Calif. newspaper article - Page 3

Bunkster · 11-09-2007, 08:33 PM

The best dollar and time investment for a fan ... a spectator... is a night at a WOO sprint car race.

Nothing..... be it NASCAR, NHRA, Indy cars or whatever, can compare to what you get with this beautiful, up-close, in-your-face display of power.

If you could ever put nitromethane on dirt, it is a WOO car. If you've never attended one, before you die, try it. You'll wonder why NHRA or NASCAR ever impressed you at all.

Michael Beard · 11-09-2007, 10:10 PM

Amen! If WoO can't compete with NASCAR, how can anyone? I think their biggest limitation is that the venues are so small. Need to Bristol-lize those tracks! More seats to be able to put butts in the seats is where the money's at, and everything else flows from there.

67camaroracer · 11-10-2007, 04:30 PM

Been to nascar races and the drags. I have to say that in my opinion the circle track crowd is a bunch of drunk idiots that have nothing in common with fellow drivers. Honestly, what the hell are you going to take home with you from a race at Pocono. A slanted eye and a hangover. You can't see anything and even a so called pit pass puts you behind some huge fence to get within 30 feet of a car. I happen to like both forms of racing but i can't tell you how many times i learned something from an NHRA event. Everyone i talk to is knowledgable about race cars and totally approachable. One more thing about the NHRA, Plenty of guts and NO glory and it's fine by me.

David

bill dedman · 11-11-2007, 12:55 AM

The guy who wrote that article is a case in point regarding the very reason that NHRA drag racing will never approach the popularity of NASCAR.

In order to enjoy drag racing, you need to know something about cars... In order to enjoy NASCAR racing, you only need to know who's driving, because the cookie-cutter cars are so much alike that it doesn't really matter which driver is in which car, and with the advent of the spec "Car of Tomorrow," it's about to get worse.

You can't really enjoy handicapped racing unless you have at least SOME understanding of breakouts and the REASON one car leaves first. Let alone, why two otherwise identical cars leave the line at separate times, just because one is an automatic. The sheer number of classes and humongous variety of cars (Stocker Pinto wagon vs. A/SA Hemi Barracuda), and types of cars (4-cylinder turbo Altered vs sbc/FED (nostalgia car) in Comp, running for the same pot is not easy to rationally explain to a novice fan.

The fact is, (and I'm not insulting anybody here; just a fact) a low-grade moron can figure out the winner in a NASCAR race; you have to KNOW something to appreciate the multitude of significant aspects in a drag race, and determine why the second car to get there WON..

REAL drag fans are, I believe, way more knowledgeable about their chosen sport thn any of the circle track types, just because it's necessary to have a certain amount of information in your head to fully appreciate the nuances of a wheelstanding Super Stocker than some dumbed-down roundy-round car that is EXACTLY like the 15 others traveling the circle, with him.

I'm not talking about the quality of the race mechanics; I know that the NASCAR techs get an amazing amount of power out of very little, make it last for 500 miles at 8+ grand, and make it get acceptable gas mileage, all the while.... This is about the fans; not the mechanics.

The circle track main race has ONE WINNER, traditionally...

NHRA racing has a lot of winners... Very confusing for the fans.

I'm not at all sure that trying to make drag racing "big business" was ever a very good idea, anyway.
Maybe SCCA had the right idea all along... I know that drag racing back in the '50s was a lot more fun than it is, now...

Michael Beard · 11-11-2007, 10:50 AM

I went to Painesville Speedway in Ohio once - a small paved oval. Their Street Stock type class had a breakout. If you ran a lap time 'x' amount faster in the Main as you ran in qualifying, you were DQ'd. The announcer explained the rules, how it happened, and all the fans were fine with it, as far as I could tell. You've got casual fans that don't know and don't care, that just go to hang out, you've got novice fans who are interested and willing to learn, and you've got hardcore fans. You just see those types of fans in varying amounts at different events. Some people find golf riveting. To each their own. The key is to know your market.

