| Author | Message | ||
| Matt Karson (Squidracing)
Member Username: Squidracing Post Number: 496 Registered: 3-2001 |
Solly....the only thing about Benny kicking butt on the track are his cars...slow as molasses otherwise. | ||
| Wil de Groot (Wildegroot)
New member Username: Wildegroot Post Number: 29 Registered: 9-2002 |
We have a picture taken by my husband in 1977 of Paul Newman racing at Limerock on our website. Check it out: http:\www.exoticars-usa.com\vintage.html My husband was racing formula Ford at the time and he talked to him a couple of times, said he was very approachable and raced really well. Just lurking here, saw this post and thought I'd mention our picture for anyone interested. Sandy de Groot | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 524 Registered: 2-2002 |
In light of the events that weekend in 1986, I can see how Paul Newman was not in the mood to carry on much of a conversation. | ||
| David Harris (Dakharris)
Junior Member Username: Dakharris Post Number: 171 Registered: 6-2001 |
Paul Newman has had success at racing because he has always fielded the best car in its class. He could afford the best equipment and the best mechanics. Why do they let him race at age 78? Because it sells tickets. In 1986, I watched him step on the gas coming out of turn one at Long Beach, lose control sending a fellow racer into the wall, regain control, and finish the race. The driver died. The talk in the paddock was that Newman, at age 60, had too much car for his waning skill. That same weekend, I approached him for an autograph in a non-public area. We were completely alone. I started by congratulating him on his recent Academy Award for "The Color of Money," his only Oscar for Best Actor. He looked up at me with those vivid blue eyes, frowned and said, "If I start that, I may as well go home right now. Now excuse me." I was a fan until that weekend. | ||
| Keith Maxwell (Keith_maxwell)
Junior Member Username: Keith_maxwell Post Number: 62 Registered: 5-2003 |
Ouch. Way too deep for this time of the evening and two fingers of Blanton's over ice... Killing myself gently with Kentucky's finest. | ||
| V.Z. (Ama328)
Junior Member Username: Ama328 Post Number: 120 Registered: 11-2002 |
"We all age at the same rate." Well, actually we don't, from two aspects: 1) aging rate of a particular individual is dependant upon DNA/genes mixture, lifestyle, and environmental concerns. Take care of yourself, live in a nice, non-polluted area, pick the right parents, you'll probably be around a while. 2) read several yrs ago about some aging research which indicated that as individuals reach real 'old age'(say, 80+, but depends upon the individual), they actually age at a faster rate(I believe it was something like 17 yrs rate for every 10 chronological yrs). Weird stuff, that aging...in some ways, i don't know if i'd wanna live in society 100 yrs from now, but on the other hand, my guess is that in the next 20-50 yrs, a LARGE portion of the aging problem is gonna get fixed...might not live forever, but probably be some combo of things that'll make Bob Hope's 100th bday(today, btw), look like High School Graduation... | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1389 Registered: 4-2002 |
Did he do a post race interview? My TiVo cut off during the cool down lap. | ||
| Craig A (Milo)
Junior Member Username: Milo Post Number: 182 Registered: 4-2003 |
Married for 50 years? That's worth a lifetime achievement award by itself!!! I lasted three years. Throw in the fact that he can still drive like he does is great. An inspiration indeed. | ||
| Dave (Maranelloman)
Intermediate Member Username: Maranelloman Post Number: 1738 Registered: 1-2002 |
LOL, Nika! Considering you were in Room 206, that would have been truly funny! Actually, that was a very classy thing you said to him, and he clearly recognized that. He is a true sportsman, in every sense of the word. And married for what? 50 years? as well. Truly remarkable. | ||
| Nika (Racernika)
Member Username: Racernika Post Number: 955 Registered: 12-2001 |
