What exactly was better about NASCAR back in the day, and why was that way better?

CamelPowered said:
That's something I grip about a lot. Nascar stuff used to be everywhere. Gas stations, grocery stores, big chains like Walmart and Kmart. You couldn't go into one without seeing some kind of Nascar promo. Now it's almost invisible. Kmart still had some merch for the big names like Dale Jr., Kyle B, Kenseth, etc. but my Kmart is now closing. Walmart has nothing Nascar except for 2 or 3 kinds of 1/64. No hats, no shirts, no cards, nothing. The amount of merch declined gradually at first, then it all just pretty much vanished entirely.
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That's really a good point. It all melted away in the big box
stores and as I and my kids grew older we quit looking for it
and never noticed it was vanishing. If they want to
get the younger crowd engaged , they got to get back
in the big box stores you mentioned as part of their strategy.
 
I don't know much about the retail business but I would imagine that valuable shelf space is given over to items that move.
 
AndyMarquisLive said:
I watch sporting events to be entertained. Nobody enjoys watching one car dominate like that. It's the equivalent of watching a football game where the score is 62-7. Boring.

The lack of passing in the 600 had to do with it being a night race. EVERY night race in NASCAR, one driver dominates an entire run. Harvick would've done that 10 times last year if his crew didn't routinely cost him 10-20 spots in the pits. The 600 wasn't anything special at all, just a typical boring NASCAR night race at one of the Brobs.
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You have your way of watching, and I have mine. I loved the domination. Fascinating.

The 600 started in the day, and it still didn't matter.

The 600 was special IMO. You are not supposed to dominate a race that long. 78 did. You cannot be that fast all day/night long. The 78 was. Intriguing and history making stuff, but in your opinion...nothing special at all? BTW, Martin Truex Jr. knows a thing or two about a crew who might have cost him a win or seven. Overcoming those issues was another part of what made the 600 epic.

It will indeed be a great day when this sport can celebrate.....greatness. Probably a little way from that in the search for the elusive "great racing."
 
Skoalbandit33 said:
With Nascar the drug is of the downer variety as so many people can look back with fondness but are not crazy about today. I know I can look back on Football and Hockey with fondness but I am also pumped up for the product they serve today even though it is different. Where most stick and ball sports evolved Nascar just acted with arrogance and buffoonery and took something that was once great and turned it into a lukewarm twice used bathwater.
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Just wonder what would happen if the bitching stopped when the engines fire. Maybe I wasn't around a track when I was a kid so this will always be new for me. Maybe because I didn't sit on a lawn chair and eat dust at a dirt course. Maybe I don't know what the hell I am talking about. I am happy any time the motors fire. Genuinely, Christmas morning as a 9 year old, giddy happy....and I couldn't give a **** if I don't understand great racing, or what people think this sport could be. My trip to the Southland for the Auto Club 400 is the highlight of my year. I love this ****, and it's not hard. I get the weirdness/stupidity of the contrived points system. The aero frustrations. On and on and on. I also get that the cars are cool, the people are great, and the experience is epic for me. As I have said before, I hope this sport becomes what everybody who is unhappy want it to be because when/if it does, I will still be watching with a big **** eating grin on my face--maybe it will be even bigger because I will know that people got what they were looking for. I will be a fan until that happens. Fingers crossed.
 
LewTheShoe said:
the main hook of Nascar to me has always been its gritty, hard nosed competition between drivers and teams. Real racers really race. And that's as true today as it ever was.
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Revman said:
I get the weirdness/stupidity of the contrived points system. The aero frustrations. On and on and on. I also get that the cars are cool, the people are great, and the experience is epic for me. As I have said before, I hope this sport becomes what everybody who is unhappy want it to be because when/if it does, I will still be watching with a big sh!t eating grin on my face.
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You both make good points here. No argument from me. Nascar is still awesome and we all still love it, despite the flaws. But also understand that a lot of folks just want it to be as good as it can be, and many longtime fans aren't happy with the direction it has gone.
 
2 Sweet said:
But also understand that a lot of folks just want it to be as good as it can be, and many longtime fans aren't happy with the direction it has gone.
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Always respected that. Sincerely hope that people get what they are looking for. Love this stuff, and want people to love it as well.
 
