Denny

Well, I'll tell yuh whut, Pilgrim,
When I finished stuffing in that J-47, Shoot I was ready for Breedlove, and about to kick Arfons ***...Why 40,000 pounds of afterburner thrust and my Rex slotted into that slightly used catapult from the USS Enterprise....Hold on to your Stetson...

Uh-oh, Denny's hittin' the MMO again...
What's with this acceleration/quarter-mile Bullshit. Hell, the race is just gettin' started in the first 1/4 mile! Who cares, 14, 13, 12, 10, 9, second quarter miles....Shoot-fire, Son, that's no measurement of man and machine. I betcha it won't be long now before some company/drag-racer slips a computer into a drag car, complete with manikin in nomex and a helmet, or maybe a chimp like NASA did, then blast that rocket down the quarter. Straight line 1/4 mile unadulterrated BULL...Power to weight ratio, skinny front tires, giant scoops stickin' out of the hood, neon lights, and the Batman Spotlight in the Sky....Something akin to the WWF entrance of the Undertaker! I'd rather watch cows chomp on silage, 'bout the same level of skill...

There, now I've done it....Next argument/debate for all you gunslingin' Cowboys....Defend Drag racing, the 1/4 mile, straight line with parachutes for brakes, or support road-racing/rallying, the braking, turning, sliding for hours, and sometimes days....
C'mon, boys...I'm callin' yuh out...Get ready to slap leather!

Pullin' the Stetson down low over the brow, and assuming the crouching combat stance....

Denny, from the OK corral.....

Denny

Almost forgot....The answer to your question is "we all do." That is all of Seven People,,,It's the relationship between an indivdual and the machine that makes a Seven a "Seven."

Denny

Kerry

Hi, Denny. I wondered how long it would take for you to opine. I'm with you on drag racing. It don't do a thing for me either.

Kerry

riffraff

i definatly agree that there is no substitute for some old fashion fun. racing around the turns, twisties, and what ever else ends up in your way.. but sometimes that is just not fiezable. and when you are not in a place for that, drags can be amuzing for a period of time.. take last night for instance. i was comming back from working on the seven, and got into a high speed race down the freeway with a lexus i300 and a gmc truck. now the road was flat and fairly straight, but when we hit 115... yah, well you get the idea...

well, looking back, i donot think i really have much of a point with this post. but oh well.

Rotary-MG

iTrader: (1)

Denny,
while we're at it, let's bag on NASCAR too!
I don't care how fast they are going or what big names and corporate sponsorships they have. I just fall asleep watching cars going around and around and around and around and around.........an oval track.

On the street, I'm not much for putting others in danger, but I must admit I'm happy to have a little more power on tap than the next guy when some unmannored rude driver tries to muscle into my space. ROADRAGE!!!

And it is all about fun. (sometimes EGO)
What ever turns your crank! or eccentric shaft!

Even with 56Hp, my MG was more fun than any other car I've owned, including the Seven. Can't wait until I have the two combined!!!! Got tired of being passed up by Hyndai's.

Until the day I can strap on a 1000Hp jet pack and buzz the canyons, I'll stick with cars, since I'm not doing drugs for the sensation.

Denny

Awww, Jeeeez....

Just what is NASCAR? Or should I say "NeckCar?" My Ricky can turn left better than your Jeff...The cars...They're not Stock Cars, but they're not Race Cars either. They must conform to the same frame tub, same suspension, same size engines, built by the same few builders, restrictor plates, same tail-spoilers, same everything. Tech Inspectors holding templates against the car bodys to make sure nobody has an areodynamic advantage. "Damn, Bubba, that there car's gotta nose two inches longer 'n mine!" Same front engine/rear drive, although the factories have been building and selling front wheel drive cars for the past 20 years! Somebody show up with something different? Hell, NO! If it's different, ban it. Shoot, they're still running carbs, and there's no domestic car built today that uses a carburetor. Then draft each other going round and round...No real leader, no real front runner, round and round 'til the inevitable 20 car pile-up! Why? Because Dick's car's the same as Jeff's which is the same as Rusty's which is the same as Dale's, etc.....And we go round and round, no shifting, very little brake, engine revs hardly vary more than 500 rpm's. And every weekend, another 20 car pile-up....Now that's sad.
Two times a year they go to a roadcourse, and what happens. First they go out and get some "hired guns," Ron Fellows, and Boris Said, and others who "know" how to shift, brake, and turn right....Then the Funnies watching big, fat, all the same cars, crowd and bang each other around the course. What was it at Watkins Glen...The pit-crews were confused, because they had to
start work on the Wrong Side of the Car!?!? Due to the race being run on a roadcourse they're weren't any big pile-ups, but the Big Dumb Monsters RAN OUT OF BRAKES!!!! How in the Hell can you have a race car that can't stop?
Nascar's just the WWF on wheels....Same good guys, bad guys, story lines, family lines, etc. I wouldn't be at all surprised if somebody discovered that the whole damn season was scripted.
Again, hook 'em up to a computer, or something like the Radio Control guys do, stuff em with manakins named Jeff, Dale, and Rusty, paint 'em up like billboards, send 'em off, round and round...Then pile 'em up! Tune in next week for the same thing in a different location......Boring, Inbred, and definately not "Improving the Breed."

