[Bob Tanner]

One of my favourite bloggers addressed the long-time fans leaving NA__AR. It begins as follows:
"Towards the end of last season, Brian France gave a press conference concerning the state of the sport of NASCAR. Not unexpectedly, given his position and lack of mental ability, for the most part Mssr. France assured everybody all was well despite the sagging TV ratings and blocks of unsold seats in the grandstands. But France did state that NASCAR was determined to keep and win back the longtime fans who have been the backbone of the sport all these decades, those who have been jumping ship in record numbers over the last few years. "

For the full article, go to: The Frontstretch: Winning Back Longtime NASCAR Fans : Part I by Matt McLaughlin -- Thursday January 3, 2008

The second part: The Frontstretch: Winning Back Longtime NASCAR Fans : Part II by Matt McLaughlin -- Friday January 4, 2008

[DOF_power]

Many valid points ...
but suspension geometry and aerodynamics came in the 1960s and there was still good/old-school racing back then; so nothing new here.
Completely stock cars won't go 200 mph nor will they last for too long. I read somewhere that Ford (at least I think it was Ford) outsourced engines because they wouldn't build them to the right endurance tolerances in their own factories.



"The problem is simple: when a faster car attempts to pass a car ahead of it, the loss of air off the nose makes the car “loose”. (Simple explanation; the car wants to go straight even as the driver turns the steering wheel). That makes the driver unable to pass, creating a disappointing single-file stalemate. It’s a problem that has been deviling stock car racing for a decade now – and it’s time to eliminate it."


And if you think that's bad, wait until you see how much worse this is in F1. And it's been a problem since 1994 or maybe since 1983.
There's only 2 solutions to this:
- no downforce at all, but get ready to see monstrous lift producing cars losing any control at high speeds and/or flying into the spectators
or
- ground effects aerodynamics + more mechanical grip (think wide fat tires)

[Quality88]

Hell of a read, hell of a read.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by DOF_power

Many valid points ...
but suspension geometry and aerodynamics came in the 1960s and there was still good/old-school racing back then; so nothing new here.
Completely stock cars won't go 200 mph nor will they last for too long. I read somewhere that Ford (at least I think it was Ford) outsourced engines because they wouldn't build them to the right endurance tolerances in their own factories.)

Ford used Holman-Moody as their stock car racing engine specialists.

"Completely "stock" cars could never be the answer for obvious safety reasons. In all the major motor sports bodies they no longer have "stock" bodies, but rather specially built race cars with hand-built engines.

I still think the public would react favourably to any series purporting to be "stock," to run the car conforming to a factory template, with modifications allowed for tire size and any required safety feature. However, with no downforce the cars could end up in Row 15 of the stands so that dream is not realistic.

So, I guess what we have [in racing] is what we've got.

[Racer Duck]

1) I think this guy is right on. there's nothing magic about what he said, in fact, it's more common sense than anything. trouble is too many people have hung their hat (and their future) on "technical innovation" as the panacea for all things racing and the "level playing field" for insuring no one has an unfair advantage. and to make matters worse, some really good used car salesman convinced NASCAR, et al, that drivers with good manners, elocution and photogenics were the elite of the racing world.

2) luckily, I'm not financially gifted so plunking down $500 for a race day ticket isn't in the cards for me. Professional Football/Basketball/[add your favorite non-racing sport here] players each believes they deserve the Michael Jordan/Tiger Woods salaries, but most aren't willing to dedicate their life to achieving that level of success. trouble is, when I watch them on TV, they're mostly bland, giving me little reason to even consider saving up to buy that high dollar ticket. frankly, I get more enjoyment watching the local high school football team than the Dallas Cowboys. and I enjoy watching the races at the local short track repleat with splilt beer, thrown popcorn and the occasional driver lineage appraisal from my nacho-eating standmates than a boring, droning 500 commercials interrupted by occasional glimpses of a race car or two as I sit in the comfort of my recliner straticically aimed at my large screen HDTV with surround sound. I know the high school football team isn't concerned about salary caps, nor are the family populated and supported race teams at the local track. each is there for the love of the sport and the excitement of participating.

3) there's no technical way to "go back" to what we had before in NASCAR: the cars looking like the one on the showroom floor; the drivers who were larger than life and usually a lot crazier; they way the fought like dogs on the track but helped each other get ready for the next race. but then there's no technical reason why it can't be that way again, either.

the fans will know what they want when they see it... but most don't know what they want until they see it.