Buddy Baker

yellowperil · 08-11-2015, 04:02 AM

Gone. First guy over 200mph on closed circuit. I liked him. Could talk the talk and walk the walk.

s_morrison57 · 08-11-2015, 05:53 AM

Always liked Buddy, he was the unconventional NASCAR driver in my mind, could have been his size that drove that opinion but I was a fan of his, sad news.

RIP Buddy

Aragorn · 08-11-2015, 07:52 AM

Buddy was from the old Nascar school. Drivers like Benny Parsons, Harry Gant and Neil Bonnett. They enjoyed racing hard and winning. Less corporate and more down to earth.

I started watching races in the late eighties early 90's on TNN and CBS, and the announcers were usually Buddy Baker, Ned Jarrett, Neil Bonnett and Benny Parsons. They all had a good grasp on why the drivers were doing what they were doing on track and were able to tell the viewer about it in simple terms. They didn't need catch phrases and whizbang graphics to keep the viewer interested. All they needed was their knowledge of the sport.

Every time a watch a Nascar race today, I think back to the way the coverage and racing used to be. With the passing of Buddy Baker, the Nascar of old creeps gently into the history books and fades from the memories.

yellowperil · 08-11-2015, 11:25 AM

DaveE · 08-11-2015, 02:15 PM

Back when they used real cars. I liked that era.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

jcommin · jcommin's Garage

^ this.

Ferraripete · Ferraripete's Garage

buddy was a very good guy. I spent a bunch of time with him in 1989. he was a real good wheel and a superspeedway master...in the days where going 200 at tona or dega was really hairy!!!!

many don't know but buddy owned a gold 930 turbo. tears ago I had driven my guards red 930 to the charlotte infield during the 600 week and there was buddy. he yelled to me, "peter did that use to be gold? cause if it was that was my old car!" I chuckled and said, "buddy, they did make a few of these..."

a gentle giant that could really drive!!! r.i.p.

mph911 · 08-12-2015, 12:35 AM

That's a cool story Ferraripete RIP - he really knew how to drive..

P.S. how many of you tried to click the play button on that Dodge photo? (I did)

Buckterrier · 08-14-2015, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aragorn

Buddy was from the old Nascar school. Drivers like Benny Parsons, Harry Gant and Neil Bonnett. They enjoyed racing hard and winning. Less corporate and more down to earth.

I started watching races in the late eighties early 90's on TNN and CBS, and the announcers were usually Buddy Baker, Ned Jarrett, Neil Bonnett and Benny Parsons. They all had a good grasp on why the drivers were doing what they were doing on track and were able to tell the viewer about it in simple terms. They didn't need catch phrases and whizbang graphics to keep the viewer interested. All they needed was their knowledge of the sport.

Every time a watch a Nascar race today, I think back to the way the coverage and racing used to be. With the passing of Buddy Baker, the Nascar of old creeps gently into the history books and fades from the memories.

I started a bit earlier Aragorn but your sentiments are shared.No stupid-ass boggity-bootigy. Hell that was even difficult to write. Just their knowledge and voices commanded attention. I got to say hello to Buddy on a plane before take off in NH. Buddy, Larry McReynolds, and Harry Gant were on the plane. Just a quick hello going to my seat. He was very pleasant.
I very rarely watch a crashcar race these days. As they wanted it's a show now not a race. NASCAR ruined NASCAR.