I was very interested in championship car( Indy type )racing back in the
late 40s and early 50s, and my understanding was that nitrogen was used in the
tires( and they were those old large diameter / narrow tread Firestones later
used in LSR )in place of ordinary air as the advantage was the increased
stabiliuty of the tire pressure when nitrogen was used ...... as Doug just
mentioned the moisture found in the air is the culprit that causes pressure
variation, even in those 'old-style' bias tires ........
I lost all but a passing interest in that racing venue when the
beautifully crafted and beautiful looking roadsters of the Fifties gave way to
the rear-engine revolution from across the pond ...... a better idea but it
was
the start of the super-fast and super-ugly wings-everywhere things that are
the breed for some years now. I do truly believe that the period from about
1950 to the mid or late Seventies was The Golden Era for most forms of
auto racing in America ...... but that's just MY opinion. I won't even
mention what happened to the NASCAR scene, but I do know MANY of the other
older
guys feel exactly as I do on that subject ......
BDF, Recalling the great creations of A.J. Watson, Quinn Epperly,
Eddie Kuzma, and many other master craftsmen of those Marvelous Indy Race Cars
of
Yesteryear ......
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