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Paul Newman. (Nika wipes away drool) Now how many 78 year olds can STILL have that effect on women! I met him at the Chateau Elan at the Road Atlanta race a few years back......all I said was "Mister Newman - any man that can drive the 365 GTB4 the way it's meant to be driven has my utmost respect!" Well he stopped, turned to me, cracked a beautiful smile as his piercing blue eyes lit up and said "Thank you" as he shook my hand!!! I melted My friends all gasped when they saw his reaction but they were too far away to hear what I said. They BUGGED ME "what did you say? what did you say?" I lied and said "Room 205 no waiting....." Their shocked faces were pricless! Although they had a hard time believeing I would ever say something like that... | ||
| Dave (Maranelloman)
Intermediate Member Username: Maranelloman Post Number: 1734 Registered: 1-2002 |
3 priceless PLN comments from the race: 1) Mr Newman, why are you racing today? Well, I'm just trying to maintain a pulse... 2) How do you feel about finishing 5th? Well, I would have preferred to finish 2nd! 3) What's it like ot be racing at age 78? Well, put it this way: I sure wish I could see 72 again! | ||
| Keith Maxwell (Keith_maxwell)
New member Username: Keith_maxwell Post Number: 37 Registered: 5-2003 |
Newman split a pair of corvettes going through turn 3 in the first 10 minutes of the race. It was as pretty a move as any I've ever seen in the dry and he did it in a downpour. His comment about his age after the practice session was priceless, "Yeah I'm tired, I'm not 70 anymore". One more Newman trivia - I saw the Daytona Coupe he drove at Le Mans at Ferrari of Washington last week in the vintage shop - It's one beautiful car! | ||
| Andy Falsetta (Tuttebenne)
Junior Member Username: Tuttebenne Post Number: 151 Registered: 3-2003 |
I hope I age like he has. Keeping trim and driving competitively well into his 70s? That will be just fine for me. Forza to you PLN | ||
| Bart Duesler (The_bart)
Junior Member Username: The_bart Post Number: 94 Registered: 1-2003 |
We all age at the same rate. | ||
| Robert Rothschild (Rothschild)
New member Username: Rothschild Post Number: 35 Registered: 6-2002 |
Yes, couldn't get over how much he has aged in recent years....  | ||
| Steven J. Solomon (Solly)
Member Username: Solly Post Number: 478 Registered: 6-2001 |
I don't know exactly how old Benny Caiola is, but i think he's in his 70's and he still kicks butt on the track. | ||
| Bill Sawyer (Wsawyer)
Member Username: Wsawyer Post Number: 835 Registered: 2-2002 |
I saw Newman race in the Runoffs last year. He started 6th. Pretty impressive. | ||
| Michael R. Bucci (Bb512)
New member Username: Bb512 Post Number: 6 Registered: 5-2003 |
Another great older driver is a good friend of my dad's and an RI native. Mike Gamino - he is on the older side, but nowhere close to Newman Anyone remember him though? He drove (I'm getting nostalgic here) a 250 GTO in the 60's, check the Barchetta site if you don't believe me. | ||
| Terry Springer (Tspringer)
Member Username: Tspringer Post Number: 531 Registered: 4-2002 |
No idea on Newman re his last race, but there have been some very fast old geezers. I remember in 1996 a gentleman named Dan Carmichael I believe won the SCCA Formula Atlantic national championship. He was 76 years old! This guy had been a fighter pilot during WWII... and over 40 years later is still that competitive in a Formula Atlantic! Amazing stuff... | ||
| Michael R. Bucci (Bb512)
New member Username: Bb512 Post Number: 4 Registered: 5-2003 |
Hey did anyone watch the race on speedvision today broadcast from Lime Rock? Paul Newman raced and they were saying that it was possibly his last race ever - I missed the end of it so I don't know the whole story, but they asked someone: "Does Paul is 78 years old, does he find it more difficult to race in inclement weather?" or something like that and they responded:"Paul doesn't think its difficult, he just enjoys it even more." I think that is unbelievable. Anyone who is 78 and can still tear it up on the track deserves to have their driving shoes not bronzed, but dipped in gold. Anyway, does anyone know if today was his last and final race? |