[blau]

[quote name='bombfactory' timestamp='1331147244' post='122875']

I went to my first NASCAR race a few years back at Calif... oops, Auto Club Speedway.



Toothless drunk a-holes in sleeveless tees and trucker hats everywhere. Never again!

[/quote]



The best that 909 had to offer?

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Cloud9...68]

They do run a few NASCAR races on road courses, but in my opinion, that looks even more ridiculous, if that's possible. Like trying to herd a bunch of pigs around a fire pit. OK, dumb analogy, but hopefully you get the idea.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Dubai944]

I got bored of Mickey Mouse one of the days when we visited Disneyworld years ago so I went for a Richard Petty NASCAR "drive experience". It was pretty much the most underwhelming track car experience I ever had. The cars were kind of cool with mega horsepower, but going round and round for 10 laps doing nothing but breathing off the throttle slightly for turn in was, frankly boring as hell. I was the front car in the group and so wanted to overtake the pace car which was limiting speeds to 145mph <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.png" class="smilie" alt="" />



When I got out of the car, some instructor said "Man, you were looking good out there! Wasn't that the most exciting thing you ever did?" I said "Actually it was pretty boring" and he just looked at me like I was from another planet. I turned around and saw that everyone else in the group was backslapping and high fiving each other. Just shook my head and went back to the hotel....



Bunch of rednecks!



Edit: Found the picture... you can see how excited I was!

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Rap]

Perhaps the other participants didn't have the same depth of driving experience as you!

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Cloud9...68]

But that's a very illustrative story, from the perspective of someone with track experience.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Dubai944]

I guess most of all it was just dissapointing to me. The car was like a tank to drive, not much steering feel and not as much sensation of speed as you would expect. The scenery doesn't change much on an oval either!



I suppose there would be some thrill in going a bit faster than I did, and bumping cars off the track would certainly be entertaining (I love doing that in NASCAR arcade games <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.png" class="smilie" alt="" /> ), then there would be some strategy about fuel managment going on to keep you thinking but to me it just doesn't compare to any form of real road racing as far as what it requires from a driver.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[ds968]

How can anyone go from a 968 which ( with just a few mods ) goes 160 and in the process also provides a phenomenal driving / handling feedback , to a pig of a car which for amateur track driving is limited to less than 150, and still enjoy the experience ?!

No wonder you did not find it thrilling.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Chris Vais]

I don't think that we should denigrate oval track driving as somehow being a lesser form of racing. I've read accounts by sports car and prototype car drivers about taking something like a Porsche 917 up to banking at Daytona during the 24 hour race. Not nearly as easy at might seem.



Back in the day when I made my living flying, the fighter pilots were always viewed as the cream of the crop, because it was thought that air to air combat was the most difficult environment in which to fight and survive. Actually recce flying is the most dangerous because you have only speed and your wits with which to save your a$$ if the mission goes south on you. The fighter pilots always looked down their noses at the light attack guys and then there were the guys in the utility squadrons that flew the CODs, the carrier onboard delivery aircraft, the low men on the totem pole.



But at the end of the day, it all requires great skill, just applied in a different way depending on what you are flying. I got bailed out of an ugly situation by a couple of light attack guys flying A4s who had the one thing I didn't at the time, guns, and they new how to use them.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

it indeed takes nerve, heat resistance, tolerance to shifting g-forces, and a real ability to focus. it's not simple. it's just boring to watch. i also think that it is less demanding in skill than road racing, which requires all of the above, AND the ability to turn right, strategize, and think ahead

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Scott Collins]

Normally, if you told me I could see really fast cars, faster women, and enjoy unlimited amounts of booze and junk food, I'd sign up. But It's just too boring... But to be fair to NASCAR, I also enjoy watching golf on tv.



Anyhow, if you don't like NASCAR, for whatever reason, watch this. I posted it a long time ago, but it still will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.



http://www.autoblog....3-rally-action/

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[tamathumper]

According to a lengthy article in this month's Discover magazine, the biggest advancement in NASCAR racing in decades occurred in 1998 with the invention of a new type of double valve spring, which IIRC created an arms race for higher RPMs that met or exceeded formula racing standards. There is certainly a phenomenal amount of engineering that goes into the cars, but it's just boring as mud to watch.



