[TN_Gal]

Originally Posted by WVGrandma4Kasey

Well I'm not sure what state Cartersville in. Welcome to GTG. I'm a hoping since you put a 9 after your name you are a Kasey fan. I too love dirt tract raceing. I also like off road challenges, nothing like a weekend in the woods. So Bubba hope you hang out with us, but you got to go and watch South Park, just kiddin', but me an old lady they talked into watching. Now if you figured out this is a forum of nuts, you probably are right, but we sure do have fun. Oh by the way click the link on rodeo and visit us down in the cellar too.

Cartersville GA ??

Bob and I had dinner down on the river tonite..quite a breeze blowing. We get cold real easy is the South


ARCA IS ON!!!!!

[WVGrandma4Kasey]

Originally Posted by TN_Gal

Cartersville GA ??

Bob and I had dinner down on the river tonite..quite a breeze blowing. We get cold real easy is the South


ARCA IS ON!!!!!

Yeah I make a good southern too, went to Fla. and froze. a jacket goes with me no matter where it is anymore.

[Wampinrock]

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that when you send an e-mail to NASCAR.com with a question or challenge such at the thread found here that laments the passing of the Southern 500 at Darlington, that you NEVER get an answer or even the recognition of even existing? Several times, I have quaried and probed and pondered to these people sharing my misgivings and concerns regarding the direction that France's Circus is going...several times I have asked if anyone in the heirarchy cares...with no responses or recognition. It is obvious to this old fa@t that if you, (we, the fan) have something good to say about the erosion of the NASCAR tradition, you will receive a response, but a negative or challenging query is ignored. Even the announcers are apparently forced to "thrill the audience" with how good the Toyota is going to be for racing, how great the "race for the Chase' is going to be for the sport and how great all of the France cock-a-mamie ideas are for all of us...C R A P !! I am believing that the NASCAR people care not for tradition or us fans...just bring the green. All of those announcers surely can't really believe the tripe they are pushing...Oh God, bring us back NASCAR Racing the way it was meant to be!

[TN_Gal]

Hate to disillusion you Wamp but look around you. $$$ makes the world go round. Everything is driven by it....I can't think of any "business" that doesn't stay alive without turning a profit.

Yes, I do agree that what NASCAR has evolved into is disheartening to some. But realize that to the newbies of the sport, they never knew it any other way. It's like kids these days, they see a 45rpm and have no clue what it is. We are of an older generation (OMG I can't believe I said that!!) and the world continues to evolve. Imagine how the blacksmith felt with the invention of the automobile...find a new trade bud cause cars don't wear horse shoes...but I digress....

I actually hit the delete button today on an email that I have been sitting on to re-new my Dega tickets for next year. Although it was an emotional delete for me I am standing my ground....F'k 'em..Let some other sucker have the seats!!

I have CHOOSEN to expand my horizons and NOT live for Nascar anymore. I still and will be a fan and all, but I am going to experience other things in life. My CHOICE to go to The Texas Longhorn Rodeo Finals in November for example...am doing that instead of renewing Atlanta race tickets. Am reading a book for the 1st time in a decade . Even went out to a nice dinner on the river INSTEAD of being glued to the tube for cup qualifying (although the topic did come up at dinner) last evening.

And here's the kicker....my husband keeps pressing me if I am having an affair because of the "changes" in me..... . But guess what.. I feel great!! I am free at last, OMG free at last!!

[LSC9901]

You are both ever so correct in your points of view. Wamp you know that you generally speak what is going on in my mnd. It would be great if NA$CAR listened to the fan base .... or so we think. We are in the group of fans that have been around for a while and like many things in life that change we hate the changes. NA$CAR sees the dollar$ rolling in so they will stick with what is working best for their pockets. What is in fact working best goes against the grain of the long time fans but we are on the trailing edge now so as usual we no longer matter. If you don't like the changes then just go home and listen to your 45's of Connie Francis !!!

TN ... I too find myself not yearning to watch the qualifying either. I'm getting dangerously close to not minding if I miss a race because of some other adventure. I love my ballooning and if I get the chance to go and do that or watch a race at a track I'm not real fond of then the ballooning wins. Like most others I can somehow deal with the change but it still creates a level of frustration.

It will continue to change but unless there is a revolt among the teams/drivers it will never again swing back to the way we remember it.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Wampinrock

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that when you send an e-mail to NASCAR.com with a question or challenge such at the thread found here that laments the passing of the Southern 500 at Darlington, that you NEVER get an answer or even the recognition of even existing? Several times, I have quaried and probed and pondered to these people sharing my misgivings and concerns regarding the direction that France's Circus is going...several times I have asked if anyone in the heirarchy cares...with no responses or recognition. It is obvious to this old fa@t that if you, (we, the fan) have something good to say about the erosion of the NASCAR tradition, you will receive a response, but a negative or challenging query is ignored. Even the announcers are apparently forced to "thrill the audience" with how good the Toyota is going to be for racing, how great the "race for the Chase' is going to be for the sport and how great all of the France cock-a-mamie ideas are for all of us...C R A P !! I am believing that the NASCAR people care not for tradition or us fans...just bring the green. All of those announcers surely can't really believe the tripe they are pushing...Oh God, bring us back NASCAR Racing the way it was meant to be!

To quote Gomer Pyle: "Wahl Golly Gee! Serprise, serprise, serprise!"

[wardfan]

The only way anything is going to change is to figure out a way to hit them in the pocket. So we all got to get together and figure out a plan. First thought that comes to mind is to stop buying products advertised by the cars. However, I think that would probably translate to them thinking it has to do with the particular driver and they would switch drivers. Guys, lets start plotting our takover!!

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by wardfan

The only way anything is going to change is to figure out a way to hit them in the pocket. So we all got to get together and figure out a plan. First thought that comes to mind is to stop buying products advertised by the cars. However, I think that would probably translate to them thinking it has to do with the particular driver and they would switch drivers. Guys, lets start plotting our takover!!

Wonderful idea Ward but have you ever gotten one of those e-mails telling you that if everyone boycotts Shell, Mobil or Texaco for one day we can force the price of gas down ???? In theory those ideas are great. In reality we do not do those things as a group. You may boycott Shell today but you still buy the gas from another company so really nothing is accomplished.

My perception is that we'd have to basically boycott NA$CAR totally. Products, races the entire scene. Possibly at that point changes would happen. Does anyone see that happening anytime soon. One way it could happen is from within but the teams are making so much money that they will not fight the current system.

As always ... just my opinion.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by TN_Gal

Hate to disillusion you Wamp but look around you. $$$ makes the world go round. Everything is driven by it....I can't think of any "business" that doesn't stay alive without turning a profit.

Yes, I do agree that what NASCAR has evolved into is disheartening to some. But realize that to the newbies of the sport, they never knew it any other way. It's like kids these days, they see a 45rpm and have no clue what it is. We are of an older generation (OMG I can't believe I said that!!) and the world continues to evolve.

TN.. Looks as though they have about got the construction finished on I-75 headed north toward Cleveland, TN. (FINALLY!)

Back on topic: Your above fits into my tirade about the loss of character and honor in today's society. Though I generally find verbatim copying of text from article and press releases tedious and woudl rather hear what people have to say in their own words, may I insert the following cut and pasted from one of Monte Dotton's recent columns? It's about the [tragic] loss of the Southern 500 and I feel it fits with what you have stated above:

"Darlington Raceway is my favorite track. This one is never going to get a fair shot from me. My reasons are the ones that don’t any difference, ones that can’t be measured in dollars and cents. NASCAR apparently believes a soul is no good unless it’s up for sale.

It reminds me of what my nephew said after I took him to see “The Passion of the Christ.” We were riding home, and he said: “You know, what Judas did really wasn’t that bad.”

I thought for a moment.

Well, he betrayed the Son of God,” I said finally. “What could be worse than that?”

“But he did it for money,” said my nephew, who is destined one day to either run Bill Gates or Brian France out of business.

They say it’s just another example of “growing the sport,” as if the sport were a field of corn. I’m not against bringing the sport to people in every part of the country, by the way. I don’t care about the market. I care about the track. Darlington is unique. California is generic. "

Gawd! I wish I had Monte's way with the written word! He pretty much spells out EXACTLY how I, and I'm sure a couple others, feel.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

You are both ever so correct in your points of view. Wamp you know that you generally speak what is going on in my mnd. It would be great if NA$CAR listened to the fan base .... or so we think. We are in the group of fans that have been around for a while and like many things in life that change we hate the changes. NA$CAR sees the dollar$ rolling in so they will stick with what is working best for their pockets. What is in fact working best goes against the grain of the long time fans but we are on the trailing edge now so as usual we no longer matter. If you don't like the changes then just go home and listen to your 45's of Connie Francis !!!

TN ... I too find myself not yearning to watch the qualifying either. I'm getting dangerously close to not minding if I miss a race because of some other adventure. I love my ballooning and if I get the chance to go and do that or watch a race at a track I'm not real fond of then the ballooning wins. Like most others I can somehow deal with the change but it still creates a level of frustration.