I watched the 1992 Busch clash yesterday and the stands were almost full even though it was a very short race. This past fall I went to the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte, paid $55 for seats in the middle of turn 3&4, there was hardly no one there so there is a problem. Drivers didn't complain about how many weekends the season lasted or these races are to long. The whole brand is different and it is not for the better.
 
LewTheShoe said:
Good post, Greg. I too appreciate the passion for racing in earlier times (and in current times as well). As I said in my post - that one you quoted - the main hook of Nascar to me has always been its gritty, hard nosed competition between drivers and teams. Real racers really race. And that's as true today as it ever was.
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Absolutely agree.
 
aunty dive said:
I don't know much about the retail business but I would imagine that valuable shelf space is given over to items that move.
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Catch 22. If it's highly visible in store, a large segment of people will think it's popular and get into it, at least for awhile. If it isn't visible in stores a large segment will assume it isn't popular and won't even give it a shot.
 
There are so many responses on this thread that have been well thought out that it would take 3 pages to quote and reply to them! Good job to all of you!
It seems though that there is some concern on the last couple of pages about "bitching" and "nostalgia". I'm going to try to avoid both.
I had 2 toy trains when I was a kid. The first was a Lionel that would smoke when you added fluid to it. I figured out a way to block the track and burn those steel wheels on the rails while the stack was chugging out black smoke! Good times. For about a day.
The second was a smaller scale, not sure what brand. My Dad took the time to make a plywood table and a basic layout. (oval of course!) I took it out of the box and watched it go around for about an hour and the table was used to hold Mom's canning jars after that.
The next Christmas I was lucky enough to get a Pow'r Passers race set. Just 2 cars that could battle side by side and pass each other at any time given the right circumstances and skill of the driver. I didn't come out of the basement until Spring. I raced with friends and family and anybody I could pursade! It wouldn't have mattered if there were 41 other "jam" cars on that track. I was Richard Petty and my opponent was David Pearson and it was one hell of race!!!
I guess I blew it on the nostalgia part!
One of the best replies to this thread so far has been "I can't descibe it, but I'll know it when I see it."
Well, I have seen it! What we get today is just like a Playboy without the pictures! Kinda funny how that worked out! I might check out an article if someone wants to show it to me but I'm not going to take the time and money to get a subscription.
ai guess I blew it on the bitching part also. Sorry.
All that being said, I'M GOING TO DAYTONA!!!!!!!
 
CamelPowered said:
Catch 22. If it's highly visible in store, a large segment of people will think it's popular and get into it, at least for awhile. If it isn't visible in stores a large segment will assume it isn't popular and won't even give it a shot.
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Again, I'm not a retail guy ... but I think you're completely wrong. I checked with my retail store-owning daughters. If it moved, they kept re-stocking the shelves. It stopped moving and some other cheap junk was put out.
 
Don't knowif its been mentioned yet but the Trophy girls were way better back in the day, looking forword to the Monster Energy Girls! ! Those firesuits were awful
 
R Clarence said:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money...playboy-brings-nudity-back-magazine/97868038/

Your (or 'you're' for some of our special friends) lucky day, 97.
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LOL!!!!!! I didn't know this. I'm still not getting a subscription but I might hide one under the mattress for the sake of "nostalgia".
Hmmmm. It seems to me that Coca Cola screwed up with New Coke. Playboy screwed up with getting rid of the models and the sport we all love screwed up in several ways as well. Some big brands pay attention to their fan base. Some don't.
2 outta 3 ain't bad.
 
Revman said:
Just wonder what would happen if the bitching stopped when the engines fire. Maybe I wasn't around a track when I was a kid so this will always be new for me. Maybe because I didn't sit on a lawn chair and eat dust at a dirt course. Maybe I don't know what the hell I am talking about. I am happy any time the motors fire. Genuinely, Christmas morning as a 9 year old, giddy happy....and I couldn't give a sh!t if I don't understand great racing, or what people think this sport could be. My trip to the Southland for the Auto Club 400 is the highlight of my year. I love this sh!t, and it's not hard. I get the weirdness/stupidity of the contrived points system. The aero frustrations. On and on and on. I also get that the cars are cool, the people are great, and the experience is epic for me. As I have said before, I hope this sport becomes what everybody who is unhappy want it to be because when/if it does, I will still be watching with a big sh!t eating grin on my face--maybe it will be even bigger because I will know that people got what they were looking for. I will be a fan until that happens. Fingers crossed.
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I can't speak for others but know that I am not weak willed enough to be manipulated into thinking something that is bad is good or that is good is bad. If someone I trust tells me something is really good or really bad I will consider their opinion but I still need to check it out for myself so I can draw my own conclusion. For me Nascar is like panning for gold as 30-40 years ago I didn't even have to look as every time I put my pan in the water everything came out golden. Now days I have to work a lot longer and harder to find the gold as there is a lot less of it and much of what surrounds it is less than desirable.