1320GURU · 11-12-2007, 02:32 PM

A recent experience at Piedmont would be reason enough for the Glendora gals, err boys, take notice and get a clue. While watching the combo race I stuck around for the Big Dog shootout. My bleacher buddie had to point out to me the two "announcers" on either side of the track commenting (razzing) back and forth about the cars and each other. This created an atmosphere I have never seen at a nat'l event, or actually at any motorsports event. While no one here would hang around for "Top fool", or any of the "pro" stuff they cram down the publics throats on ESPN, IF they WANTED to create some excitement between runs and capitalize on the DRIVER fan following (THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO SELL, LIKE NECKCAR), they should try the announcer on the sideline. first he would have to have a pulse and personality, God forbid he show some emotion and try to get the "fans" involved in whats happening on the line before the green.

How about some pit cam shots while they are actually "working" on the cars to add filler between rounds, not the boring same old interviews, but a helmet mounted cam showing the guy actually pulling a piston, or how the thing finally comes together under the gun. And mic some of these guys, it can't be any worse than the football "micked up" nonsense.

There are plenty of clues they could take form other forms of sport that have to fill the space between the action. They should take some of the $$$$$ and hire a production specialist form a major network for an entire rework of the TV format. People watch Pro wrestling for a reason, it was marketed to them and it is a slick package they have sold to their demographic. I could go on for hours (snowboarding, X games, Golf, whatever) there is obviously no thought going into what is presented on TV or it would measure up. Sorry but I care about racing and how it is NOT sold to the masses.

These are just my opinions (even if I did work in TV production) and don't amount to a hill of beans anyway.

Thanks Herb JR. for a really cool Big Dog race, it was entertaining. I'll be back.

1320GURU · 11-12-2007, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1664SSJA

Bring back Steve Evans!

Old wine skin. Better to have a complete overhaul, format and all.

Buy you're right, at least he does have a personality and knowledge of the entire sport.

11-09-2007, 08:33 PM	#21
Bunkster Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 307 Likes: 0 Liked 43 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Calif. newspaper article The best dollar and time investment for a fan ... a spectator... is a night at a WOO sprint car race. Nothing..... be it NASCAR, NHRA, Indy cars or whatever, can compare to what you get with this beautiful, up-close, in-your-face display of power. If you could ever put nitromethane on dirt, it is a WOO car. If you've never attended one, before you die, try it. You'll wonder why NHRA or NASCAR ever impressed you at all.

11-09-2007, 10:10 PM	#22
Michael Beard VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 4,060 Likes: 0 Liked 13 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Calif. newspaper article Amen! If WoO can't compete with NASCAR, how can anyone? I think their biggest limitation is that the venues are so small. Need to Bristol-lize those tracks! More seats to be able to put butts in the seats is where the money's at, and everything else flows from there. __________________ Michael Beard - NHRA/IHRA 3216 S/SS

11-10-2007, 04:30 PM	#23
67camaroracer Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Ct Posts: 32 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Calif. newspaper article Been to nascar races and the drags. I have to say that in my opinion the circle track crowd is a bunch of drunk idiots that have nothing in common with fellow drivers. Honestly, what the hell are you going to take home with you from a race at Pocono. A slanted eye and a hangover. You can't see anything and even a so called pit pass puts you behind some huge fence to get within 30 feet of a car. I happen to like both forms of racing but i can't tell you how many times i learned something from an NHRA event. Everyone i talk to is knowledgable about race cars and totally approachable. One more thing about the NHRA, Plenty of guts and NO glory and it's fine by me. David

