You know what's wrong with NASCAR these days? Everything.

(too obvious?)

You know what's wrong with NASCAR these days?
The fact that there aren't any stock cars in stock car racing.

That, and the banning of the Superbird/Charger Daytona.

Also, that Hudson sounds fantastic.

How do I get that thing to play? I must need something else installed or an ActiveX control. Anybody?

I think that there should be a major league showroom stock class of racing. Even the original IROC class, where the drivers all ran cars set up exactly the same was interesting. It came down to driver skill rather than car design/preparation.

Ahh, the good ole days! My Grandfather would let me (at the tender age of 12 or 13) drive his Hornet (Twin H-Power) to Nick's Grille where I would imbibe Shirley Temples and he would down Manhattens. I was his designated driver! Gawd, I loved that old man and his great cars.

Agreed... I'd watch a race series if it took stock cars from the showroom and ran them. I'm not so interested in seeing cars I can't possibly run on the street race.

Actually, I would require all the cars to have valid registrations/plates. You could modify within reason for safety and performance (tires, roll cage, strip out interior trim/bits, etc...), but it still has to pass emissions and safety requirements for registration.

What the hell ever happened to several alcohol/drug-induced good ol' boys racing factory-stock, full-size, AMERICAN speed-casquets whilst clutching cigars in there teeth and verbally assaulting the color of their opponents neck when making a pass? It's a good thing I can travel through time.

I know I love cars because that actually sounded like music to me.

@TheTooth: national autosport kinda has alot of those rules. depending on class. but, when it comes to "stock" car racing, i agree that nascar isn't stock.

@skyln95: Do they air these National Autosport races? If so, I need to Tivo one and check it out sometime.

Solution to NASCAR: mandate flathead engines.

Honestly, any sort of homologation requirement would be an improvement.

(I mean, one that's actually recognizable as homologation--one that ends up with cars we might actually want to buy.)

My Old Man bought a Hudson in '49 and drove it 'till '57 - it was still on the road for some time after that.

@TheTooth: You've described rally, except you probably weren't thinking run on gravel. Solution: Tarmac rally!

Actually, I think there are several classes in SCCA and, as skyln95 points out, National Auto Sport Association (yes, that's NASA). No they don't air them on TV, as they're amateur races.

@Tucker589: Well I think you can still see stuff like that at tracks around the country, at least you can in Florida.
[www.orlandospeedworld.org]
[www.charlottecountyracing.com]
In some of the lower classes the cars are almost stock.
Boiled peanuts and Bush beer... good times.

'I remember when the good times were just a little more... in focus'
Tom Petty

That sounds amazing. I've never even heard of this engine before, and I already love it.

@Jon: Yeah... I knew about the amateur races. It's funny, but those are the only races that I would watch, but they don't air them. LOL

A couple of years ago, there was a reality type TV show on Spike that had small time local racers and the goofy races held at the Florida race tracks. RV racing, appliances strapped to the car, blindfolded driver with copilot giving directions, cars pulling trailers, and my favorite...School Bus racing! I miss that show!

@TheTooth: The various spec series out there are basically this. SCCA Spec Miata shows up on Speedvision now and then, actually. They're allowed roll bars and hardtops and have to have restrictors, but they're still essentially what you could go and purchase.

I've heard that some independent NASCAR racers, like Coo Coo Marlin, actually drove their cars half way across the country to the race.

@EndlessMike: Sweet... I'll have to keep an eye out for one of those airings. Thanks!

@Shapeshifter: I recommend using only off-brand tires from Walmart in races (installed at Walmart, as well, to increase the chances of wheels staging a mutiny).

Pack of smokes rolled in your T-shirt sleeve: check
Tall narrow tires: check
Big brass ones: check

Fire it up.

@TheTooth: unfortunately no. although redline tv highlights them quite a bit, and the do have a few things on the net. i hate the lack of promotions grassroots "stock" racing gets.

ohhhh, Hudson Hornet. Nice.

Twin H-Power ...the name says it all !! Awesome branding !! No virtual games for these guys.

A few years ago I ran across these Hudsons while cooking up my fantasy garage and I have never looked at much of anything else since. I do plan on buying one some day but I would like to replace the engine with a Cummins Turbo Diesel.

I used to have an AMC Hornet, but the Hudson was the real Hornet. An available 210 hp with a few factory mods isn't shabby for an inline six...from 1953.

Wouldn't you love to pop your hood and see that looking back at you? I don't guess I could cram that in the Camry. Plus, that engine deserves better.

Amaze your friends, confound your enemies!

@v8corvairpickup: "I think that there should be a major league showroom stock class of racing."

There is one... it's called The 24 Hours of Lemons...

if that new Dodge Hornet ever gets built in China, i wonder if they can get the tooling for the old AMC/Jeep straight six from that other Chinese automaker, so the car can be at least somewhat true to it's name...

@Alphamazing: You know what's wrong with NASCAR these days?
that there's too many cookie cutter 1.5-2 mile ovals on the schedule, and only Carl Edwards' #99 team has figured out a winning race setup for them?

Saw one at the Monterey historic at Laguna Seca. The guy was out to win. what fun! Even sounded like a hornet.

Damn. That link to the 4-71 is worth it for the photos alone... thx Murilee

The FABULOUS Hudson Hornet! The tag line pretty much sums it up. I love flathead motors, especially ones juiced up with old-school speed equipment, and the sound of an inline six with a hot cam and a split exhaust sends chills down my spine. Sweet choice, Murilee.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that there was some sweet speed equipment available for these engines back in the day. There were lots of aluminum heads (actually, Clifford still makes one) and Edmunds made an intake manifold to mount FIVE Stromberg 97s on this baby. I wouldn't like to synchronize five carbs, but you can't beat it for looks.

Whenever I want to hear that sound, I need only to roll down the window. Actually, we sold the Hornet in my Avitar last year after 40 good years of ownership. Today, it's only 8 miles away. Hudsons are great cars.

@TheTooth: You mean, rally cars?

Ah, sweet music to my ears!! Reminds me of my Dad when he built a '57 Ford for my uncle--took the stock inline 6 out and installed a 262 inline 6 truck engine that had been bored out to 300 C.I. He outran many a V8 Chevy with it...