A Perfect Storm: The 1979 Daytona 500

SpeedPagan

SpeedPagan

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Seems like I cut the cord at the wrong time. :oops:

Maybe someone will stream this? LOL
 
Anyone who hasn't seen the full race should go to YouTube and watch it all. I did it last offseason and was surprised at how compelling the whole event was.
 
FLRacingFan said:
Incredibly well-done documentary.
Click to expand...

Agreed - I remember watching that race with my brother. It truly was the "perfect storm". We were in St. Louis, it was cold out, and A.J. was in the race (we were Midwestern Indy500, A.J. fans). We were also occasional drinking buddies and went through about a case of PBR that day :).

Everything worked out perfectly for Nascar. Even the threat of a rain-out helped when they actually got it started. Like a tease. Ken Squire was awesome as were the other announcers - and luckily nobody was lapping the field - competitive finish! Then when all the stuff happened there was just enough time for them to sort things out and show Richard winning ahead of Darrell and A.J. - then another short gap and Ken Squire said "and now there's a FIGHT!"

Truly, Ken was a wizard with words and could have easily said something like "there appears to be and altercation" or "tempers may be flaring"....nope he hit it on the button "FIGHT" and then a second or two gap....it totally got our attention and I was hooked on Nascar like a fat catfish that had swallowed the bait :D
 
Loving the abridged 1979 Daytona 500 telecast. FOX Sports even airing vintage commercials from the original telecast.
 
Racer1930 said:
Agreed - I remember watching that race with my brother. It truly was the "perfect storm". We were in St. Louis, it was cold out, and A.J. was in the race (we were Midwestern Indy500, A.J. fans). We were also occasional drinking buddies and went through about a case of PBR that day :).

Everything worked out perfectly for Nascar. Even the threat of a rain-out helped when they actually got it started. Like a tease. Ken Squire was awesome as were the other announcers - and luckily nobody was lapping the field - competitive finish! Then when all the stuff happened there was just enough time for them to sort things out and show Richard winning ahead of Darrell and A.J. - then another short gap and Ken Squire said "and now there's a FIGHT!"

Truly, Ken was a wizard with words and could have easily said something like "there appears to be and altercation" or "tempers may be flaring"....nope he hit it on the button "FIGHT" and then a second or two gap....it totally got our attention and I was hooked on Nascar like a fat catfish that had swallowed the bait :D
Click to expand...

There's a reason Ken Squier's the best ever.
 
Racer1930 said:
Agreed - I remember watching that race with my brother. It truly was the "perfect storm". We were in St. Louis, it was cold out, and A.J. was in the race (we were Midwestern Indy500, A.J. fans). We were also occasional drinking buddies and went through about a case of PBR that day :).

Everything worked out perfectly for Nascar. Even the threat of a rain-out helped when they actually got it started. Like a tease. Ken Squire was awesome as were the other announcers - and luckily nobody was lapping the field - competitive finish! Then when all the stuff happened there was just enough time for them to sort things out and show Richard winning ahead of Darrell and A.J. - then another short gap and Ken Squire said "and now there's a FIGHT!"

Truly, Ken was a wizard with words and could have easily said something like "there appears to be and altercation" or "tempers may be flaring"....nope he hit it on the button "FIGHT" and then a second or two gap....it totally got our attention and I was hooked on Nascar like a fat catfish that had swallowed the bait :D
Click to expand...
Dale Jr. was right when he said we'd never have any broadcasting problems if we could just bottle up Ken Squier and David Hobbs and have them call races forever.
 
FLRacingFan said:
Incredibly well-done documentary.
Click to expand...

note----thread title refers ta 1 hr special on fs1 tonite.
about more than just tha race.
documents how cbs' 1st nascar live broadcast came about & how huge snow storm got 15 million tuned in to it.

like fl says.......good stuff.
 
They interviewed drivers during the race while teams were working on the car.

NBC, take note. This needs to happen again.
 
That one wreck they showed at the end I think it was where the car jumps over the wall and the people start running, that one camerman it looks like he would have almost had to have been pinned by the car. If he didn't he was one lucky guy.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Here's what's listed as the highlights of that race in 8 parts.....















Click to expand...



That was a great race I remember the wife at that time was buggen me to leave to go some wheres the inlaws I think I said no I was not leaving till this race is over.....after the fight I said you see look what I would have missed.......
 
The snow on the east coast even in SC assured most everyone watched the race. I used to cut the neighbors grass, I never dreamed she cared about racing. But the next day we rehashed the whole thing I was stunned by her interest. .She was an elderly church lady and I figured she saw Nascar as white trash stuff.

I was as happy as anyone could have been. Petty broke a long winless streak. Cale seemed unbeatable and I realized he or Donnie Allison would win the race. The last lap was great when Cale and Donnie started banging I was going crazy knowing Petty was in third. He was about 1/2 lap down , far enough back to anticipate it, and take it all in real time.
 
What's funny is that if the Daytona 500 were this week, it'd be an almost perfect recreation of the 79 race in terms of people being stuck inside due to an east coast storm. It's supposed to be in the negative wind chills as far south as VIRGINIA.
 
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