"I'm not here for the crashes, I just like Jeff and Chevies..."
Yeah, right....Show me your certified Redneck papers...


Denny, from the 'ol corncrib....

P.O.S. Racing

Opinions are like ********, everyone has one…………..

Sound like someone might have got a corncob stuck up their #$@^ on their last trip out of the ol corncrib.

Is their anything you do like princess?

Just my $1.98

CECCHIN

well from your post subject line i would have thought you where going to be easy on Denny... : i guess you couldn't quite grasp what you said. But yes we all do have our own opions, and yes we all like to voice them time and again. I happen to agree with Denny, NASCAR doesn't do a thing for me, Lemas on the other hand, well there we go...das some good stuff. But comeon now did you really have to tear Denny a new one? Denny has been very helpful to myself and countless other on this forum, and his stories are top notch, every time i see a post by him i read it regardless of what the subject is, cause he is a good guy....and well heh i just love the way he paraphrases things. For a lack of a better few words it is refreshing to read a post or a thread by him. Anyway, thats no $.02 of mine, das the straight up truth.

Peace

Pele

iTrader: (28)

I like Denny, not having actually met him. Hell, even the dialect he uses and the way he talks adds to his friendliness. He's informative, witty, and most of all helpful. You dont agree? Just say so. No need to be hostile.

Denny

I did my last to posts particularly to start an argument/debate. This forum is a great place to meet people and to help each other out....But also it's a "forum." That means that people can express their opinions, but if you do, support them with information, facts, or your reasonable logic. This forum is a place where we should be able to support our positions, challenge others, and attempt to help each other to gain insights, knowledge, and learn to grow into better Car People, or at least more understanding.
I purposely took an extreme view in regards to both Drags, and NASCAR in order to fire you people up. It's exciting to learn, fun to debate, and looking up facts to back up your argument makes you a more educated, visionary, and open to new ideas, plans, and projects....
I feel the heat P.O.S., but there's no argument....C'mon Cowboy. Saddle up to the bar and defend your poison of choice. I need to grow too....

A tip of the 'ol Stetson,
Denny, from the abandoned corncrib...

CECCHIN

haha ... god i love this guy. Man i wish i knew more peeps like this, and Denny use to live in Vermont...where did all the cool people go? heh, smartened up and left is where.

P.O.S. Racing

Gentlemen,

Sounds like you may be reading something more into my post than was actually there. I make no Qualms to Denny’s opinion; he is allowed to have one, as am I. I have made no argument to his opinion on neither drag racing nor NASCAR. I too have great respect for Denny, it was obvious to me he was looking for an argument. Are we not allowed to razz on someone who is obviously looking for an argument? Is Denny off limits; is he some sort of sacred cow?

I still await his answer on my statement “Is their anything you DO like princess?”

speckamp

I like hotdogs.

or a good MLT, mutton lettuice and tomato when the mutton's real lean. mmm.

Ok, ok, fine, I'll weigh in. I'll admit it, I used to watch NASCAR. Ugh, I feel dirty just saying that. I never really got passionate about it, or racing from it. I thought "hey, I can do that" way too much while watching it. There's very little skill in it as far as I can see, and it's really just a rolling advertizement.

