Transcript of The Fabulous Hudson Hornet | Full Documentary
Hagerty Drivers Foundation
0:00foreign0:01[Music]0:18was the Big Bang of NASCAR I really do0:21they build cars that one race is in0:24dominate0:251952 they won I believe 27 or 34 Races0:29they were in the car to be and they're0:31really wonderful to drive probably the0:33best handling car of the 50s they didn't0:35pitch and wallow it was at the beginning0:37of racing right it was a great time they0:39battled furiously for more than five0:41hours0:44is the oldest existing Championship car0:46that we can tell so tell us the story of0:48what happens to a racer it tells the0:51story of what happens to an orphan it0:53tells the story of a famous race car0:55driver0:57Thomas wins his third1:00herb was one of the best if not the very1:02best driver that's ever come through1:04Mexico part of the race history of1:07Hudson is the Pixar movie1:13that storyline of Doc Hudson in that1:16movie is very much the 92 story yeah1:19that car's movie is what put this car on1:21the map that people understand that1:23there was a car that was flat out1:25dominant in the early days of NASCAR for1:27one specific1:29fairly narrow Moment In Time1:33this was the best racer in the world and1:36this is the race car that kicked1:38everybody else's body1:51I don't think Hudson had in mind that1:54they were going to build a race car I1:56think what Hudson had in mind is how can1:59we come out with a fresh design how can2:01we maybe make a car a little bit cheaper2:04how can we make it safer2:07does the Motorcar Company was founded in2:101909 in Detroit by a group of relatively2:14young very spirited Engineers that had2:16come out of University of Michigan J.L2:19Hudson who owned Hudson's department2:21store in Detroit put up the money to get2:24the company started up till the 20s even2:26prior to the depression they were the2:29third largest manufacturer of cars in2:31the country at about 300 000 cars2:35of the Depression hit they went way down2:38in the early 30s but continued to build2:40cars up until World War II as War2:47the automotive industry performed the2:49miracle of conversion that helped still2:50German and Japanese war machine2:52everybody quit manufacturing cars and2:55started manufacturing tanks and jeeps2:57and warships and airplanes and so Hudson3:00didn't come out of the war with a big3:02chest like a lot of the larger companies3:05had3:05[Music]3:07during the war Hudson did have some3:09contracts with the federal government3:11other Independents like Studebaker Nash3:14Hudson had minimal contracts and I'm3:17sure that was helpful but not building3:19cars not marketing made a tremendous3:22difference to them in what resources3:24they had to use after the war3:28the reconversion of War plants to3:30peacetime Pursuits is going ahead at3:33full speed and once more the automobile3:35factories are humming as huge stamping3:37presses form the bodies of the first3:39automobiles produced since the spring of3:421942.3:44foreign3:461946 war was over they came out built3:50the same body that they did pre-war for3:54two years 46 and 47. everybody's racing3:58to the charge to get their car out there4:00they want to prove their car is4:02different and better so it really wasn't4:05until the late 40s when automobile4:09production resumed and people started4:12making new generation cars the 48 Hudson4:16introduced the new step-down model4:18[Music]4:21today if you ask them what is a Hudson4:24most people would recognize that stuff4:27down4:281948 body used through 1954.4:32[Music]4:36design was a unibody type construction4:39the frame goes around the back the frame4:42goes under this rocker panel you cannot4:45separate the body from the frame they4:48are our pole one4:50if you open the door you'll see step4:52down4:54as you get in you step down4:57into the floor normally the floor would4:59be right here but it dropped down5:00several inches5:02given a lower center of gravity making5:04it a tremendously great handling car5:06[Music]5:10obviously had kind of a beefed up six5:12cylinder engine in it Forward above what5:14they'd used in the 46 and 47 models and5:18continuing to try to develop that engine5:25stock car racing began really in the5:281930s it wasn't long before they started5:32drawing crowds and drawing more cars and5:34somebody figured out hey we can make a5:36living in it Louisville versus four5:39thousand two hundred fifty dollars for a5:41while in the late 1940s there was a5:44whole alphabet soup of stock car5:47sanctioning bodies and everybody was5:49sort of jockeying for a position and say5:51oh this guy's a champion of this and5:53this guy's a champion of that5:56[Music]5:57when NASCAR got started in 1948 they6:01were running pre-World War II modified6:03Coupes basically all 39 and 40 Fords and6:08the idea behind those is they were cheap6:11they were plentiful and they were very6:14easy to hop up and may go fast there6:16were mechanics there were guys like red6:18Vogue and Bob oseki who made speed parts6:22and built cars red vote would build cars6:26for drivers for Racers for the police6:30and for moonshiners and he always said6:33the guys who had the fastest cars were6:35the Moonshiners because they had the6:37most money and they knew as Junior6:39Johnson once famously said if you lose a6:42race you go home if you lose in a6:44moonshine car you go to jail6:47[Music]6:51Bill France wanted to start NASCAR with6:53the strictly stock division but there6:55weren't enough cars the American6:57manufacturers hadn't gotten up to speed6:59since World War II so he had to wait7:01till mid 1949 to bring the strictly7:04stock cars out7:06he knew that deep down inside everybody7:08knew that they could be a race driver if7:09they had a chance and he realized that7:11racing could be huge if you had a7:14uniform set of rules7:15he went to the people in the Northeast7:17the southeast he went out to a roadster7:19division out in Ohio just trying to get7:22everybody