[simple simon]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

Frankly, he doesn't make the wind blow up my skirt!

now thats a little too much info

It's natural for kids who have parents who were fans of Sr. to become fans of Jr. Again, little girls find him cute as well.

i also think many kids like Jr because his sponsor is Bud and they think its cool

[Mike24]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

True.

Little girls like Gordon because he's "cute" in their eyes. Frankly, he doesn't make the wind blow up my skirt!

It's natural for kids who have parents who were fans of Sr. to become fans of Jr. Again, little girls find him cute as well.

It remains to be seen how long a driver's popularity due to looks and/or wins stands on its own. Fans can be persnickety. My aunt was a die-hard Gordon fan. Now, she's dumped Gordon and is a Johnson fan. What's up with that?

Hopefully, these young kids that NASCAR is marketing to will grow to learn and understand the sport for what it is. It's so much more than who's the best looking or who wins the most.

I'm rambling ... sorry!

There are alot of fans, especially little girls, who like a driver because she thinks he is hot or something like that. I think the newer fans should get a opportunity to see that it isn't about the best looking driver, or the driver with the coolest sponsor. But as they watch the sport, they will learn and get away from that.

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by simple simon

now thats a little too much info

i also think many kids like Jr because his sponsor is Bud and they think its cool

Sorry. Didn't mean to be offensive.

You're probably right about the Bud sponsorship. Kids know Bud. They liked Rusty too. What's up with the beer thing? I've always used Tide, thus my Ricky Rudd following. Texaco? Easy to spot on the track. Allison and Irvan. Home Depot? Well that would be Stewart. Also easy to spot. Shame to see Goodwrench go.

I wonder if some of the major sponsors will pull out given the state of NASCAR.

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by Mike24

There are alot of fans, especially little girls, who like a driver because she thinks he is hot or something like that. I think the newer fans should get a opportunity to see that it isn't about the best looking driver, or the driver with the coolest sponsor. But as they watch the sport, they will learn and get away from that.

And that's where the real fans come from!

Wait a minute ... has h#ll frozen over? I'm agreeing with you!

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

Sorry. Didn't mean to be offensive.

you didnt at all i was just kidding

so, we have cracked the case ..................... now what do we do about it ?

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by simple simon

you didnt at all i was just kidding

so, we have cracked the case ..................... now what do we do about it ?

You lost me ...

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

You lost me ...

i mean we figured out how NASCAR has strayed ...... now lets fix it

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by simple simon

i mean we figured out how NASCAR has strayed ...... now lets fix it

Fix it? Ha! When I win the lottery, I'll let you know the plan. All about money ... money ... money ... money! Sad, but true.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

Sure. Many fans aren't blue collar. I'm not. In fact, some people are shocked that I'm a race fan. They say that I don't "look the type", but they have preconceived opinions. I also like to fish!

holy cow, Penny .. are you trying to seduce me or what? Stop it!!!

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by simple simon

i think thats a big part of it too though PPS ....... merchandising, get the kids to want their shirts and stuff from Wally World and what-not

also potentially if skater Johnny gets into NASCAR somehow maybe he talks a parent into taking him to a race

and i really do think some underestimate the earning potential of the younger generation .......... they arent all blue collar like me some are doctors, lawyers and what-not .......... im just saying some do have the disposable income to burn

I don't think anyone here believes that all of the younger generation cannot afford to go to races BUT ..... I think from waht I see that it is more difficult for them, GENERALLY, than it is for me. Should NASCAR suck up to me... yes and no. Yes because I am the one that got them where they are and no .... no meaning that they shouldn't leave eveyone else out in favor of me. Go after everyone but realistically concentrate on what's best for growth.

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

holy cow, Penny .. are you trying to seduce me or what? Stop it!!!

LOL!

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by simple simon

now let's look at another angle of it .......... Bob, BBW, LSC, Duck .... how old are you ........ i really dont mean to be mean, seriously just trying to make a point ......... how much do/would you spend on NASCAR a year ..... and if NASCAR tweaks every now and then will your expenditures change much ? ........ people in your age bracket (i will guess with no intend to offend ... over 50) they either have you as a fan and not much will change that or they dont have you as a fan and they dont care

i submit by the time most people reach 50 they have a set income and budget, and that budget either includes NASCAR or it doesnt ....... if it doesnt they may become fans enough to turn on a race but that lines the pockets of cable companies not NASCAR

people over 50 may have season tickets to a track like my parents do at Loudon and it would take a whole lot of major tweaking for them to drop those seats

Hmmm... You aren't being "mean" at all. You are asking a realistic question to a group of adults who are of an age that age isn't considered a mortal sin. Speaking only for myself, I'm not offended at the mention of age.

