With respect to the loss of life and countless other lives affected, not to mention professional ramifications that endured for decades (and still do) I don't think the LeMans Disaster can be surpassed.
But with that said, let me turn to something more local and address Nascar, and what in my opinion is its most infamous moment:
The 1987 Talladega wreck that sent Bobby Allison into the catch fence - and but for the grace of god, no further.
This is the incident that led to the instant, reactionary and ever-controversial "restrictor plate".
What was originally supposed to be a temporary measure to slow the cars until "better solutions" could be found, has instead forever altered the course of Nascar. The crack-cocaine of racing, drivers hate them with a passion, while fans merely say they do (although many secretly enjoy the carnage they rend). They forever changed the cadence and strategy of Nascar's biggest races on their biggest and fastest tracks. They forever made the 200mph barrier verboten for stock cars. They altered the development of rule and aero packages.
Their use has caused no end of controversial wrecks, penalties, calls and non-calls ever since. The enforcement and creative interpretation of the rules has affected the outcome of at least one championship (Mark Martin vs. Dale Earnhardt, 1990). Their factor in the death of the sport's biggest star is more than tangential.
Ironically, as evidenced by the wrecks they cause, the effectiveness restrictor plates themselves is debatable. Catch-fence near-misses are still a regular occurence.
That's a huge, ongoing legacy of better and worse, to come from a "temporary measure" enacted in response to a horrific wreck.
But with that said, let me turn to something more local and address Nascar, and what in my opinion is its most infamous moment:
The 1987 Talladega wreck that sent Bobby Allison into the catch fence - and but for the grace of god, no further.
This is the incident that led to the instant, reactionary and ever-controversial "restrictor plate".
What was originally supposed to be a temporary measure to slow the cars until "better solutions" could be found, has instead forever altered the course of Nascar. The crack-cocaine of racing, drivers hate them with a passion, while fans merely say they do (although many secretly enjoy the carnage they rend). They forever changed the cadence and strategy of Nascar's biggest races on their biggest and fastest tracks. They forever made the 200mph barrier verboten for stock cars. They altered the development of rule and aero packages.
Their use has caused no end of controversial wrecks, penalties, calls and non-calls ever since. The enforcement and creative interpretation of the rules has affected the outcome of at least one championship (Mark Martin vs. Dale Earnhardt, 1990). Their factor in the death of the sport's biggest star is more than tangential.
Ironically, as evidenced by the wrecks they cause, the effectiveness restrictor plates themselves is debatable. Catch-fence near-misses are still a regular occurence.
That's a huge, ongoing legacy of better and worse, to come from a "temporary measure" enacted in response to a horrific wreck.
The opening pic - with an open-winged SLS in the background as a mere afterthought - is epic. You could have posted that and nothing more, as Essense of Jalopness perfectly distilled.
I can't do anything beyond a mere echo of what others have already stated... but I would be failing my Jalop duty if I did not make an official Salud.
Thanks for repping Chi-town hardcore Mr. Caswell - your deeds are well on the way to forging a Legend in Our Time.
And props to those who will surely step up to give you the funding and support you so clearly and richly deserve.
@LTDScott: It's the intent that counts. I bet the Euro Granada has largely the same (lack of) appeal there as the US one does here.
Although, the US *did* get the Euro Granada for a time, as the Merkur Scoprio. So things were probably better back home.
To the man who built this: my rager srpings from a mere man-crush on your spirit, and your ride.
I long to take a US-spec 2-door and do the same.
@p006: The Pelicans need something to eat.
A pure design study? I call foul: looks like that seat has seen some serious ass-time.
Given that carbon fiber looks like snakeskin, they should have used the "Cobra" name on this.
Given the insane pricetag, they should have used "Shelby" name on this.
Given that those two names are already used, they should have dipped into the "special edition name bowl" on this.
Given they've done that about two dozen times and the bowl's a little empty, may I humbly submit my Mustang Boggle name:
The "Shelby Cobra Gittin' Metamucil" Mustang. #mustang
So is Murilee gonna dress up as Mothman for Halloween? #baybridge
Wow. The design Easter Egg is a grid made out of the Lexus "L" logo and slapped under the taillights? For shame, Toyolex; for shame. $400K should buy a lot more class and understated l'homage than what your peers have offered for less. See Ford GT, Ferrari, et al. #lexuslfa
The only more awesome that truck needs is some battle scars for it to wear. Shouldn't be too hard to tastefully roughen up the edges a bit to lend it that "vintage hotrod past its prime, is it a sleeper?" look.
