again this year, and unlike most NASCAR Big 3 series races, there will be work done on the cars while the race is under red. It will be pit stops, but it will still be allowed. The qualifying was a bit confusing, but it was still fun to watch. You had better believe I will be watching the entire event flag to flag. Fox Sports explains it in detail here.

The question that was asked numerous times last year and will be asked this year is “will there be a Nationwide or Sprint Cup Series race on dirt in the near future?” To that I say…”THERE DAMN WELL BETTER BE!” The mud racing is fun to watch, and it brings many of the drivers back to the roots. It also brings NASCAR back to its roots, as well as stock car racing as a whole back to its roots. The fans loved it last year, I’ll bet they’ll love it this year, and you know as well as I do they’ll want more. But if it does happen, it will probably happen at another track besides Eldora. Since Tony Stewart owns the track, he can’t compete because he has a really unfair advantage. So when it does happen, it will happen at another track. I think that Davenport Speedway might be a good venue.

I will enjoy tonight’s race, I hope you do too, and I’ll be back on Saturday with my usual work…this time on number design…see you then!

By David G. Firestone

While the Sprint Cup, IndyCar, and Formula 1 drivers get all the glory, the overwhelming majority of drivers are weekend warriors, guys and gals who spend their own money on their cars, and race for the love of the sport. These drivers aren’t “professionals” per se, but they still have a love for the sport.

It was on these drivers that the Sports Car Club of America, or SCCA was founded in 1949. It wasn’t about professionals, it was about enthusiasts who loved the sport, and who loved to race. As time went on, however, battles for control of sports car racing, and battles for control over professional auto racing became too great, and the SCCA had to start sanctioning professional events. With help from Curtis LeMay of the United States Air Force, the SCCA started racing at Air Force bases, and they became a nationally recogized auto racing sanctioning body.

Today, the SCCA sponsors many different forms of auto racing, including professional, hill climbing, autocross, rally racing, and club racing, which features unpaid amateur racers. As in all sports, the need for fire protection is constant. So what do drivers wear in the SCCA?

Made in November of 1992, this suit was made for Tommy Nilsson, who raced in a number of events in the SCCA California Sports Car Club Region.

It features a purple and yellow color scheme, with a small number of patches. It shows great use, and has a lot of wear on it. No arm gussets,or design on the shoulder epaulets, cuffed legs, and no logos on the legs,

This is the perfect example of the weekend warrior suit. Not designed for the driver, but bought by the driver. Not customized for the driver, but customized by the driver. An example of the uniforms worn by the majority of the people who make up this sport.

Wheel Reviews

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is more of a goofy racing comedy, featuring Will Ferrell as Ricky Bobby, and John C. Reilly as Cal Naughton, Jr., Ricky Bobby’s teammate. Ricky is a hot driver, winning all the races, while Cal comes in second, and harbors jealousy toward Ricky as such. As Jean Girard, a French former F1 driver begins to challenge him, he pushes himself too far, and wrecks at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

He thinks his career is done, but gets back in the car, only to have fear overtake him and is fired by his team. His wife leaves him, and he winds up taking a job as a pizza deliveryman, before his estranged father comes back into his life, and helps him conquer his fear, by having him drive a muscle car with a live cougar inside it, and he starts his own team and fields a car at Talladega.

Ricky patches things up with Cal, Girard, and his team, and then the race starts. Ricky passes the entire field after starting at the back, but Girard retains the lead. After his replacement driver at his old team causes The Big One, only Ricky and Gerard are in contention for the race, due to the fact that their cars are the only ones running. The two crash into each other during the final laps, both cars stop short of the finish line, and both Ricky and Girard exit their cars and run across the finish line. Cal comes out as the winner.

Bascially it is a goofy Will Ferrell comedy, and from a technical standpoint it is really good. The driver suits look really good, and I love what the movie did with sponsors. Wonderbread Old Spice, and Perrier are all primary sponsors, and in terms of the humor of the movie works well. I can’t say anything bad about the movie, so it gets an A+

By David G. Firestone

So let’s ask a hypothetical question. You are a weekend warrior. You have spent all your money on a bitchin’ Chevy Nova, and a plain driver suit. You want to decorate the suit, but can’t afford to give it the professional treatment. What do you do? If your name is James Wells, you get an iron-on and a couple of Sharpies, and you make do!

This unique example dates to the early 1980’s, and shows how a low budget team can have an attractive suit. The front of the suit has a Chevy Bowtie logo with “08 FOLSOM RACING” on the right and 08 JAMES WELLS written in Sharpie on the front. I also love the drop shadow effect that Wells tried to use. On the back, Wells used a NOVA SS iron on. Yes it looks really cool, but there is an issue. This is a single-layer suit. The iron on can clearly be seen on the inside of the suit. I get the feeling that it would negate the fire protection in the event of a fire. It’s a good thing that scenario never took place. I kept this entry short because of this week’s

Wheel Reviews

Released in December of 1966, Grand Prix is one of the best racing movies made, and is very accurate in detail of the racing itself. The plot centers around four drivers, American Pete Aron who is looking to make a comeback. Scott Stoddard is an English driver who needs to make a comeback as well. Frenchman Jean-Pierre Sarti is an older but wiser driver who is nearing the end of his career. Former motorcross rider Nino Barlini is a bright rookie, who is looking to make his mark on the sport.

