Doc Hudson

Doc Hudson (also known as The Fabulous Hudson Hornet, Hud, or simply Doc) is an anthropomorphic 1951 Hudson Hornet who appears in the 2006 Pixar film Cars. In the film, Doc is the medical doctor and local judge[1] for Radiator Springs. After meeting Lightning McQueen, Doc reveals that he is actually a former Piston Cup racer known as the Fabulous Hudson Hornet, and returns to the Piston Cup to act as Lightning's crew chief in his races. It is implied that Doc passed away before the events of Cars 2, and in Cars 3 he appears in flashback sequences.

Doc Hudson
Cars character
First appearanceCars (2006)
Created byJohn Lasseter
Joe Ranft
Jorgen Klubien
Based onFabulous Hudson Hornet
Voiced by
In-universe information
Full nameDoctor Hudson Hornet
AliasThe Fabulous Hudson Hornet
NicknameHud
Species1951 Hudson Hornet
GenderMale
TitleDoc
OccupationMD, judge, former racer, coach and mentor
NationalityAmerican

Doc is voiced by Paul Newman in Cars, Cars 3 (the latter via archive audio recordings) and Cars: the Video Game, and Corey Burton in all other media. Six-time Turismo Carretera champion Juan María Traverso voiced the character in the Rioplatense Spanish version of the first film. Doc is based on the real-life Fabulous Hudson Hornet of NASCAR. He generally maintains the same image in all three films with navy-blue paint, and later light modifications for racing. Doc's racing number is 51, a reference to his model year.

Character

Doc Hudson (voiced by Paul Newman in his last non-documentary film role and in his only animated film role) was Radiator Springs' local physician. His license plate read 51HHMD, which was a reference to his year and track number (51), model (Hudson Hornet) and profession (medical doctor). A racer-turned-mechanic, Doc Hudson had Newman's blue eyes.[2]

Doc's stickers read "Twin H Power", which was an optional dealer-installed dual carburetor intake manifold, with twin 1-barrel carburetors and air filters. It was a dealer-installed option in 1951 and then a factory option for 1952 model year Hornets.[3]

Background
1951 Hudson Hornet

Doc Hudson was once known as the Fabulous Hudson Hornet (#51), one of the most famous race cars of all time. He won three consecutive Piston Cups (1951/1952/1953) and still held the record for most wins in a single season (27, also the number of NASCAR Grand National races won by Hudson Hornets in 1952.[4]) His career, however, unexpectedly came to an end when he suffered a rollover crash on the track during the final lap of the 1954 Fireball Beach 350, the story that closely parallels the fate of Herb Thomas, NASCAR's 1951 and 1953 champion.[5][6] Upon his return, Doc discovered that racing had moved on without him, as he had been replaced by a new car. He kept a newspaper article on the career-ending crash as a reminder to never return to the life that had been taken away from him.

Jaded by the racing scene, Doc left that world, apparently taking out time to study medicine. The famous No. 51 disappeared into obscurity, leaving many wondering where he went. He instead opted for a simple navy blue paint job and the life of a physician in the town of Radiator Springs on U.S. Route 66. He ran a medical office as a "doctor of internal combustion". As times changed and the town got bypassed by Interstate 40, Doc stayed on, even when the population dwindled to a meager dozen residents. He was respected, well-loved, and served not only as the town's physician, but also as its judge. Nobody in the town had any idea of his past as a racer, knowing him merely as an ordinary Hudson Hornet.

Opposite lock or counter-steering through an abrupt right turn, depicted with front wheels in blue during right steer, red during left steer.

Appearances

Cars (2006)

Upon meeting Lightning McQueen after he got arrested for destroying Radiator Spring's main road by accident, Doc saw far too much of the past that he left behind. He originally wanted Lightning to leave but was convinced to sentence him to community service by having him repave the road as punishment. After failing to repave the road correctly, Doc challenged Lightning to a race, which Lightning lost by understeering and hitting a cactus due to his lack of knowledge of dirt racing. His one token attempt to explain a controlled skid on an abrupt turn in dirt-track racing to Lightning was met with misunderstanding and skepticism, leaving Hudson disillusioned and bitter about the young hot rod who seemed to care only about himself.

"This ain't asphalt, son. This is dirt. You don't have three-wheel brakes, so you gotta' pitch it hard, break it loose, and just drive it with the throttle. Give it too much, you'll be outta' the dirt and into the tulips. I'll put it simple. If you're goin' hard enough left, you'll find yourself turnin' right."

