Sam Posey and Skip Barber

[widgeon13]

I've always liked Lime Rock track. They dedicated the front straight to Sam Posey back in March. This is just a few comments from these guys.

(Sam doesn't look real healthy, not sure how old he is) Hope he is better that he looks.

[bkreigsr]

Sam's got Parkinson's Disease - couple of years now.
If you didn't know, he's got an Engineering degree from Brown and he designed the tower/pagoda at start/finish
(treat yourself to his book on model trains)
Bill K

[tevake]

That is cool that he feels so good about the naming of his straight! Sorry to see that he doesn't look well.
Did anyone catch his comments about Porsche in the road and track magazine in the 911 anniversary issue? It was really quite the statement!

[widgeon13]

Thanks, not aware he was ill.

[speedy72911t]

It seems to me that my wife and I first started noticing signs of his disease during his F1 commentary a good ten years ago. We always assumed it was Parkinson's disease but nobody could ever confirm it. IMO he's is an important part of both Limerock's history and Amercian sports car racing history.

My favorite Posey moment is probably during his commentary of LeMans at about 3:00 am after he had just stepped outside the booth to relieve himself. You had to be "there" but it was just classic Posey. Hobbs completely lost it.

What did he say about the 911? I didn't see that.

[Zeke]

Being in my late sixties I have followed racing for a long time. I mean I remember names like Sam Hanks and Wolfgang Von Trips on the track. I know Posey was around in the 70's in the hey day of Trans Am and Can Am. But I never understood his popularity unless it was because of his commentary. I tend to agree with this:

"Noted CART journalist Robin Miller was known for poking fun of Posey, once going so far as to say that Posey "talked much better than he ever drove."- Champ Car Magazine, October/November 1999"

No doubt a great honor to have the Lime Rock straight named Posey. I hope it wasn't for his monologues before Indy and some F1 races. The drama is in the action, not the words. Although I think he did say something recently to the effect that you don't know anything about the actual feeling of driving a top tier race car unless you're in it. He wasn't being dramatic.

I'd have to agree with that.

[Doug E]

Nice guy, spoke to him a few times at Lime Rock. Good to see a piece of the track named after him.

+1 on his model train book ... neat story !

[Buckterrier]

Sorry Widgeon I didn't see your thread and started another on this vid. The sign frontage is now black with Sam Posey Straight in white lettering. I saw it at the ALMS races this past weekend.
He's had Parkinsons for at least 18 years now. He lost his job at ABC because of the twitches. He was 50 when he got the disease.
I also got to listen to and talk with Mr. Posey at LRP. He is a very interesting man.

[TimT]

I've met Sam a few times, and he is a genuinely nice guy, soft spoken, but very eloquent in his delivery...

It is quite telling when Skip mentions they don't name things at LRP but.....


A must see is:

The Secret Valley of Racing Sam has some things to say, covering the history of Lime Rock..

[speedy72911t]

Originally Posted by Zeke

"Noted CART journalist Robin Miller was known for poking fun of Posey, once going so far as to say that Posey "talked much better than he ever drove."- Champ Car Magazine, October/November 1999"

No doubt a great honor to have the Lime Rock straight named Posey. I hope it wasn't for his monologues before Indy and some F1 races. The drama is in the action, not the words.

Drama is only in action, not words? Never read a good book? His voice has lost strength but we always looked forward to some of his intros back in the Speedvision days. Some were better than others but a few were truly great and set the stage for the entire production.

As for that jackass Robin Miller. Posey does not have the records of Mario Andretti but he was in the middle of it for the glory days. He did drive it all and had some success. He won Sebring and had some success at LeMans. A 3rd I think? Drove in the US Grand Prix once or twice as well. Not many of us, and certainly not that dip**** Robin Miller, can say that.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by speedy72911t

Drama is only in action, not words? Never read a good book? His voice has lost strength but we always looked forward to some of his intros back in the Speedvision days. Some were better than others but a few were truly great and set the stage for the entire production.

As for that jackass Robin Miller. Posey does not have the records of Mario Andretti but he was in the middle of it for the glory days. He did drive it all and had some success. He won Sebring and had some success at LeMans. A 3rd I think? Drove in the US Grand Prix once or twice as well. Not many of us, and certainly not that dip**** Robin Miller, can say that.

Well, it is my personal opinion not just Miller's. As I said, I was there at Riverside a few years when he was driving. You're right, he was no McLaren or Donohue. He is well spoken and intellectual. I just never liked him.

Is that OK with you?

Oh, and on the book thing, yes I've read some books where I actually felt something. Most notably Tom Wolfe. I don't get much out of Tom Clancy and that genre. But to suggest that Posey is anywhere close to a great writer is silly.

"Setting the stage" is one of TV's stupidest gimmicks ever.

"What do you think today's story line is going to be, Bob?"

"Well, Vettle is the man to beat today, but the advantage that the Mercedes has on the long straights could produce some interesting and quite surprising results. Steve?"

On come on, drop the freakin' flag and let the engines do the talking and the drivers put on the show. I don't give a rat's ass who raced there a century ago. I don't need any metaphors about the leaves turning colors as the season grows long in the tooth.

Stand on the ****in' gas.

[Buckterrier]

Thanks Tim for the link I just purchased the DVD. Interesting for those that watched the vid that Skip says it's the fastest road course in the US. He isn't talking about slugs like me LOL. My top lap around LRP is 77 mph, 80 mph around the Glen . How terrible are those numbers Who cares I had a blast!!!!

