DRIVER ZONE:
Overall Rank: 276
Overall Score: 15 points
URL: /fasttrack
Member since: 08/03/2007
Number of hits: 5938
Gender: Male
Location: Costa Mesa, CA
Quote/Motto: "I imagine the cars spinning out enough power to roll the very earth beneath them, the whole happy planet turning and spun through space by these 43 cars. Cars orbiting the track, Earth orbiting the sun, wheels inside wheels inside wheels". - Jeff MacGregor "Sunday Money"
Favorite Driver: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Driver I won't be sending a Christmas card:
Kyle Busch
Who Am I:
50 something, single. Work for a commercial real estate brokerage firm. Share my home with 2 cats, my Abyssinian (Zhaan) and a Somali (Rua). Enjoy watching NFL Football, (Go Packers!) NASCAR, LA Kings hockey, listening to my iPod, playing online games.
Favorite Track:
Bristol Motor Speedway
Favorite Racing Moment:
Dale Sr. winning the Daytona 500
How I discovered Rowdy, and why I Listen:
Found Rowdy at iTunes. Now I download it onto my iPod and listen everyday. Impressed with how well done the podcast is. Bass, Buck and Cutler make me laugh and I enjoy Rick Mast, Mark Garrow and David Poole.
Why I'm a race fan:
Used to watch occasionally...tried to always catch the Daytona 500. When I got my HDTV my friend Dan got me into it. The only sport I watched regularly was Pro Football. Now I have a sport to watch when football ends. I am addicted to it now.
What car/truck I drive now:
1996 Ford Contour.
My dream car:
Chevy Silverado or Toyota Tacoma (but hate car payments)
Favorite Music:
Jazz faves: Miles, Monk, Pat Metheny, John Scofield, Eliane Elias, Allan Holdsworth, Karryn Allison, Kurt Elling. Rock faves: Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Steely Dan, Foo Fighters, NIN, Coldplay, Matchbox 20, Linkin Park, Elvis Costello, 3 Doors Down, Nirvana.
Favorite Movies:
Like lots of stuff. Have over 300 DVDs. Love Tarantino, Coen Brothers, Frank Miller's Sin City and 300, Lord of the Rings, Lost In Translation. Also like anime (Samurai Champloo, Cowboy Bebop, Fullmetal Alchemist) I appreciate good filmmaking.
Favorite TV Shows:
Alltime favorite: Deadwood. Also loved The Wire, Sopranos, Entourage, Firefly, Farscape, Deadliest Catch & American Chopper.
Favorite Books:
Gates of Fire, Seabiscuit, Driver #8, When Pride Still Mattered, Favre, A Walk In The Woods, Quiet Strength, One Helluva Ride
Interests:
Football, Fantasy Football, NASCAR, music, good films, online games, interesting people.
Dislikes:
People who are rude, selfish or think they are better than everyone else.
Hobbies:
Collecting DVDs, Nascar swag, especially diecasts, Listening to good music.
Vices:
Cold beer, good wine and an occassional cigar.
Virtues:
I am trustworthy and people can count on me. I am a nice guy, which can be a liability when people take advantage of me.
Heroes:
Vince Lombardi, Dale Earnhardt, Brett Favre, Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, LaDainian Tomlinson
Rowdy Book Review: "One Helluva Ride"
It's been awhile since I have posted a blog. Things have been very busy lately. About a couple months ago I picked up this book from Amazon.com and I must say it was a great read. The book is called "One Helluva Ride - How NASCAR Swept The Nation" by Liz Clarke who is a sportswriter for The Washington Post and has also covered NASCAR for USA Today, The Charlotte Observer and The Dallas Morning News.
I really enjoyed her style of writing and every chapter was interesting and unique. From the moonshine running days of Junior Johnson to Dale Jr.'s decision to leave DEI for another team, and everything in between is covered very admirably by Ms. Clarke.
Of course, there were chapters dedicated to many of the individuals who have made NASCAR what it is today including The Frances, The Allisons, The Pettys and the Earnhardts; the contrast between two young drivers who changed the stereotype of the NASCAR driver...Jeff Gordon and Tim Richmond; the champion vs. the challenger (Earnhardt/Gordon); Humpy Wheeler starting night racing at the Coca Cola 600 in '92. But also there were chapters on the changing face of NASCAR (seeking new markets, changing away from tobacco, going global); the loss of Dale Earnhardt and much more.
Lot's of variety and some good anecdotes from someone who spent years covering the sport. Whether you are a NASCAR fanatic or you are new to the sport and want to learn some history of NASCAR and how it evolved, this book is a great place to start. A very easy book to read (I got through it in a few sittings) that I highly recommend to everyone! Enjoy!
Max, I really enjoyed this book as well. This book isn't all-inclusive but it hits the major story lines that tell the history of this great sport. FYI, I wrote a review of my own a few months back. You can find all of my NASCAR-related book reviews under the Rowdy Book Club group.
- Jason
- 22:46:44 06-19-2008
Okay Men, this sounds like a good one - perhaps a large shade better than the "Complete IDIOT'S Guide to NASCAR" I recently purchased. I'll check it out...
- Chief187
- 07:27:32 06-20-2008
OK, with two affirmatives for this book from two guys I trust, I'll give this one a whirl. Thanks, guys.
- J.D.
- 10:08:32 06-21-2008
LOL at chief 187. Why did you buy the idiots book? I have always thought highly of you! Was this misplaced? :)
I'm not much for reading books - usually wait for the movie to come out.
- Rob Eh!
- 12:47:40 06-21-2008
Read your review of "One Helluva Ride" Jason. Looks like we pretty much agree on it. :) You have a better way with words than I do...I really liked the book, so I felt I had to post my thoughts on it and thanks for your comments on it. I haven't read "Sunday Money" yet. I got a deal on it for $5 on Amazon so I ordered it. I am reading a book published in 2000 called "Stock-Car Racing Lives" by Richard Sowers. Lots of nice photos and each chapter is about someone involved in stock car racing. Some well known...some not so well known. For example, Chapter One is devoted to Jay Adamczyk (Jayski.com) and that made me buy the book. It's the kind of book that oughta have a sequel and a chapter about Rowdy.com. It would be perfect. When I finish reading it (slow reader) I will blog about it here. Stay tuned and thanks for commenting Jason! :)
- Max
- 02:42:59 06-23-2008
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