— Doc Hudson explaining drifting to a skeptical McQueen

He was less than happy when an amazed McQueen discovered his past and asked, "How could a car like you quit at the top of your game?" Doc bitterly admitted that he did not quit, but was forced into retirement after his crash by the rise of newer, faster cars. "There was a lot left in me," Hudson said sadly, "I never got the chance to show them." After Lightning finished repaving the road that he damaged when arriving in town as part of Doc's court ruling, Lightning decided to stay in town for one extra day, but Doc was unable to bear having him around any longer and called the news and press, forcing Lightning to immediately leave for the Piston Cup championship race in California. After being scolded by Sally for revealing Lightning's location and making him leave out of his dislike of him, Doc realizes that Lightning became more important to them than he thought since he helped them restore the town to its former glory just as they had helped him change his selfish ways and began to regret his actions; he believed the town would be happier without Lightning, but was quickly proven wrong. Realizing that he can't keep his past hidden anymore, he not only admitted to the townsfolk that he was the Fabulous Hudson Hornet, but took back his #51 racing colors to become Lightning's crew chief. Nearly the entire town travelled to California as Lightning's pit crew. At the race, the commentators recognized his presence on the cameras and Doc finally received a long-overdue acknowledgment for his return. During the final lap of the race, Lightning uses an old trick he learned from Doc. When Lightning chose to help an injured Strip Weathers finish his last race instead of winning the Piston Cup, which is won by an egotistical Chick Hicks, he smiled once more and expressed how proud he was of Lightning for doing what's right rather than what's important to him.

It's just an empty cup.

— Doc Hudson, thinking friends are more important than trophies and fame.

At the end of the film, Doc kept his racing colors, becoming a trainer and mentor as well as a friend to the young Lightning McQueen. Just like Lightning, Doc learned some lessons: friendship, promises, how greed affects others, and that secrets simply can't be hidden forever. When a racing museum subsequently opened in Radiator Springs, one entire wing was devoted to his racing career (with many of Doc's racing equipment and Piston Cups on display). Together, Lightning and Doc won four consecutive Piston Cups.

Cars: the Video Game (2006)

In Cars: the Video Game, Doc taught Lightning powerslide lessons and became crew chief for Lightning during the Piston Cup season in the game's story mode. He is also a playable character who can be purchased for 5,000 points. Though during the game's story mode he wore his original blue paint job and whitewall tires when racing Lightning or training him, his original racing colors can be purchased for use in arcade mode.

Cars 2 (2011)

In Cars 2, Doc died before the events of the film (his voice actor, Paul Newman, died in 2008) and the Piston Cup was renamed in his honor, with his clinic being converted into a museum that displayed trophies and mementos from his career.

Cars 3 (2017)
1952 Fabulous Hudson Hornet

John Lasseter announced that Cars 3 would include a tribute to Doc Hudson. Lightning's crash in the teaser was a reference to Doc's accident, and he often recalled pieces of advice that Doc gave him in flashbacks. Lightning went to Doc's old crew chief, a Hudson Super Six pick-up named Smokey in Thomasville, Georgia, for help and watched old recordings of Doc's races for inspiration. Smokey explained to Lightning that mentoring him, not racing, was the best part of Doc's life. At the end, Lightning adopted Doc Hudson's old racing colors and painted "The Fabulous Lightning McQueen" on himself in honor of Doc. Lightning's bumper also read, "For Doc Hudson". Cruz Ramirez, Lightning's former trainer who subsequently started a racing career of her own, took on Doc's racing number as a second tribute.

Inspiration
Main article: Fabulous Hudson Hornet
#51 "Doc", Fabulous Hudson Hornet
1951 Hudson Hornet (Doc Hudson)

The car is based on the real-life Fabulous Hudson Hornet in NASCAR competition, with Hudson's racing career most closely resembling that of Herb Thomas, the record holder for highest career win rate (55 of 228 races, or 21.05%), and the first ever two-time champion.[5][6]

Paul Newman, a racing enthusiast and former driver, drew upon his experiences for the grumpy old race car's personality. The character has strong parallels to the Doc Hollywood of a 1991 film and shares the "Doc" moniker with the late Walter "Doc" Mason, interviewed on Route 66 as research for the film.

