Buddy Baker and the 1969 Dodge NASCAR drivers: where's Hollywood?

[Mike DC]

       
I get what you're saying.  That's true to an extent.  A lot of Hollywood's current $50 million dollar movies are really $25 million dollar movies with names & marketing added onto them.  (But a movie's marketing budget is usually talked about with a different statistic these days, separate from the direct production cost.  I think with "Herbie F/L" the $50 million bucks was just the direct production cost.)

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But you gotta remember that NASCAR fans are typically working/middle class, hetero, religious, and living in Red states.  Hollywood's market research software is programmed to automatically omit these groups from the statistics.

If we want a NASCAR movie to get made about the 1969 season, our best hope would be to write a story about a gay black driver who must overcome the sport's racism & confederate flags & homophobia.  Teaching bigoted hicks a lesson = Oscars.

         

[THE CHARGER PUNK]

i though richard petty left plymouht because of the charger 500?

[Ghoste]

The Daytona actually.  Fords extremely generous cash offer didn't hurt either.

[hemigeno]

The Daytona actually.  Fords extremely generous cash offer didn't hurt either.

I also read that the Pettys wanted the exclusive race/HP parts distributorship that Ray Nichels had at the time, and that this was part of the "package" that brought him back to Plymouth.

[Ghoste]

I hadn't heard that but it makes sense and certainly fits in timewise because that was exactly what he became around that time wasn't it?
Hard to believe they didn't hand it to him after 1967 without being asked.

[Crazy Larry]

But you gotta remember that NASCAR fans are typically working/middle class, hetero, religious, and living in Red states.  Hollywood's market research software is programmed to automatically omit these groups from the statistics.

If we want a NASCAR movie to get made about the 1969 season, our best hope would be to write a story about a gay black driver who must overcome the sport's racism & confederate flags & homophobia.  Teaching bigoted hicks a lesson = Oscars.

         

How true is that?! Now all you have to do is pitch it to someone in H'Wood and tack on a "based on a True Story" tag - you are now the current hot writer in movie land!

I always looked at Petty as being a bit of a downer this time in 1969 when the Daytona came into existence. That is why I like the cumulative story of all the Dodge drivers in 1969. It is one of the true NASCAR stories that doesn't include the name "Petty." Not knocking him, after all he did drive a Charger in 1972 - but it would be nice to see some of the other names like Buddy Baker, Richard Brickhouse, and Bobby Isaac get some big spotlight movie recognition for a change.

[69_500]

Well this topic sure went from a simple interview with some people to an all out Hollywood production. The whole task is definately do able that is true. Yeah it could be done for a lot less than $50 Million if you ask me. To me the prices of Hollywood movies are like the prices the White House puts out for their budget with $400 toilet seats and such. Much inflated from reality.

[69_500]

Something close to this will actually be shot here soon. It will be a sit down interview with many NASCAR drivers from the aero car era. Just to let you guys know.

[Ghoste]

Is there going to be anyone we know closely involved with the production??

[69_500]

Well its just more going to be a videotape of a few legends of the era sitting down and talking about that era. Hoping to get at least a 3 camera shoot of it.

[tan top]

awesome  , 

[WINGR]

Sounds great 69_500, can't wait.