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the official "I hate NASCAR" thread

#41
Rick Blanc said:
Yep, 1950's technology lives on: Carbuerators, pushrods and solid live axles.

But I have to admit, it is fun to watch those underpowered over weight family cars trying to get around Watkins Glen
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You got a point. Cant argue that.
I like to think of that stuff as 'user friendly.' Meaning - I can ger under the hood and work on it. Im glad the new mustang is keeping the live rear axle. But, yea, 1950's robust technology all the way.
 
#48
rickbass said:
So what ? I think it's immensely boring, but then, I've never been a gearhead. I don't have to watch it or go to the races and it gives a lot of people pleasure. To each, his own.

It could be worse - IT COULD BE GOLF!!!! :D
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Worse than watching golf is watching fishing. That I just can't understand.
 
#49
I am a former NASCAR fan.
Living in the western US I was not afforded much opportunity to see live races until the last few years and now I don't care anymore.

I did see a Busch series race about 5 years ago at Pikes Peak and I must say, the sound of 30 of those engines starting is not easily forgotten. Of course my Warwick played through a good amp is a reasonable substitute.

Nonetheless my biggest problem is that they race like a bunch of lawyers. They are so much more worried about championship points than they are winning races that the excitement level is affected. A driver that is doing well in the points has a lot of motivation to play it safe and not to risk a DNF.

Now on the the quotes:

"Crash. And there's your answer"

Lot to that. In person the crashes are amazing. To see a car sliding out of control a 160 MPH brings you to your feet. This is something that TV cameras will nevre be able to capture, you just have to be there to get the full effect.

"they run a .35 BSFC. Wow. Your brand new car is lucky to push .42 on a good day. "

The last time I remember anyone talking about Brake Specific Fuel Consumption they were teaching me how to rebuild aircraft engines. I love it!

A couple of weeks ago I got slammed hard for answering a question on impedance and going into a little bit of detail. I wonder what they would have said had I worked BSFC into the answer? :)

I also picked up a couple of great quotes:

"Outside of a dog, a book is a mans best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." - Groucho

"Aerodynamics are for those who cannot build engines" - Enzo Ferrari

Like I said, this is an awesome forum.
 
#50
Yeah I agree. I think treir point system contributes to that.

I seems to reward consistency rather than winning.

Their point system also contributes to cars going around the track at 2/3 speed with no hood or fenders just collecting points
 
#51
My big problem with NASCAR isn't so much with the sport itself, but really the culture that surrounds it. I autocrossed for a few years (got a regional SCCA trophy or two lying around) and I really got tired of trying to explain the sport to people who could only understand motorsports in terms of NASCAR or drag racing. I get tired of people who look at my little red roadster, which in the great tradition of small roadsters is not ungodly fast, and ask, "how fast that thing go?" because that's all they can comprehend, even many to most who fancy themselves to be auto enthusiasts.

Saying or implying that stock car racing doesn't require as much talent as other forms of racing is about as bad as saying that playing bass requires less talent than playing guitar. Even with some low-level motorsports experience under my belt, I would find the idea of wheel-to-wheel racing, stock car style, to be hugely intimidating. I have respect for those guys. And I could care less about the mechanics of the car and how it compares to a dragster or an F1 car. After you've seen a Yugo beat a Viper on an autocross course, you *may* begin to develop an appreciation for the human, over the mechanical aspect of racing. I did.

That said, though I can appreciate the skill involved, I can't quite understand the audience appeal. And I'm a bit bothered by the fact that crashes are part of the drama that attracts people. It's a little too gladiator-esque, especially when someone really dies.

The most exciting motorsport to watch, IMO, is rally - especially as seen from a camera inside the car.

I don't understand why more people don't actually take their car down to the dragstrip or to an autocross. Why watch people race when you can actually do it yourself on a budget that *can* be kept down to being comparable to any other average hobby?

[/ramble]
 
#53
You drink your can of Old Milwaukee at breakfast

If, on your Ford F-150 you have a sticker of Calvin peeing on the Chevy Logo.

If your wife has a bigger beer belly than you do.

If you brag about your ACDC tape collection.

If you belong to any labor union! Bam! Sorry any union bass bro's here. You don't count :ninja:
 
#60
BenderR said:
The last time I remember anyone talking about Brake Specific Fuel Consumption they were teaching me how to rebuild aircraft engines. I love it!

.
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Those aircraft guys are great. Talk about precision, tight tolerances and no room for failure. Lots of the good engine lit on VE and BSFC comes from those guys.
 

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