AutoPuzzles - The Internet's Museum of Rare Cars!

Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2010 => Topic started by: Ray B. on March 20, 2010, 05:55:09 PM

Title: Crossroads#1 - Greased Lightnin' (Wendell Oliver Scott and John Travolta)
Post by: Ray B. on March 20, 2010, 05:55:09 PM
(http://www.autopuzzles.com/RayB.stuff2/Whuzzat10a.jpg)   (http://www.autopuzzles.com/RayB.stuff2/Whuzzat10b.jpg)

Who are those two men, and what automotive link exists between them?

If you haven't registered yet, you need to do so in order to reply with your answer. You can do so by clicking here (http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?action=register).
Also, please be sure to check out our other puzzles, and, please post a puzzle of your own if you'd like - the more, the merrier.

Title: Re: Crossroads#1
Post by: Ray B. on April 08, 2010, 09:53:39 AM
I can't believe that no one has at least one guess about one of those fellows!

Experts?
Title: Re: Crossroads#1
Post by: Oguerrerob on April 08, 2010, 11:23:55 AM
Sam Posey introduce Dodge Challenger R/T and Vin Diesel plays a roll in the movie Fast and Furious driving a Dodge Challenger R/T   
Title: Re: Crossroads#1
Post by: Ray B. on April 09, 2010, 03:54:37 AM
No. The first isn't Sam Posey, and the second (although with a shaved skull here) isn't Vin Diesel, although quite famous too.
Title: Re: Crossroads#1
Post by: DeAutogids.nl on April 09, 2010, 05:10:37 AM
Just so it helps, no. 2 is John Travolta.
Title: Re: Crossroads#1
Post by: Carnut on April 09, 2010, 05:17:00 AM
Quote from: DeAutogids.nl on April 09, 2010, 05:10:37 AM
Just so it helps, no. 2 is John Travolta.

Why did he change his hairstyle to mine?!
Title: Re: Crossroads#1
Post by: DeAutogids.nl on April 09, 2010, 05:20:06 AM
Quote from: Carnut on April 09, 2010, 05:17:00 AM
Quote from: DeAutogids.nl on April 09, 2010, 05:10:37 AM
Just so it helps, no. 2 is John Travolta.

Why did he change his hairstyle to mine?!
what, not having it is now considered style? It used to be called bald.
Title: Re: Crossroads#1
Post by: Otto Puzzell on April 09, 2010, 07:10:22 AM
Not having hair - on purpose - is considered stylish. Those of us who come by said look naturally, are referred to as "old farts",  "geezers", etc.
Title: Re: Crossroads#1
Post by: Ray B. on April 09, 2010, 08:45:28 AM
So. Second is Travolta. Who is the first one, and what is the link?
Title: Re: Crossroads#1
Post by: Amsterdam on April 09, 2010, 02:02:38 PM
OK, I don't know who that is.
Is he also an actor?
Title: Re: Crossroads#1
Post by: MG on April 09, 2010, 03:12:06 PM
Sam Posey just called me and said he NEVER was a old and wrinkly as the dude on the left!    :hah:  Apparently, there may be something to the Dodge Challenger idea. What that connection is, though, I have no idea.    :-[

(http://aarcuda.ch/images/samposeyreunitedwith77_480.jpg)

Here's link to a short bio of Sam Posey. (http://aarcuda.ch/printable/00000098db101e351/00000098db101f153/00000098db1023c5d/index.html). I met Sam at Lime Rock 2 years ago and he suffers from Parkinson's that puts a pronounced quaver in his voice. How he does the outstanding audio pieces that precede every Formula One race on Speed is a wonder to me. Those essays are marvelous! 

I have wracked my brain and cannot come up with a car related  connection to Travolta. The other dude LOOKS like a French fisherman you might find in the seamier sections of Marseilles but I think it is actually a heavily made up David Niven. 
Title: Re: Crossroads#1
Post by: Ultra on April 09, 2010, 03:15:11 PM
Quote from: MG on April 09, 2010, 03:12:06 PM
I think it is actually a heavily made up David Niven. 

I think it looks a bit like Howard Hughes.

(http://www.publispain.com/revista/imagenes_mayo/howard-hughes.jpg)
Title: Re: Crossroads#1
Post by: Carnut on April 09, 2010, 06:24:34 PM
Quote from: MG on April 09, 2010, 03:12:06 PM
I have wracked my brain and cannot come up with a car related  connection to Travolta.