With that being said, watching someone else race on a road track, or any other kind of racing is also boring as mud to watch. If I'm not the one doing it, I don't particularly enjoy sitting around watching someone else do it. Life is too short to watch other people have fun.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Cloud9...68]

I think the thing that makes NASCAR appear so idiotic to so many of us is the combination of the factors that make it what it is: Big, low tech cars, the lack of anything but left turns, the redneck image, the sometimes questionable sponsors, and the way so many of its fans come across as illegitimate offspring of extras from the Beverly Hillbillies.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Dubai944]

[quote name='ds968' timestamp='1331240244' post='122958']

How can anyone go from a 968 which ( with just a few mods ) goes 160 and in the process also provides a phenomenal driving / handling feedback , to a pig of a car which for amateur track driving is limited to less than 150, and still enjoy the experience ?!

No wonder you did not find it thrilling.

[/quote]



Actually, I was in the middle of an Formula Ford 2000 series at the time....so maybe the comparison wasn't fair... <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.png" class="smilie" alt="" />



Damn, now I feel all guilty and mean spirted for making fun of NASCARs!

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[chudson]

Regardless of your opinion you can't deny it's appeal. And if you don't get it I understand. I don't get curling either.



A player very slowly pushes a smooth rock down something akin to an iced bowling lane while others frantically sweep a path for it.........wow.



But it's in the Olympics!



Skill? You need to check history. Almost every open wheel driver who attemps the Nascar venue (and most unsuccessfully) gets out of the car, looks at the camera and states "That's the hardest thing I've ever done". They never say "With a little more practice I'll toast everyone here". But then again having watched the sport for decades I've seen those interviews - you guys haven't.



Brainless, get in hold on and turn left? That's all there is?? For years they invited all forms of drivers to race IROC against Nascar drivers in identically prepared cars and most of the time the stock car drivers were the successors.



I do despise the Nascar of today. It's almost spec racing and all "driven" (pardon that pun) by dollars. Car's darn near identical. And I agree that if you don't have a similar model in the showroom then you shouldn't have it on the track (sorry Camry - but it's true). And the top 35 point holders are guaranteed a starting spot in the race. BS!! If Jimmie Johnson spins out in qualifing then tell him to load his crap in the truck and take it home!



For me it boils down to this. It's still my sport and I love it. I was Nascar when Nascar wasn't cool. I'm an absolute gearhead, love and appreciate almost all forms of motorsports and will race you pushing a shopping cart if you're willing. So if it rolls, flys or floats, makes noise and you can race it I'm in.



And by the way, you want to see some racing? Check out that European series where they race the sedans (Audi, BMW, Volvo, Benz, etc). Those guys are serious business and kickin' butt!



Oh, and technically - they are stock cars!!! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.png" class="smilie" alt="" />

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[raydog]

Boy, looks like some of you guys got your noses up high. Racing is entertainment just like any other sport. There are going to be some exciting races and some boring ones. Some tracks are just plain boring to watch a race at. Again, just like other sports, take the good games with the boring ones. I'm with Chudson, the sport was watered down quite a few years ago and has never really caught all of my interest since. I watch races sometimes for the entertainment value, but please don't group me with the gap toothed beer drinking audience that makes up Nascar's fans. That is such a stereotype and it makes one appear to be looking down at these folks who spend there hard earned money to be at the venues and support the drivers and sponsors. If you have ever been to a race, you would find that most fans are very polite and friendly, not once have I ever seen and problem with the crowd. Can't say that about football or baseball to name a couple.



by the way, we got fuel injection this year!

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[951968]

Maybe I'm mistaken, but haven't I seen Porsche's, Benz,BMW's,Vettes,Ferrari's,Morgans,Aston Martins,and Caddys drive round in circles for 24 hrs.?

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Rap]

I love the divergent opinions here. Always respectful certainly opinionated! Everyone has something they like and dislike. Sure makes the world go round!

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[DaveN]

I think Trooper pretty well summed up the NASCAR theme song:



[left]In and out[/left]

[left]On and on and you're[/left]

[left]Turning me upside down[/left]



[left]Turning me inside out[/left]

[left]And I feel[/left]

[left]My head is spinning round[/left]



[left]Round, round we go (round, round we go)[/left]

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[94SilverCab]

http://www.worldcurling.org/



Yawn....

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Cloud9...68]

I get that "stock" car racing has a relevant place in the sport, but what (among many things) I find incomprehensible about NASCAR is - exactly what types of "stock" cars are those monsters supposed to be emulating? Cars that those beasts are supposedly based on haven't been in the showrooms since the 70s, and they were out of date then. I guess I would find it more interesting if they ran in cars that resembled what people can actually buy. That, and occasionally turning a direction other than left. After all, the bootleggers' car's the series was originally based on turned all sorts of directions, right?

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.