The Berggren-Vukovich hypothesis
#1
Posted 23 May 2011 - 15:13
Berggen doesn't elaborate at all, but I thought it an interesting statement. What he's saying, essentially, is that Vuky's death sparked the slow, steady descent of American OW racing and the concomitant ascent of NASCAR.
Anybody buying this?
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#2
Posted 23 May 2011 - 16:08
Then there's the story about Big Bill France visiting Indy to offer NASCAR sanctioning, but being somewhat rudely escorted off the grounds.
I can see Big Bill then taking a personal interest in destroying Indy car racing. If that's all true, it took him awhile to supplant them, but it did happen. Another factor must be taken into consideration, that NASCAR has been a much more open door for American drivers, who bring a built in fan base with them. The move to rear-engine cars can't be over-looked as well.
It's my opinion that these multiple factors are what led to NASCAR's dominance moreso than AAA dropping their sanction.
#3
Posted 23 May 2011 - 16:30
#4
Posted 23 May 2011 - 17:31
Some contemporary accounts featured comments that the AAA's true reason was concern over damage awards given to spectators injured in racing accidents. The public statement given by the AAA cited Le Mans.And, approaching the question from the other angle, I thought it was the Le Mans disaster more than the Vukovich crash that caused the AAA to pull out
In a word, do I support Berggren's hypothesis?, no.
There were a multitude of factors. These combinations of events make it hard to define a true moment to the point I don't feel there was "a" moment.
Edited by Jim Thurman, 23 May 2011 - 17:34.
#5
Posted 23 May 2011 - 18:07
#6
Posted 23 May 2011 - 20:42
AAA's official statement might make for interesting reading.
While in the '50s AAA was still sanctioning racing events, it probably already saw the future selling travel and other road services instead of being a real automobile club. By the '80s it clearly had little to do with automobiles as compared with the 50s, having become a multi-billion $ travel service organization.
#7
Posted 24 May 2011 - 22:50
From a service perspective, the only unique product that AAA had was the national championship, which was a few fairground tracks and Indy in 1955. The AAA stock, sprint, and midget circuits were regional, not true national championships.
#8
Posted 25 May 2011 - 16:15
The Pope called for a ban on racing, Switzerland DID ban it, and in the States, there was Congressional action to ban it too.
Given the bad press, public opinion and the congressional action, I think the AAA just thought they really didn't NEED another headache.
ZOOOM
#9
Posted 25 May 2011 - 17:31
#10
Posted 26 May 2011 - 02:35
The Swiss ban still stands AFAIKThanks, ZOOOM. I was not aware of the Papal and Swiss bans. Most interesting, indeed.