This day in History

I was sure you were going for this:

On February 9, 1861, a constitutional convention at Montgomery, Alabama, named him provisional president of the Confederate States of America and he was inaugurated on February 18, 1861.

Really? Hmmmm, that isn't on my Civil War calendar.

The day my interest in NASCAR died as well.

RIP Ironhead.

Rick

Mine too. I haven't had a desire to watch a race since. All NASCAR wants now is a bunch of pretty boys driving around the track.

Today is the anniversary of Dale E.'s death- in honor of this- only make left turns today- it may take awhile, but you'll eventually get to were your going....

It is impossible to make left turns in much of San Francisco which is kind of ironic if you think about it. A lot of times you have to go around 3 right turns instead.

He Was Dead Before The Crash

I've seen that crash quite a few times. In my opinion he had a heart attack and was not even concious of the crash. I believe the car's initial motion up to the rail and the total lack of any corrective action by Earnhart confirms that. NASCAR covered that up because they did not want to besmooch their own reputation as protecting the drivers. He should not have been on the track.

Paul in PA

He Was Dead Before The Crash

Nothing to correct at those speeds when you have lost traction. He died, just like Princess Diana from a ruptured aorta. I wondered more about the restraining straps failing or them being on to loose. Dale was old school when they didn't wear gloves so I could see him loosening the straps a bit.

He Was Dead Before The Crash

Keep in mind I don't know very much about Nascar.

Watching the video it looks like he steered to the left for some reason, then he got on the left shoulder where he over corrected to the right in front of the yellow car and drove himself and the yellow car into the wall. I guess the yellow driver wasn't hurt? I see him steer a little left right before the yellow car hit him. I think he would've been OK except for the yellow car. I don't mean to imply blame on the yellow car or anything like that. There obviously isn't much room for error at those speeds especially the way they drive that close together.

I think he was attempting to get back under control but the yellow car hit him. He must have been an expert driver to be able to have as much control as he did in a skid at 190mph. The last left correction is very subtle but it is there.

He Was Dead Before The Crash

What about the guy on the grassy knoll?;-)

He Was Dead Before The Crash

Glenn. He had way to many Budweisers to have been a factor in the crash.

Now the girl in row 12 who was lifting up her top might have been a contributing factor. We will never know.

He Was Dead Before The Crash

Deral,

True, I hadn't thought about the "Bud" factor. Of course, the topless girl was planted there by NASCAR because they wanted to get rid of the rogue....at least that's what the guy with the umbrella in the 5th row told me.

Left Turns it is.

This may take some planning but im up for a challenge.;-)

He Was Dead Before The Crash

I'm pretty sure there was a camera in his car that day. He didn't usually carry one, but I think I remember him having it for that race. They have never shown the film from the crash as far as I know. If the belts were broken by the impact as reported, it probably showed what happened.

I also remember that they did a prerace feature with him driving Terry Bradshaw around the track, and he made a comment in that very turn that if you got a wheel down on the apron it would send you straight into the wall.

He Was Dead Before The Crash

It appears that NASCAR has tried to be all things to all people and it is now nothing for many. Especially those who followed the races some many years ago.
I just cannot watch it any more. Very sad, indeed.

I thought he was going to say:

CHARLESTON CAPITULATES, CONFEDERACY CRUMBLING

The shattering blow of the loss of the South Carolina capital of Columbia yesterday was followed by a defeat even more humiliating, the long-invincible Charleston. Under attack by sea for four long years, defended by an intricate harbor and interlinked island forts, the town that could have fallen in the Battle of Secessionville was finally taken today by land. As the last Confederate soldiers quietly evacuated one side of town, the other side was entered by the troops of Gen. Alexander Shimmelfennig around nine o’clock in the morning. The usual delegation of civilian leaders, headed by the mayor of the town, met Shimmelfennig to offer the city’s surrender. Although some bales of cotton and other supplies were set afire to keep them out of Yankee hands, the flames did not spread to devour the town as they had in Columbia the day before. This may have been due to the random chance that the wind was not as strong.

But then again maybe not.

Peter Lazio

What horrible news that was to get. I'll never forget it.
It was also 1 year to the day prior I buried one of my best friends ever.
Talk about the double whammy.

Yes, I'm wearing #3 cap!

[flash width=480 height=390] http://www.youtube.com/v/3zG0UtW41vE?fs=1&hl=en_US [/flash]

As read from a bathroom wall in the infield area of Daytona Speedway, circa 1994, when Jeff Gordon was winning a lot of races:

"What do you call 26 men chasing a fag? NASCAR.";-)