who was racing at the time to7:24come in on this deal here that's one7:27thing that gave Bill France an advantage7:28bill was a driver he had been burned by7:30promoters in the past bill France and a7:33group of promoters drivers mechanics he7:36worked with met at the streamlined hotel7:39in Daytona Beach in December of 19477:42because they figured they had to get7:44organized there was more money in it for7:47everybody if they were organized and7:49worked together and they all like the7:50idea and that's how NASCAR came about7:53[Music]7:58car oriented if you're Granddad had a8:02Ford dead Ford when you got big enough8:04you got it people didn't know Lee pitted8:07but then you were Hudson and then you8:08were Plymouth so they'd come to the race8:10and drive the Hudson to Grace or8:12Plymouth to the race and everyone then8:14it was good all week when they started8:16the strictly stock division in uh8:18mid-1949 then that's when you started8:21seeing all the new cars8:22all these cars don't look the same8:24anymore they all look different they're8:25all like the car I drive8:28so when we began to see new bodies new8:31engineering I think people got8:33interested they got excited you might8:36look and there might be 13 or 148:37different manufacturers racing you would8:40occasionally see Buicks Ford was racing8:44but I believe their first win was 1950.8:46Chryslers Oldsmobiles were big8:49competitors8:51[Music]8:54the first Supercar that Nascar ever had8:58was an Oldsmobile Rocket 88 man that9:00thing was a beast 1949-1950.9:04then the Hudson came along 51 that was9:06in the Roosevelt9:09in 51. the 48-49 design with tweaked9:13engine was improved Hudson decided to9:15Brand it with a new name something new9:17and something fresh they called it the9:20hornet9:22right now I'd like to see something you9:23want to remember9:26The Fabulous New Hudson hunt the car9:28that brings you Miracle H power in its9:31Sensational new high compression h-1459:33engine guests no one the Hudson Hornet9:36is the best news in motoring today9:38magnificent low Bill Beauty and more9:41room than any other car at any price9:43they sort of widened the block and9:46managed to get it up to 308 cubic inches9:49pretty close to a 5-0 Mustang today in9:52an inline six and that was the largest9:56six-cylinder Flathead available in those9:58days the car was fairly ahead of its10:02time as far as the way the car was10:03designed and they were doing that for10:05the street but it happened to work out10:06real well for racing you know at that10:09time we were in the six cylinder10:10Plymouth with 97 horsepower the Hudson10:13was rated at 145 horsepower the standard10:17Hornet engine here's another thing10:19you'll like about the brand new Hudson10:20Hornet that hit the track in 51 and all10:24of a sudden people realized that car is10:26fast that car can under the curves just10:30off the line the car was a real success10:37off the beat goes a man in a hurry and10:40that's partial Teague of course the10:42first time it really took attention was10:43the 51 Beach race in Daytona that was10:46the one that really made everybody stand10:47up and take notice Daytona on the beach10:49Marshall take Maybe One race with an10:51accident that's the first time we'd sing10:53a Hudson with the racer bill called me10:56on the phone in 1951 and said we had a11:00stock car race yesterday and Marshall T11:03won Daytona's Marshall Teague and I took11:05that's nice and I hung up and didn't do11:08anything about it for four or five days11:09and he called me back and he said what's11:12the matter with you aren't you going to11:13do anything about Marshall Pete he won11:15the race I said yeah I remember that but11:17I don't think it's very important to us11:19we don't build race cars we build11:21automobiles and he said well it's a damn11:23good one and you'd better get busy11:26and in fact in the early days the Hudson11:29Hornets were called Teague mobiles11:31Marshall11:38T was a natural-born engineer he was a11:41stickler for detail he was in the Air11:43corps during the war and he used that11:45same kind of preparation of aircraft to11:47the Hudson what happened was he had11:49gotten that 51 Hudson from the Milford11:50Brothers in Jacksonville if you look at11:52the pictures in 51 the whole front of11:54the car is taped up with masking tape11:56because that car had to go back to the11:58dealership and they were going to sell11:59it Michael Teague looks his car over12:01Marshall being the engineer he was he12:03was so enamored with a car the contacted12:06the Hudson Factory and the Hudson people12:08were very astute on what they were12:09building and always looking to make it12:11better and so they listened to him we12:14agreed to give Marshall a car and to12:16provide the parts for we agreed for him12:19to keep whatever he wants we didn't want12:21that Marshall peek at number six the12:23only thing we wanted was to be sure that12:25he won they began providing vehicles in12:2851 fatigue providing engines race parts12:33Not only was it a Hudson but he'd build12:36enough brand behind Hudson that even in12:38some of the Hudson archives it's called12:40The tigma People Marshall and I decided12:43we needed to put something on the car12:45and you're just a fabulous girl and I12:47said gee I think that's right that's12:49called The Fabulous12:53so we did12:55Marshall's brother Tommy who was kind of12:57a freelance artist he came up with that12:59logo in the design and he painted it on13:01there with temper paint in fact Mitzi T13:03talked about how she had a beautiful new13:05white coat and in the Victory Lane13:07pictures you can see where some of the13:09paint is smeared because she leaned up13:10against it with a coat she got that13:12paint all over her new coat she was13:13really upset about that13:15he started winning and that's when13:17people started really paying attention13:18it looks easy when he does Marshall T13:21Marshall13:26[Music]13:30Association