In 1992, Geoff Bodine was a stock car racing good ol' boy (albeit, one from New York). He was knee deep in being one of the best NASCAR drivers of all time. In fact, he hold a Guiness Record for the most wins by a racer in one season... 55 Modified wins.
But something else happened in 1992... Bodine was watching the Winter Olympics and saw something he didn't like. The American Bobsledding teams were struggling. Their equipment was all imported from Europe and they were having a hard time with it.
In bobsledding, the technology is VERY important. suspension, aerodynamics, even material durability and fabrication all play vital parts. And the international elite teams aren't sharing their best technology... it is a competitive advantage.
Bodine thought there was a place for American technology for American teams... and as a racer, he thought he might know some people that could help. The first call went to Bob Cuneo of Chassis Dynamics. They formed Bo-Dyn...
NASCAR is known around the world as the motorsport where drivers only turn left... but the Bo-Dyn has proven that they can make sleds that turn left AND right... VERY well.
The rumor is that next year, production will be moving to Concord, NC. Once there, they hope to pull in more support from other NASCAR competitors.
But there is something else that is interesting about the Bo-Dyn story. They GIVE these sleds away. And they are THE sleds to have. A Russian team came knocking, holding $100,000 to get one of the American state of the art sleds... they left without a sled. But for the American teams, they are free.
That is the other thing that Bodine was able to leverage for USA Bobsledding... sponsorship. American companies providing technical and financial support for American competitors.
The result is the "Night Train" with which American teams are competing at this years Winter Olympics.
Related articles by Zemanta
- With a Bobsledding Medal, The USA Has NASCAR to Thank (bleacherreport.com)
- How Car Racing Can Help You Win The Olympics [Winter Olympics] (jalopnik.com)
- Geoff Bodine's still pushing bobsled (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
Unless otherwise noted, all content of this blog is the property of Lane Bailey, ©2012 Lane Bailey.
I'd love to hear from you...
Lane - this is what I would call being positive about what you do and who you are even if, as a Canaadian, I am rooting for the opposition Go Canada Go!!!
Kudos to the Bodines * and their Bodine Bobsled Challenge for charity....2010 winner is Joey Logano * Gibbs Racing CUP driver....they should get THEIR name on their SLEDS!!!
The Bodine Bobsled Challenge was held on Mount Van Hovenburg in rural Lake Placid, site of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, and the 2009 World Bobsled Championships. The event is geared to create awareness and greater funding for the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project, Inc., which provides made-in-America bobsleds for the United States men's and women's national teams.
Lane - this is so interesting. Thank you for sharing the link between bobsledding and nascar. It goes to show that you never know where help will come from.
Lane, What a great American Story. If we don't take back the production of goods used here in America we will never recover the American Dream.
Lane, I saw the youg man from San Antonio on the news last night that was on the four man bobsled team a Gold Medel winner. Sorry I can't recall his name but I am sure the story will be in todays paper.
Thank you all for stopping by. The folks in NASCAR are patriotic... and they love a good challenge. They certainly are evening the playing field with some 'Good Ol Boy' technology...