The main plot centers around the battle for the 1966 Formula 1 World Championship. The season starts at Monacco, where Pete Aron is fighting both his teammate Scott Stoddard and a damaged transmission. The transmission freezes, causing a crash which sends Aron into the harbor, and Stoddard to the hospital. While this is taking place, Jean-Pierre Sarti wins the race and Barlini comes in second. From there, 4 sub plots, each focusing on one driver start.

Aron is fired from British Racing Motors, and is relegated to a job as a TV interviewer for the Federal Broadcasting Company. At the next event, he runs into Pat Stoddard, Scott’s unhappy wife, and the two of them begin an affair. After one race as an interviewer, he is signed by Yamaha Motors, wins the Belgium Grand Prix and starts his improbable run at the championship.

Scott Stoddard meanwhile is out of the car with his injuries, and spends a number of weeks in a British hospital. He eventually learns of his wife’s affair with Aron, and confronts her about it. She openly admits she wants out of the marriage, and leaves. Later, during the British Grand Prix, Stoddard takes a couple of pain killers to help him with the pain, but they cause him to nearly lose consciousness. He returns to the pits, and Aron takes the lead, but catches fire and Nino wins the race, setting up the battle for the championship.

Jean-Pierre Sarti and Nino Barlini race for Ferarri, and are both heavily involved for the championship. At an after race party in Monacco, Sarti meets attractive American fashion writer Louise Frederickson. The two begin an affair that lasts until the end of the season. Sarti is also upset that the cars are not working to his liking, and suffers some setbacks. At the Belgium Grand Prix, he suffers a suspension failure, and crashes into a barn, killing two kids accidentally. This has an effect on him, as he then begins to realize how absurd his life really is. While watching Nino celebrate after winning the British Grand Prix, he laments “I suppose what’s wrong with me is my life. But I can’t change that…or I won’t. I’ve begun to see the absurdity of it. All of us, proving what? That we can go faster, and perhaps remain alive? Nino, gambling his life for a trophy, then filling it with beer and doing tricks. Stoddard filling himself with drugs to drive, and still passing out from the pain. Don’t you see how absurd it is? Who cares?

Nino is a young single driver who comes from motorcycle racing to Formula 1. After the Monacco Grand Prix he meets Lisa, an attractive woman with no personality, and they start a relationship. Nino is a fun loving playboy, who take racing seriously. In the 2 car Ferarri team, Nino is the second car. After winning at Silverstone, he becomes the points leader. But before the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Lisa sees him with two Japanese models, and leaves him for another man. That sets up the final race of the fictional 1966 season, the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

Before the race, Sarti’s car is late from the factory, and Louise has told him she is going back to America. Sarti’s wife shows up, and is none too happy about the affair.. Nino is sad about Lisa, but is able to put it behind him for the race. After a divorce seems inevitable, Scott and Pat fix their relationship. Pete has been watching footage of his previous races to help him get an edge. When Sarti’s car finally shows up, it is not to his liking. He argues with team manager Agostini Manetta, who says that he will decide to retire Sarti after the race. Sarti leaves, visibly disgusted by the proceedings.

The race starts, and Sarti stalls the car. He is able to get it fired, but loses a lot of time. Nino jumps to an early lead, with Aron and Stoddard, behind him. Sarti makes up a lot of time. During the last race, each driver is heard in voice overs and flash backs explaining why they do what they do. Toward the end of the race, Sarti makes it up to fourth, but then a piece comes off Aron’s car, hits Sartis car, and Sartiis involved in a fatal crash. His wife is shaken, Louise is horrified. Agostini does what no team owner ever wants to do, and shows the black flag to Nino, calling him into the pits as a result of Sarti’s death. Nino sadly complies with the order, visibly shaken. Stoddard and Aron are unaware of what has happened to Sarti, and battle for the win and the championship, with Aron coming out on top. While celebrating the championship, Aron calls Stoddard up, and the two rivals celebrate together. As they celebrate, the track announcer states that Sarti has died, and the celebration is cut short. The movie ends with Aron walking through the now empty race track, and looking at the starting grid, and hearing the engines, and the crowd on race day.

Overall this was a great movie, but it did have some issues. The in-car camera angles were revolutionary for the day, but there were a lot of needless visual effects during races. The use of race footage was a great move, and it looks really good. The schedule for the fictional 1966 F1 racing season, differs significantly from the real 1966 season, but it still looks good. Interestingly, Nomex was mentioned by a track announcer after a firey crash. It was likely added during editing, since in 1966, Nomex was being tested as a material for driver suits. I give this movie an A+