Then, I saw the light. I discovered CART, back when it was the only Indy car leauge in the US, and the only major open-wheeled racing televised. Yup, watched that religiously for YEARS. I'm a big Andretti fan, I watched little Mike pass daddy for the first time and wave *sniffle*, gawsh, gotta love family moments....at 200MPH. I saw the highest qualifying speeds at Indy, to the tune of 235+MPH. that was the last Indy 500 run by CART. Sadly. I like open-wheeled cars because they AREN'T the same. They are each a little different. He has one rear wing, she's running a different one. Different power plant, lots of fly technology and SKILL. Jeesh boys, I could never click around Long Beach like those boys do, 0 to 100 in 4 seconds or so. Now, in my wiser years, I'm much less attracted by drags, and circle track racing. I run SCCA auto-x occasionally, and generally enjoy DRIVING my car rather than trying to get 1320' (or so) down a straight piece of land faster than some other gent next to me.

I guess that's why I bought and 85 RX-7 instead of an 85 Mustang. (that and the 80's mustangs are U-G-L-Y)

So I'm gonna slide up to the bar and sit down next to Denny and say "bring it on pardner, we're waiting..."

Denny

As a young fella, living in Detroit, I too was part of the straight line/acceleration way of thinking. My earliest memories were of my Dad runnin', polishin', and workin' on his Studebaker. In '56 he picked up a new Ford, red and white two-tone with an Interceptor V-8. I'm not sure, but I think it was a 312 ci. In '59 he got a new Chevy (Chinese rear tail-lights) with the Police package. Dad was always a hard charger.
Then something happened, My twin brothers were born, the resession hit Detroit hard, and Dad was looking for ways to save some bucks. He started bringing home for test drives various foreign cars. I recall a Saab 3 cylinder (mix oil & gas), and a Humber Super Snipe (neat little dual carb mini sedan, and I thought the name was just great!) Well, he ended up with a Rambler Station Wagon....I know it wasn't his kind of car, but one must sometimes bow to reality.
In school all of us guys were into Rods and Customs, and I used my paper-route/lawn mowing/snow shoveling money to buy model cars, and hot rod mags. Stock car racing was truly Stock car racing, Fireball Roberts was The Man in his 421 Pontiac. You ran what the factory supplied, and you could buy from your dealer on Monday what the Good 'Ol Boys ran on Sunday. There was one kid though that was a bit apart from our gang. He was involved with odd things like the Civil Air Patrol, and he in regards to cars, he was a total Mercedes Benz Guy. He itrigued me, so I began to hang out with him. He intorduced me to an engeering fella who had helped design the TelStar Satelite. In turn this guy, who ran a Land Rover, took us all spelunking (caving) down to Kentucy where he was mapping caves for the Government. I got turned on to Ken Purdy's "Kings of the Road" book, and Road & Track magazine....From then on it was all over.
Except for a stint with a '69 Z/28, which I got because I one scorched my Austin Healey's doors one day (Dad got a Camaro 396. Oh, boy). I've always looked overseas for inventiveness, handling, and fun. MG's, Healey's, Triumph TR6( with electric overdrive you had 7 gears to play with) and Volvo's....Lots of Volvos, cause they were SAE nuts and bolts, easy to work on, and VERY unbreakable. Got involved with SCCA, ran rallies, autocross, and SOLO's.
I'd have to say Rallying is the most fun to participate in, but Endurance Racing is to me probably the most challenging of man and machine....Stetson off to SpeedVision....For me balance isn't just weight distribution, but also braking power to engine power, proper gear ratios, and predictable/controlable handling. So that's where I part with NASCAR and Drags....

Thanx for your time, sorry 'bout the long post,
Denny, from the abandoned corncrib....

P.O.S. Racing

Unlike Denny I don’t openly object to any form of ORGANIZED motor sport, I enjoy them all. Lets start with drag racing.

Have any of you actually run a Saturday night drag at your local venue? The adrenalin rush of competing is the reason for the race. Denny stated “Shoot-fire, Son, that's no measurement of man and machine”. You and your machine are in direct competition with someone else, the tune on the engine the ability of the car to hook up, and driver’s ability to get the car down the line in the most efficient and time conscious method possible. I spent many a Saturday night catapulting my Olds 442, down the strip during my younger days, I didn’t always win, nor did I always loose. The thrill of competition is why drag racing continues at its many levels, and if you have noted it’s also a growing sport with the explosion of the import drags. The thrill of competition perpetuates the sport, when thrill ends so will the sport.

