There is an excellent tribute to Sid Collins in the IMS DVD The 70s: A Deacde of Legends. I would have never thought that Sid was so great and that his commentating was so powerful. This was a true professional. I have truly become fascinated by his work.
Nowadays sometimes you can see such idiots in the booth that it is better to turn the volume off.
Please, share any memories you have of Sid Collins and his work!
"Each day well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well therefore to this one day for it, and it alone is life" Sid Collins
Try to find the book, "Stay Tuned For The Greatest Spectacle In Racing" by Ron Dorson. As it says on the cover, "A Tribute To Sid Collins And The Hulman Era". Much of the book is written by Sid himself, describing his life experiences.
"If a man has to work past noon, he's in over his head", Bobby Layne
Sid was always great at the end of the race. Giving tribute to the day's events. He also had, I don't know if they were pre-written, great comments when tradegy struck the 500. As they say, "He had the gift of the gab."
I have very fond memories of the Sid Collins era. The month of May was the ONLY time Dad would allow a "rock & roll" (WIBC) station to be on in the house or car.
Every pole day we left the house in the wee hours cooler packed with Mom's food and away we would go. Some years Dad had to also pack extra water to fill the radiator as we waited in line and the old Buick would overheat.
Then race day it was a radio in every room of the house, and at least one outside for the BBQ or the car waxing ritual.
The things I remember most about Sid Collins was the pre-race tone that he sit by recognizing our Armed Forces,and his pace as the start of the race approached, his flawless rundown as the race was underway, and sadly the tone of his voice when an accident proved fatal. You did not have to wait for the "official" announcement. Something in Sid Collin's voice told you that a race hero had fallen.
All of this makes so "homesick" for how everything used to be
If you ever met the perfect gentleman, or the ultimate perfectionist, his name was Sid Collins.
We are all so different on this forum and yet our experiences are all the same when it comes to stuff like this.
Memorial Day with Sid.
I miss it alot.
Ms. Fanatic and I recently listened to the '76 500 which I have on tape...
Ms. said wow this guy really set the stage didnt he? (she'd never heard Sid on broadcast) She was impressed by the prose and how well he could 'paint the picture'....
It was sad, as he signed off the air....he added the words "God willing" to seeing everyone next May....11 months later , he was gone...
Sid was the best!!
I agree! And of all who have followed and stood in his shadows Bob Jenkins is the only one who has come close to matching Sid's passion and ability to paint mental images of the Indy 500 with his words. His tenure was too brief.Originally posted by Jeff Chiszar
We are all so different on this forum and yet our experiences are all the same when it comes to stuff like this.
Memorial Day with Sid.
I miss it alot.
Rick
God speed!
I'm going to be in the minority here, but I think Paul Page was way better. I have several of Sid's radio broadcasts on tape, and to me there is no comparison. I noticed that on the WIBC CD, somene mentions how Sid would say "The car is not red, it's 'cherry red'". Well, I've listened to 3 or 4 races and I remember very few if any references to car color. Granted, I think a big part of the reason for Page being better (IMO) is the innovations that Page brought in to make it more of a real time broadcast, wheras with Sid it was more of a run down. However, Sid'is ability to wing-it - such as with Eddie Sachs Eulogy - was unprecedented.
I have this book. Excellent.Originally posted by lululj
Try to find the book, "Stay Tuned For The Greatest Spectacle In Racing" by Ron Dorson. As it says on the cover, "A Tribute To Sid Collins And The Hulman Era". Much of the book is written by Sid himself, describing his life experiences.They used to sell it at the IMS Gift Shop (where I got my copy); if they still do, take advantage.
Never forget who trained Paul Page, sir. Paul was Sid's hand-picked successor. Easy to forget if you base Paul's talent on his more recent ABC broadcasts...Originally posted by MichaelP
I'm going to be in the minority here, but I think Paul Page was way better. I have several of Sid's radio broadcasts on tape, and to me there is no comparison. I noticed that on the WIBC CD, somene mentions how Sid would say "The car is not red, it's 'cherry red'". Well, I've listened to 3 or 4 races and I remember very few if any references to car color. Granted, I think a big part of the reason for Page being better (IMO) is the innovations that Page brought in to make it more of a real time broadcast, wheras with Sid it was more of a run down. However, Sid'is ability to wing-it - such as with Eddie Sachs Eulogy - was unprecedented.
