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