MotorSports
Jun 17, 2025
  • Motorsports News
  • Formula 1
  • IndyCar
  • NASCAR
  • Rally
  • SportsCars
  • Touring
  • WEC
Font ResizerAa
MotorSportsMotorSports
Search
  • Categories
  • Forums
  • More Foxiz
    • Blog Index
    • Sitemap
Sign In Sign In
Follow US
Made by ThemeRuby using the Foxiz theme. Powered by WordPress
Former president Jimmy Carter was a real, hardcore race fan
SportsCars

Former president Jimmy Carter was a real, hardcore race fan

By Miles Cooper March 13, 2025
SHARE
- Advertisement -

Former president Jimmy Carter was a real, hardcore race fan

It’s been almost three months for the reason that passing of president Jimmy Carter. The thirty ninth president, was quite a lot of issues in his time exterior of the White Home — farmer, southern gentleman, Georgia governor, staunch humanitarian, and because it seems, a racing fan. 

Shortly after his passing, IMSA had posted a clip of an interview it had accomplished with the previous president about ten years prior, the place he talks about his slightly surprising household custom making a giant journey to see the 12 Hours of Sebring in Sebring, Florida.

 

It was a reasonably hardcore household affair for the Carters. Sweetly, the previous president reminisces about attending the 12 Hours of Sebring together with his late spouse of almost eight many years, Rosalynn — would take heed to one of many 33 RPM data they bought on the race filled with tracks (sounds, not asphalt) that includes the engine noise of vehicles within the race.  When it got here to race day, the 2 would flip their heads away and quiz each other on which automotive was about to fly previous them on Sebring’s bumpy, unforgiving floor. 

He describes the engine sounds of the Italian producers Ferrari and Maserati V10s to be clean “like stitching machines,” — in comparison with a Chevrolet Corvette’s V8, which sounded to him like a John Deere tractor. 

 

It is no shock Carter got here up a racing fan: as a Georgian, he was born in NASCAR nation. He labored as a ticket vendor at his “residence monitor,” Atlanta Motor Speedway when he wasn’t attending races. Afterward, he hosted NASCAR greats on the Governor’s Mansion in Georgia whereas in workplace, and within the White Home in 1978. (Technically, Rosalynn Carter did the internet hosting; President Carter was within the midst of peace talks at Camp David.) It was the achievement of a promise he made to himself whereas campaigning for Governor in 1970. In response to NASCAR, after attending a NASCAR driver assembly that yr, Carter informed his spouse: “If I’m elected, I’m going to have these guys out to the mansion the primary time I get an opportunity.”  He actually adopted by.

Whereas presidents through the years have made their love of sports activities identified, racing will not be one which usually tops the listing. Each as soon as in an amazing whereas, a couple of presidents or vice presidents will make transient appearances at a few of the greatest US race occasions of the season. However many occasions, these are transient, and generally solely appearances.

As I, myself, traveled over 20 hours from Michigan to Florida for the 12-hour race at Sebring this weekend, I typically considered Carter and his personal lengthy household highway journeys from Georgia to the mid-Florida city to understand the identical factor we, too, respect after we’re standing trackside. The hours he spent listening to the data in preparation — the hours he spent on the highway together with his household — and the hours he spent trackside, having fun with each automotive that handed, similar to all of us do at the moment (and can this weekend). He was certainly one of us.

I additionally ponder if I’ll ever be pretty much as good as he and Rosalynn have been at recognizing vehicles by their sound. I truthfully suppose he would nonetheless faculty me on that one.

Learn Additionally:

On this article

Lalita Chemello

NASCAR

IMSA

Be the primary to know and subscribe for real-time information e mail updates on these subjects

Subscribe to information alerts

- Advertisement --
TAGGED:CarterFanhardcoreJimmypresidentracetrue
Previous Article The uncommon NASCAR firm Christopher Bell would be a part of if he wins 4 in a row The uncommon NASCAR firm Christopher Bell would be a part of if he wins 4 in a row
Next Article Tsunoda able to pay it ahead and assist rookie Hadjar settle into F1 Tsunoda able to pay it ahead and assist rookie Hadjar settle into F1
Leave a Comment Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


- Advertisement -
Get Ready for the Thrill: Le Mans 24 Hours Test Day Unveiled!
Get Ready for the Thrill: Le Mans 24 Hours Test Day Unveiled!
WEC
Rev Up Your Engines: Exciting Racing Awaits in Mexico City!
Rev Up Your Engines: Exciting Racing Awaits in Mexico City!
NASCAR
Thrills and Tension: The Unforgettable Drama of the South African Safari Rally
Thrills and Tension: The Unforgettable Drama of the South African Safari Rally
Rally
Unleashing the Thrill: Meet the Teams of the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge!
Unleashing the Thrill: Meet the Teams of the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge!
SportsCars
BMW M5 Touring Takes the Spotlight as Safety Car at Romanian Retro Racing Event!
BMW M5 Touring Takes the Spotlight as Safety Car at Romanian Retro Racing Event!
Touring
Exciting Sunday Primetime Showdown: Bommarito Automotive Group 500 Takes Center Stage on FOX!
Exciting Sunday Primetime Showdown: Bommarito Automotive Group 500 Takes Center Stage on FOX!
IndyCar

Categories

Archives

March 2025
MTWTFSS
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31 
« Feb   Apr »

You Might Also Like

Ford commits to Le Mans return for outright victory with LMDh bid
SportsCars

Ford commits to Le Mans return for outright victory with LMDh bid

By Miles Cooper January 31, 2025
ACO pronounces modifications at Circuit de la Sarthe for the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours
SportsCars

ACO pronounces modifications at Circuit de la Sarthe for the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours

By Miles Cooper October 30, 2024
Unusual, humorous and absurd: The NASCAR race names you need to see to imagine
NASCAR

Unusual, humorous and absurd: The NASCAR race names you need to see to imagine

By Miles Cooper December 27, 2024

Full 2025 Rolex 24 at Daytona entry list

By Miles Cooper April 5, 2025
Numbers that reveal McLaren’s true benefit
Motorsports News

Numbers that reveal McLaren’s true benefit

By Miles Cooper March 25, 2025
Rolex 24 drivers have very mixed feelings about Daytona’s changed Bus Stop
SportsCars

Rolex 24 drivers have very mixed feelings about Daytona’s changed Bus Stop

By Ethan Riley April 14, 2025

MotorSports-News

@2024 – All Right Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?