11-11-2007, 12:55 AM	#24
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Calif. newspaper article The guy who wrote that article is a case in point regarding the very reason that NHRA drag racing will never approach the popularity of NASCAR. In order to enjoy drag racing, you need to know something about cars... In order to enjoy NASCAR racing, you only need to know who's driving, because the cookie-cutter cars are so much alike that it doesn't really matter which driver is in which car, and with the advent of the spec "Car of Tomorrow," it's about to get worse. You can't really enjoy handicapped racing unless you have at least SOME understanding of breakouts and the REASON one car leaves first. Let alone, why two otherwise identical cars leave the line at separate times, just because one is an automatic. The sheer number of classes and humongous variety of cars (Stocker Pinto wagon vs. A/SA Hemi Barracuda), and types of cars (4-cylinder turbo Altered vs sbc/FED (nostalgia car) in Comp, running for the same pot is not easy to rationally explain to a novice fan. The fact is, (and I'm not insulting anybody here; just a fact) a low-grade moron can figure out the winner in a NASCAR race; you have to KNOW something to appreciate the multitude of significant aspects in a drag race, and determine why the second car to get there WON.. REAL drag fans are, I believe, way more knowledgeable about their chosen sport thn any of the circle track types, just because it's necessary to have a certain amount of information in your head to fully appreciate the nuances of a wheelstanding Super Stocker than some dumbed-down roundy-round car that is EXACTLY like the 15 others traveling the circle, with him. I'm not talking about the quality of the race mechanics; I know that the NASCAR techs get an amazing amount of power out of very little, make it last for 500 miles at 8+ grand, and make it get acceptable gas mileage, all the while.... This is about the fans; not the mechanics. The circle track main race has ONE WINNER, traditionally... NHRA racing has a lot of winners... Very confusing for the fans. I'm not at all sure that trying to make drag racing "big business" was ever a very good idea, anyway. Maybe SCCA had the right idea all along... I know that drag racing back in the '50s was a lot more fun than it is, now... __________________ Bill Last edited by bill dedman; 11-11-2007 at 03:06 PM. Reason: misspellings...

11-11-2007, 10:50 AM	#25
Michael Beard VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 4,060 Likes: 0 Liked 13 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Calif. newspaper article I went to Painesville Speedway in Ohio once - a small paved oval. Their Street Stock type class had a breakout. If you ran a lap time 'x' amount faster in the Main as you ran in qualifying, you were DQ'd. The announcer explained the rules, how it happened, and all the fans were fine with it, as far as I could tell. You've got casual fans that don't know and don't care, that just go to hang out, you've got novice fans who are interested and willing to learn, and you've got hardcore fans. You just see those types of fans in varying amounts at different events. Some people find golf riveting. To each their own. The key is to know your market. __________________ Michael Beard - NHRA/IHRA 3216 S/SS

11-12-2007, 02:32 PM	#26
1320GURU Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 11 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Calif. newspaper article A recent experience at Piedmont would be reason enough for the Glendora gals, err boys, take notice and get a clue. While watching the combo race I stuck around for the Big Dog shootout. My bleacher buddie had to point out to me the two "announcers" on either side of the track commenting (razzing) back and forth about the cars and each other. This created an atmosphere I have never seen at a nat'l event, or actually at any motorsports event. While no one here would hang around for "Top fool", or any of the "pro" stuff they cram down the publics throats on ESPN, IF they WANTED to create some excitement between runs and capitalize on the DRIVER fan following (THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO SELL, LIKE NECKCAR), they should try the announcer on the sideline. first he would have to have a pulse and personality, God forbid he show some emotion and try to get the "fans" involved in whats happening on the line before the green. How about some pit cam shots while they are actually "working" on the cars to add filler between rounds, not the boring same old interviews, but a helmet mounted cam showing the guy actually pulling a piston, or how the thing finally comes together under the gun. And mic some of these guys, it can't be any worse than the football "micked up" nonsense. There are plenty of clues they could take form other forms of sport that have to fill the space between the action. They should take some of the $$$$$ and hire a production specialist form a major network for an entire rework of the TV format. People watch Pro wrestling for a reason, it was marketed to them and it is a slick package they have sold to their demographic. I could go on for hours (snowboarding, X games, Golf, whatever) there is obviously no thought going into what is presented on TV or it would measure up. Sorry but I care about racing and how it is NOT sold to the masses. These are just my opinions (even if I did work in TV production) and don't amount to a hill of beans anyway. Thanks Herb JR. for a really cool Big Dog race, it was entertaining. I'll be back.