Our first video of season 15 of Introduction to Sports Memorabilia features a two-piece pit crew suit worn by two different members of Michael Annett’s pit crew in 2014.
Category: Videos
The Driver Suit Blog-Throwback Thursday-Mark Martin-1986
By David G. Firestone
The color scheme is good, blue and white rarely don’t work well with each other. The gold door numbers are good too. Metallic gold is an underused color for race cars in my book. I do like the design of using the aspects of the hood in a color coded manner. Wrapping the blue around the C-post and covering the back of the car is a decent look.
I will say that I don’t like the fact that the blue stops short of the front wheel well. It doesn’t continue to the front of the car either. That, to me, looks like laziness. It looks like whoever was designing just got to the front wheel and said “that looks good enough.” It just isn’t a good look, and takes away from a good scheme. Also, why is Mark Martin’s name in quotes?
The Driver Suit Blog-The Real Currency of Auto Racing
By David G. Firestone
I’ve discussed the currency of commerce over the last couple of weeks. This week, I’m going to discuss the currency of auto racing. That currency is speed. Every race car driver wants speed out of their car. The more speed they have, the better chance they have to win the race. Every part of the car is designed specifically to produce as much speed as possible, within the letter of the law…or as close as possible to the letter of the law.
Speeds reach new levels in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. 10,000 horsepower, nitromethane fueled cars can reach speeds well over 330 MPH in just under 4 seconds. To be the fastest in this sport, you have to have the right parts, the right crew chief, the right driver, and the right equipment. When these four come together in a run, it’s something beautiful.
Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota isn’t known as a place where records get broken. In 2015, it seemed as though there might not be an event there at all, as severe weather damaged many of the facilities on July 12. The racing community rallied around, and got the track ready for their race on the weekend of August 20-23.
The weather was really cold for August, and when the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals kicked off, the four pieces that make up the currency of racing came together, and led to some monumental runs. The first was a qualifying run which saw Driver Suit Blog favorite Fast Jack Beckman run 1000 feet in 3.901 seconds in his funny car during qualifying, then backing it up with a 3.903 the next day. In top fuel, Antron Brown ran a 3.68, and the backed it up with a 3.696. Shawn Langdon ran a 3.662, but failed to back it up, thus not setting the official record, and getting the 20 bonus championship points it brings.
The big highlight for funny car at Brainerd was Del Worsham vs. Matt Hagan in an elimination round. During that run, Hagan ran a blistering 3.879 second elapsed time. This piston head came from Hagan’s car during that historic run.The head itself is in decent condition, having some scrapes and scuffs. It also has some stuff etched into it. The number 75 is etched into both the top and bottom of the piston. Hagan and crew chief Dickie Venables have signed the side of the piston, and a Mopar logo and 3.879 have been added to the top.
Speed may be the currency of racing, but safety is another primary focus. Next week, the pit crew aspect of safety will be discussed. Until then, here are the record setting runs from Brainerd…
The Driver Suit Blog-Throwback Thursday-Dale Earnhardt 1982-1983
By David G. Firestone
I canceled Throwback Thursday last year. This was because of the format I was doing, listing all the throwback schemes for 2015, was too time consuming, and I would often forget to upload it if I was too busy. I didn’t want to do it, but circumstances forced me to. I also hated that it took place on the same day that my videos were uploaded.
As I began to think about this, it dawned on me that this isn’t how it should work. I don’t want to do modern interpretations of classic paint schemes. As I thought about this, I realized that I should do a true Throwback Thursday. As such, from here on out, every Thursday, I will upload a classic paint scheme, and describe it based on my current standard of paint scheme grading. This way, I can do Throwback Thursday, and have it work the way I want it to.
Our first example, is this Dale Earnhardt Sr. 1982-1983 Wrangler Jeans Ford Thunderbird
The scheme has a good color scheme, the yellow isn’t too bright, and the blue contrasts with it just enough, The design scheme works well too. The yellow running up the side, ending just after the door, with an indentation that matches the #1 is a good touch, and the yellow running up the roof to the rear window. I also like the JEANS MACHINE on the back bumper.
One thing I find that’s odd is that the contingency decals in the photo, there are two separate STP logos. I also love the old-school wheel rims with white letter GOODYEAR lettering on them. I also didn’t notice until just now that the roof number is upside down, making it look like it is 51. It’s still a good scheme, and the box-like design of the car works well here.
Dave Cam Test
The Driver Suit Blog-Protecting the Pit Crew
By David G. Firestone
Drivers have the most dangerous job in auto racing. A close second is the pit crew. Pit crews have to change tires, refuel the car, clean the windshield, and make any adjustments in under 13 seconds. Cars are moving around them at great speed, and can and will injure a pit crew member in the wrong place at the wrong time. As such, protection in various forms is used. I’ve discussed pit crew suits, now let’s discuss a pit crew helmet.
This is a pit crew helmet from Turner-Scott Motorsports. 
It is a plain Impact helmet, with Busch Series logos on the sides. It was made in 2005, as a sticker on the inside states, so that would place it in the 2006-2007 era, as in 2008, it became the Nationwide Series. The helmet has no radio setup at all. It has a wide area for the face, which would eliminate a gas man or catch can man. Fueling crew members wear full-face helmets with Nomex socks, and closed visors. The lack of sponsor logos make it hard to research.
