04/18/24
February 24, 2002
The drought's over!: USA wins silver & bronze in the 4-man bobsled. Maybe NASCAR is good for something after all.
posted by PeteyStock to other at 01:52 AM - 7 comments
I like bobsleigh, but when I heard that the German sleigh was designed by Porsche and it cost over $200,000, I was put off from watching the rest of it. Granted, it's not like other rich nations don't have similar advantages in other sports (speed skating) - but $200k is pushing it. Home track advantage helps too. But regardless, Shimer deserved a medal so it's all good.
posted by mkn at 11:19 AM on February 24, 2002
For info on getting involved in bobsled, go to USA Bobsled if you're in the US. There is a general email link at the bottom of the homepage, and there are email links to each of the coaches in their bios in the Coaches section. If you go to Lake Placid, you can pay to take a bobsled run - but you don't get to drive. You'll probably be able to do the same in SLC once the Games are over.
posted by neuroshred at 11:43 AM on February 24, 2002
NASCAR is still good for nothing.
posted by jbou at 11:52 AM on February 24, 2002
Job well done USA.
posted by RGarraud at 12:18 PM on February 24, 2002
Supposedly Geoff Bodine spent around $400,000 to design the U.S. sled.
posted by gyc at 01:50 PM on February 24, 2002
And to think one of the teams (or at least members of it) are from Atlanta, which is definitely not a winter sports hotbed (it's almost 70 degrees out as I write this).
posted by trox at 05:07 PM on February 24, 2002
Bobsleding is my favorite sport of the Olympics, and I'm ecstatic both for the U.S. finally medaling and for Brian Schimer finally getting a bobsled gold medal. I'm really interested in learning how to drive a bobsled. Sadly, I can't find any information about this. Any ideas?