of stock car auto racing13:32inspectors who certify that every13:35important detail of these cars is stuff13:37that every part is available to the13:40American public and listed in the13:42manufacturer's parts book for that car13:44and for that year13:47stock car was very much stock these cars13:49have not been souped up in any way13:51they're the same products as sold off a13:52showroom floor people for however it13:54came out of the dealership you couldn't13:56change the engine you couldn't change13:58the tires you couldn't change much it14:02was just strictly strictly stock every14:04car undergoes an eight-hour inspection14:06before being certified provide stuff if14:09they change one little nut and bolt on14:12the turbo14:13he outlawed us and we'd have to go back14:16again and so the drivers were clamoring14:19how can we improve speed how do we keep14:21the standard things from breaking and14:23the Way Hudson got around that was to14:25issue parts that were called severe14:27usage meaning you could use them in a14:29police car or you could order them for a14:32taxi cab and if you could order those14:33parts for police and you could order14:35those parts for taxi then you could put14:38those parts on a race car14:40we all know that these parts were built14:42for racing but Hudson had to show that14:44they're available for other cars it made14:47all the difference in the world bigger14:49axles bigger front spindles eventually14:52bigger engines different carburetor14:56setups the twin H the two carburetor14:59cars were definitely a result of the15:01NASCAR influence it was something that15:04nobody else had at that time when Hudson15:06done so they could advertise hey we got15:08a good family car here but it's also15:10good enough to room races then we know15:13it's good enough to be running on the15:15street so that was way ahead of the game15:17on there the Hudson was the right car at15:19the time I've always thought you may be15:22the greatest but if your car is not the15:24greatest you're not going to win15:27Hudson hired a guy named Vince Higgins15:30to run their NASCAR program he was just15:32brilliant he was part of that golden15:34team of people who knew exactly what15:37they were doing and did it very well he15:39had an engineering background and Vince15:41was the overseer of the program and15:45Vince cultivated relationships he was15:48the go-between between Hudson the15:51company and the racers and he made sure15:54the racers had what they need15:57they also hired Smokey eunuch to be Crew16:00Chief and develop the cars mechanically16:03smoking was a genius an irascible genius16:06but a genius nevertheless Smokey had16:09built quite a reputation as being a16:11great race Builder had found some unique16:13ways to get around some NASCAR rules and16:16he was quite proud of those everybody16:18used to talk about how he cheated he16:20said I didn't cheat I just did what16:22wasn't in the rule book and then they'd16:24find it and they put it in the rule book16:26Hudson had a great relationship with the16:28drivers but Marshall Teague is kind of16:30considered the person that started16:32company team racing he somehow figured16:35out how to make that work Marshall went16:37out got herb Thomas to join him daddy16:40happened to be relieved the points so he16:43was kind of drafted into a marshall16:46approach to they got together and sure16:49enough that was the beginning of Hudson16:51and daddy Here Comes Thomas in another16:53key car and by 52 oh man they were off16:56and gone herb towers are still ahead on16:57the beat Tegan taking funny flock for a16:59second17:01third Thomas brought a level of17:04professionalism and a level of driving17:06skill to the Hudson team that nobody17:10else had herb was one of the finest17:13natural drivers he saw these guys17:15running he said well hell if they can do17:18it I can do it17:20sure enough17:23watch verb Thomas as he Pilots his car17:25at Breakneck speed apparently he just17:27self-taught and it started coming to him17:30as he raced and he kept getting better17:32and better and better and then here17:34comes the Hudson and it was just a17:36perfect match once he got in that car17:38smoking eunuch and him were just about17:41unbeatable then he didn't like to listen17:42to people but he listened to smoking17:45if it was a big event and there was17:48going to be a new car like in Daytona or17:51Darlington Smokey would build that race17:53car and daddy would take it over17:55afterwards he worked on the car he was17:58the first owner driver champion in18:00NASCAR he was the first two-time18:02champion in NASCAR and the two years he18:05wasn't Champion he was second third18:07Thomas throws coal on the fire and Lead18:10puts it up the wall into the first turn18:12herb Thomas drove trucks in the Army in18:15World War II he came from a farming18:17family in a little town called Olivia18:19North Carolina18:21tobacco farmer18:23and he was a sawmill owner but he could18:25drive a race car like nobody else18:29I heard kind of fell into racing after18:30the war he ran modifies he took his18:33dad's Plymouth Granite I don't think Dad18:35knew18:36he did take his father's car and he won18:39some money I think he won like 2518:41dollars in a race he felt horrible about18:43it so he told his dad about it gave him18:46the money and then decided okay I can do18:49this he entered the first NASCAR18:51strictly stock race at Charlotte in 194918:53won races in Plymouth and Oldsmobiles18:56and then moved to the Fabulous Hudson18:59Hornet in 1951. he was competitive every19:03racetrack he went to Herb was kind of19:06guy that Strictly Business he didn't19:08party at night he went to the racetrack19:10to race19:12foreign took me uh seven hours19:16herb always said I got there in six19:19hours I mean no matter no matter how19:21fast you got there you know her was19:23always going to be the first one there19:25anyone would be the first one to