[Robertdjr]

I spent the day down at Texas Motor Speedway today and something stuck out like a sore thumb after getting hit by a 20lb framing hammer. I don't know what kind of attendance there will be tomorrow, but the campgrounds were only about half full. Usually they're packed in like sardines, but not today. I've never seen it that empty.

Junior, Kyle Busch and Smoke had the longest lines at their merchandise trailers. The surprise was the steady line of people at Senior's trailer. People were mostly buying the new Hall of Fame stuff. I think the loneliest job was the guy working in Elliot Sadler's trailer. Poor fella. I never saw one person walk his way. He looked so bored. I also walked up to the ticket office. They looked kind of bored too. They got a little busy after the Bush race, but not the long lines like I've seen before either.

Chevrolet was there in full force. They had more booths, displays, giveaways and merchandise trailers than I can remember seeing. Far more than any other manufacturer. I registered to win a fancy new Camaro. Wish me luck.

Penske didn't waste any time putting Brad Keselowski's picture on their trinket trailer. Guess he's offical now. Of course the only thing you could buy was a t-shirt. Nothing else is ready yet, I guess.

Sure were a lot of sad faces coming out of the track after the Busch race. So I stopped a couple and asked why. They both said the same thing. It was because Kyle Busch ran away with it, again. Did he? I haven't checked the results.

All in all, it was good day, other than nobody offered me a premium ticket for $20. Oh well. Maybe next spring...

[kkfan91]

yeah kyle's only challenge all race was Kahne and he broke the sway bar about 70 to go

[bob101]

They could pack the place even in a depression if they moved it off of opening day of deer season weekend.

I know people think that's funny but hunting in Texas is a middle/upper class activity and is a $2 billion per year industry.

[Bette]

Originally Posted by bob101

They could pack the place even in a depression if they moved it off of opening day of deer season weekend.

I know people think that's funny but hunting in Texas is a middle/upper class activity and is a $2 billion per year industry.

Here in Wisconsin events like weddings and such are scheduled around deer hunting and Packer football.
Hunting is popular with all classes.

[Bob Tanner]

Thanks for being the "On-the-Scene" reporter, Robert. Good reporting.

IRT camping, I same the same thing, via the TV camera, at Martinsville. The camping area, across the back stretch RR tracks and up the hill behind the back stretch grandstand, was about a third or half full. The last time I attended a Martinsville race was 1988 but that area was packed to the max with trailers and tents back then.

If anything I think the decrease in the racing nomads, the people who follow the circuit and spend the race weekend in their campers and such, is a true measure of the effect the economy is having.

Here is something I've noticed along the lines of travel which I find interesting: NA__AR attendance is down but travel, especially cruise travel, is holding steady. My wife & I do some cruising and every ship we've been on has left port at full, or close to full capacity. Cruise lines, across the board, had reduced their past customer benefits which entice repeat cruisers to sail with them. Only one cruise line that I know of has reduced fares drastically, and that line is one which is known for poor food and "Dumbing down cruising" by doing away with some long standing cruise traditions. Cruise lines are actually building new and bigger ships with one line (not one of our favourites but respectable nonetheless) just launched last week a new ship which holds almost 6000 passengers (over twice the size of the average cruise ship)! We're booked on a Baltic cruise (The Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Russia) for next May and I'm informed our cruise is 75% full already!

So, is this slowdown in participation strictly a sports thing or is it something else. I read about people taking "Stay-cations" but I'm not really seeing it. It's a conundrum to me.

[WestCoast]

Good first hand reporting there Robert, keep it coming this is what we need.
_______________

Bob, that's the "Oasis of the Seas" that you are referring to. Different demographic that takes cruises from the one partying at a race-track campsite.
______________

The unemployed rate in the US is greater than all the people in Canada.
Jobs

• Texas lost 44,700 jobs in September 2009, a smaller loss than the previous month.
• Texas’ September 2009 unemployment rate was 8.2 percent, up from 8.0 percent in August. The October U.S. rate was 10.2 percent, up from 9.8 percent in September.
• The U.S. lost 5.5 million jobs from October 2008 to October 2009.
• The Texas unemployment rate has been at or below the national rate for 33 consecutive months.
• In the 12 months ending in September 2009, Texas lost 303,700 jobs.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by WestCoast

Good first hand reporting there Robert, keep it coming this is what we need. I totally agree agree with WestCoast
_______________

