Tom Cruise & Paul Newman at Summit Point, WV (pics from the archives)
 

My dad took these back in 1987. Tom Cruise driving for Paul Newman at Summit Point. My dad used to live in WV back then and used to see Tom there all the time. Can you believe it, that crazy guy used to do something pretty cool?

https://www.miataturbo.net/~web1_bra...cruise/tom.jpg

https://www.miataturbo.net/~web1_bra...ruise/tom1.jpg

https://www.miataturbo.net/~web1_bra...ruise/tom2.jpg

https://www.miataturbo.net/~web1_bra...ruise/tom3.jpg

https://www.miataturbo.net/~web1_bra...ruise/tom4.jpg


look how crappy that track used to look!


https://www.miataturbo.net/~web1_bra...uise/turn3.jpg

vs.

https://www.miataturbo.net/~web1_bra...rfest07053.jpg

Was that before or after risky business? whoops it was after RB came out in 1983 kinda like ME :D

Better question: Was that before or after Scientology?

before i don't think he fell in with hubard till the 90's

his plantercanongoodyear Z looks pretty sharp, but the wheels are lardasses, got em on my 240

how old is he in those pictures? I would guess like early 20s?

he was born in '62, and these were taken in July '87, so 25yo. I'm surprised Paul Newman looks the exact same.

anyone else notice that the car is all race prepped, with stock seats?

Cool pics Scott. Amazing how much more dangerous the old tracks were too.

That's how they used to race them in showroom stock. Frightening eh? Stock seats were legal, but IMO dangerous. I had the typical deep aluminum racing seat that sits on the floor and wraps around your sides - and NO hinge at the back and seat.

Looks like Paul was in a GT 300zx with those massive fenders. Maybe Tom was just trying things out in SSA. Check out that stock suspension in the turn! :eek:

I'll scan all the crash pictures from that day as well ;)