leave19:26because he won the race19:29likely Petty he was a no-nonsense owner19:32driver he believed you either won or19:35it's not worth talking about19:38he never rested it was every day he went19:40after it they were a working couple and19:43nothing he had the support of my mother19:46and he could have never done this with19:47her she was a contributor19:50he wasn't somebody in there for the19:52glory he was not there for the publicity19:55he was there to win20:00today it really hasn't changed you have20:03some guys who are braggadocious and loud20:06and20:07confrontational and you have some guys20:09who all they want to do is go out and20:12play that's the famous team of the Funk20:15Brothers20:21the flock Brothers Bob foni and Tim had20:26very outsized personalities they were20:28guys who were very popular in band20:30favorites very outgoing and very20:33engaging guys like herb Thomas and Lee20:35Petty were more businessmen20:38Tim flock was more the face of Hudson20:41the company20:45Tim flock had a monkey in his race car20:47Jaco Flaco was the name of the monkey20:49Ted bought the monkey and had a20:51seamstress in Atlanta to sew this monkey20:54two real nice uniforms had his name put20:56on it got him a helmet with goggles and20:58Jocko's name on the roof of the car21:00facing the grandstand had this little21:03seat that was mounted next to Tim now we21:05didn't tell any of the drivers or21:06promoters or anybody about this monkey21:08going to be riding me in that first race21:10going down the back stretch some of21:12these drivers would look over here's21:13this monkey grinning at him looking out21:14the windows some of those cars almost21:16actually run into the fences we did21:18wonders for Hudson and the kids loved21:21them and they asked him and says where's21:22Jaco we missed Jacob he said sorry kids21:25I had to fire him I couldn't teach him21:26to sign his autograph21:30you know if you had a monkey like Jocko21:32riding with you they'd be awful popular21:33NASCAR was just crazy back in those days21:36you know anything to make a book21:38anything to promote the race anything to21:40make it fun21:42[Music]21:48was it still ahead on the beach but21:50Teague is taking funny block for a21:51second it was pretty cool growing up21:53with him21:54[Music]21:55and there was just trophies all over the21:57house I mean every room just had walls22:00of trophies22:01he was so quiet he would never talk22:04about it Daddy was just as happy making22:06a good crop with tobacco as I imagine he22:09was racing22:10if I wanted the stories and find out22:12what went on in those races and how he22:14got to where he was Grandma would tell22:16me everything22:18but I do know he knows it was important22:23we were heading down to the farm first22:25thing in the morning it's you know 5 3022:27in the morning and Grandma's riding22:29shotgun reading the newspaper my brother22:31and I in the back we're you know22:33probably 10 10 12 years old and somebody22:36came around him on the outside and22:40um we were in that 1970 Pontiac Grand22:43Prix and he just went wide open on it22:46holding it and Grandma's hitting him22:48with the newspaper Herbert he looks over22:51at Ernie hell he ain't had no business22:53passing me22:56well herb entered 131 races in his22:59lifetime and he won 43 of those in23:02Hudson's and if you check her's record23:04today he still has the highest23:06percentage of races won to races entered23:10and he didn't reset long either you know23:12he was out of there by 55 56 and there's23:15no telling where he could have gone if23:16he had uh stayed healthy23:19[Music]23:27when on Sundays sell on Monday23:29was the slogan that was created in the23:32early 50s23:34I would call the advertising agency23:36after the race the devil we won again23:38and they'd have an ad in the paper the23:40next day it kept us alive as a matter of23:43fact it increased ourselves immense way23:46see the U.S stock car champion at your23:49Hudson dealers now23:51yeah it's amazing to me how quickly23:53Hudson fell from being the King of the23:55Hill all those years and not only did23:58they win three straight championships it23:59came in second in points in those three24:02championships too I mean nobody could24:04touch him and for them to to be right24:06here and then to fall off the cliff24:08I just I don't understand it did not24:12change24:14its style and the style remained the24:17same for so many years they refused to24:19spend the money24:22The Hornet was a very successful a24:25Hudson vehicle there's no doubt about24:27that but you have to remember the24:29overall economy for the independence24:32during those early 50s all of them were24:35beginning to suffer so it was a tough24:38tough time in every year Hudson Hornet24:42sales declined some of the smaller24:44automakers Hudson being one of them24:46didn't have the financial resources to24:50develop technology as quickly as GM or24:54Ford or Chrysler24:56what Hudson did on the track was24:58impressive what they didn't do was25:00follow up25:03they didn't come out with a VA because25:05they didn't think they needed it it was25:07a flat head it had two one barrel25:09carburetors I mean it was as old school25:12as you could possibly get but it was old25:15school taken to its final resting place25:17or whatever you want to call it the last25:19days of old technology will always be25:21the first days of new technology the25:23Hudson still had the edge initially and25:26it caused buyers being conservative I've25:28had Hudson's before I I think I'm going25:30to stick with the Hudson until it became25:33inevitable couldn't compete and that's25:35really what sort of killed Hudson the25:37pressure of you know the expression I25:39could have had a V825:41wow I could have had a V825:44Ford came out with its overhead valve25:47engine and Chevy came out with his25:48overhead small block Chevy and that was25:50the end of it I mean that was the end of25:52Hudson