Jan 2005

ENDNOTES

 

1. Surrounded by so many of only one model of car, I wondered how everyone present arrived at this one-car mania, specifically becoming a a preference for Fords -- often the only make of auto a fan will own. In part, it's because of the feel of driving a Mustang. Still possessing loud, rumbling V-8s, these cars have retained the muscle car visceral experience -- that of power you can hear, feel and are always aware of -- while so many comparable others have become tamed and modernized technologically, if they haven't disappeared altogether. Also, in conjunction with the epiphany moment described above -- fathers typically play a role in passing on the Ford tradition if not Ford fanaticism and racing fanaticism combined. One is often raised on it; learning from Dad while he works on his car, accompanying him to the track, if he is so inclined, and later having him assist you working on your own car. Robert Bly, in his book IRON JOHN, comments he believes that when fathers and sons spend time together there is actually something physical that is transmitted, passed on to the son. Maybe the testosterone-inspired Mustang is a larger manifestation of this material handed on from one generation to the next.

2. A member of the crew videotapes each run from near the car at the starting line. This is then reviewed to see how the car is behaving on the track, to identify any correcting/compensating that must be addressed as conditions vary from track to track. This will show whether and how much the tires are spinning or "hooking" (grabbing the pavement), and how the car "leaves" the starting line -- how straight it is going, how properly the weight is distributed and whether any changes made to this are having their desired effect.

An onboard computer system, activated just before a run, records mounds of technical data on the car's inner workings that can later be analyzed to help in fine-tuning. This information includes stuff like exhaust temperature, water temperature, crankshaft rotation, driveshaft rotation, vacuum pressure, specifics of individual cylinders such as the exhaust heat coming from each, and any changes in timing and the rate of said changes, and G-forces in the car.

3. Ever co-opting and strangely mimicking their supposed class inferiors, yuppies look down on "motor sports", and pickup trucks with obviously oversized tires, and yet the size of their own favored vehicles grows and grows, the hulking Hum-V remaining the ultimate yuppie wet dream ride. A walk through any parking lot, anywhere, will show you the one-upmanship regarding tire size has spread far from rural areas.

4. Plenty of cars already exist in this state -- in places like the highly-recommended FORD Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.

5. One summer I was in Black Rock City, Nevada, at Burning Man. It was after dark on the night of the big burn, when the Man would be set on fire. I stood on the outskirts of Center Camp, from where those who desired could join in somewhat of a parade route straight to the Man's front, to get prepared for the big event. Through the dark, toward me and joining those standing along this route, came six to eight toga-clad men carrying a litter. But instead of a seat, in between the two horizontal poles on which they pushed (there were wheels underneath -- the thing was too heavy to be carried around) was a large engine, a V-8, and nothing else. They approached the lantern-lined path, turned to face the Man and stopped. After a bit the procession was ready to begin and someone in their group started the engine. It came to life, loud, sputtering, vibrating. The engine was revved up and roared louder, yellow and blue flames shooting out of its short, exhaust pipes that stuck out into the air like chrome-plated cannon barrels. The men took places alongside the litter and amidst some chanting began to pull ("carry") it along, the engine doing no work, running simply to run, the noise of its carefully harnessed fire breaking up the night.

 

 

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