The '48 Ford convertible from 'Grease' that he raced in the LA storm drains?
Title: Re: Crossroads#1
Post by: MG on April 09, 2010, 09:25:25 PM
Maybe, Carnut. But his appearance in that photo is NOT anywhere near how he looked in Grease. Perhaps Ray B is having fun with us?    :huh:
Title: Re: Crossroads#1
Post by: metalshapes on April 10, 2010, 01:47:38 AM
The Travolta Trans Am might be the connection.  :)

Title: Re: Crossroads#1
Post by: Ray B. on April 10, 2010, 04:28:30 AM
Quote from: Carnut on April 09, 2010, 06:24:34 PM

The '48 Ford convertible from 'Grease' that he raced in the LA storm drains?

Carnut is right. "Grease" is part of the connection. As for the other fellow, he's not an actor, not David Niven, not Howard Hughes, and not an old French fisherman from Marseille (or any part of the coast).

Locked for Carnut 48 hours.
Title: Re: Crossroads#1
Post by: MG on April 10, 2010, 06:40:52 AM
I'm no closer than I was yesterday. That face on the left:  So familiar looking, so many lines and wrinkles, such character! But who is it? I know I have seen him somewhere, but where?   ???  I think he must be a racing driver back from the era when men were men and a quick shot of "The Red Infuriator" was not unknown in the pits!    :drink:
Title: Re: Crossroads#1
Post by: Ray B. on April 10, 2010, 09:48:24 AM
I cannot comment this since you can't answer. Wait until Carnut's time is over.
Title: Re: Crossroads#1
Post by: Carnut on April 11, 2010, 06:14:54 PM
Quote from: Ray B. on April 10, 2010, 04:28:30 AM

Locked for Carnut 48 hours.

Thanks, but I just haven't been able to place the other guy.
He looks oh so familiar but I can't put a name to him, and without that I can't complete the connection.
I'll keep wracking my brain (or what's left of it..) but if someone else comes up with the answer then so be it.
Title: Re: Crossroads#1
Post by: Carnut on April 11, 2010, 06:50:49 PM
The other guy couldn't possibly be Raymond Loewy could he?
Maybe he had something to do with designing the '40s Ford?  If he did I didn't know about it...
Title: Re: Crossroads#1
Post by: MG on April 11, 2010, 07:00:19 PM
Mr. Loewy seems far to cultured and manicured to be that fellow...... :scratch:

(http://www.bellevuearts.org/Images/exhibits/Raymond%20Loewy/Raymond%20Loewy.jpg)
Title: Re: Crossroads#1
Post by: metalshapes on April 11, 2010, 08:00:25 PM
Since Carnut has answered I guess its open?
Title: Re: Crossroads#1
Post by: metalshapes on April 11, 2010, 08:04:09 PM
The Car in the Travolta movie was called Greased Lightning.

The Other pic is of Wendell Oliver Scott.

A movie was made based on his story ( Richard Pryor played the role ), called Greased Lightning.
Title: Re: Crossroads#1
Post by: Ray B. on April 12, 2010, 03:38:55 AM
Quote from: MG on April 10, 2010, 06:40:52 AM
I'm no closer than I was yesterday. That face on the left:  So familiar looking, so many lines and wrinkles, such character! But who is it? I know I have seen him somewhere, but where?   ???  I think he must be a racing driver back from the era when men were men and a quick shot of "The Red Infuriator" was not unknown in the pits!    :drink:

Yes, MG was right, it took some character to be the only black NASCAR pilot. But it's no surprise to me that you should be the one to recognize him.
And you found the exact connection.
Title: Re: Crossroads#1 - Greased Lightnin' (Oliver Wendell Scott and John Travolta)
Post by: Allemano on April 12, 2010, 04:55:49 AM
I've found it interisting that he was the first "colored" race winning NASCAR driver. From the first look he doesn't look colored at all..
Title: Re: Crossroads#1 - Greased Lightnin' (Oliver Wendell Scott and John Travolta)
Post by: Ray B. on April 12, 2010, 05:54:08 AM
He always has that kind of grin on pictures. And it's no wonder if you know all the hardships and humiliations he's been through. You can easily find on the net a New York Times article about him, or one about the book, called Hard Drivin', which the film is based upon.

Of all the photos of Scott, the one I like best is this one, where you don't actually see him. Just his mother, wife and kids watching him race.
Title: Re: Crossroads#1 - Greased Lightnin' (Wendell Oliver Scott and John Travolta)
Post by: MG on April 12, 2010, 06:15:46 AM
Damn fine job, Ray!    :applause:

Not only was it a fun contest, but I actually learned something. Not easy to do, considering the storehouse of useless knowledge already crammed into my cranium!

Well done, sir!  :thumbsup: