[lilsexy08]

Originally Posted by Fireball

Yeah, we need to stay in the states.

The drivers have a lot on their plates. But, do you know how they get to a race track? They get into their owner's plane (sometimes even their own plane) and when they get to where they are going, someone has a limo to take them to the track. Oh! It's tough.

The crews have it even tougher. The last time that I checked it is 983 miles from Charlotte to Montreal crossing international borders. But staying in the good old US, its 2,775 from Charlotte to Sonoma. Both are road courses so everything should be equal.

We need to stay here in the good old US so we can enjoy those Mexican nachos or French fries during the race.

Exactly! I know a helicopter pilot that gets to take the drivers to and from the track so I know exactly what your talking about. Its funny to hear some of the storys. You know all the times I've been going to tracks I've never had nachos! LOL! I tell you what though. I was at Talladega last Oct sitting in the backstrecth and this vendor had the best chicken fingers and fries! I always go across the street to to check out stuff and food on Sat and then go to Montana's Bar and Grill-Awesome food!

[Bob Tanner]

Riddle me this, Batman... IF this is so important a race and IF NA__AR considers this race just a jewel in its crown, and IF they want to garner a bunch of good publicity south of the Rio Grande, then WHY don't more of the big NA__AR Cup stars show up for the race?

This week is a slow week for the Cup Raiders with only nine (I think) starting tomorrow. Usually that number is close to, or above, twenty. Yet only ... six? made the trek to Mexico City?

Maybe I'm a bit daft but it seems to me that if NA__AR wanted to put more Mexican culas in the seats, having a Jeffie or a Junior in the field would have helped a lot.

Yeah, Adrian Hernandes and Michel Jourdain are famous in Mexico but the rest of the Mexican drivers? Sorry, I just don't see it.

The track is a good track for stock cars. The racing has been pretty good. But NA__AR seems to consider the race a necessary evil that is to be tolerated as the price of doing business.

Personally I think the race should be returned to the USA. However, IF NA__AR is committed to doing the thing, then I think they should be fully behind it and make it a yearly spectacle, not just another race. So, why don't they?

[DOF_power]

The race is actually good and should feature the Cup stars to make it more special.
I would prefer a Cup race in there actually as opposed to "re-runs" at some of the more boring tracks.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by DOF_power

The race is actually good and should feature the Cup stars to make it more special.
I would prefer a Cup race in there actually as opposed to "re-runs" at some of the more boring tracks.

We see it pretty much eye-to-eye, it would appear.

The problem is NA__AR wants to use this race to showcase the stars of its Mexican Corona NA__AR Series. I have no figures to back this up but, from what I gather, the Mexican Series runs fourteen races on something like eight tracks scattered around Mexico. I've heard the starting fields are about the size of the pre-merger IRL or CART fields and the drivers aren't exactly gaining rock star status with the fans. I think the bulk of the races last year were won by Martinez. However, though Martinez was there last week, I seemed to me all the media and fans cared about were either Adrian Hernandez and Michel Jourdain?

I think NA__AR made a major faux pas this year when they didn't make sure, in some way, that Juan Pablo was present to defend his last year's win. The implication is that if he doesn't think the race is important enough for him to lend his presence to it, and he's Hispanic (?!), then of what real importance is the darn race, anyway?

I'm looking forward to the Montreal race and how the fan turnout is for it this year. The attendence at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez seems to have about halved every year since the 2004 initial race.

[Racer Duck]

I think the "strained" relations between Mexico and the US are, in part, one of the causes of the decline in attendance. And it's no secret the "leaders" in Mexico are publicly preaching that a major portion of the west and southwest US is, in actuality, property of Mexico. Until relations improve, I wouldn't look for increased attendance at the "gringo" race.

[WestCoast]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

And it's no secret the "leaders" in Mexico are publicly preaching that a major portion of the west and southwest US is, in actuality, property of Mexico.

Also, the British want North America back, the French Louisiana, and the Russians Alaska.
Not to mention the Native Indians that think it all belongs to them.

[DOF_power]

... and the spaniards sworn Florida belongs to them.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

I think the "strained" relations between Mexico and the US are, in part, one of the causes of the decline in attendance. And it's no secret the "leaders" in Mexico are publicly preaching that a major portion of the west and southwest US is, in actuality, property of Mexico. Until relations improve, I wouldn't look for increased attendance at the "gringo" race.

Speaking for myself, we have a quid pro quo. I don't think much of a country which encourages its population to violate our sovernign borders.

But this is a topic for another forum. Suffice it to say Cinco de mayo isn't one of MY major holidays.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Speaking for myself, we have a quid pro quo. I don't think much of a country which encourages its population to violate our sovernign borders.

But this is a topic for another forum. Suffice it to say Cinco de mayo isn't one of MY major holidays.

Problem is in many southwestern states, i.e., those with a common border to Mexico, Cinco de Mayo IS a major holiday .. by popular vote!!! And it's spreading...

(I was gonna compare it to "June 'teenth" in the South, but decided against it.)

[lilsexy08]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

Problem is in many southwestern states, i.e., those with a common border to Mexico, Cinco de Mayo IS a major holiday .. by popular vote!!! And it's spreading...

(I was gonna compare it to "June 'teenth" in the South, but decided against it.)

Hey didn't we kick their butts during the Alamo! LOL!

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by lilsexy08

Hey didn't we kick their butts during the Alamo! LOL!

No, we lost at the Alamo! But we got them back as San Jacinto.

[lilsexy08]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

No, we lost at the Alamo! But we got them back as San Jacinto.

I'm so stupid Racer I knew that! I was thinking and typing to fast! Sorry everyone for typing in something stupid! How embarrassing!

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by lilsexy08

I'm so stupid Racer I knew that! I was thinking and typing to fast! Sorry everyone for typing in something stupid! How embarrassing!

welllllll .. Texas history isn't something most folks know except from the movies, so - no problem.

my problem is I type much slower than I think so my mind is way ahead of my fingers most of the time.