I guess I'm still a little pissed that NASCAR has taken over the airwaves. IMO nascar is boring. I think it's so unexciting to make left hand turns all day on a track. On the other hand, I enjoy watching formula one, rally and especially the superbikes go at it because of the complexity of the courses. I have no experience with roadracing, but what do you guys think as far as skill level in comparison with the Collin McRae's and Schumacher's and about NASCAR in general?

 

personally, my opinion to ppl who think nascar or any circle track racing is "boring" because they only turn left dont understand racing, motorsports and competition and just want to hear and see cool things flash and buzz in front of them. while i admit nascar "taking over the airwaves" or the saturation of this sport is annoying as there are plenty of other types of racing going on, its still racing. these drivers are not fat, drunk, rednecks and it is hardly a sunday morning drive for these guys. its about tire control and management, suspension adjustment, engine reliability and power, all at 180mph for over an hour. if you understand racing, there is not much difference between F1 and nascar. yeah, thats exactly what im saying. there certainly is a lot of complexity in a left hand turn when going at the speeds they do.

everyone is free to enjoy whatever pleases them and have their own opinion. i just hate ppl dissing nascar for the wrong reasons.

another perspective of rally, i dont find it as fun to watch as nascar even because there is no passing. these drivers do not have to pass, so its like watching qualifying for F1, interesting, but the real interest is in the actual race. so im not so WOWed over cars doing hairpin turns and drifts over mud with flashy cars that are "cool" because i cant drive them in the US as i am seeing someone overtaking their competitor and wondering how long they can keep that lead as in nascar and F1. although the highlight reel of crashed rally cars is always cool (as long as you see them get out of the car and start kicking the crap out of the wheels)

take some time to actually watch nascar and listen to what the commentators are saying whats going on in the pits and different strategies they plan, how stuff has changed, how the yellow caution flag has affected the race and all that. then it becomes interesting.

 

Tyson, I understand completely what you're saying. I've tried to sit down and watch several different NASCAR events and I just can't seem to swallow it. I find myself getting bored and wanting to change the channel. I even got a friend of mine that's a nascar freak to explain to me the strategy behind it and all the little details. So I've tried, I guess it's just not my cup of tea

 

i like watching the first 50 laps of a race when they are on the super speedways. all bunched together drafting and what not.

Then, when the go in a parade formation, then it's boring. Just like most F1, CART & IRL races. Exciting first few laps, then when it get's sorted out, then is boring.

being there is live is another thing. watching it on TV....eh...it's okay.

just remember, NASCAR, CART, IRL, F1, etc. all have their own styles of racing. Watch what you want.

 

I have no idea what you are talking about.... Road racing is real exciting "when they all get sorted out"

Thats the best time. Come by sometime and we can turn off the Computer and watch Grand-Am Cup, SWC races.. or F1.

 

NASCAR is boring, IMO. F1, WRC, World Challenge are all 100 times more fun to watch. Again, my opinion.

Jason-
who has been to one NASCAR event, and didn't like it.

 

OMG OMG a right turn what do i do???

thats nascar.

http://www.noright.com

 

i dont like it cus all it is driving in circles. i bore easily.

 

I think NASCAR is boring, but not because I don't understand it. Hell, I'd LOVE to be out flying around even a circle at 200+ mph (not before I do it at a road course though ). Watching it, on the other hand, is a bit much. Passing is slow and doesn't *seem* to take much skill, whereas in road racing while it's less frequent (makes it more spectacular IMHO) it is usually more exciting and intense. The quick transitions, elevation changes, and overall variations from track to track all add up to more enjoyable *viewing.* I'll bet that 99% of the people who dislike NASCAR have never experienced it firsthand before ([edit] from the driver's seat [/edit]). And I include myself in that statement



[Modified by MrBite, 9:23 AM 7/17/2002]

 

Heh, you didn't watch Africa then

Actually, you can drive a bunch of them: Subaru WRX, Hyundai Accent, Ford Focus, and Mitsubishi Lancer, with the WRX STi and Lancer Evo slated for US arrival soon (let's hope).