A close friend of Michael Wallis (the voice of Sheriff), country veterinarian Dr. Walter S. Mason Jr. owned the Tradewinds Courtyard Inn from 1963 until 2003 and donated land for the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton.[7] Doc Mason died in June 2007 after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's disease.[8] After his demise the inn, which once hosted Elvis Presley[9] went into a steep decline, losing its Best Western membership and receiving many highly-negative reviews.[10]

The original Hudson Hornet was manufactured until 1954. Built around a 5.0L, 6 cylinder inline engine with (starting in 1952) twin carburetors on a very low body and centre of gravity, the Hornet was essentially a racing car with the veneer of a luxury sedan. Fabulous Hudson Hornets won NASCAR cups for three consecutive years (Herb Thomas in 1951 and 1953, and Tim Flock in 1952), paralleling Doc Hudson's three Piston Cup wins in those same years. The Hudson Motor Company was merged into Nash Motors on January 14, 1954, to form American Motors Corporation (AMC). After brief use as a marque on Nash-designed AMC vehicles, the Hudson name was discontinued after the 1957 model year.[11][12] The automaker particitated in a variety of motor sport venues that included five NASCAR wins with its AMC Matador between 1973 and 1975.[13] Chrysler acquired AMC in 1987.[14]

The "Fabulous Hudson Hornet" name, which appeared on three famous NASCAR entries between 1951 and 1954, vanished once Hudson was merged into AMC. Herb Thomas #92 raced Buick and Chevrolet cars in 1955; severe injuries in a 1956 racing wreck in Shelby effectively ended his career, despite two unsuccessful starts in 1957 and one in 1962. Tim Flock #91 switched to Ford cars in 1955; he was one of two drivers forced out of NASCAR after supporting a 1961 unionisation attempt, the Federation of Professional Athletes. Marshall Teague #6 left NASCAR after the 1952 season in a dispute with NASCAR's owner Bill France, Sr.; he was killed in a 140-mile-per-hour (225 km/h) rollover collision at Daytona on 11 February 1959.

DHerb Thomas' 1952 Fabulous Hudson Hornet is currently displayed in the Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum in Michigan; Tim Flock's car is in the Memory Lane Museum in Mooresville, North Carolina. Herb Thomas entered NASCAR's hall of fame for 2013 as the first to win two NASCAR premier series championships (1951 and 1953). A replica of Teague's car is owned by Bruce and Patty Teeters (Teague's descendants).[15]

References
  1. Disney Pixar's The World of Cars: Meet the Cars. Disney Press. 2008. p. 10. ISBN 978-142311925-8. He not only serves as the town judge, he's also Radiator Springs' resident doctor.
  2. Fienberg, Daniel (11 June 2006). "With 'Cars', Paul Newman stayed in the race". The Post and Courier. p. 2H. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  3. McCourt, Mark J. (August 2008). "Hudson Twin H-Power: With this dual-carburetor setup, from the street to the race track, Hudson proved that six was as mighty as eight". Hemmings Motor News. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  4. Nerad, Jack. "Hudson Hornet". Driving Today. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  5. Pryson, Mike (21 April 2020). "Top 20 NASCAR Drivers by Winning Percentage: No. 1, Herb Thomas (0.2105)". Autoweek. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  6. Friedlander, Brett (29 May 2020). "100 in 100: Lee County's Herb Thomas, driver of the 'Fabulous Hudson Hornet'". The North State Journal. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  7. Green, Gerald; Mason, Scott (22 June 2006). "Pixar's research visit to Clinton recalled". Clinton Daily News. Archived from the original on 28 October 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  8. Warnick, Ron (3 June 2007). "Former Best Western Trade Winds motel owner dies". Route 66 News. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  9. sourbugger. "Best Western Trade Winds Courtyard Inn". Virtual Tourist. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  10. "Trade Winds Inn (reviews)". tripadvisor.ca. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  11. Blumberg, George (11 April 2003). "Driving; Hudsons Survive. The Dealer Does, Too". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  12. "The last Hudson, 1957". Mac's Motor City Garage. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  13. Vaughn, Mark (15 July 2020). "The 20 Winningest Cars in NASCAR Cup History: AMC Matador: Five Wins". MSN Sports. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  14. Ross, Philip E. (6 August 1987). "Chrysler Completes Acquisition of A.M.C. (Published 1987)". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  15. Jensen, Tom (23 May 2012). "NHOF: Herb Thomas Heads 2013 Hall Class". Speed TV. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
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