competitively25:54a lot of people think Hudson Executives25:57didn't really understand25:59of what was happening in the decline in26:0253 Hudson tooled up and built a new26:05small car and frankly that market didn't26:07hit us until closer to the early 60s26:10imagine was in bad shape all along the26:13line26:15so Nash and Hudson got together and in26:18May of 1954 they merged and formed26:21American Motors Corporation26:22[Music]26:23it was the largest merger in corporate26:26history up until that point in time they26:30moved production to Kenosha Wisconsin26:32and they built cars there for three26:35years basically a Nash body Hudson and26:381957 then was the end of the mark26:42[Music]26:48[Music]26:49in their time in NASCAR won 79 races26:53herb Thomas won 39 of the 79 herb Thomas26:57sets a new record for the 250 miles it27:00must have been a Dusty three and one27:01half hours27:0351 at West Palm Beach Speedway in 195527:07the last victory Hudson I ever got and27:10then he changed to Chevrolet because27:11Hudson was going under27:16Vince pagans needed a new gig and he was27:19the perfect guy to launch Chevrolet's27:22Skunk Works program you know behind27:25closed doors at nollie Chevrolet in27:27Atlanta he would be the one that would27:29be responsible27:30for any racing influence that you see27:33there he had all that Knowledge from his27:35years at Hudson and he put it to good27:38use27:38[Music]27:40in a Chevrolet heard Thomas became the27:43first three-time Southern 500 winner27:47but really unfortunately his career came27:51to an end in 195627:54he got hurt at Shelby North Carolina in27:56a very controversial race he was leading27:58the points then and we had this guy key28:02Caper Mercury outboard motors and he was28:05strictly the first professional team28:07that came in he gave her was a guy who28:10took no prisoners you know he wanted28:11everything his way and he wanted to win28:13no matter what28:15he was behind on the points and we were28:18getting down to the end of the season28:19heike was able to buy an extra race from28:22Nascar he gave his two drivers Buck28:25Baker and Speedy an opportunity to28:27overtake her28:29somewhere during that particular race28:31herb had a bad accident28:34they were running one two three herb28:36speedy and buck and Speedy got into the28:39quarter panel of my grandfather car28:42rolled over and I think he was in a coma28:45for 30 days and fractured his skull and28:47nearly died there's no movies of it28:50there's some people who were there that28:51night who saw it but it's all their28:53interpretation even today people will28:55tell you there's no cut and dried answer28:57it all depends on who you talk to28:59somebody said yeah old herb he got taken29:01out by Speedy I know the folks didn't29:03know I was just a race in the accident29:05we'll never know29:08they really messed him all that and that29:10was the end of his career29:12so black did run those last couple races29:15got enough points to pass granddaddy29:17but he had 56 in the bag he had three29:20titles at that point probably been more29:22of a household name29:24if he had kept Racing for another four29:26or five years holy cow there's no29:28telling how far he could have gone29:30even though he did run some more races29:33it wasn't her Thomas29:35[Music]29:43there was a lot left in me29:44[Music]29:46I never got a chance to show him29:48Pixar came to the Nascar Hall of Fame29:51looking for an idea on what would be the29:54Supercar of the 1950s and we said it's29:57got to be the Hudson horse absolutely29:59have to be the Hudson Hornet30:01we wanted to have an older race car and30:04that character would serve two purposes30:05one to show a character that had left30:08the racing World behind it maybe had the30:10back turned on them from the racing30:11world but also could serve as a mentor30:13to Lightning McQueen30:16you know you look at that car and you30:18think well that's not that fast you know30:19Lightning McQueen calls him a grandpa30:21car just looks like a cool 50s car but30:24the car was dominant and I think a30:26younger person might look at that car30:28and go and a cool Grandpa car and not30:29realize the Legacy and the speed of this30:31car by humanizing the car and creating a30:35fun character that kids could relate to30:37it brought it together to where it's not30:40just an inanimate object that gets them30:42from point A to point B it was something30:44you could love so this is one way of30:46just getting them into the culture30:48people always say who's your favorite30:49character in Cars I get that question a30:52lot and I actually always do say Doc30:53Hudson and I'm not just saying that30:54there's a couple reasons one was it's30:57the last film that Paul Newman did a30:59voice for before he passed away so31:00legendary actor and Paul Newman probably31:03fancied himself more of a race car31:04driver than an actor if you would have31:05asked him31:06well I don't know I mean there are31:08things that are worth but racing is31:09something in all sense31:11it's personal and it's very very31:14individual and it's something that I do31:16and I have fun like you can't go back31:18and say well that was take one you know31:20and I'll try take two you know take one31:21is the only take we got here that's it31:23he wanted to do this movie he felt very31:26strong connection to the character of31:27DOC and as we took him in the studio to31:30record he looked at the lines we had31:31written he said ah no that's not that's31:33not actually what a racer would say and31:36our director John said what would you31:38say let this is just you what would you31:40say in this instance and literally that31:42character is Paul Newman all right you31:44can drive as good as you can fix the31:46road then you can win this race with31:48your eyes shut now get back out there31:51doc Hudson's character mirrored herb31:54Thomas's won a number of piston cups31:57retired because of a crash and