Car and Track
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Car and Track was America's first nationally syndicated auto racing and car test television show. Produced by "Car and Track Productions", it was hosted by Bud Lindemann, a famous race commentator of the time.
It is believed to have run from 1967 to 1975, with 80 or more episodes originally airing on CBS. In later years, the cable televison station Speedvision (which in 2001 became the SPEED Channel), aired re-runs from approximately 1996 to 2002. In 2005, network executives revamped the old program, turning it into a primetime NASCAR history highlight show retitled, Back in the Day, and hosted by NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr.. It now had a modern, more mass appeal look. Though only highlighting the NASCAR racing footage the show carried, the show otherwise was unaltered. The ending of the show does pay homage to the original ending, showing the original host Bud Lindemann's goodbye quote. The quotes varied among episodes but usually stated, "..and drive safely, won't you? All the pros do!"
Aside from the show's attention to NASCAR racing, it also included new car testing, and various other racing (i.e. NHRA drag racing). Other segments included safety tips for driving, once even accompanying celebrity James Garner at the Skip Barber Racing School. Also shown were stunt and arena shows. The new car testing aspect showed various vintage vehicles in their original forms, varying in make and model and type. As in today's car testing shows, the vehicles were usually the highest level in the model, or in some instances prototypes.
Some prototypes included:
- 1968 Dodge Charger 500 concept
- 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 concept
- 1969 AMC AMX 390 'prototype'
Some production vehicles tested included: 1969 Avanti II 1969 Chevrolet Impala 1970 Mercury Marquis 1971 Dodge Challenger 1971 Chrysler New Yorker
As for home video purchase (DVD or VHS), the show has yet to be put into print. Nor are there any plans to.