The End of NASCAR?

Well, I learned long ago that trying to believe -any- race series is technologically below another is just ridiculous. It's racing. To compete you must use the highest technology allowed or your competitors will and beat you!

NASCAR has very stringent specs. mostly designed to keep the costs reasonable while at the same time generating revenue for the racers (sponsership) and giving an exciting event for the spectators.

"In the beginning" they used cars off the lots. As speeds rose and as we got smarter (and that's all of us, not just the so-called "rednecks") it became clear that real "stock cars" as driven on the street were just too dangerous to drive at 150-200 MPH!

So tube frame cars -looking- like "stock cars" were brought in. The brakes also had to evolve, as a 3500 lb car traveling at 150 to 200 MPH was just overpowering the brakes of the day. They now use "state of the art" brakes, but not the crazy expensive carbon-carbon ones of F1.

Even with all this costs began to creep up, so now they have the "car of tomorrow", now the "car of today". These cars are all the same, but for sponsorship purposes, are made to look like "stock cars" using decals. They are the safest cars in racing. The only difference between cars is the engines. They have GM, Chrysler, Ford, and Toyota engines, all V8s of fairly large displacement. Restrictor plates are used to limit HP in an attempt to keep the cars on the ground on certain tracks. It IS cutting edge technology being used, just affordable cutting edge technology.

Now after all this, you may think I'm a fan of NASCAR racing. Personally I will sometimes watch "circle track" racing, but I'm not all that interested. But put those cars on a "road track" and I'm there with bells on! Very entertaining watching the drivers try to control a 3500 lb car on a road track! Oh, and make no mistake, most of the NASCAR drivers are very good. They are no better or no worse than F1 drivers. It's just in NASCAR their driving job is going to last much longer than in F1, due to costs and the level of fitness required to withstand the forces the cars impart on the drivers (F1 cars could actually drive on the ceiling due to the high "downforce" they generate, but they cost millions of dollars each, whereas a NASCAR racecar is in the $150,000 area).

There is one major reason "circle track" racing is so popular though. From the stands you can follow the car all the way around the track.

 

I knew there had to be a reason for curling. Do you need to drink while you participate, or just as a spectator? :madgrin:

 

Running your mouth is great until someone gets it wired shut for ya. Just some advice from a Junior fan.

 

I've been to a few NASCAR races, and every time, they have been the dumbest event I've ever gone too, most fans stay in the parking lot or campsites, get drunk, party, stay up late, getting even drunker, and start the next day all over again, leaving the kids to fend for themselves. And the part that gets me, they do this for 3, 4 or 5 days, maybe see one race on one of the days, and really not even pay that much attention to race, other then hopping for a wreck. I found it to be the most boring and wasted time I've ever done.

 

A-ha! I finally have a reasonable theory to explain the statistical drop in crime on race day. Brilliant! Yes, I will share the prize with you, if I happen to win the statistics prize

 

As a hard drinking Canadian who *loves* curling, I only have one comment

Well, DUH!

Yes, the two go hand and glove

 

It's actually something Very Naughty

Just kidding!

Several times a week, I like to flip on the CBC French tv channel to keep my language skills up. I only wish my cable package carried German and Chinese language channels.

The best way to learn a "foreign" language is to just be thrown right into the middle of it. Necessity, especially desperate necessity, is the best teaching tool ever invented. Many a time I've caught myself thinking

"Oh gawd, how do I say *I have to make poopy RIGHT NOW* in French?"

 

Some of the brushes have hollow handles for your favorite beverage.

Tom

 

Hey qbee42, check this out: Bringing Curling to Kalamazoo Blog Archive Kalamazoo to host 2010 USA Curling National Championships

Always wanted to check out curling and this looks like a chance to see some of the best.

 

Oh please. In that department, I have Evan beat, hands down

 

Ssshhhh. That's still Top Secret

 

That sounds like fun. It's going to be held at Wings Stadium. I played a lot of hockey at Wings Stadium, and it's a nice venue.

Tom

 

You realise I was joking don't you?
No offence intended. Seriously what ever sport your in, even if it involves sweeping ice really fast, if you are at the top of the game you must be good or someone will knock you off your perch.

What I struggle with is the fans who think because they bought a jacket and hat representing the driver or car that won, they won. How does that work? I have never got that.

 

Arrrr a fine example, spoken like a true redneck!!

You realise Junior isn't really a name don't you? jk.

 

just caught up to this............

ROUND AND ROUND, LTO = left turn only, or was it right turn?????? left i see.

F1 rules. thats all.

 

I think if more people knew that the popularity would increase enormously.

 

The Horror, the Horror ....

 

Curling is fun even without drinking - it's my favourite sport. But it's cool to see a hammered curler still making good shots - many curlers have a lot of practice playing drunk.

In curling, if you are any good at all, the rewards are excellent. I have a house full of tools and gagdets that I've won playing in bonspiels (tournaments). You can't do that with softball or soccer.

As far as NASCAR goes, that's the last thing I'd ever watch or attend - but I'm like jhinton, I'd rather play sports than watch them. I can't even watch curling. It just makes me ansy and I want to get out there and participate.

 

Wouldn't your beer go flat with all the sweeping?

 

Perhaps something without the fizz?

Tom