| Author | Message | ||
     Crusty |
This Sunday is the Daytona 500. I plan to watch it, but I'm not big into NASCAR racing. Back in the late 80s, I used to watch a lot of it on ESPN, but my interest faded over time. A lot of people think it's boring to watch a race on an oval track, yet they see nothing wrong with watching a Golf tournament. Me; I'd put being tied up and forced to watch golf right up there with being water boarded. While I'm not really into the 500 a lot, I have more interest in it than in watching the Super Bowl. I don't know hardly any of the drivers any more, so I won't have any pre formed opinions. I'm just hoping it's a good race. Is anybody else planning to watch it? | ||
| Ducbsa |
I keep saying I want to go to the road course race at Watkins Glen, but never carry through. | ||
| Mtjm2 |
I'll be watching unless my daughter has a basketball game. I'm not as big a fan as I used to be . In the effort to make everything safer and more equal, they've taken some of the excitement out of the racing. And I think its next Sunday? I'm looking forward for F1 season | ||
| Aesquire |
I've never run Watkins Glen on my motorcycle. But at 3 am I've run it on a bicycle. At the vintage cup race. | ||
| Etennuly |
I will probably watch it. Unless it is on pay to view. Heck I am glad you mentioned it. I have been distracted enough to not know when it was coming up. Had this discussion with a guy the other day. NASCAR popularity has been dropping as they price their way beyond what their fan base can afford to pay. | ||
| Mnscrounger |
N.A.S.C.A.R... North American Stock Car Automoible Racing... I too have gradually lost interest, nowadays I watch it mostly because its the only motorsport on broadcast TV. I miss the day when they at least had to start with a factory body. (I know that's been a long while) There's zero "stock" parts in the car today, and the only significant difference is the engine block. The design and fabrication can take place anywhere in the world, though admittedly mostly still in Virginia and the Carolinas. If I ran NASCAR, here's the way I would set it up.. 1. Mandate the base engine and chassis must be a serialized production OEM product manufactured and offered for sale in North America. Front, rear, all wheel drive? Pushrod, ohc, 2V, 4V? It's all good if you think you can win. 2. Complete disassembly and modifications would be legal, but the only changes must be "bolt on". 3. It would probably be wise to set a boost/displacement formula limit,(restrictor plate?) but bore, stroke, and rev as you wish at the risk of your bottom end, valve train, and rings. 4. Safety equipment, the only exceptions to the bolt on limitations. We've come a long way to protecting driver safety, and I have no problem with the mandating of additional caging, crush zones, and bracing being welded in to protect these athletes. That can be offset by requiring a minimum weight in the cars. 5. Skinny up the tires to some maximum limit to reduce speeds. Since were using production chassis that would be a safety benefit. Less dependence on aerodynamics means a car can still compete with minor damage. ("rubbing's racing")It would also be a better show for the fan base to actually see a drift and a few bent fenders. 6. There will be no "official" tire, oil, fuel,brake fluid, or coolant. If a manufacturer of these products truly do believe they have a superior formula, they can sponsor a team and bring it. Basically just democratize the cost so any average Joe could picture themselves doing it. Racing happens just like that, week in and week out at your local tracks, where the root and core of the sport are. Formula One and INDY are amazing sports where technology and engineering are at the forefront. NASCAR is losing fans because it is not, and never will be those sports. It's fans historically are everyman Walter Mitty's. The less Walter can relate to it, the less he will watch. | ||
| Fast1075 |
I'd rather watch skittles being flushed. Smokey Yunick would have a conniption if he could see Nascar (or Indy) they way it is today. Racing should be run what you brung, and bring plenty. It would be interesting again if you had races where 2nd place was 3 laps back like Buddy Baker used to do with those cross bolt 427s. I miss big blocks and hemis thundering along. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Fixing NASCAR would be a lost cause. Lemons racing however? AWESOME. My friends field a car: Hollowed out MR2 decked out to look like a Russian space shuttle with a V6 jammed in the back. They engineered a semi-dry sump for it after they kept throwing rods from oil starvation. | ||
| 86129squids |
Nate- there's a magazine out there somewhere dedicated to rat rod racing and such, scanned through one at the Vegas airport last year. Super fun read- they featured a clapped out/mutated/souped up Datsun Z car in the issue. Can't remember the magazine title... | ||
| Mnscrounger |
Squids, are you thinking of "Roadkill"? If so, they have a bunch of videos on utube too. | ||
| Shoggin |