I'm 65, and will turn 66 on 6/6.

I spend absolutely zero, zilch, nada, rien, niets on NASCAR (unless you wish to count the yearly fee I pay this server which puts me at the GTG site).

I attended my last race in 1994 (the first Brickyard). I paid $45 for a seat in turn-1 and I thought this was an excessive amount of hard earned money to pay just top see a sporting event and swore that I would NEVER pay that much again. I reneged a bit when I drove to Daytona to see Dale Senior test the lighting at Daytona. That was free but I did pay for gas to drive down from Jacksonville where we were visiting our son.

You're correct; they "have me as a fan (for better or worse). and I probably won't change (only complain).

I'm doing pretty well financially and could easily afford to attend multiple races each year and still not have to have our diet revolve around the book, "50 Tasty Ways to Prepare Alpo." However we don't for two main reasons:

(1) We really like keeping the money we have managed to accumulate, and...
(2) NASCAR affects our lives not in the least. However, the stock market and elected officials do. There is where we prefer to invest our interests and money, in effecting positive change in those two arenas.

That is the position of the Tanner's. I read your post with a great deal of interest. GREAT post and it nailed a whole lot of points.

[BringBackWilkesboro]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

\
Hmmm... You aren't being "mean" at all. You are asking a realistic question to a group of adults who are of an age that age isn't considered a mortal sin. Speaking only for myself, I'm not offended at the mention of age.

I'm 65, and will turn 66 on 6/6.

I spend absolutely zero, zilch, nada, rien, niets on NASCAR (unless you wish to count the yearly fee I pay this server which puts me at the GTG site).

I attended my last race in 1994 (the first Brickyard). I paid $45 for a seat in turn-1 and I thought this was an excessive amount of hard earned money to pay just top see a sporting event and swore that I would NEVER pay that much again. I reneged a bit when I drove to Daytona to see Dale Senior test the lighting at Daytona. That was free but I did pay for gas to drive down from Jacksonville where we were visiting our son.

You're correct; they "have me as a fan (for better or worse). and I probably won't change (only complain).

I'm doing pretty well financially and could easily afford to attend multiple races each year and still not have to have our diet revolve around the book, "50 Tasty Ways to Prepare Alpo." However we don't for two main reasons:

(1) We really like keeping the money we have managed to accumulate, and...
(2) NASCAR affects our lives not in the least. However, the stock market and elected officials do. There is where we prefer to invest our interests and money, in effecting positive change in those two arenas.

That is the position of the Tanner's. I read your post with a great deal of interest. GREAT post and it nailed a whole lot of points.

Excellent post, Bob, and thanks for brining up Simon's post. I completely missed it.

I will be 46 in August. I haven't spent a penny on NASCAR since the last time I went to Stafford Motor Speedway (A local NASCAR sanctioned track in NH) in 2002.

You got me on one thing, it would take alot to change my position on racing, but it would also take alot for me to spend the little money I have earned cleaning the sewer systems of eastern Florida (no joke) to support decisions I don't agree with.

I also believe that sitting on the couch in front of an HD TV with your beer of choice in hand is the best way to watch a race. As was mentioned somwhere before on this board, if I want to go out and spend a day at the track, I will, but only if I feel it's worth it.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by BringBackWilkesboro

I will be 46 in August.

well i consider you one of our elder statesmen

[LSC9901]

Happily I fall right in the middle of Bob and BBW. I retired 3 years ago because I could. We're not rolling in cash but are doing just fine. Just as BBW says, I agree, Sitting in front of the tube is now my preferred method of watching a race. I've been to a few tracks and enjoyed them but even though I feel I could well afford the price of admission along with lodging, food and travel, I refuse to finance an overpriced event. Yes I do enjoy racing and yes I am unhappy with some of what goes on with the administration of NASCAR but that doesn't change my love for the competetive sport of stock car racing. I just refuse to get caught up in the media hype or the T-shirt end of the sport. I'll seek out news from several sources before I believe any of them. I have two NASCAR related hats ... both gifts. I worked long and hard fro my retirement and I refuse to help your endeavors at $24.95 for a hat just because someone thinks you are popular.

I think we all have a vision of the right way and the wrong way but I also think that while our visions may be different ... they are all the same.