Bob, that's the "Oasis of the Seas" that you are referring to. Different demographic that takes cruises from the one partying at a race-track campsite. I was aware of the ship's name, I just didn't think that it was germane. It's too big for me anyway. The last cruise we took was on a RCCL ship with 2500 pax and that was the the limit of how many people I wish to be secluded with. 6000? Reminds me of an aircraft carrier .
You'd be surprised about the difference in demographic. Most (maybe all, I'm not sure) of the ships have had the satellite channels which carry the race. I remember one cruise where, at one dinner setting, my wife and I were the only ones at our table because the other couples were in their staterooms watching the race. (When I leave to "go on vacation," I forget EVERYTHING and refuse to be bothered by news, sports, computers, cell phones, etc., or anything to distract me from having fun)
______________

The unemployed rate in the US is greater than all the people in Canada.
Jobs

• Texas lost 44,700 jobs in September 2009, a smaller loss than the previous month.
• Texas’ September 2009 unemployment rate was 8.2 percent, up from 8.0 percent in August. The October U.S. rate was 10.2 percent, up from 9.8 percent in September.
• The U.S. lost 5.5 million jobs from October 2008 to October 2009.
• The Texas unemployment rate has been at or below the national rate for 33 consecutive months.
• In the 12 months ending in September 2009, Texas lost 303,700 jobs.

Besides the market is still a full 16% below its level of only eighteen months ago? You just gotta love that stimulus!

♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫

[kkfan91]

yeah I'd have to agree with Bob its not fully a different class of people i know I've been on 2 cruises and seen other race fans

[WestCoast]

Originally Posted by kkfan91

yeah I'd have to agree with Bob its not fully a different class of people i know I've been on 2 cruises and seen other race fans

That pretty much rules out Cruising for me.
Last thing I need is 24 hour shouting and screaming and fighting at the buffet table after too many drinks.

[OregonSHRFan]

I have a friend who does cruises 3 or 4 times a year, exclusively with Norwegian Cruise Lines. Her last cruise was to Alaska and she took (and paid for) 5 friends. Too bad I wasn't on the short list!!

[kkfan91]

Originally Posted by OregonSHRFan

I have a friend who does cruises 3 or 4 times a year, exclusively with Norwegian Cruise Lines. Her last cruise was to Alaska and she took (and paid for) 5 friends. Too bad I wasn't on the short list!!

Norwegian has very nice cruises i went to alaska over the summer with them very nice

[kerribear17]

You went to alaska kk? Awesome. Some day I'll go. I usually do Carnival though, cause it's cheap! That and I can drive my car to all the FL ports so I've been on a few myself.


I think most tracks are getting the message and selling lots of tickets for real cheap. But of course it's a domino effect with the economy. But with real cheap tickets you might get more locals just deciding to go.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by WestCoast

That pretty much rules out Cruising for me.
Last thing I need is 24 hour shouting and screaming and fighting at the buffet table after too many drinks.

You have a really distorted view of cruising.

Alcohol isn't normally served with meals unless you purchase a personal bottle of wine from the ship. You can eat at the open mess (buffet) but the food is far superior at the regular dining restaurant. (That's not saying the open mess food is bad! It's just a touch below gourmet quality.) The ships have a simple dress code for it's evening meals, casual dress with no shorts, collarless shirts, sandals or jeans.

Believe me, cruising is a really nice, sedate and relatively economical way to travel. Our personal favourites are Regent, Celebrity and Holland America and on these three I have NEVER witnessed what you indicated. I can't say the same for NCL and Carnival, unfortunately.

Sorry. I strayed a bit from the topic but I wanted to set you straight on your impression of cruising. It's not as nice as it was years ago but it's still a very good way to vacation.

[WestCoast]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

You have a really distorted view of cruising.

I guess I should have put a laughing face in there instead, as you didn't get the joke.

You were saying that the fans that camp at a racetrack are "similar" to the folks that go on a cruise-ship.
Being party to the parties that go on 24 hours a day at a drinking party... I mean camping party, I could only hope that the standards are higher on a cruise.

[kkfan91]

Originally Posted by WestCoast

I guess I should have put a laughing face in there instead, as you didn't get the joke.

You were saying that the fans that camp at a racetrack are "similar" to the folks that go on a cruise-ship.
Being party to the parties that go on 24 hours a day at a drinking party... I mean camping party, I could only hope that the standards are higher on a cruise.

well I did cruise to mexico during spring break now that was a drinking party