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This week’s edition of REVVED UP!! Is bittersweet. On the one hand, after a holiday hiatus, we’re back and wish you all the best for a great 2023!
But sadly, on the other hand, we continue to grieve over the death of extraordinary racer, entrepreneur and all around great guy, Ken Block, who was tragically killed in a snowmobile racing accident on New Year’s Day in Utah. Ken left us and his family at the far too young age of 55.
We pay tribute to Ken with some of the top comments from readers based upon two of Autoweek’s remembrance stories on Block.
Then we try to return to some semblance of normalcy with highlights/comments on stories about NASCAR great Richard Petty, the five biggest surprises of the 2022 Formula One season and reader thoughts (which we greatly appreciate all the kind words!!!) on some of the best stories from our current ongoing “NASCAR 75” series like Curtis Turner, Fireball Roberts, when NASCAR went Truckin’, and some of NASCAR’s craziest racing venues over the years.
Strap on your seatbelts and helmets as we kick things off with 2023’s first edition of REVVED UP!!
Ken Block, Car Culture Luminary, Mourned by Enthusiast World
Readers Say:
• RVA3505: Seems like only the best of us die much too soon. Ken Block inspired me for years, he was just a cool guy who loved his family. He will be truly missed.
• eskothomson: Wow. No more cool driving videos. No more cool car builds. No more cool articles on Autoweek.com about what Ken Block’s doing. Perhaps we who remain–except maybe his family–can take solace in the idea that he was having fun when he left us.
• tex7757: He lived the life he dreamed to live. The world was his playground and his fortune, plus being a family man, Wow! How many can say that? It still ended way too soon. Peace to his family. Kudos and keep those wheels spinning.
• maddog8894: I’m sure that I’m just one of millions who had on his bucket list just taking a five-minute ride with him.
Autoweek Contributor Jerry Bonkowski Says:
• JB Says: Ken Block will be sorely missed. But thankfully, we will have many of the things he left us to remember him by, including his wild and crazy gravity-defying videos, his humorous interviews and most important, a great guy and personality, great husband, great father, great businessman and great fan favorite. In short, a GREAT man in all ways who left us way, WAY too young at 55 years old.
Richard Petty Shines in Tournament of Roses Parade
Readers Say:
• ChicagoGas: It’s hard believe The King is 85 years old. He looks fabulous. Life is sure short. It’s seems like yesterday he and his generation of NASCAR greats were drafting each other on the big ovals. Wishing Richard nothing but good health and continued success in 2023 !!!
• sabatt44: Richard Petty with the hat and dark glasses sets HIS style…He didn’t follow people when racing…I doubt that at 85 years old, and still going to the track, that he will start now. To NASCAR fans he looks like “The King”!
Autoweek Contributor Jerry Bonkowski Says:
• JB Says: There are individuals you meet once in your life and they will forever be a great memory etched in your brain forever. The King is one of those. He has always been the most gracious, accommodating and so generous with his time in the dozens of times I’ve interviewed him over the years. And the man has a wickedly good sense of humor on top of everything. Oh yes, one other thing: I’ve been fortunate to see him a few times (usually away from fans) without his trademark Charlie One Horse cowboy hat, another one of my favorite memories. And in case you’re wondering, he still has an almost full head of hair. I wish I could say that when—or if—I ever get to 85!
5 Biggest Surprises of 2022 F1 Season
Readers Say:
• deb9414: Love the photo of Hamilton winless; yet with that nose stud he paid $25,000 for each race he had it in.
• I am not sure it was the nose stud, I think it was ear rings that could interfere with the mandatory G-sensors around or near the ears. It’s kind of silly, take them out for an hour or two while racing – and keep the $25,000 per race!
• dpa5727: It’s not Hamilton’s fault the writers/editors use unrelated images to get clicks. I hope 2023 they put a little more effort in their craft. At least Autoweek lets us comment. Thanks.
• rth5023: Yep, he was not all that bright about what he said sometimes. A brilliant driver, make no mistake, but he could have saved the fines and donated the money to a charity …
• FranklinCain: Max won by such a margin with so many records — yet haters hate.
Autoweek Contributor Jerry Bonkowski Says:
• JB Says: I couldn’t help but laugh that so many readers focused on Lewis Hamilton’s nose stud (some incorrectly called it a “nose ring”). I mean, really, is that what many folks would consider one of the five biggest surprises of the 2022 season? Of course, Lewis is so rich that he gladly paid the $25,000 per race penalty assessed by Formula One instead of simply taking the nose stud out for the duration of each race. I totally agree with the comment by “rth5023” that Hamilton and F1 should have donated the $500,000-plus to charity if keeping the nose ring in his honker was that important. And as for Max Verstappen winning his second consecutive F1 championship in such dominating, record-setting fashion, I agree with “FranklinCain,” who is 100% correct when he said “haters hate.”
We also have had some great stories as part of our ongoing “NASCAR 75” series. Here’s some of our best most recent pieces, as well as outstanding reader comments:
NASCAR 75 Series: Curtis Turner Comes Back After Being Banned for Life
Readers Say:
• lovingnascar9: Still learning things I didn’t know. 28 down, 47 to go.
• markt-tb: red-flagged and still won 😮- that seems like it should be another article. Thanks for more history lessons.
8 Craziest Venues to Host NASCAR Cup Series Races
Readers Say:
• tha8835: Good list, but why leave out the airport courses (Florida, New Jersey, Washington, etc.), horse racing tracks (including the first visit to Vegas), the Tucson Rodeo Grounds, and the incredible 1.5 mile Memphis-Arkansas Speedway dirt track. Back in the day, Big Bill France would book just about anything that could pay him for the privilege.
NASCAR Goes Truckin’, Debuts National Touring Series for Pickups in 1995
Readers Say:
• lovingnascar9: I love reading people’s comments that were there in the beginning. We learn so much about things we wouldn’t otherwise know.
• Motionman: I had a 95 F150 in the Paxton booth at SEMA (one of three I had there that year) all done up like the new racers right down to my Ontario license plate—NASTRK!!
The Death of NASCAR Superstar Fireball Roberts
Readers Say:
• leongeorge: I was a preteen in the ‘60s, growing up in Richmond, Va. My brother and I used to save our Popsicle sticks. We’d write the names of our favorite NASCAR driver on the stick then on rainy days we’d race them down the street gutter if there were no cars parked. First one to the sewer won the race–unless you crashed by going down the sewer. Fireball was always my driver. I honestly don’t remember playing again after he died.
• D. Smithee: The very definition of “Before the Internet”. Charming story.
Follow Autoweek contributor Jerry Bonkowski on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/JerryBonkowski
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