| Close your eyes and think back to the | | | | of the artistic statement can be |
| 60's and 70's. Remember the | | | | extended by leaving more of the tire on |
| high-spirited drivers that bought and | | | | the road and bonding it with the road |
| drove the muscle cars? This may help - - | | | | surface with high heat. High power and |
| Donut: Definition - Circular design | | | | warm weather will allow a large amount |
| produced on a road surface by a | | | | of Goodyear to remain on display for |
| vehicle's tires when they are rotating | | | | extended periods of time. Longevity of |
| with a greater angular velocity than the | | | | a donut on a gravel or dirt road depends |
| road under them. As the name implies, | | | | on the frequency of road maintenance, |
| the basic shape is round but many | | | | road consistency and the perseverance of |
| options exist. In fact, even the | | | | the donuteer. For example: If a road |
| straight burn out has been called a | | | | only gets graded monthly, is lightly |
| donut. Spirals, checkmarks, hooks, | | | | packed with limited traffic, and the |
| sweeps, etc. have been chosen to make a | | | | artist wants to make a profound |
| statement and named "donut" over the | | | | statement, he can revolve for several |
| years. Whichever is planted on the road, | | | | rotations and really carve out a beauty. |
| the car tires must revolve faster than | | | | That being said, he will still tip his |
| the road surface and leave a lasting | | | | hat to the chap that put 20,000 miles |
| mark. The art of creating donuts dates | | | | worth of tire wear in an expression on a |
| to the caveman following the discovery | | | | hard surfaced road. The donut is |
| of the wheel. Some spirited young man | | | | invariably created at some time in the |
| got himself a set of wheels and spun | | | | life of every young driver with a fair |
| them, making a mark in the dust, thus | | | | amount of horsepower under the hood. |
| originating a very simple donut. Later | | | | Some, of course, employ this means of |
| the baker's confection, a doughnut, was | | | | unparalleled entertainment and thrills |
| named after the original donut because | | | | more than others. Most, however, will |
| of its shape. Through the years, | | | | grab their initial "chirp" and retire to |
| "wheels" have become more and more | | | | a lifelong adventure of sedate driving. |
| complex so that today all one has to do | | | | Many young, ace donuteers live just for |
| is mash an accelerator to get the | | | | the thrill of outdoing one another. If |
| desired effect. All a person must do is | | | | Joe Car can go around more times and |
| climb into an automobile with sufficient | | | | leave more of his Firestones on the road |
| torque, cramp the wheels and fully | | | | than Tom Auto, he is the better. The |
| depress the accelerator. One may go with | | | | only way to dethrone him as King of the |
| the 180-degree turn, or "bat-turn", or | | | | fast turn-about is to plant more rubber |
| one may stay with the usual 360 degree, | | | | on the road with more expression and |
| full turn donut. This is left to the | | | | thus the never-ending circle (pun |
| discretion of the hot rodder. (Note: It | | | | intended) continues. This process of |
| was a lot easier a few decades ago when | | | | getting kicks is much appreciated by the |
| there were no front-wheel drive cars.) | | | | auto repair industry and tire |
| These pleasing circuitous marks are most | | | | manufactures around the world. |
| often seen at intersections or on wide | | | | Donuteering is frowned upon by fathers, |
| roads, although the art may be performed | | | | mayors, officials, and elderly people |
| at any location. The longevity of a | | | | not accustomed to the ear splitting but |
| donut depends on various factors. When | | | | beautiful scream of tortured rubber |
| left on cement or asphalt, the duration | | | | being flayed on hard surfaced roads. |