I have to take your fandom and enjoyment of Nascar at face value and that of others too as I definitely hear what you are saying and I try and relate to it but it is difficult. I am totally not interested in suspension jounce and rebound, speed differential between corner entry and exit listening to the cars exhaust notes. I used to be more interested in those things when teams had leeway in setting up a car but now Nascar even picks the axle ratio and shocks you use. Boo hiss!!!

It is probably just as difficult for you and others to understand why so many of us are disenchanted with where Nascar has gone and continues to go as it is for so many of us to understand how a person could be so enamored with it. I don't think I am not breaking any new ground here but most of us who don't care for Nascar's current state feel empowered and emboldened to speak our piece because so many have exited the series. Every year Nascar loses fans, viewers and race attenders and until that situation turns around there will be lots of squawking.
 
NJJammer said:
DING! DING! DING! I believe the vast majority posting on this site agree with you, sir.
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I wish I could like this 1000 times, I feel like my own reason I am nostalgic is that I disagree with where NASCAR is heading.
 
Hey it is a forum people posting what they think is the name of the game. Especially in a thread begging for comparisons. Long as we can be respectful to all, well at least to everyone but the Ford people it is all good.....
Aint it?
 
the thing I miss most from back in the day is...the cars coming down pit road at speed and not having to line up behind the pace car under caution before pitting. it was just something to see.
 
Greg said:
Hey it is a forum people posting what they think is the name of the game. Especially in a thread begging for comparisons. Long as we can be respectful to all, well at least to everyone but the Ford people it is all good.....
Aint it?
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So ... crotchety is good? :D
 
BOWTIE GUY said:
the thing I miss most from back in the day is...the cars coming down pit road at speed and not having to line up behind the pace car under caution before pitting. it was just something to see.
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Depends where you're watching it from.
 
Skoalbandit33 said:
I can't speak for others but know that I am not weak willed enough to be manipulated into thinking something that is bad is good or that is good is bad. If someone I trust tells me something is really good or really bad I will consider their opinion but I still need to check it out for myself so I can draw my own conclusion. For me Nascar is like panning for gold as 30-40 years ago I didn't even have to look as every time I put my pan in the water everything came out golden. Now days I have to work a lot longer and harder to find the gold as there is a lot less of it and much of what surrounds it is less than desirable.

I have to take your fandom and enjoyment of Nascar at face value and that of others too as I definitely hear what you are saying and I try and relate to it but it is difficult. I am totally not interested in suspension jounce and rebound, speed differential between corner entry and exit listening to the cars exhaust notes. I used to be more interested in those things when teams had leeway in setting up a car but now Nascar even picks the axle ratio and shocks you use. Boo hiss!!!

It is probably just as difficult for you and others to understand why so many of us are disenchanted with where Nascar has gone and continues to go as it is for so many of us to understand how a person could be so enamored with it. I don't think I am not breaking any new ground here but most of us who don't care for Nascar's current state feel empowered and emboldened to speak our piece because so many have exited the series. Every year Nascar loses fans, viewers and race attenders and until that situation turns around there will be lots of squawking.
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Tremendous post. Really summarizes the whole discussion very fairly.

The gold metaphor is very intriguing. Gold is dynamic, however, it's value fluctuates. Gold twenty years ago is something different today isn't it? Not challenging your thinking of which I have great respect, but just kind of playing with the idea. I guess I am asking, "Is gold the same thing today that it was 20 years ago?"
 
Old 97 said:
What we get today is just like a Playboy without the pictures!
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This was, is, and always will be wrong. 100% confident that the Forum will agree with me.
 
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