(I do however object to street racing, since it is not a sanctioned event, and puts unknowing spectators a great risk. (My $0.02))

Good Morning!

Denny

Hey P.O.S,

Why is it only a penny for your thoughts,
but you gotta put your 2 cents in?

Somebody out there is sneakin' off with a penny...
Betcha it's Acuspeed, or Max7

Denny

P.O.S. Racing

Denny, you may want to start charging a bit more for your thoughts.

Just my $1.98 LOL

Acuspeed

Not sure how we ended up down this path, but what the hell...

In regard to Nascar racing and the perceived lack of talent of the drivers -- I don't feel that's a really fair statement. Oval track racing may look deceptively simple, but in reality it is as challenging for the drivers as road racing, only in a different manner. It certainly isn't easy to hold a car on a fast line while running against 44 other competitors that are 5 inches off of either door, both fenders and either quarter panel. Running those cars on the high-speed ovals at almost 200mph and on the short tracks with their insanity certainly can't be easy.

It's a different kind of difficult, and a different kind of driving from road course racing, but it is no less valid nor is it really any easier. That said, I'm not a Nascar fan myself, but that has more to do with my feelings that they hit (I'm just gonna call it what it is) each other far too often to get around the car in front of them, and to me, hitting isn't racing...

*hands Denny back his penny* -- sorry 'bout that, I was just getting it all shined up for ya

Suparslinc

Glad you had the "not sure" option; I think its a combination of the rotary engine and styling, both kind of feed of eachother.
No other car, 'cept maybe a pushrod 'vette, could have that kind of radically low sloped hood and produce so much power. of course, the RX-7 came out in '78 new vette was quite a few years later....
anyways, I always liked the styling of the first gen. I don't think this question could really apply to the 2nd gen, its not really an RX-7. And I'm not biased because I DO own one, along with an '84 sitting and waiting the long years through for a new motor.
The original RX-7, and the FD, both were true sports cars, and you can never take that away from them. My '84 was loud because the windows and hatch never sealed so tight, smelly for the same reason, but I would never want anything else. everything newer that I've driven has felt so mushy, so padded, like in the name of a smooth ride they have sacraficed everything that makes a sports car. I guess cars like the 1st gen just arent appealing enough to the masses anymore; everyone wants the piece of mind in knowing they are driving a safe and comfortable car. thats why I don't even bother with the reliablity issues. I didin't buy either my FB or FC with reliablity in mind. The RX-7 will always be a rebel, always the black sheep, because only those who are close to it can truly appreciate it.

Redlance

well for me it is a first love thing. I learned to drive in a 5spd 84 Rx-7 GS (mom's car) and to start out learning to drive with a stick can be a real pain but I am so glad that it was that car. the clutch was nearly new and was tight and responsive I could instantly feel when it started to engage. no slop no wondering if it was starting to grip. My second day out I was with my mom and we were stoped as a stop sign on a hill and a cop car pulled right up to my bumper. no room to roll back at all. I gave it a bit more gas than I normaly would have and the slightest little squak of the tires and we were moving again. Well its been years since that day but I allways loved that car and all RX-7's in general. Now I have the same car I learned to drive in and am fixing every thing to as close to 100% as I can get it. I will never sell it and know I will spend way more than it is worth to get it back into shape. That car took care of me as a kid and kept me from getting hurt dispite my stupidity I owe it the return favior and plan on repaying it in full and then some. I agree with you that these cars are a lot more then the sum of there parts.

Rotary-MG

iTrader: (1)

Thanks Denny for opening up the subject.

P.O.S.
let's discuss the nature of compention. Drag racing other than reaction time, and physics is mostly about how much money you can spend. Take away the machine and how much man do we have?

Try the adrenalin rush of full contact martial arts competition. Just you, the other guy and a crowd of people watching. Nothing like full power blows crushing your wind pipe from an illegal blow to the head region. ok, rules in fighting is like an oxymoron. Like some guys forge birth certificates to fight in youger classes, some guys run Nitrox Oxide in their cars.

I'm only poking fun.
Most of what I said here is pointless.