It will continue to change but unless there is a revolt among the teams/drivers it will never again swing back to the way we remember it.

I'm with you! I managed to miss about half the races the past two years and guess what? The world hasn't stopped turning and life continues to go on just fine!

One race I NEVER missed was the Bristol race in August. It was a race I always worked into my schedule but after this last piece of trash...? I'm going to have to disagree with one of my favourite writers, Matt McLaughlin, on this one. He thought the racing was pretty good,; I thought it exemplified the current trait of "Points Racing." Nothing more exciting than 14-15 of the best drivers in the U.S.A. driving round and round, making sure they finish the race. No sir! It don't git no better than that! <groan>

I've said it before and I'll say it once more: these new fans are lucky. They have no point of reference to compare this "New NASCAR" to real stock car racing. I guess from that point it'd be easy to become one of NASCAR's crop of Kool-Aid (I'll take grape, Mr. Jones...Oops Mr. France).

[wardfan]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Wonderful idea Ward but have you ever gotten one of those e-mails telling you that if everyone boycotts Shell, Mobil or Texaco for one day we can force the price of gas down ???? In theory those ideas are great. In reality we do not do those things as a group. You may boycott Shell today but you still buy the gas from another company so really nothing is accomplished.

My perception is that we'd have to basically boycott NA$CAR totally. Products, races the entire scene. Possibly at that point changes would happen. Does anyone see that happening anytime soon. One way it could happen is from within but the teams are making so much money that they will not fight the current system.

As always ... just my opinion.

That's my point we have to figure out something. I always laugh when I get one of those gas e-mails you are talking about. Nobody buys gas on Monday, so that just means you have to get some by Thursday, nothing accomplished. But say for example we quit going to Home Depot or Lowes and shop at the local hardware store instead. Assuming you still have one that hasn't been forced out by Walmart or Home Depot so far. Which makes me wonder I why Walmart doesn't have their name on a car?

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by wardfan

That's my point we have to figure out something. I always laugh when I get one of those gas e-mails you are talking about. Nobody buys gas on Monday, so that just means you have to get some by Thursday, nothing accomplished. But say for example we quit going to Home Depot or Lowes and shop at the local hardware store instead. Assuming you still have one that hasn't been forced out by Walmart or Home Depot so far. Which makes me wonder I why Walmart doesn't have their name on a car?

Personally I am doing the best I can to not support the inner linings of the France families pocket. I hate Home Depot, but because they have forced most of the locals out of business I do have to go there on occassion. What I don't do is buy T-shirts, hats or other such items that will add money to the NA$CAR owners pockets. I am forced to drink a beer now and then so I can't help out there but I do try to go to the fridge during the non racing periods (commercials) to get my brews. My cell phone is not Nextel. I don't and never did smoke Winstons or any related brand. I don't even have a number in my rear window to show support for a driver. I don't use Sunoco gas. Is this a good start ???

[TN_Gal]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

TN.. Looks as though they have about got the construction finished on I-75 headed north toward Cleveland, TN. (FINALLY!)

First..that is scary that a kid thinks to do something for money makes it not that bad ....how many more kids are out there with that same opinion?

Off topic....I live about 1 mile off the Germantown/Belvoir Exit on I-24. Just 2 exits west of the I-75 and I-24 disfuntion junction. And, I also work part time for a trucking compnay that runs their loads thru Mercer. We used to use Universal Am-Can......small world huh?

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by TN_Gal

First..that is scary that a kid thinks to do something for money makes it not that bad ....how many more kids are out there with that same opinion?

Off topic....I live about 1 mile off the Germantown/Belvoir Exit on I-24. Just 2 exits west of the I-75 and I-24 disfuntion junction. And, I also work part time for a trucking compnay that runs their loads thru Mercer. We used to use Universal Am-Can......small world huh?

I've got a wonderful deal. I actually drive out of boredom and a way to increase my retirement and gain some "walkin' around money." I'm not out there, running up and down the blvd, for extended periods. I pick and chose my loads I'm an old fart and don't do the hard work thing any more. <g> And those flatbed loads Mercer hauls are definately W-O-R-K!

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

I've got a wonderful deal. I actually drive out of boredom and a way to increase my retirement and gain some "walkin' around money." I'm not out there, running up and down the blvd, for extended periods. I pick and chose my loads I'm an old fart and don't do the hard work thing any more. <g> And those flatbed loads Mercer hauls are definately W-O-R-K!

Bob ... we are not old farts. We are seasoned humans who have neither the need or desire to be employed where it involves anything more difficult than changing a light bulb. I will get a ladder out to do it but that is about the extent of the work I'm willing to do.