Doc Hudson

Doc Hudson (voiced by Paul Newman in his last non-documentary 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, the character had Newman's blue eyes.[3]

Doc's stickers said "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 '51 and then a factory option on 1952 model Hornets.[4] Doc was once known as the Fabulous Hudson Hornet (#51), one of the most famous race cars that ever lived. He won three consecutive Piston Cups (1951/52/53) and he 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[5]). All of that changed for the famous Hornet when a terrible crash on the track during the final lap of the 1954 Piston Cup championship race saw him put out for the season in a career-ending injury which closely paralleled the fate of Herb Thomas, NASCAR's 1951 and 1953 champion. Upon his return, he was received with a complete absence of fanfare and told that he was passed up for the next rookie in line. He kept a newspaper article on the career-ending crash as a reminder to never return to the life that nearly killed him.

Jaded by the racing scene, he 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 tiny town of Radiator Springs, the "shining Gemstone" of the Mother Road – Route 66. He ran Doc's Clinic as a "doctor of Internal combustion". As times changed and the town was 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 as its judge. Nobody in the town had any idea of his past as a racer, knowing him merely as an ordinary Hudson Hornet and he used his Piston Cup trophies to hold his tools instead of putting them on display.

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

Upon meeting the rookie hotshot Lightning McQueen after he got arrested for destroying the town's main street by accident, Doc saw far too much of the past that he left behind. 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 Doc 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 got to pitch it hard, break it loose and then 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 admitted that he did not quit, but was forced into retirement after his crash by the rise of hot young racers. "There was a lot left in me," Doc said sadly, "I never got the chance to show it." After McQueen finished fixing the Radiator Springs road that he damaged when arriving in town as part of Doc's court ruling, McQueen decided to stay in town for a while, but Doc was unable to bear having him around any longer, fearing that he will expose his secret to the others (he did try to tell them at first, but they did not believe him), and called the news and press, prompting McQueen to immediately leave for the Piston Cup championship race in California. But, seeing how disheartened that everyone (especially Sally) was by the unplanned departure, Doc realized that Lightning became more important to them than he thought since he helped them restore the town to it former glory just as they had helped him change his selfish ways. His racing days are known to the town by now and he took back his #51 racing colors to become McQueen's pit crew chief. Nearly the entire town traveled to California as McQueen's pit crew and cheering section. 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, McQueen uses an old trick he learned from Doc, which immediately puts a smile on Doc's face and it shows he truly learned something from him, to take the lead. When McQueen chose to help an injured Strip Weathers (whom he did not want to suffer the same misfortune Doc did) finish his last race instead of winning the Piston Cup, he 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 McQueen. Just like McQueen, Doc learned some lessons: friendship, promises, how greed affects others, and that secrets cannot be hidden forever. When a racing museum subsequently opened in Radiator Springs (with many of Doc's racing equipment and piston cups on display), one entire wing was devoted to his racing career. Much as Junior #8 acknowledged to "The King" that "you've been an inspiration to me", The King indicated "the Hudson Hornet was my inspiration". Together, McQueen and Doc won four consecutive piston cups.

In the video game taking place after the first Cars film, he taught McQueen powerslide lessons and became the crew chief for McQueen during the Piston Cup season in the game's story mode. He was also a playable character who could be purchased by 5,000 points. Though during the game's story mode, he wore his original blue paint job and white wheels when racing McQueen or training him, but his original racing colors along with his red wheels could also be purchased.

In Cars 2, Doc died before the events of the film 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.

John Lasseter announced that Cars 3 would include a tribute to Doc. McQueen'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 trainer, Smokey in Thomasville, Georgia for help and watched movies of Doc's old races for inspiration. Smokey also explained that training Lightning, not racing, was the most enjoyable part of Doc's life. At the end, Lightning adopted Doc's old racing colors and painted "The Fabulous Lightning McQueen" on himself in honor of Doc, "The Fabulous Hudson Hornet." Lightning's bumper also read, "For Doc Hudson." Cruz Ramirez, a trainer who subsequently started a racing career of her own took on Doc's old number 51 as a second tribute.

#51 "Doc", Fabulous Hudson Hornet

The car is based on the real-life Fabulous Hudson Hornet in NASCAR competition, with Doc'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. 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.[6] Doc Mason died in June 2007 after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's disease.[7] After his demise the inn, which once hosted Elvis Presley[8] went into a steep decline, losing its Best Western membership and receiving many highly-negative reviews.[9]

The original Hudson Hornet was introduced in 1951 and manufactured until 1954. 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 disappeared entirely by 1957.[10] The automaker continued until its March 9, 1987 takeover by Chrysler, but never won another NASCAR championship cup.

A 1951 Hudson Hornet

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 February 11, 1959.

Doc Hudson does not appear in Cars 2 as his voice actor Paul Newman died from lung cancer in September 2008. Pixar decided having Doc appear in Cars 2 would not be a good idea.[11] A conversation between McQueen and Mater indicates that Doc died before the second film. Doc's memory lives on, as the Piston Cup was renamed after him. During the Japan leg of the World Grand Prix, one of the commentators notes that Doc was one of the best dirt-track racers of all time.

Herb 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).[12]

• Doc Hudson Character Page