[Buckterrier]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Well, it is my personal opinion not just Miller's. As I said, I was there at Riverside a few years when he was driving. You're right, he was no McLaren or Donohue. He is well spoken and intellectual. I just never liked him.

Is that OK with you?

Oh, and on the book thing, yes I've read some books where I actually felt something. Most notably Tom Wolfe. I don't get much out of Tom Clancy and that genre. But to suggest that Posey is anywhere close to a great writer is silly.

"Setting the stage" is one of TV's stupidest gimmicks ever.

"What do you think today's story line is going to be, Bob?"

"Well, Vettle is the man to beat today, but the advantage that the Mercedes has on the long straights could produce some interesting and quite surprising results. Steve?"

On come on, drop the freakin' flag and let the engines do the talking and the drivers put on the show. I don't give a rat's ass who raced there a century ago. I don't need any metaphors about the leaves turning colors as the season grows long in the tooth.

Stand on the ****in' gas.

Wish you could meet him Milt. He is such a mello individual, at least now. No he wasn't Mario, (the best EVER, IMHO), but he brought prospective in his commentary. He spoke his mind in a time when it wasn't necessarily a good thing. His voice is classic.
But I hear ya, I don't like Eddy Cheevers.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Buckterrier

Wish you could meet him Milt. He is such a mello individual, at least now. No he wasn't Mario, (the best EVER, IMHO), but he brought prospective in his commentary. He spoke his mind in a time when it wasn't necessarily a good thing. His voice is classic.
But I hear ya, I don't like Eddy Cheevers.

Hah! You saw my post before I edited if within the 2 minute time limit. Yes, I did mention some disdain for EC. I'd have to say if I had the chance to meet one of the two, I'd pick Sam Posey over and over.

And if he's as outspoken as you say, well then he's kindred spirits. There was a show months or so ago where Posey was on the set with Varsha, Hobbs and Matchett. He did seem interesting and I noticed how the other 3 differed to him as quite the spokesman for the sport. Now to me, that call goes to Hobbs and Varsha hands down.

I don't think Posey has ever been mean spirited in his outspokenness. Robin Miller, yes. But the king of that is Tom Sneva. He lasted a couple of years in the broadcast booth and they had to move him along. I thought he was hilarious in the way he attacked less than stellar drivers.

But I digress.

[MDH]

I've always enjoyed Sam's commentary......
like when he used to stick it to Uncle Bobby...
Did you know Eddie Cheever's middle name is Undera.

[Zeke]

Well, we are really drifting OT from what is Posey's day in the sun. But underacheeving is not the same as not much talent. He never was an underachiever, he was a mid pack racer and that was his best.

[speedy72911t]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Well, it is my personal opinion not just Miller's. As I said, I was there at Riverside a few years when he was driving. You're right, he was no McLaren or Donohue. He is well spoken and intellectual. I just never liked him.

Is that OK with you?

Oh, and on the book thing, yes I've read some books where I actually felt something. Most notably Tom Wolfe. I don't get much out of Tom Clancy and that genre. But to suggest that Posey is anywhere close to a great writer is silly.

"Setting the stage" is one of TV's stupidest gimmicks ever.

"What do you think today's story line is going to be, Bob?"

"Well, Vettle is the man to beat today, but the advantage that the Mercedes has on the long straights could produce some interesting and quite surprising results. Steve?"

On come on, drop the freakin' flag and let the engines do the talking and the drivers put on the show. I don't give a rat's ass who raced there a century ago. I don't need any metaphors about the leaves turning colors as the season grows long in the tooth.

Stand on the ****in' gas.

Well I think you are shifting sideways but whatever, it's just a forum, not a courtroom. It also appeared to me that you were directly replying to me before, which is why I replied to you. Now I"m not so sure.

We obviously have a very different approach. For me knowing the history and how we got where we are today from the early days of post war racing is all part of the allure, fascination and respect. I read biographies of the those old drivers, histories of the manufactures and histories of the various series. In F1 Sam often did a great job of bringing all that together at the start of the race. No he's no Mark Twain, but he still brought something to the broadcast that I've missed.

I still say Robin Miller is a jackass. But then again, that's what his whole stick is based on these days.

[Buckterrier]

Originally Posted by Zeke

he was a mid pack racer and that was his best.

There's nothing wrong with that as far as I'm concerned and I don't think you do either Milt. You're just stating a fact, your opinion. He was an all around racer good enough to be at Indy, LeMans, Sebring, etc. Then add his other talents, architecture, writing, drawing, commentary. I certainly have none of those talents, (well I did hit a 1:10 at Lime Rock).
It would be interesting to hear his opinion on his racing career.

[MDH]

Sorry. No intent to hijack.
Just reacting to the previous posts.
I think it's great that Posey is receiving these honors for his achievements both on track and off...
He's always been near the top of the list of U.S. drivers, for me ( in no particular order )Posey, Gurney, Foyt, Revson, Hill, Donahue, Andretti, Hall...

[Buckterrier]

Originally Posted by MDH

Sorry. No intent to hijack.
Just reacting to the previous posts.
I think it's great that Posey is receiving these honors for his achievements both on track and off...
He's always been near the top of the list of U.S. drivers, for me ( in no particular order )Posey, Gurney, Foyt, Revson, Hill, Donahue, Andretti, Hall...

No hijack at all. A great list of American drivers, but you forgot Earnhart.