История NASCAR

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Смешно, но где-то и грустно.

Evolution Of The Racing Language
From 1949-Present
By Tom Higgins, NASCAR Winston Cup Scene; March 11, 1999

Setting Off For The Track
1949-70: "I'm driving the tow truck."
1971-80: "I'm riding in the tow truck."
1981-90: "I'm loading the wife and kids in the van and driving straight through."
1991-Present: "I'm taking off as soon as the pilot says my private plane is ready."

Pre-Race Prospects
1949-70: "We're gonna run hard as the car will go 'til the wheels fall off or we get the checkered flag." Also, "We're gonna set a pace and see what happens."
Translation: "We're going to stroke along on the bottom of the track and hope for real high attrition among the guys runnin' hard as the car will go."
1971-80: "We'll take what the track will give us."
Translation: "The best we can hope for is to be in the second pack behind Richard Petty, David Pearson, Gale Yarborough, Bobby Allison and Buddy Baker."
1981-90: "We think we'll be competitive."
Translation: "Maybe we can run well enough to keep Darrell Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt, Bill Elliott and Rusty Wallace from lapping us."
1991-Present: "We ran well in the 'Happy Hour' and with an adjustment or two the car should be real good."
Translation: "Gee, I hope Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin don't blow our doors off."

Tire Troubles
1949-70: "I blowed a tar."
1971-80: "I blew a tire."
1981-90: "A tire equalized."
1991-Present: "I cut a tire (which then blowed)."

Engine Troubles
1949-70: "It blowed."
1971-80: "It blew."
1981-90: "We dropped a valve."
1991-Present: "We developed a vibration." Translation: "It blowed."

Explaining Wrecks
1949-70: "The track was covered with that ##%%*&&% sealer, damn ##%%*&&% bear grease!" Also, "That ##%%&&% idiot ran all over me!"
1971-80: "Our cars got together and everybody saw whose fault it was. That idiot disconnects his brain when the race starts."
1981-90: "Two or three of us were going for the same spot." Also, "The No. 3 car got me."
1991-Present: "I got help from behind." Also, "I got the air taken off my spoiler."
Translation: "That ##%%&&% ran all over me! He disconnects his brain when the race starts."

Post-Race Comments In Victory Lane
1949-70: "Thanky." (In receiving congratulations).
1971-80: "Thank The Man Upstairs for a safe race and the crew for a good car."
1981-90: "Thank The Lord for a safe race, our sponsors, the crew and the fans."
1990-Present: "Thank ALL our sponsors (blah, blah, blah, blah, blah in listing what seems like a dozen sponsors, plus Goodyear and Union 76). Thank my car owner for giving me this opportunity, my crew, and the boys back at the shop, who have been working real hard."

Catch-All Comment
1949-70: "That's racin'."
1971-80: "That's racin'."
1981-90: "That's racin'."
1991 Present: "It's like the old-timers used to say, ‘That’s racin'."