What a Shame

R

Rboothie

Guest
I am new to all racing or rather legal racing that did not involve my Dad's El Dorado in 1969. When I lived in Milwaukee last year I used to hang out at a place that was a NASCAR bar on Sundays and I just did not get it. Seemed like one step removed from WWF and WCW.

This spring I attended the Milwaukee Mile and then went to CART races in Toronto, Cleveland, Mid-Ohio and most recently Montreal. I was so psyched by the variety of the tracks, diversity of the teams and great mix of motorheads and first timers at each of these events. Montreal just ruled.

I check out this and other racing forums as well as the Yahoo financial messages concerning CART and all I can say is if open wheel becomes nothing more than ovals, I will be very disappointed.

Isn't the bottom line how do you make racing accessible and fun for the greatest number of folks? It seems to me it is not about team ownership or a group of drivers. Aren't we really losing sight of the appeal of CART's very unique offering and playing silly ego games?

I for one would like to remain interested. How about some positive opinions for a change. Let's get beyond the personalities and into the game.
 
I'm with you.

I said it in another thread that it seems that Americans can't handle racing unless it's on a roundy-round.

I for one love CART and pray that it doesn't take the long way down.
 
Wow Rboothie...way to jump in and become a fan. Seeing the Milwaukee Mile race and being impressed is really saying something though! That was a horrible race IMO. I guess seeing (better yet, hearing) the cars for the first time was enough to get you hooked though.

Travelling to Toronto, Cleveland, Mid-Ohio and Montreal as a result is nothing short of amazing. Well done mate! I agree with you, Montreal is amazing. I attend the Canadian GP every year and nothing can compare with the atmosphere there...and you can gamble inside the track! lol :D

One question though...why no Road America!!!?!?!?!?
 
Actually I am inclined to go to Miami and will make that decision over the weekend. Hey, Iv'e been married for 27 years and my anniversery was during Road America weekend. Got to spend SOME time with the better half. LOL.
 
My son came over for dinner and we got into a conversation about racing. Ironically, son is working for one of the major Petro companies in the events marketing group and we were discussing racing sponsorships in the US. Seems like all of the Petro companies have "dumbed down" based on TV vs attendence demographics. I was not suprised as guys who own a '97 Taurus as their primary vehicle are not real loyal to branded fuel.
 
The Grand Prix of Long Beach this year was one of the best racing spectacles I've seen in a long time. To see that type of racing here in the states was such a refreshing change of pace. It was the total package and to see something with that kind of potential go down the drains is sad.

Don't get me wrong, I like anything with wheels on a track, but CART is what I want. But I guess the lowest common denominator is the bottom line.
 
CART's still got a pulse....a faint one. It will be interesting to see what rabbits Pook pulls out of his hat...

Long Beach rules Paul. I went as a guest of one of the engine manufacturers last year and was quite impressed. It was one of the only races I've attended where I got the feeling that everything was accounted for from an organizational standpoint. You could definitely tell that they'd put that show on many times before.

I'm a fan of just about anything on wheels too...at the end of this race season I will have been to 3 Formula 1 races...4 CART races...1 IRL race (guess which one? :p)...2 ALMS races...1 World of Outlaws race...and more support races than I could count...I've even spent a couple of afternoons at the local drag strip! :D

Sadly I'm not much of a NASCAR fan...I would like to go to one of those races at Bristol though...that looks like fun. Sears Point would be a nice trip too.

I think NASCAR has its place in the racing world and I do watch the odd race, I just prefer watching guys that turn right and left...
 
I watch NASCAR every week. It's a great story they've got going on, every week is a new episode. :) It's a lot of fun if it's taken at face value, there are some talents to drive in that series that other drivers don't have, just the same for every other series of racing, IMO. I love it all.

Would absolutely die to go see an F1 race. Monaco.
 
11 races in one season? That has to be incredibly expensive. I've seen one F1 race when they came to Phoenix, but I was about 7.

I would give a kidney to see Long Beach, but I have to settle for the incredibly exciting irl action at PIR. But I do enjoy going to Manzanita almost every weekend.

I think we took out a second mortgage on our house to get nascar tickets this year.
 
tc77, the trick is knowing someone in the business. When you know someone, it doesn't cost anything to go. Snoop around and see if anyone around you knows anyone and try to work your way in.

:p
 
Originally posted by thechase77
11 races in one season? That has to be incredibly expensive.
Click to expand...

Yeah...especially when you consider that one of them was in Malaysia. :D :D It was billed as the "World's Hottest Race"...and man oh man, was it ever. That was expensive alright...but it was a trip I will never forget..."priceless" ;)

The other ones aren't too bad...Montreal can be a bit expensive. Most of the other ones are all in the Midwest...Chicago oval, Milwaukee Mile, Road America, Indianapolis twice...Only a few hours drive...and we camp...so that's not too bad.

I will be going to Road Atlanta for the Petit Le Mans...10 hours or 1000 miles...4-5 support races all for $60! Can't beat that.

And Penskegirl is right...it helps if you know someone in the business...
 
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