P.O.S. Racing

“Take away the machine and how much man do we have?”
You may have a point Rotary-MG, wonder what kind of ET you would turn, in lets say John Force’s car. The same car he runs just with you strapped in the car instead of him. Would you win the championship this year? Fair odds on “No”, since you don’t have the experience level he does, you may have the confidence and the desire to win but you just don’t have the skills.

You also failed to mention the engineering of a vehicle to compete at a top level, which consumes the required money. The money is a key component in Drag Racing, as well any other form of motor sports. The driver is also a major component, and if the driver is good, and has money, he will be victorious. Just a few examples are Michael Shumaker, Jeff Gordon, as well as John Force.

But, the current driver of the SCCA Solo II POS Racing, RX7 obviously doesn’t have much money, or skill. But still enjoys the sport. Why? The Competition?

Bowling can also give an adrenalin rush; I guess it just depends on your point of reference. Never had my windpipe crushed bowling, you may want to try it!

Denny

In 1964 I attended my first race other than going to the Drags, the U.S. Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, I was 17 years old. Drags and Rods were still my main interest, but a close friend of my father's offered to take me, basically as a buddy to his son who was my age. Suffice to say my father's friend wasn't hurting for cash, but was well mannered and reserved. The point is that we granted entrance to the paddock and the main garage where all the teams were parked and drivers and mechanics and team managers were all discussing and debating the upcoming race. It was Saturday after qualifying.

Yeah, I got autographs, Jim Clark, Graham Hill, John Surtees, Colin Chapman, and more....But what stuck with me was these guys were all hanging out together, talking technique that was way beyond me, and more akin to fighter or test pilots discussing the day's mission, hands weaving and waving, voices calm but serious, sharing with mechanics and managers. Press guys flashing cameras, taking notes in notebooks. It was a world I hadn't even dreamed existed.

It was made very clear inside my head that this was the peak of competition, the best in the world, the racing cars and their drivers. These were men who represented International Factories, and Countries, and a long history of combat. Money wasn't even an issue Just providing a team, let alone winning, was an International political act and statement! Suddenly, Drag-racing became in my eyes on a level with Soapbox Derby racing and Stock Car a step or two higher, at least factories were involved. But the skill, intelligence, knowledge of the people and their machines, and death waiting with feigned non-chalance in a dark corner, but never mentioned... Oh my, God!

Our culture sometimes gets so mired in itself. We get stuck, and don't even know it. We sometimes think that because the days go by we're making progress. It takes something from somewhere else to shake us up and get us moving. And once we get moving, world watch out! Jack Brabham ran a Cooper F1 at Indy and blew the pitwall railbirds away. Within several years there were no more roadsters. Europeans were using disk brakes more than a full decade before domestic companies, and our big fat V-8 powered cars needed them the most. Knowledgeble hot rodders were slapping Volvo disk brakes to the frontends of their rods, and Jag independent rears too while the factories were putting out marshmellow suspensions and drum brakes, hanging on to the past, they even went to "finned" drums.

I respect and like CART, and watch it whenever they run. IRL is a step up from NASCAR. I respect the NASCAR drivers, but it's getting more ridiculous every year. Machinewise, they're stuck, and McDonald's, M&M's, Tide, commerials covering a race car?!?!? I agree it's a shame to see cigarette companies sponsored cars, and that seems to cut across all car racing of all types.

So for me, racing is Road Courses, and International Rallying. I always wanted to run the Shell 4000, the international rally run from the East coast of Canada to the West, but sadly it's no more. I loved it when Car and Driver ran their Cannonball Baker Sea to Shining Sea....But rallying is making a comeback, F1 will always be the best of the best, and for me LeMans is the one true lasting test of people and machines!

Thank you for your time,
Denny, from the 'ol corncrib...

cjf

iTrader: (1)

just got my 84 gsl-se 5-6 weeks ago and it will always be part of the family..i collect and drive 64-66 ford mustangs and i get as much enjoyment and appreciation for this 7 than i do and did with my 'stangs ...the way these cars just wind up and go...so unlike any other car i have driven...and the style of the 1g....awesome...i can't believe these cars aren't really collectible or appreciating very much...I am new with the 7 but I just can't see this car not becoming a collectible and appreciating ..Like the early Mustang, the design and shape of the car...awesome!!!..I guess I am bias but....so what......I loved it when it came out (and I couldn't afford one) and still do...and now that i have one...i can't get enough...take car guys.........