The editors inside The Repco Garage love a good ol’ motor racing themed movie. Whether its old school classics like Le Mans or Grand Prix, or even the modern masterpiece Talladega Nights, the Garage chat will likely include a quote or reference to one of these movies.
The most quoted movie, though, is the 1990 classic Days of Thunder. Starring Tom Cruise and Australia’s own Nicole Kidman, the film has stood the test of time thanks to its epic cinematography, variety of characters and its, well, almost believable and realistic storyline.
There are some absolute classic quotes that, almost 35 years on, are still used in passing conversations at race tracks, workshops, the local pub or online chat forums.
For motoring and motorsport fans, it’s our love language!
There’s plenty of ‘quotable quotes’ from Days of Thunder, but the Repco Garage has selected its favourite ‘racing’ quotes from the movie. Did we miss any of your favourites?
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DAYS OF THUNDER QUOTE #1
In the opening scenes of the movie, Cole Trickle is introduced as a racer with, seemingly, little experience. After a few slow laps, he makes a radio call to crew chief Harry Hogg.
COLE TRICKLE: Harry, I’m droppin’ the hammer.
HARRY HOGGE: No you’re not.
Trickle proceeds to ‘drop the hammer’, setting a time faster than the car’s regular driver Rowdy Burns.
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DAYS OF THUNDER QUOTE #2
While Cole is getting up to speed in his new world of NASCAR racing, the film depicts a very rough initiation. In one of the scenes, he is getting hit by his rivals, in particular Rowdy Burns.
COLE TRICKLE: This son of a bitch just slammed into me.
HARRY HOGGE: No, no, he didn’t slam you, he didn’t bump you, he didn’t nudge you… he rubbed you. And rubbing, son, is racing.
If you are reading this story and you haven’t used the words “rubbing in racing” in an everyday sentence, then this article probably isn’t for you …
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DAYS OF THUNDER QUOTE #3
In the same scenes as Quote #2, Cole pulls into pit lane. His famous brings yellow and green Chevy is still driving, but it’s a wreck. Harry Hogge leans into the window to give Trickle this famous instruction.
HARRY HOGGE: I want you to go back out on that track and hit the pace car.
COLE TRICKLE: Hit the pace car?
HARRY HOGGE: Hit the pace car!
COLE TRICKLE: What for?
HARRY HOGGE: Because you’ve hit every other goddamned thing out there, I want you to be perfect.”
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DAYS OF THUNDER QUOTE #4
The final racing scene is the last lap of the Daytona 500. After almost going a lap down, Trickle has fought his way back the field and has raced up onto the tail of Russ Wheeler, his new on-track rival. After several scenes of Wheeler squeezing Trickle into wall, the race is decided on the last corner with a slingshot move for the ages …
RUSS WHEELER: Don’t worry, I know Cole, he always goes the outside
COLE TRICKLE: This one’s for you Harry
Trickle faints a move high.
RUSS WHEELER: He’s going high.
But Trickle ducks low to give Days of Thunder a truly Hollywood ending.
RUSS WHEELER: He’s going low. Son of a bitch!