that32:00brought back a lot of memories I said32:03dang I almost forgot about the Hudson32:04deal and how they dominated for two or32:07three years it took the hole with the32:09Old Hudson and brought it up to the new32:11step with a super boat so it filled in32:13all the gaps instead hey buddy you're32:16one gutsy Racer oh hey Mr the king you32:19got more talent and one lug nut than a32:22lot of cars have gotten their whole bike32:24I think there's more people knew Richard32:26Petty as Mr the king than to do with the32:29driving race car all these years I know32:31the kids do32:33it was a great story and it brought a32:36lot of kids into it that had no idea32:38what a Hudson Hornet was32:42Generations have seen The Cars Moving32:46Out and has kept the Hudson Hornet name32:48alive you know that adds to our passion32:50it adds to the people that are32:52interested32:53[Music]32:56herb Thomas is number 92 in 195233:00Fabulous Hudson Hornet has an33:03interesting history it appears to be the33:05final remaining actual Hudson Factory33:08sponsored Nascar car33:10I think one of the reasons why this car33:13is a Survivor is herp Thomas wrecked his33:17car in 1952 in the middle of the year so33:20this car was actually put into service33:22for the rest of the 1952 season it did33:25not go through a full season which is33:27probably one of the reasons why it's33:29here today33:30in end of July early August he came to33:33Detroit Hudson prepared another car for33:36him they prepared a financial note like33:38a promissory note and said you'll use33:41this car to race with at the end of the33:44period of time if it's sort of not used33:46up theoretically you would give it back33:48to Hudson33:50if you look at the race records you'll33:52find this particular car ran and won33:54first place five races33:58looking at this car this is the 30834:01cubic inch inline six cylinder that was34:04the Hudson Hornet engine attached to it34:07is the Dual carburetor Hudson called the34:11standard Hornet engine and H so when34:14they did the Dual carbs in 52 it became34:17a twin h and a hornet you would open up34:20the hood on that's exactly what you34:22would see the two bright red air34:24cleaners telling the world hey I'm a34:26twin h looking at the engine these are34:29studs instead of bolts that would have34:32screwed in and these are bigger than34:35what a normal stock car would have from34:38the outside of the engine that's the34:40only thing that might clue you in that34:41there's been something going on34:44inside the engine it really is quite34:46different compared to a stock engine34:49this is the 7x that was the title of34:52this severe usage engine this engine had34:55larger bore more relief on the valves34:58bigger valves different cam all kinds of35:03things that were changed probably this35:05one set up I would think at about 21035:08horse35:10down past the manifold the race engines35:13did split the exhaust into two pipes35:16thus two exhaust pipes coming out the35:18side of the engine the stock regular 30835:21engine had just be one single exhaust to35:24the back of the car35:26this car is equipped with not only the35:28three-speed transmission but has an35:30overdrive race cars would use overdrives35:33or an automatic transmission depending35:35upon the length of the track the type of35:37track herb Thomas did use some automatic35:41transmissions it would depend upon the35:43race35:44Hudson had what's called a wet clutch so35:46instead of the normal kind of surface to35:49a clutch Hudson used a court clutch35:52unlike any other car and that core35:54clutch ran in oil people wonder how that35:57could ever work it's a very smooth nice36:00shifting clutch it works beautifully so36:03as a race car a stock car a latch that36:06would be under the hood and variably36:07would break in the middle of a race that36:10car put it up how can he see the drive36:12another Hood slides up it's Charles36:14Dixon from North Carolina the reverse36:16few things you could do to modify the36:18vehicle one of the things you could do36:19was unhook the latch and use the bungee36:22cord over the hood ornament and this36:24will be common on Hudson or any other36:26race car the bungee cord was developed36:29as part of a World War II so it is real36:32and they use that on the race cars pop36:35that off get under the hood quickly36:39the hood ornament on the car is a36:41standard Hudson hood ornament they use36:43the white triangle from 1909 until they36:47stopped building cars in 57. very36:50distinctive Mark of Hudson Hudson and36:53all manufacturers had a problem with the36:56wheels breaking imagine going around36:58those Corners high speed they would just37:02disintegrate so what they really did was37:04they took two rims and welded a second37:07rim on top it won't surprise you you37:10could order that as a severe usage part37:13because you would want that on your taxi37:15cab you'd want that on your police car37:18NASCAR said you couldn't change tire37:20size37:21so if you want to change tire size on a37:23stock car you would have to get the37:25manufacturer to offer a larger size37:28option on the standard vehicle the gas37:32tank door is missing on the back37:33obviously if you're racing you want to37:36have the best opportunity to get gas in37:39it so this was one of the things that37:41NASCAR allowed you to do late 53 5437:44Hudson created a larger gas tank for37:47severe usage Vehicles the Hudson37:50trademark lower body design required37:53that the frame go around the tire37:56so to get the tire off there's37:59additional panel that Clips on here38:02covers the tire but again for racing38:05they could leave that off to have easier38:07access they were allowed to add attack38:10to the dash to allow the driver an38:13opportunity to know when to shift no38:16radio in this car would have been38:17ordered from factory radio delete no38:20reason to have those Creature Comforts38:23one of the other thing you could do38:24while