Review: “American Stock - The Golden Era Of NASCAR” DVD Set Perfect Father’s Day Gift For The NASCAR Dad
Written by Josh Katinger · June 7, 2006
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Fantastic NASCAR DVD Set Just In Time For Father’s Day
Do you know your NASCAR history? I’m not talking about who won the last Winston Cup or the first NEXTEL Cup. Let’s go back a bit farther than that - like say 1936! A new DVD documentary set called “American Stock” has just been released. It chronicles the early history of NASCAR’s “Golden Era” and we had the opportunity to review it.
So what is the “Golden Era” you ask? That would be the time between the very first “stock car” race in the 1930’s through the beginning of big-money corporate sponsorship starting in the 1970’s. The documentary rightly ends in 1971 when what was NASCAR’s Grand National series officially became the Winston Cup. What is so “Golden” about this era? I’m glad you asked…
…many modern NASCAR fans who are perhaps new(er) to the sport consider the early days of the careers of Darrell Waltrip, Benny Parsons, and Richard Petty to be the beginning of time as far as NASCAR racing goes. However, as this DVD teaches in excellent detail, NASCAR’s roots go back much farther than that, and there’s more to it than just running moonshine. Did you know that…
- What became time trial racing at the Bonneville Salt Flats actually started at Daytona Beach. When it was forced to move out west a certain oval track race was started on that same beach to fill the void in tourism that the time trials left.
- The very first “stock car” race was held in 1936
- AAA chose to endorse the Indy 500 and open wheel racing over Bill France Sr.’s (”Big Bill”) rag tag “stock car” racers claiming to only be interested in “the big stuff.” Eat your heart out AAA.
- Think “Danica Mania” is a new thing? Atlanta’s Sara Christian competed in the first NASCAR “Strictly Stock” class race on June 19, 1949
- Many of the early NASCAR pioneers were decorated veterans of World War II. Red Byron was a B-24 pilot who was shot down and lived (and raced) with permanent injuries to his legs. The legendary mechanical genius “Smokey” Yunick was also a B-17 pilot.
- Before the Daytona 500 there was the Southern 500. Started in 1950 it was the biggest race in NASCAR. So that’s why everyone was so upset when they moved that race to another track! Talk about tradition.
- Junior Johnson “discovered” drafting
- Before Roush, Childress, DEI, Penske, and Hendrick there was Carl Kiekaffer. In an era of privateers with open trailers he owned and ran the first multi-car stock car team that looked and behaved very much like the factory backed juggernauts of today. They even had team orders!
All these interesting facts and many more are in this three disc DVD set. A fourth disc is also included that profiles two of NASCAR’s most interesting yet neglected personalities: Wendell Scott and Curtis Turner. Some of the personalities interviewed in the film include Benny Parsons, Richard Petty, Bud Moore, Junior Johnson, David Pearson, Bill France Jr., Chris Economaki, and many more.
Not only is the content and production quality of this set of the highest caliber, even the packaging is a unique tribute to the subject matter. The DVDs come packaged in what looks like an old film tin, with a set of dog tags lying atop the protective foam inside. A fitting tribute to the era and the people that made it “Golden.”
If you think you know NASCAR history, you might be surprised by the fun and fascinating things to be learned in this excellent documentary. Or maybe you’re looking for the perfect gift for the gear head/history buff Dad in your life. Father’s day is June 18th!!!
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This set—is their actual footage of the Golden era races or is it just sound–audio????