[Modified by MrBite, 8:28 AM 7/17/2002]

 

I went to the Richmond race a couple of years ago. I was bored out of my mind most of the time. Sure, it's cool to hear those V8s at full song. Sure, it's impressive to see them run by you 4 feet away at 150+ mph. Sure, it's impressive when they spin out or get bumped into a wall and you can feel the stands shake... but I was over it by the 15th lap.

By the third hour of the race, the only amusement I found was watching the drunk fans. One guy stood for over 20 laps with his middle finger in the air, clutching his Bud in the other hand, weaving in a oval pattern, yelling obsencities at Gordon until #3 passed him back. Then he and his girlfriend got into a screaming match and she left, crying. He looked sad but then had another beer and yelled at Gordon some more.

And I'm sure glad I didn't pay for the $70 ticket... NASCAR is better on TV for me... because I can change the channel and not be overloaded.

 

circle track oWnZ!

Will
-who can't afford tix.... and hates extra advertisements

 

I dun like it.

 

LOL! Bud and yelling at Jeff Gordon can cure depression!

 

Sorry, I meant experienced it from the driver's seat

 

Sort of a side note here...but you know how some F1 circuits ban tobbacco advertising (big to them)? I love how some of the teams try to do a play on words or something like take some letters out of "BENSON HEDGES" to spell "BE ON EDGE" or "Look Alike" instead of "Lucky Strike," But Ferrari is just like "Eh...we don't really need the money...let's just leave it blank."

Good call on the advertising though George--Not only for the reasons you said but just for the fact that the cars look hideous with all those ricer stickers on them. This goes for ALL forms of racing...but NASCAR is particularly bad.
THIS:


is how it should always be!

 

I thought Ferrari only did that in honor of Sept. 11... hence the black nose.

George: My biggest beef with NASCAR is that there isn't any teams that are factory supported any more. No direct link between America's largest racing series and America's largest automakers... It's a shame... for BOTH parties.




[Modified by maxQ, 9:38 AM 7/17/2002]

 

Yeah, that was their 9/11 attire, but at other tracks, they leave a big white blank where "Marlboro" usually goes. They still have all the other sponsors though.

 

my opinion of NASCAR (probably influenced more by all of the NASCAR crap on Speed)...

"Screw NASCAR, anyone can drive in a circle."

 

NASCAR, SBK, AMA, Supercross, Motocross

WRC, F1, CART, IRL

NASCAR is far more fun to watch IMO. F1 and WRC are just a bunch of Euro guys who think they are god gift to racing and I cant even pronounce their names. Last time I checked the good ol boys in NASCAR had loads of respect for the guys in F1, yet I NEVER see the guys in F1 giving any kind of respect, not even to each other. I refer back to the Ferrari debacle.

F1 is too much about manufactuer and not enough about driver. Or its about 1 driver who is the lead driver for the team. On any race day there are only about 5 people who stand a chance at finishing second behind Schummacher. Every person who starts in NASCAR stands a chance to win and it happens all the time.

Bottom line. I think NASCAR is great since they dont take themselves too serious off the track and F1 sucks because they are too serious.

 

NASCAR's :
- push rod motors spinning at 9k rpm
- racing on road courses
- pit stops are impressive

NASCAR's
- oval or left-hand turn only tracks (boring!)
- heavy dependence on tobacco $$ sponsorship
- has too much of a "Bubba" image

 

Shows how little you actually know about the sport...

Anyone can turn left and right as well. Hell I do it everyday on the way to work.

 

As does your comment about F1 drivers above

 

oh brother, can you say "racist tendencies"?

 

I have actually raced both on road courses and an oval. The oval in question being Nazareth, which is supposed to be as close to a road course as an oval can get. Here is my take on the whole thing...

Road racing requires skill, nerve, intelligence, strategy, skill, knowledge, and skill.

Oval racing requires skill, *****, strategy, and *****.

Road racing is more about learning the track, trying different lines, thinking 10 steps ahead to figure out how to take your next pass. Oval racing is finding the line for each of the 4 turns, then seeing how close you can get to the wall without hitting it. Road racing takes more skill, and therefore I find it a LOT more fun to watch and participate in.

As for the NASCAR drivers not being fat, drunk, rednecks - you are mostly right. They aren't fat and drunk. Watch an interview with Dale Jr. and you'll agree...


Matt