Personally I thought Lou Palmer was the best after the Sid Collins era..
Paul was definitely better on radio than TV. I think part of that may be that you can actually watch the race when doing radio instead of a tiny monitor in the tv booth. I don't know how a radio broadcast differs from tv in respects to a director, but I'd guess that whoever does the radio doesn't have a director constantly yammering in their ear?Originally posted by skypigeon
Never forget who trained Paul Page, sir. Paul was Sid's hand-picked successor. Easy to forget if you base Paul's talent on his more recent ABC broadcasts...
I'd love to have that book. Oh well...
I really like the poetic stuff Sid used during the broadcats. Like in my signature.
I'm getting old, I totally forgot that Lou Palmer did the radio broadcast. Wasn't it just one year? I change my mind, Lou was the best after Sid, and Bob was not that far off in my book. I loved Lou Palmer and his daily/hourly track reports from IMS on WIBC during the Month of May. What a great voice, wit, and passion for the cars and drivers.Originally posted by beej
Personally I thought Lou Palmer was the best after the Sid Collins era..
Rick
I agree. Not only did Lou have a great voice and a nice style, he loved the Speedway.Originally posted by beej
Personally I thought Lou Palmer was the best after the Sid Collins era..
Have a very blessed day!
AARRRGGHHH !!Originally posted by MichaelP
I'm going to be in the minority here, but I think Paul Page was way better.
You can find one HEREOriginally posted by irlricefan13
I'd love to have that book. Oh well...
I really like the poetic stuff Sid used during the broadcats. Like in my signature.
"Each day well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well therefore to this one day for it, and it alone, is life." Sid CollinsOriginally posted by irlricefan13
I'd love to have that book. Oh well...
I really like the poetic stuff Sid used during the broadcats. Like in my signature.
Dang, maybe that would be a candidate to replace our Mark Twain quote at the top of our forum? Good one Sid.
Dick Ralstin - Barney Oldfield - AJ Foyt - Jim Clark - Dan Gurney - IMS - IMS YT - INDYCAR - INDYCAR YT
'My grasp of the English language doesn't allow me the vocabulary to describe accurately just what type of man Sid Collins was. 'Just touching the surface; he was the most poetic, charming, professional and gracious man that ever graced any broadcast. 'Radio, TV, etc. I too, really like Paul Page, especially his narration with the music that ABC used at the beginning of their Indy broadcasts' of the early 90's. Paul's very good, but hey, a man of the caliber of a Sid Collins?...........never again in our lifetime.
Originally posted by MichaelP
I'm going to be in the minority here, but I think Paul Page was way better. I have several of Sid's radio broadcasts on tape, and to me there is no comparison. I noticed that on the WIBC CD, somene mentions how Sid would say "The car is not red, it's 'cherry red'". Well, I've listened to 3 or 4 races and I remember very few if any references to car color. Granted, I think a big part of the reason for Page being better (IMO) is the innovations that Page brought in to make it more of a real time broadcast, wheras with Sid it was more of a run down. However, Sid'is ability to wing-it - such as with Eddie Sachs Eulogy - was unprecedented.
While looking for something else today, I found some tapes I made of the broadcast, 1980 thru 1985. Page is doing an excellent job as I'm listening to the 1980 race as I type this. But better than Sid?....I'm not sure about that.
The job may be a little more difficult than first appears, as Rodger Ward has just stated that Jerry Karl is smoking, "probably a seal in his supercharger".
Keep an eye on eBay in "motorsports books".Originally posted by irlricefan13
I'd love to have that book. Oh well...
I really like the poetic stuff Sid used during the broadcats. Like in my signature.
I got a copy for about $20, it's a great book.
"Duty is the most sublime word in our language. Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more, you should never wish to do less" - R.E.Lee
Originally posted by beej
Personally I thought Lou Palmer was the best after the Sid Collins era..
I agree 100%.
I know what Indy means!
I recently watched "Winning." My favorite parts of the movie, beside the race footage, were listening to Sid and Tom.
One driver's "fuel strategy" is another driver's "speed up or we will park you!"
As a senior member all I can say is that I've never experienced The 500 the way I did when Collins was there...he presented pictures over the airwaves...
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