That said, if planes aren't your thing, it's nothing 50 bucks of Krylon won't fix. And on this truck even primer would knock socks.
With the performance mods and a choptop that makes it a Veritable-amino, there's not a crack pipe to be had for this price. Nice all the way. #1966fordf100
@tonyola: Not to diminish the very real hazard, but I couldn't help noticing that truck didn't have a motor. #planelopnik
The Freestyle is good as a family truckster for a good long time, so no replacements there. The Angstmobile is a fun weekend cruiser with deep family history, so it won't be going anywhere either. And there's no end of projects waiting at the farm.
The only household car in need of replacement is the better half's '97 Thunderbird - which like mine before it has just been too bulletproof to part with. Still, all things eventually must pass. So to that end I've been eying the new Fiesta. Mrs. GIC doesn't need anything quite as "big" as the T-Bird anymore, and the Fiesta promises to be the best of all worlds: Family utility for its size in a pinch, small enough to be economical for her, tossable enough to be fun for me, and affordable enough to be a smart purchase all around.
Wheels for myself? I still troll Craigslist for a nice '75-'77 Granada or Monarch Sport edition. A few have actually turned up local, but as always only when I really can't swing the cash. That or a nice AMC product. I really don't intend to buy a "new" car for me. I'd rather preserve or resurrect a classic. #qotd
Given measly distractions like work and kids and other hobbies, it'll take me a while to figure all the newness out and settle in but, given time for things to play out, just let me say "bravo" on the continued refinements and apparent willingness to listen. I stand corrected from opinions I've shared elsewhere. Hopefully this is a step in the right direction to recapture the "Essence of Jalop" I've heard tell was on the wane before I signed up. Thanks for paying attention to it...! #cotomersevis
St. Martin here I come, please pay no attention to the man walking away with that sign.
Having grown up under the SW approach runway for MDW (Chicago Midway), I can safely say: St. Martin is captivating, and definitely worth a visit, but nowhere near as scary as living by an airport with short approaches in a urban island.
St. Martin is a sightseeing venture. Nobody's forcing you to live there, or even stand there. It's a little different when your parents buy a house near a long-dead airport (as MDW was from 1964-1979), and then deregulation spawns some successful startups that get the place hopping mad again. Can't tell you how unnerving it was to see DC-9s and 737s threatening to clip your bedroom (from a 5-year-old's perspective) on a daily basis. Growing older and watching the city claim and demolish every derelict building over 2 stories within a one-block boundary punctuated the reality of "margins of error" even more.
But on the other hand: having the Goodyear Blimp hover over your house for an hour was always a treat!
I miss the close proximity to jet wake. Ever since the terrorists won you can't even get a peek into Midway, nor glance upward from a street corner for more than a minute or two.
Everyone should get the chance to listen to Pratt & Whitney idle, taxi, spool up, take off, and attack. It's one of the greatest mechanical symphonies man has ever composed. #planelopnik
The strangest thing about this car is the use of a blue oval badge on the bodywork. And that would be the case if there were just one, let alone the double-vision going on here. Seems so out of place on a car with so many other vintage styling cues.
Also, having a car from 1964 with the styling of 1959 is pretty sweet in a time-warping way. Was Britain that far behind the times, or was Studebaker contracting for FoE back then?
Personally, I love it... I'm probably that rare weirdo who even likes all the mods. For something this unique and tasteful, it's hard to walk away. Lose the blue ovals to bend people's minds a bit, and you've got yourself a fun little mystery car.
Nice Price. [jalopnik.com]
@Prawo Jazdy and The Velocity Trumpets: I miss Deartháir II: Same place where mine went, apparently. So much for the dryer threory. #cotomersevis
@Deartháir II: Pains me to hear it brother, but I wish you all the best. Was nice to get some suport from one of the guys I admired as a lurker before joining in. Made me feel welcome. Sadly I fear I may have joined on the downswing, a day and a dolla too late.
You'll be missed. Next time I'm out cruising the Angstmobile, I'll playfully threaten to punt a SmartCar just for you. (Seeing as how there's no Corrados 'round these parts, you see).
I do hope you'll consider a III suffix should those who stick around somehow honor the legacy of the self-exiled, and make the 'nik worthy of a return one day... but as you point out, all things must change.
So motor west, young man, and ignore the rearviewmirror...
...unless you hear a '75 Angstmobile with an exhaust leak chugging up behind...
-GIC
Congrats Mr. Engineerd! For both surviving a potential emasculation, and spinning the tale into a COTD-worthy fable. A hat tip and refill of your scotch is on me.
