Any oldtimers (racing buffs) here who followed racing in the 50's/60's ?

Guys in the 50's used to add 'alcohol' (type ?) to their gas tanks to boost street car's power. Gave exhaust a distinctive 'sweet' smell ... and gave their cars the racing edge.

The Ford 4-cylinder Offenhauser Indy 1950's motors also ran on some form of alcohol ( type ? ). Beginning the late 60's ... Indy cars were running pure Methanol ... up until the '06 season (90% meth/10% eth) .. and this year will be (98% eth / 2% unleaded gas).

Also ... the World Championship power boats (hydros / runabouts) ran on some type of alcohol back in the 1950's-60's (exact type ?). Gave the exhaust fumes a very distinctive, sweet, addictive aroma. Given the great aroma ... I suspect it wasn't pure methanol.

I always thought methanol was better than ethanol ... more power, etc ... and thats why the Indy cars used it. Now, I'm hearing Ethanol is giving the Indy cars 10% more power, 30% better gas mileage, and is less hazardous in fires than methanol.

If this be true ... why did race cars use an inferior fuel for last 35-40 years ? Note: Nitromethane not for this alcohol discussion.

Was Ethanol ever used very early on in 50's-60's, prior to the Methanol Racing era ? And, if so .... why was it discarded in favor of Methanol ?

One year anniversary of Dana's death (man who brought Ethanol to Indy and ALMS racing). A salute to the great racer is in order.