Crossroads#1 - Greased Lightnin' (Wendell Oliver Scott and John Travolta)

[Ray B.]

   

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

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[Ray B.]

I can't believe that no one has at least one guess about one of those fellows!

Experts?

[Oguerrerob]

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   

[Ray B.]

No. The first isn't Sam Posey, and the second (although with a shaved skull here) isn't Vin Diesel, although quite famous too.

[DeAutogids.nl]

Just so it helps, no. 2 is John Travolta.

[Carnut]

Just so it helps, no. 2 is John Travolta.

Why did he change his hairstyle to mine?!

[DeAutogids.nl]

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.

[Otto Puzzell]

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.

[Ray B.]

So. Second is Travolta. Who is the first one, and what is the link?

[Amsterdam]

OK, I don't know who that is.
Is he also an actor?

[MG]

Sam Posey just called me and said he NEVER was a old and wrinkly as the dude on the left!      Apparently, there may be something to the Dodge Challenger idea. What that connection is, though, I have no idea.   



Here's link to a short bio of Sam Posey.. 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. 

[Ultra]

I think it is actually a heavily made up David Niven. 

I think it looks a bit like Howard Hughes.

[Carnut]

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?

[MG]

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?   

[metalshapes]

The Travolta Trans Am might be the connection. 

[Ray B.]

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.

[MG]

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!   

[Ray B.]

I cannot comment this since you can't answer. Wait until Carnut's time is over.

[Carnut]

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.

[Carnut]

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...

[MG]

Mr. Loewy seems far to cultured and manicured to be that fellow......

[metalshapes]

Since Carnut has answered I guess its open?

[metalshapes]

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.

[Ray B.]

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!   

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.

[Allemano]

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..