The cramped conditions on pit road, especially on short tracks have caused a number of accidental collisions between cars and pit crew members. NASCAR can and will make rules that can improve safety, but no system is fool proof. The accident at Richmond where a number of crew members were burned is proof of that. Safety in auto racing is paramount.
Next week, I will discuss one of my favorite odd subculture of NASCAR memorabilia…
The Driver Suit Blog-2016 Paint Scheme Tracker-November 4, 2015
By David G. Firestone
STEWART-HAAS RACING #4
Kevin Harvick #4 Busch Chevy SS-New sponsor for 2015, designed around a Busch throwback can. A+
Kevin Harvick #4 Busch Light Chevy SS-New sponsor for 2015, designed around a Busch Light can. A+
Kevin Harvick #4 Jimmy John’s Chevy SS–No change. A+
Kevin Harvick #4 Outback Chevy SS–New scheme for 2016, mountain design starts near brake duct, instead of at front of car. B+
Kevin Harvick #4 Ditech Chevy SS–No change. A+
STEWART-HAAS RACING #10
Danica Patrick #10 Nature’s Bakery Chevy SS-New sponsor for 2016, blue with white lettering on sides, white and black stripe across hood and roof. A+
Danica Patrick #10 TaxAct Chevy SS-New sponsor for 2016, white front, red TaxAct X logo, gray back. A+
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS #24
Chase Elliott #24 NAPA Chevy SS-New sponsor for 2015, blue with white stripes across side which start at brake duct. A+
STEWART-HAAS RACING #41
Kurt Busch #41 Monster Energy Chevy SS-New sponsor for 2016, black with yellow and white numbers and lettering. A+
FURNITURE ROW RACING #78
Marin Truex Jr. #78 Furniture Row Toyota Camry–Other than the switch from Chevy to Toyota, there are no major changes. A+
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS #88
Dale Earnhardt Jr. #88 TaxSlayer Chevy SS-New sponsor for 2016, red top and front, white bottom and back, gold designs separate the two. A+
Dale Earnhardt Jr. #88 Nationwide Chevy SS–New scheme for 2015, reminiscent of old Mountain Dew/Amp Energy scheme. A+
The Driver Suit Blog-Paint Scheme Grades-October 31, 2015
By David G. Firestone
First we have 2016 paint scheme…
Chase Elliott #24 NAPA Chevy SS-It’s a smooth look, very good color scheme, and it looks great! It earns an. A+
Now on to 2015 paint schemes…
Jamie McMurray #1 Cessna/Bad Boy Buggies Pink Chevy SS-Pinkwashing is an automatic F
Greg Biffle #16 Ford Performance Ford Fusion-It’s a simple design with a great color scheme, and I love the spray design on the door numbers. A+
Carl Edwards #19 Xfinifty Toyota Camry-Let’s be honest, it’s a slightly better redesign of the Great Clips scheme, and even then, it’s only B- level. Too many dark-on-dark designs.
JJ Yeley #26 Adirondack Tree Surgeons Toyota Camry-The mediocre color scheme and insanely overdone design scheme combine to earn an F. There is no part of this scheme I can defend.
Paul Menard #27 Menards/Tarkett Chevy SS-With the Menard’s template, or any template for that matter, some color schemes work, other color schemes don’t. The purple isn’t great, but it isn’t awful. I’ll give it a B+.
Bobby Labonte #32 C&J Energy Services Ford Fusion-Pinkwashing is an automatic F.
Ryan Ellis #33 Science Logic Chevy SS-A great color scheme and an awful design scheme combine for a D+ grade.
Travis Kvapil #33 Chevy SS-A timeless look with a great color scheme will earn an A+ ever single time.
David Gilliland #38 Jerry Cook Tribute Ford Fusion-Great looking throwbacks will ALWAYS deserve an A+.
Kyle Larson #42 Target Plaid Chevy SS-If you paint your car with a houndstooth design and it ends up looking like a picnic table cover, you deserve to get a D-.
Kyle Larson #42 Target Plaid Chevy SS-Plaid doesn’t look good on clothes, and it looks even worse on race cars. The only thing saving this scheme is a good color scheme. D-
Michael Annett #46 Flying J/PJ Fresh Chevy SS-Good color scheme, and I LOVE the tomato sauce and pepperoni motif! It looks great and earns an A+.
Timmy Hill #62 Royal Teak Ford Fusion-Royal Teak has had a lot of great color schemes this year, and this is another one. Great color scheme, great design, no complaints. A+
Michael Waltrip #98 Maxwell House Toyota Camry-Same as Clint Bowyer’s Maxwell House Toyota, same A+ grade.
DGF2099 Productions-Introduction to Sports Memorabilia-SCCA Track Worker Suit
Our season 14 finale features a MOMO branded suit from SCCA race in Miami
DGF2099 Productions-Introduction to Sports Memorabilia-Budweiser NHRA Suit
Circa 1990’s NHRA Budweiser suit
DGF2099-Main Page 