Funny - Why no mention here of another obvious (to me) fan difference:
NASCAR High Speed (Tri) Ovals or Short Tracks Races: Which are your favorites?
Personally; when I was a kid, I used to enjoy going to and watching the dirt racers. Last dirt races I attended were over a decade ago, and they were fun to watch for a few heats, but got tired of the grit in my teeth. I equate those tracks more to the Paved short track races and find them now boring.
However: Also, when I was a kid learning how to drive, (my 1968 New Yorker 440cid, and 1956 Cadillac Deville, 1972 Sport Fury, and later my 1973 Malibu) my best friends and I would drive the back dirt and gravel roads pushing the limits making our cars do controlled slides, drifts and fishtails. We would do the same on the back roads in the snow and ice covered 1 ˝ lane roads…pushing the limits of traction and adhesion more often than not going off into the snow drifts; digging the cars out and doing it all over again. Crazy kids? You bet your a$$, but we learned how to really drive past the limits in cars that were never engineered to be pushed and tortured like “we fine young men” were pushing them. I can tell you that my New Yorker was nicknamed by me “The Land Yacht” and the speedo saw more 120mph time than “normal speeds”. It was at these times that I really learned how to drive, and gained the knowledge and respect for control at the limits. After digging out a vehicle from the mud, snow and ice a few times, you get the picture that your equipment holds up longer in a cleaner environment like asphalt or concrete. Although it’s much less forgiving than dirt when you F up!
So IMO I understand the thrill of dirt racing and short tracks, but prefer…the hi-speed paved track races; like Daytona, Talladega, Darlington, Texas, etc.
That was another appeal to me for Drag Racing: The pure speed, adrenalin, and relative cleanliness of the cars, crews and tracks racing on the pavement.
I for one will admit that I enjoy the thrill of close competition, and CRASHES that “…and they walked away” from, and “way out there” personalities like A.J. Foyt for example. But then I’m just old school…and could care less what striping package is on the latest “bar of soap” car body.
Really exciting to see people like F1 drivers racing in the rain – wow what a novelty! And, controlled NASCAR sideways slides at 190+mph were the driver gets the out of control back in shape, and weird series like the Truck races…because they almost look like something that I can relate to…a vehicle that I can drive on the street…like an F-150, Silverado, etc. That is what all motor sports are drifting away from IMO: How the average fan can relate with what is in there driveway or garage vs. what they see on the track. Kinda like a modern version of this:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alvin
Can you see a Pontiac there!!!? Oh Yeah!!!!!!!!
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So, not so sure what makes a Chevy a Chevy in modern Nascar…but I can relate to that Pontiac shown above as we have one in our garage.
NASCAR High Speed (Tri) Ovals or Short Tracks Races: Which are your favorites?