[LSC9901]

I'm sure it happened but I don't recall Marcis complaining, at least not the way it happens today.

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

They weren't all photogenic male models with proper grammar, and diction, with 32-inch waists and bodies made beautiful by personal trainers.

I don't think Dave would fit that mold.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Bean

See, ya'll do agree with me that NASCAR sucks, ceptin ya'll use different words.

Sorry, Bean, my man. I understand what you're saying and I have zero doubt that your heart is in the right place. However, speaking ONLY for myself, I AM NOT saying that "NASCAR Sucks."

NASCAR is a successful sanctioning body that, thru its power, delivered an event thirty-plus times each year which many people enjoy, to one degree or another. That part is pretty much the opposite of "Sucks."

What I, personally object to is the way NASCAR has turned stock car racing into prototype-car, "NA$CARmobile" events where the cars are indistinguishable from one another. I want a race where I can see cars that resemble the cars I see on the street every day, and aren't technological monstrosities that are so sensitive that if a bug hit the windshield they become less aerodynamic and where <non-stock> spoilers and <non-stock> air dams cause such air turbulence that if a competitor gets within 100 feet of another car he is flirting with disaster.
I don't like a series where the sponsors have an excessive amount of control and the ONLY drivers who have half a chance of driving the cars, and pushing the products advertised on them, are vanilla personalitied, "pretty boys," who could, for the most part, get out of the driver's seat and take up a career in male modeling, at a moment's notice.
I don't care for orchestrated racing where the finishes are contrived by such silly things as "Lucky Dogs," and "debris cautions."
I want a series that lets the fastest forty-three cars start the race, and not a series that habitually sends cars home, not because they are too slow, but because of what some other team has done in the previous weeks.
...and the list goes on... inconsistent officiating, ISC control of race dates, etc., etc.
Don't misunderstand me. I think that there is a lot to like about NASCAR. It has single-handedly progressed the sport and make it a major event. It has increased safety to a point where death, or permanent maiming injury is extremely rare. Hell, there are even some things I can say good about Brian Z. and his Playoff System, and he has authorized a very small change in a poorly designed point system. Far too little of a change, but a step in the right direction, none the less.
NASCAR, like politics and religion, doesn't "suck," by its own nature. What "sucks" is the people involved in it, the people who run it, and the people who have a Polly Anna attitude that everything is just all right and if we just leave it alone and keep our collective mouths shut, everything'll be just fine.
I've been asked, more than once, "Well, if you hate it so much, why do you watch it?" (First of all, except Osama Ben Ladin, a few ex-presidents, and an ex daughter-in-law, there isn't a single thing in this world which I "hate.") From green flag to checkered, and if you overlook the sameness of the cars, the "Lucky Dogs", "debris cautions," and the inane booth announcers, the racing is usually enjoyable, more or less. It's the rest of it that gets under my skin like a case of ring worm.
Understand me a bit more, now?

[Bean]

Yeah, I understand what you're saying...todays NASCAR sucks compaired to what it used to be. Again, my friend, you're just saying in different words what I said in plain language. LOL

BTW, I have yet to read anything by ya'll (I never said NASCAR sucks) anything positive about todays NASCAR. Of course, I haven't read everything.

[BringBackWilkesboro]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

where <non-stock> spoilers and <non-stock> air dams cause such air turbulence that if a competitor gets within 100 feet of another car he is flirting with disaster.

How much more can we take with all of this corruption?

[BringBackWilkesboro]

Originally Posted by Bean

Yeah, I understand what you're saying...todays NASCAR sucks compaired to what it used to be. Again, my friend, you're just saying in different words what I said in plain language. LOL

BTW, I have yet to read anything by ya'll (I never said NASCAR sucks) anything positive about todays NASCAR. Of course, I haven't read everything.

Well, I'll pile all the good about NASCAR into one reply, or I'll try at the very least.

I can't deny it, the nail biting conclusions and increased parity are great, I like the giant packs at plate tracks, I like the truck series. I just don't like everything that goes on before and after the race. The politics if you will. It seems like we were one more screw up away from the cheating incident being on Larry King or other shows of that sort... Oh wait, it was. And LSC, you're from New England so I was curious, is your avatar a photo from an even in Pittsfield, NH?

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Bean

Yeah, I understand what you're saying...todays NASCAR sucks compaired to what it used to be. Again, my friend, you're just saying in different words what I said in plain language. LOL

BTW, I have yet to read anything by ya'll (I never said NASCAR sucks) anything positive about todays NASCAR. Of course, I haven't read everything.

Somehow I get the vague impression that the words, terms and rationale I use offend you. Oh well...

I haven't said anything positive about NASCAR? I just cut and pasted this from the post which you are replying to:
"Don't misunderstand me. I think that there is a lot to like about NASCAR. It has single-handedly progressed the sport and make it a major event. It has increased safety to a point where death, or permanent maiming injury is extremely rare. Hell, there are even some things I can say good about Brian Z. and his Playoff System, and he has authorized a very small change in a poorly designed point system. Far too little of a change, but a step in the right direction, none the less."

"From green flag to checkered, and if you overlook the sameness of the cars, the "Lucky Dogs", "debris cautions," and the inane booth announcers, the racing is usually enjoyable"

Taking for granted that I'm a curmudegon and a died-in-the-wool cynic, I think those two quotes are pretty positive. Don't you?

[wingkey1]

Originally Posted by simple simon

lately it seems alot of threads have brought up the question of if racing today is better then yester-year....if it is more competitive now or then ?

so i thought i would start this thread and post the stats for # of winners each year and we could discuss it here

Hmmmm

So better = more competitive.. Now there's room for more subjectiveness than we may be able to deal with.

20% fewer races with number of competitors over the example period (1975 - present) also similarly less, just might statistically say - things are relatively the same only different.

And the voice in the crowd said - yeah but over the 30+ year period there can be a swing of 50% in the number of winners so clearly things are more better and competitive. Clearly the "voice" must wait another 30 years for statistics to do their balance. Dang I can't wait that long.

Ahhhhh!!!! Another head hurter.

Jack Daniels time. This actually deserves Single Barrel.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by BringBackWilkesboro

LSC, you're from New England so I was curious, is your avatar a photo from an event in Pittsfield, NH?

That wonderful photo was taken in Charlotte VT, right on beautuful Lake Champlain, on a cool fall morning. The "Gateway" looking balloon is a Cloudhopper. A one man system where you basically strap on a propane tank that has a small seat on it and get airborne. The mostly purple system (Mardi Gras) is now retired due to age. That was the 1st balloon I ever flew in. The other yellow one is one owned by a worker at Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. He loves to give away gift certificates for a free pint. I don't mind accepting those on occasion.

Sorry to be so off topic but I do have a small love of balloons and BBW did ask. I have a duty to answer these important questions.

[BringBackWilkesboro]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

That wonderful photo was taken in Charlotte VT, right on beautuful Lake Champlain, on a cool fall morning. The "Gateway" looking balloon is a Cloudhopper. A one man system where you basically strap on a propane tank that has a small seat on it and get airborne. The mostly purple system (Mardi Gras) is now retired due to age. That was the 1st balloon I ever flew in. The other yellow one is one owned by a worker at Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. He loves to give away gift certificates for a free pint. I don't mind accepting those on occasion.

Sorry to be so off topic but I do have a small love of balloons and BBW did ask. I have a duty to answer these important questions.

Yeah, that one is my fault. I was curious because I remember every year some sort of balloon festival in Pittsfield. From where I used to live, you could look over the merrimack river and see it over the horizon. Back to discussion.