North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame

The North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame is dedicated to remembering and bringing honor to the people and the machines that have been responsible for many memorable and extraordinary moments in racing. All the exhibits and inductees at the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame are testament to the love and commitment that goes into this sport, the long hours and the hard work done by everyone on a racing team.

There is a Board of Directors at the North Carolina Hall of Fame that ensures that all areas of this non-profit organization are taken care of. The board consists of Penske Team Owner Don Miller; Vice Chairman Cecile Ebert; Secretary and Treasurer Wanda Cavin; Bobby Allison, Winton Cup Champion and previous team owner and motor sports broadcaster, Buddy Baker. Other members include Johnny Hayes, Joe Gibbs, Darrell Gwynn, Max Helton, Garry Hill, Benny Parsons, Mickey Nutting, Rusty Wallace and Deb Williams.

The exhibits are constantly being rotated and changed to keep loyal fans returning to the North Carolina Hall of Fame. With more than forty vintage race cars being displayed at the museum, it is not an attraction that visitors should rush through. Cars, such as 1965 Ford Galaxy driven by Fred Lorenzen and by Wendell Scott, are still ready to hit the circuit at any time. The very rare Flathead V-8 1934 Ford is also on display, as well as the “Midnight” Pontiac that was driven to victory many times by Rusty Wallace. Racing uniforms and helmets adorn the walls and the Goodyear Mini-Theatre features some of the most spectacular racing documentaries and footage from year’s gone by.

The N.C. Hall of Fame also has a gift shop on the premises that has a vast variety of shirts, gifts and other memorabilia for the public to take home with them. Garry Hill is responsible for the many wonderful pictures that are displayed and has been commissioned many times over to bring the important racing events back to life. His artistic talent is seen in every painting and the public is able to purchase lithographic prints of his amazing work. The Indy Simulator is another great way to experience the excitement of the racing world.

Inductees to the N.C. Hall of Fame have included Bobby Allison, Ned Jarrett, Dale Earnhardt and David Pearson. Names such as Maurice Petty, Robert Yates and Dale Inman come to mind when thinking of the recipients of the Snap-On Golden Wrench Award. These names have been written down in history to be seen by future generations. Looking at the future, one often wonders who has what is takes to have their name etched onto that wall?

Auto Racing And Tobacco Advertising

It would seem that auto-racing events are becoming more and more popular with the younger generation. While some view this as an excellent way to keep kids out of potentially dangerous environments – others have become concerned. The amount of tobacco industry-related advertising at such events is massive and worried adults are concerned that this could be negatively effecting the youth who attend these events.

Tobacco industries have retaliated by claiming that races are attended mainly by adults and that only a small percentage of spectators are children. However, the statistics have been growing steadily over the years. In 1996 it was found by the Simmons Market Research Bureau that over 25 percent of children between the ages of 12 and 17 watched auto racing on television. This amounted to more than 100 million children who were tuning in at home. In addition, eighteen percent of children actually attended live sports car racing events. Though these statistics are old today, it is proof that this trend has been a growing concern for quite some time. The fact that NASCAR racing has become a form of ‘fun-filled family entertainment’ can be seen in the way that advertisers and event organizers have tried to fill this niche by arranging contests, rides, merchandise sales, hospitality areas, children’s areas and family restaurants. Today there are NASCAR speed parks, NASCAR video games, animated auto racing-based TV series and several magazines designed to exclusively promote the sport. Clearly auto-racing is becoming more and more popular with youngsters and adults and this growing fan base must be considered when it comes to auto-racing advertising at such events.

Unfortunately, little has been done up to this point to decrease the amount of sponsored advertising that can be seen at auto-racing events. Most major tobacco companies emblazon their logos on uniforms, equipment, race cars, T-shirts, toy cars and other merchandise. This means that children as young as five may be staring at a tobacco company logo, having that emblem ingrained on their young minds long before they even understand what it represents. Is all this necessary? It would seem that auto racing has become such a popular activity that continues to attract more and more non-tobacco related sponsors. This would indicate that tobacco-related sponsorship is no longer necessary, but it will take a while before any major changes are likely to come about.

