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Originally Posted by WestCoast  Good point and very true. Good racing is what it’s about regardless of who’s where. But, the way I have seen F1 over the last couple of decades, the "usual suspects" are the ones that are normally racing up front, meaning that these are the same principals that are racing for the Championship and the Glory of being crowned that year's Champ.
Since the wheel to wheel excitement of F1 is rare at best, NOT having a race for a championship and what little or lots of excitement that may entail between the key members in the final laps of the final race, becomes a parade towards the checkers.
I suppose there is still a desire to win by some drivers, but the degree of aggressiveness and motivation is usually toned down, unless you’re auditioning for next year’s seat.
Personally I prefer the "excitement" of everything going down to the last lap/race in the big leagues, whereas others are just as happy seeing wheel to wheel action at the local demo derby. |
I guess that you're right. But, what I personally lack in astuteness, appreciation of the finer points of championship competitions and overall class I make up for in appreciation of good, hard racing.
In all seriousness I believe what we have today is an increased emphasis on the championship which wasn't present in decades gone by. To be sure championships carried a lot of weight and were treasured. I don't believe the monetary reward was as different then as it seems today, if you factor in the value of currency three, four or five decades ago. Now, it seems that, for reasons which escape me (it's probably the fault of the media; it's easy to blame), the majority of today's fans look at each individual race as just a stepping stone toward an end product. I can see that rationale in S&B sports but motor sports is, by its very nature so action packed (or is supposed to be anyway) that viewing a race as only a single means to an end just... Personally I feel it undervalues the sport, but that's just me.
Eventually we "old farts" will either be room temperature or suffer from Old Timer's disease and won't be able to find our way around our houses without a map, let alone remember how racing was. Then the new fans won't have to listen to us anymore and all will once again be right with the world.
FYI, I've never attended a demo derby as a spectator but years ago I did drive in one once. It wasn't especially fun and I destroyed a fairly good 1956 Chevy Bel Air station wagon. I believe it's probably an acquired taste and I rank it right in there with Monster Trucks racing, skate boarding and snow boarding. All of these are things I don't condemn out of pocket; they're just things that don't appeal to me and I don't usually have a lot in common with the people who adore them.
10-25-2009, 02:44 PM
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