I've been a racing fan since the the first time I attended the local dirt track in the mid 1960's. Through the 70's, Sprintcars on the dirt to me was an outright rush. The World of Outlaws came into being in the late 70's, a group of sprint car racers that traveled around the country following the big purse races. The World of Outlaws has been around now for over 30 years and put on an unbelievable show where ever they race. Doesn't matter whether it's a 1/4 mile high banked clay oval, a 1/3 mile super tacky clay oval, or the super fast high banked Eldora 1/2 mile in Ohio, these guys are the best. While I still care a lot about the sprint car scene and keep track of them religiously I've been "turned on" to the NASCAR scene the past couple years. "Superstocks" on the short tracks were always a couple seconds slower per lap than an open wheel car and thus boring to me.
Todays NASCAR racing actually boggles the mind. 43 car fields within a MPH or two of each other during qualifying. Gigantic ovals from the 2.6 mile Talledega to the 1/2 mile Bristol TN high banks, these racers are incredible. The Indy car racers are incredible too. Any race group banging fenders or wheels at over 200mph is very hard for the common man to comprehend. Anyway after watching the Daytona 500 and the 500 mile race at Fontana California today, I'm thinking I need to attend a NASCAR race someday. Those TV shots (with strategic microphones) recording that passing heard of 43 cars doing 200mph sounds so fucking cool. I'd have to travel a long ways to see a NASCAR show but I'm thinking it might be worth it.
__________________
If you are in a horror movie, you make bad decisions, its what you do.
In the wife's home town (N. Wilkesboro, NC) the old NASCAR track was about seven miles from her home.
I was working outside and could hear the roar of the engines on the restart of every caution flag.
During routine racing, with the cars spread out, the sound was muted tho.
The five eighths mile track was sold to two guys that needed the two race dates. They hated each other, took their race dates, and the track sits empty for the past ten years or so.
I've never been a huge NASCAR fan, but up here in frosty land, I do enjoy watching dirt track racing with Late Models and Modifieds.
I remember once as a kid when the big boys of the World of Outlaws Sprints came to Superior. Guys like Sammy Swindell, Jac Haudenschild, Steve Kinser. Those fuckers were animals, and rarely did you ever hear them get off the gas, as they were running wide open the whole race. Now that was entertainment!
Steve Kinser...the "King". Some get weary of a constant winner but not me. I hope he wins every race. He is a legend in the sport. Something like 540(?) career WOO main event victories, 20 WOO season championships. What he has achieved is beyond comprehension. The World of Outlaw sprintcar group is the best of the best. They can show up at a track they've never seen before and set a new track record during time trials and the local racers are lucky to even get into the main event (except in Pennsylvania, Ohio, California, and Knoxville Iowa). Thanks to the internet you can keep up with the sprintcar scene without subscribing to a half dozen different racing publications by going to: http://www.hoseheads.com/ Sprintcars on dirt/clay is my kind of entertainment.
__________________
If you are in a horror movie, you make bad decisions, its what you do.
In the wife's home town (N. Wilkesboro, NC) the old NASCAR track was about seven miles from her home.
I was working outside and could hear the roar of the engines on the restart of every caution flag.
During routine racing, with the cars spread out, the sound was muted tho.
The five eighths mile track was sold to two guys that needed the two race dates. They hated each other, took their race dates, and the track sits empty for the past ten years or so.
wes
Evergreen Speedway in Monroe Wa. is a 5/8th's paved oval and the the biggest track in the state of Washington. I hate the track actually. Biggest problem is accumulating enough competitive cars to make a race on a 5/8th's entertaining. It wasn't until I visited Indianapolis Motor Speedway before I realized what "big" really was. At Indy, you need binoc's to see the backstetch. A 5/8th is about the max for viewing racing action all around the track without binoc's. Evergreen Speedway also is fairly flat in the corners meaning lot's of letting up on the throttle and hit the brakes. I saw a few open competition sprint/modified races there in the late 70's and 80's that were decent. It's a shame it's the closest racetrack to my home and I hate it. Rip up the fucking asphalt, and create an Eldora (Ohio) clone.
Ckeckout this USAC/CRA wingless sprintcar show at Perris Speedway outside of LA last weekend. Keep in mind that wingless sprints are about two seconds slower per lap than the winged sprints.
__________________
If you are in a horror movie, you make bad decisions, its what you do.
The appreciation of frenzy. I haven't attended many races in last ten years but I know who's doing what and how cool it is to see. The one thing about motorsports is that it's faster every year. New track records by the dozens, the advancements of horsepower, new found styles of driving, better designed chasis. Racing is not stagnet. There is a natural push that needs to be realized. I love it.
__________________
If you are in a horror movie, you make bad decisions, its what you do.
Should be real exciting at Talledega this weekend with the Mars square Pluto aspect in effect. The "Big One" could be spectacular. (meaning the huge wreck that takes out 10 cars or more) NASCAR racing at Talledega is insane at best. Can't wait to watch the race.
__________________
If you are in a horror movie, you make bad decisions, its what you do.
It's got to be a pisser to spend a bunch of money, time on vacation, hotel/motel expenses, air fare, and everything else you thought was going to be a perfect weekend, and low and behold the fucking race rains out. Now it's a Monday race and you have to get back to work. Weather and racing...do not count your chickens before they hatch. The grand stands of Poccono would be full on Sunday, but Monday maybe half. A lot of grand plans for enjoyment fell through on this weekend. I feel the disappointment. I've been there. Travel across country, pay in advance for tickets, and when the day comes, you sit in your motel room without seeing a race. Maybe thats why I"m an "online race fan" these days.
__________________
If you are in a horror movie, you make bad decisions, its what you do.
We had perfect weather for the first ever NASCAR event round here. Nice look at the track on a ride along one driver gave. Tickets sold out fast. Oh well. This is next year contry.
-- Edited by Astrobuck10 on Monday 3rd of August 2009 11:34:37 AM
The Poccono 500 gets rained out on Sunday. Plenty of pissed off fans/travelers. Forgot to watch the race this Monday. Thank You Astrobuck for the preview of the Saskatoon short track. Short track asphalt racing is...nothing like a high banked clay track. On asphalt, it's Waaaaaaaaa for a few seconds and then on the brakes and then Waaaaaaaaa for a few more seconds and then on the brakes. On a clay/dirt track it's full throttle all the way around. It didn't take me too long in my race fan preference to pick the dirt tracks over the asphalt bull rings. Will have to say the greatest short track asphalt race I've ever seen was at the now defunkt Langley Speedway in B.C. during the 1972 I.D.C. Bob Seelman from Michigan in a super modified won a 50 lap battle that I can still see in my mind. It was a 3-car battle that went on and on. About all I can say is watch a few asphalt races and watch a few dirt/clay races and see what turns you crank.
__________________
If you are in a horror movie, you make bad decisions, its what you do.
Wes...you found a thread thats 4 and half years old.
Which means everybody here still alive and kicking
by what means is unknown despite what we said
to anything. Back to Jeff Gordon...I've always liked
him. Saw his rise in racing in the sprintcars/midgets
as a teenager. No doubt Jeff Gordon is a racer/winner.
Got 88 wins in Sprintcup which is a lot and he's not
done with that total as he could get 100 before he's
done. Jimmie Johnson glad for good running teamates.
This is going to be exciting at Texas and Phoenix as
the MIR influence will be in effect.
__________________
If you are in a horror movie, you make bad decisions, its what you do.