Truck Racing – Speed, Size and Excitement

When it comes to truck racing, there are so many associations and different forms of truck racing exist, that it is not easy to choose a favorite amongst them. Each form of truck racing consist of amazing machines being put to the test on closed courses that are a far cry from the race tracks designed for the Formula 1 race cars. From Monster Truck Racing to Super Trucks, truck racing is a sport that gets the adrenalin pumping and the tires squealing.

When driving down the freeway, we often see eighteen-wheelers patiently hauling their commercial cargo. To see an eighteen wheeler adapted to racing is remarkable. Who would have thought that unhooking the trailer and racing the truck would be such a popular and exciting sport!

But Supertrucks, which are used in truck races, are somewhat different to the work-horses of the road. As with any motor sport, the trucks are modified to reach higher speeds. In fact, Supertrucks can reach 100 miles per hour, or 160 kilometers an hour. To ensure the safety of drivers, the maximum speed for truck racing is limited to 160 kilometers an hour and a Supertruck is required to weigh in at a minimum of 5,500 kilograms.

Very few and mostly minor accidents occur as trucks may accidentally nudge each other during a race. A normal truck race will last between eight to twelve laps. Drivers of the trucks must be registered and licensed to race through the Motor Sports Association (“MSA”). However, there are different race versions of the sport available across the world, such as the NASCAR> Craftsman Truck Series, the British Truck Racing Association Races, European Truck Racing and Australian Truck Racing.

Monster Truck Racing, on the other hand, involves the racing of modified pick-up trucks. They are distinguished by their extremely large wheels that usually measure approximately 66″ x 44″ x 25″. The wheels are then fitted to a large custom-made suspension, making the truck seem dwarfed by its tires. Monster Truck Racing is more an entertainment sport with one or more trucks crushing smaller vehicles underneath them. Motocross Racing, Tractor Pulls and Mud Blogging are all forms of Monster Truck Racing. Some races require the trucks to race on symmetrical tracks while other competitions offer “freestyle” events where the skill of the driver is tested through his tricks and crushing abilities.

Many forms of truck racing have evolved over the years, with Super Truck Racing and Monster Truck Racing remaining the favorites. Speed and power are two attributes that have always fascinated humans and when it comes to truck racing, spectators and auto racing enthusiasts alike are impressed with seeing these eighteen wheel behemoths roll onto the race track.

Aston Martin on the Asia-Pacific Highway

It’s not every day that a car company, a schoolteacher and a tour operator join forces to raise money, set a world record and increase road safety awareness. When Richard Meredith, Phil Colley and Aston Martin decided to collaborate on just such project, their efforts attracted the attention of car lovers and newspaper reporters from around the world.

The journey started as a dream two years ago when 58-year-old Meredith decided he would love to drive the entire length of the Asia-Pacific Highway. Unlike most people who never see such unusual dreams fulfilled, Meredith started looking for a way to accomplish his new goal. At last he was able to approach Dr Ulrich Bez, the Chief Executive Officer for Aston Martin. Dr Bez saw the advantage of allowing one of his automobiles to be tested to the limit under normal driving circumstances. Dr Bez is still confident that all three will succeed in their efforts. With his support, Meredith was able to make his dream a reality and on 25 June 2007, Richard Meredith and his friend Phil Colley set off from Tokyo on an incredible journey which will take them through sixteen different countries and a variety of terrains and weather conditions.

As of yet, no one has attempted to drive the entire distance of the Asia-Pacific Highway, so if the pair are able to accomplish their goal, they will be setting a new record. But, though they have the support of the Aston Martin car company and will be enjoying the luxuries of a V8 Vantage, their trip is unlikely to be a smooth one. Not only will the terrain be somewhat inhospitable on certain stretches, but the heat will be quite intense at times and then there is the problem of difficult bureaucracy from county to country. Fortunately, the project has even gained the support of the regional commission of the United Nations, so the pair will likely enjoy a good deal of support in even the most difficult situations. In fact, a team of assistants has been set up in the UK to organize assistance should it be necessary. In addition to problems such as these, the V8 Vantage car’s roadworthiness and durability will be tested to the absolute limit.

While the journey started as the dream of one man, it has grown to become a symbol of care and road safety awareness. Many global companies have joined the crusade and the money raised by the trip will be used to help children in developing countries understand the importance of road safety awareness. The two are scheduled to drive into Trafalgar Square on 13 August 2007 and the world will be monitoring their progress until they complete their journey.