Four Bangers

I really enjoyed this documentary.

Short track racing is Wisconsin is a subculture that is overlooked by many, this movie showcases it pretty well.

Lake Geneva holds a special place in many Wisconsin racers hearts, sad to see it has been tore down to make way for condos.

At the time I watched four-bangers, I was 17. My Dad had been a stock-car racer for over twenty years. We really bonded over this movie.

It actually inspired us to race a VW Scirocco. By the time we got the Scirocco though; Lake Geneva had shut down. We brought it to Wilmot but it wasn't the same.

Further we ended up racing an Oldmobile Calais --an American car. They made a model of it, a W-41, with 190 HP in an attempt to compete with the Japanese cars (Honda, Acura, etc.).

I won a feature with that one night up at Wilmot. The Americans won! But that wasn't what it was all about. It was about the fun. And the father-son bond.

My Dad had actually worked at VW for 10 years as a mechanic and was once asked to race a VW Scirocco on the tour. He turned it down.

It was weird how this movie intersected our lives.

I'm 27 now haven't raced since I was 19.

My dad wants to race this year with a (rear wheel drive Ford) mustang. I'll probably turn it down. I'm into filmmaking now.

But this story definitely intersected our lives, are arguably inspired for our lives for a certain period of time.

Thanks Matt! Dad, will still watch the flick on re-runs at the drop of a hat ...

Keep making stuff! Jeff Carlton