racing was remove the back seat38:26back seats were not bolted down it just38:29kind of sits there with a Hudson they38:32just sort of snapped in place so as a38:34safety factor that is one thing that38:36NASCAR did let them do38:38you can imagine if you're racing and you38:41end up upside down it's not unusual to38:44see a race photo with the seats out the38:46windows yeah it was dangerous sport the38:50only real evidence of racing is when you38:54look in the back seat you can see where38:55the drive shaft came loose at some point38:58and came up through the floor tunnel39:01[Music]39:03this racing days the cars just ended up39:06in the hand of a regular citizen in39:09Kentucky39:10Jack Miller who ran the last surviving39:14Hudson dealership used to sell parts all39:16over the country39:17so people would call this phone number39:20in Ypsilanti and they would get the39:23parts they needed to put their Hudson39:25back together39:27the owner called and said you know I39:30need brake parts I need seals I need39:33everything to kind of do a brake job on39:35this car I want to get it going again39:37Jack said sure I can do that so Jack39:39pulled together all the normal pieces39:41that you would send for a 52 Hudson39:43Hornet the person called back and said39:46none of these fit these are not the39:47right seals and so it became obvious at39:50that point to Jack that this car had39:53severity pieces on it Jack told him he39:56was interested in it Ten Years Later the39:58gentleman called and said ready to sell40:00it to you jack bought it still not40:02knowing what it was or that it was real40:05Jack Miller had been given all the40:08Hudson racing data from American Motors40:10and that note that herb signed was still40:13in Hudson's archives and once the car40:15got here Jack compared that car to the40:18serial number on the note and lo and40:21behold it's the second part of the40:23Season 52 herb Thomas Carr40:26[Music]40:30my car about 10 years before he even40:33started it and I think the restoration40:36was somewhere around five years after40:39that Jack had a lot of help in the40:41restoration he sent it out to be painted40:44when they began to remove the paint from40:46the top there was their markings of the40:4992.40:49[Music]40:52the end40:54the inch so if the fabric has all been40:55replaced40:58when it came the car did not have its41:00original engine Jack had built a 7x and41:03we put the 7x in it you know the engine41:05in a race car would have been changed41:07five or six times anyway he was a you41:11know quite confident mechanic so a lot41:13of the work and putting it back together41:15Jack did all that and finished it I41:17believe in the late 90s41:20he continued to sell cars out of here in41:23the 80s and 90s this was his passion and41:26then to see him convert that passion41:28into the Ypsilanti Auto Heritage Museum41:30to really make it into something lasting41:33is really honoring him41:36[Music]41:45when Jack's Health began to decline he41:48was looking for another curator for the41:50car I stepped to the plate for about a41:53five-year period of time you know41:54learning its history taking it to shows41:58and that Hudson Hornet is a is a big42:01drawing card to the Ypsilanti Auto42:03Heritage Museum people want to come see42:06a real Doc Hudson42:09[Music]42:12about five years later gentleman comes42:14into the museum with one of his42:16grandsons and they hit upon the Hudson42:18Hornet Al recognized it his grandson42:21recognized it42:24balance on the autism spectrum and so42:26we're always looking for ways to connect42:28with him and ways to bring him you know42:30out of his shell and and help him pursue42:33interest when he was really young it's42:35hard to get him to focus on anything for42:37any length of time but we knew he was42:40always interested in cars and then when42:42my son told us about this movie Cars my42:46wife Eve and I we probably have watched42:49this movie with him I don't know 100 20042:52times and it's really helped him because42:55these cars had a personality and where42:58he maybe had some challenges relating to43:01people he really could relate to the43:04cars I really think it had a dramatic43:07impact on his development I think it43:09improved things a lot for him and so I43:11brought my grandson here and put him in43:13the car and he got the biggest most43:15genuine smile in the world on his face43:17the smile on Alan's face was I mean he43:21was glowing and I thought to myself I've43:24got to own this car43:28he reached out to me and I all said I43:31really want to buy a couple of these43:32Hudson Hornets I really like them I43:34didn't want it to leave the museum I43:36became kind of attached to it we kind of43:38became friends and got to know each43:40other and then I ultimately ended up43:42acquiring the car finally we came to a43:44point where I agreed to send the car to43:47auction he guaranteed me that he would43:49buy it and uh also guaranteed me that43:52when he bought it he would return it to43:54the museum and I knew him well enough at43:57that point I felt I could trust him to43:59do all that and he has over performed44:02this car belongs here right this is its44:05home it should always be in the Hudson44:07Museum he's doing great things with it44:09it'll get out for the public to see and44:12it couldn't be a better transfer than it44:14is with the current owner44:16it Remains the most beautiful and iconic44:18NASCAR race car of the early 50s44:20handstand it's the kind of car that just44:23puts smiles on people's faces44:28this car is so important to Alan this44:31movie is so important to our families44:32it's just a way for them to connect and44:34a way for them to spend time together on44:37something that they're both interested44:38in44:39[Music]44:41it really was a stock car right it was a44:45street car that they were taken out on44:46the racetrack right and so it blows me44:49away when I sit in that car compared