Originally posted by DE_Wrangler_2+Sep 27 2004, 09:33 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (DE_Wrangler_2 @ Sep 27 2004, 09:33 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Windsor377@Sep 27 2004, 04:28 PM
So, you think we should all be a bunch of sheep and accept what ever is thrown our way?...and encourage new Race Fans to be the same?
I'm not saying that at all. What I'm saying is that there is a faction in this group of "old timers" that are getting very tiresome with the constant bulking and whining about every thing that happens or changes in NASCAR. I happen to fall into that category of "old timers". Changes that have come and gone in NASCAR got the sport to where it is now...........and it got it there
against the so called will of the "old timers". "Old timers" seem to think they should be played up to because they have been fans for longer than the "newbies". NASCAR would truly be stupid to accept that line of thinking...........you just can't pander to a group and expect to survive in the world of professional sports. NASCAR is thinking a little deeper than the whining "old timers". And by that I'm defining a small group of very vocal and disgruntled long time fans that think because NASCAR is now truly a National Stock Car Association of Racing that somehow they deserve special consideration..........after all we did help get NASCAR here. Well, with that big time arena that we have stepped into there comes trade offs. One trade off is tracks that don't produce will be dropped or have dates removed or dates moved. Another is encouraging investments from people with money.......and requires some sort of return on investments. And one type of track that has a proven track record of return on investments is the 1 1/2 oval (cookie cutter)......so when it comes time for a new track the most likely type will a 1 1/2 oval. Everyone wants short tracks........but only one on the circuit is a money maker for any investors (not much motivation for money to build one there). Same with road courses. It's time for the old timers to think back and remember all those "lousy" changes NASCAR has forced upon us..........crap if they had only done what we all said to do, we would still be confined mainly to Southeast U.S. running races each weekend with an occasional live race on ABC's Wide World of Sports!! Now that would be so much better. We'd have the sport to ourselves.........all those snobby, faddish West Coast folks could have F1 or IRL!!
That's the stuff I'm really tired of. No one says you have to like every change. But no one is entitled to slam newbies, fans like myself, or NASCAR for doing business as a business has the right to do..........be profitable!! And, if you just can't accept it anymore then it's time to move on...........but quit trying to take me with you. [/b][/quote]
I can agree with some of what you stated. I have to disagree with portions and state outright that much of your argument has nothing to do with the question I posed.
Yes, there has been give and take on rules changes over the years. That's always going to happen. Therefore, as another old timer, I'll complain about any rules changes I see fit to complain about, especially when it is a change which diminishes the racing in order to promote the show.
Yes, it has always been a show, but a show of racing, not a show of pre-fabricated championship chases. The recent rules package diminishes the racing in order to create "excitement". Sorry, but I'm not, nor never will buy it. Am I going to let the screen door hit my @$$ on the way out? #### NO! I'm not a quitter. I'll be here and where ever stating my opinion as I see fit. I refuse to drink the cool-ade.
As for slamming "newbie" race fans, I don't know about all that. I'm sure there's some social science algorithm that can predict that activity to some degree or another based on the situation. I have no control over that or others, but I surely hope you don't consider hard statements and questions aimed at such things as the c4c as bashes. If so, you are missing the point all together.
Tracks? You know as well as I do, tracks like the Rock and Darlington never benefitted from a serious attempt of modernization. Should they have? Sure! Would they have still lost some dates? Probably. As a realist, I have to accept there are only so many weks in the year. To add new tracks, some will need to loose dates. Should the Rock have been left to languish and then cut all together? No, just as sure as the racing at the Rock is/was better than any cookie cutter.
The cookie cutters are here. No doubting that. Are they the panacea? I don't think so. Do they have there place? Sure. Variety is the spice of life, not duplication to the nth degree.
In the mean time, if you don't want to hear someone calling nascar out for the course the have chosen, don't listen. However, I'll continue to state it as I see
You're telling me that a successful multi-billion dollar business set a track they "own" up to fail............and you expect me to believe that? 
I might be ignert, but I ain't stupid!!
And as for some of the "old timers" losing interest, I guess that is to be expected too (though I don't see that as a natural progression)............but after hearing all the NASCAR bashing and bitching for the last year or so I would say it's not necessarily a bad thing either. We don't need "old timers" turning "newbies" off with all their belly aching about how the new NASCAR is turning it's back on the fans (it's not, in fact it's doing what the fans want. Maybe not what certain fans want, but what the majority of fans want)......I say let 'em go. The sport will be better off without them over the long run.