And now on Netflix! Love those guys. The shop is right down the street. They do Hot Rod Garage there too. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
YES roadkill. I have that issue and have watched all of their youtube content. They put that mag out quarterly. they have awesome names for their cars too: Rotsun (The Datsun Z car you mentioned. Originally had a V6 from a S10 pickup) General Mayhem (Cheapo general lee) Disgustang (animal toilet) | ||
| 86129squids |
Oh HEYULL yeah... are they on Netfliz!?!? Gotta make the most of my subscription... | ||
| Etennuly |
It will be on regular free TV. Fox 43 in our area Brad. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
Vern- Look up ticket prices at a track near you. They’re more affordable than you think. Plus you can bring in a cooler; try dining that at any other big time sporting event. Mn, there’s so much laughable nonsense in your post I don’t know where to start. First, it’s National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. Your “ideas to make racing better” would not only not make the racing better, you’d kill drivers and probably fans too. The only “official” products teams must use is tires and fuel, and the fuel is free to the teams. Saying NASCAR will never be Indy car is a huge relief to the people in NASCAR. If you had an idea that would guarantee Indy car in person attendance and tv ratings up to 1/2 of NASCAR numbers they’d pay you damn near whatever you wanted to give them the idea. | ||
| Strokizator |
Nascar lost me when the contrived outcomes became too obvious. Junior's about to go a lap down, quick, throw a caution for "debris on the track". Tired of watching races end green, white, checkered. Makes the other 398 laps pointless. Tired of Jimmy Johnson. Tired of races being "won in the pits". I'll watch for about 10 minutes tomorrow or until the second yellow flag (should be close to the same). | ||
| Crusty |
Well; I'm glad that I'm not the only one on this forum that will watch it. I hope it's a good race. | ||
| Etennuly |
Yeah Ben. I have been there. Like music and other sporting venues though, you get what you pay for. Cheap seats suck. Was gifted tickets to Charlotte once where I spent the entire race walking around the track. The seats were third row where you could literally only see the cars directly in front of you and most of the back stretch so far away there was little chance of following any laps of any one driver. Also been there sitting at the top. Much better. At Bristol so much so fast you can't see anything, maybe it was the extreme exhaust fumes. Daytona, love the infield better than the stands. The Glen.....just pick a spot. That is all you will see of the race. I walked the top at Darlington to see the race also. $50 seat will get you $14 sandwich and a $5 coke. Be there all day get a program, T shirt and a hat, it is easy $200 day per person. Take the motor Home for the weekend, gas, camping food and such or car and motel rooms even, for two is approaching a grand for a weekend. I get that it is about being there to be a part of the event. I am more into actually watching where and how the cars move. Best seen on the boob tube. Replays count too. One day I will take the motor home to Daytona or Talladega to camp in the infield with a TV on top of the motor home. | ||
| Mtjm2 |
I like the Glen for the 6 hr race . Camp in the loop and can walk to any corner . Miss the grand prix there. Thats the draw back for NASCAR at the Glen. They only race part of the track. May try and get to Summit Point for a race. | ||
| Fb1 |
Well; I'm glad that I'm not the only one on this forum that will watch it. I hope it's a good race. I'll be watching. Kevin Harvick, Ryan Blaney.  | ||
| Etennuly |
I have not paid much attention to NASCAR the past couple of years. I was big into it fan from the late 60's to around 2003 or so. Then lots of stuff got into my spare available time and my interest had waned. Just now catching some pre race stuff. Don't know of 60 percent of the drivers. Wholly crap a lot of my hero former drivers are frikken OLD! | ||
| Fb1 |
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/9653031 58229622785 | ||
| Crusty |
One thing; the drivers don't kneel during the National Anthem. | ||
| Ltbuell |
..ding ding ding...exactly....as with all the fans too. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Dang! When did NASCAR get umbrella girls? | ||
| Etennuly |
Good ending. With four to go I was really hoping to see it end with no cautions ,but hey, that wasn't bad! | ||
| Strokizator |
Green, white, checker. And so it begins again. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I was glad to see #43 do well. | ||
| Crusty |
I enjoyed it. I really thought that Blainey (#12) was going to win it. Lady Luck is very unpredictable. | ||
| Mtjm2 |
Got home from the basketball tournament in time for the over time shootout "can I say that here " ? New winner , Bubba finished strong. Saw the replay of the big wreck . Took out some good ones Daughter's term won the tournament and finished the season undefeated. Good day |