to44:52a real race car there's no comparison45:08yeah45:10well you sure ain't no dirt boy one of45:13the biggest things that doc teaches45:14McQueen is about racing on dirt and he45:16basically said you really want to be a45:18racer you have to raise some dirt not45:20all my tricks rookie racing on dirt is45:23about getting with your environment and45:24feeling what's underneath you I'll put45:26it simple if you're going hard enough45:28left you'll find yourself turning right45:31if you want to really pop out and get45:33metaphorical about what that is it's45:34kind of saying you know if you want to45:36make progress in life you're gonna have45:37to do some things that don't seem45:38logical you're gonna have to do some45:40things that are out of your comfort zone45:41but if you do there's a reward45:44we've got to admire those people that45:47took the chance and the Hudson Motor45:49Company took a chance and said let's try45:51and it worked for them45:58for all practical purposes this car46:01should be gone46:03I mean it raced on a racetrack it46:06shouldn't have survived it's amazing46:08it's being treated like royalty which it46:10is there's no other Championship car46:12this old that still exists and the fact46:15that it survived at all is remarkable46:18that's exactly how it would have looked46:19on the grid in 1952 and just exactly46:22like that it's taking it right back in46:23time before his first ding before the46:26sand pitted the Chrome it's just46:28beautiful46:29it's fascinating that this is the only46:32cup raced hornet in existence46:34considering in the early Southern 500s46:37those early 50s they were starting 70 7546:41cars and 30 of them were Hudson Hornets46:44so I guess they just ended up in uh46:46scrap yards you know nobody knew that46:48this was the beginning of something46:50really big now we're 75 years into the46:52sport and there's one of these left46:55it's a little like the Babe Ruth46:58baseball cards right the kids used to47:00take it put them in their bicycle spokes47:02nobody was thinking about saving them so47:04you know what makes these cars and this47:06car kind of special is these NASCAR47:09racers just don't exist today they're47:10all gone47:12this car does matter this particular one47:15causes the history that it has it's just47:18a fantastic car needs to be preserved I47:21think we look at ourselves as caretakers47:23you just hang on to this for the Next47:25Generation47:26it's people I think it's vital that you47:29keep that history alive if we didn't47:31have history we wouldn't be and it's all47:33related we're now entering a phase right47:37where the internal combustion engine is47:39going to be history at some point47:42it's important that future Generations47:45get to know these cars understand these47:47cars know what's different about them47:50here at the Museum we allow people to47:52sit in the Hudson Hornet especially the47:55youngsters we want them to be involved47:58to get the kids into the car we think is48:00important to us what's it feel like to48:02ride in the fabulous48:04it's like an airplane to ride48:07I feel like I'm flat Oh Thomas holder of48:09the track record moves up it's not about48:12the bits and pieces it's about the48:14people it's about putting together the48:16entire package herb Thomas Smokey eunuch48:19Vince pagans and The Fabulous Hudson48:21Hornet were the first example of the48:24whole package they transformed the sport48:27that immortalizes them that makes them48:30live forever it's funny because herb48:33never sought attention if you want to go48:35out and race and he wanted to win he48:37never sought to be a role model or a48:39superstar or anything else like that but48:42his career through Doc Hudson the48:45character became an inspiration for48:47millions of kids do you think this could48:49go faster than the car you came here in48:51today yes it can it's a race car48:57Thomas has brought number 92 to the pits49:00under49:01his and his crew goes to work Thomas49:03wants to run again49:05Smokey eunuch is a fighting mechanic who49:07isn't going to throw away all that free49:08race effort without a fight49:12this is racing again it may not look49:14pretty but it can run and run fast the49:17Thomas and his mechanic it's the most49:19wonderful sight in the world49:21there's so much about her career that's49:23so important he's on every list 5049:26greatest drivers but he has the highest49:28winning percentage of any driver people49:30remember him as a superstar but I think49:33they remember him as much as uh being a49:36good man you know with a kind heart49:39he's loved racing all the way to the end49:41he never missed a NASCAR race he was in49:44that recliner every day he'd listen to49:46it on the radio and watch it on TV and49:49that's how I got into it the fact that49:51I'm kind of following the steps drag49:53racing I run his number on the car which49:55the first time I ever ran his number I49:58actually made it to the finals in all50:00three classes that I entered and won one50:02of them50:03I've been running number 92 ever since50:07that was surreal to be inside that car50:09it's three on the tree clutch on the50:12left side gauges that I don't even know50:14smells like a 1950s car50:18I just wish he was around today to see50:20this car50:21you know he'd want to get in it and take50:23it for a ride50:25he didn't know what he was doing back50:27then was going to be this big nor did we50:29ever think this car would be such an50:31iconic piece of American History so yeah50:34I'm just humbled to be a part of it50:37for its success fine art as it was in50:40that narrow window of three or four50:43years it was the very best50:46you can't look at this like 195750:49Hudson's out of business the history is50:51over this tree lives on it continues50:54through the cars that still exists today50:59[Music]51:11oh51:18[Music]51:29[Music]51:50foreign51:53[Music]
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