Posted on 02/18/2020 4:42:17 AM PST by sodpoodle
I don’t understand about the questioning of safety in NASCAR. The people of the world have always had some type of diversion based upon violence since before the Romans and the Coliseum.
We currently today here in the US continue the trend, even to the point of trying to protect the people that do it so they can take the hits.
Football, baseball, hockey and basketball at the professional level, and in some cases in school competitions, have modified their sport to include the violence as it is a part of the selling of the game. And as long as there is a way to keep it, or its possibility, in the works, it will be a part of our “entertainment.”
Thus identifying it as problem, is not true. Identifying it as a profit is. And the competition of it is not part of that equation.
And the first one that says people don’t want the threat of violence, just remember Evil Kenevil or the great Wallendas. All they did was do something for the thrill of it. But that will make you think twice, did you want to see them succeed or fail?. Depends on how you like your violence. And professional sports is the epitome of the success/fail formula. All sports, youth included, is going that way. So why fault NASCAR? Go to a local high school football or basketball game. Same thing, different day, different sizes.
rwood
Thanks, that clears it up. Teammate helping, ends up hurting. I only thought teammates helped during the race and than at the finish it was a free for all. Never suspected that they would give up pride and glory to push someone else over the line. My ignorance is showing.
The damage to his Mustang was extensive — it appeared the entire roll cage designed to protect his head had caved — and officials would not allow his team near the accident site.
I don’t think Hamlin touched him, it was his teammate that bumped him from behind, when Newman went back down to block him.
To be honest, when you’ve raced for a while, your mind catches up and everything slows down. In all seriousness, the sensation of speed disappears, and it’s no more exciting than driving to the store to pick up some milk.
I played lots of baseball, at least to the college level and it’s the same thing that happens when you get to where you can see the rotation on a ball coming in at 90mph.
I have watched the replay of the wreck several times - Hamlin ran into him.
I went back and reviewed the video several more times. I was wrong in my posts 40 and 45. My bad!
Hamlin did not run into Newman. Blaney did.
It is clearly evident that Hamlin “Bump Drafted” Blaney into Newman.
Both Blaney and Newman got out of shape; Newman moved down the track (to block Blaney? Or trying to regain control?) and Blaney rear ended him.
IMHO, had Hamlin NOT been allowed by NASCAR rules to “Bump Draft” Blaney, it is possible that the wreck would not have happened.
> IMHO, had Hamlin NOT been allowed by NASCAR rules to “Bump Draft” Blaney, it is possible that the wreck would not have happened.
NASCAR tried that in the 90’s(?). They ended up with a parade of cars rolling around the track. Virtually al the drivers hated it.
I remember that era. NASCAR has too many damn rules! NASCAR is an over-politicized, over-bloated bureaucracy!
Racin’ was WAY more fun when Smokey Yunick was alive and building race cars (https://www.carthrottle.com/post/7-hilariously-mad-racing-hacks-that-were-all-the-work-of-one-man/).
It is probably Smokey’s fault that the NASCAR “stock” cars are so “homogenized” now. But, dammit, racing was fun to watch back then!
They were racing cars an ordinary citizen could buy - “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday” worked!
You could buy a car just like the one that Fireball Roberts won Daytona in!
Can you buy a 350 ci V-8 Camry?
My point is that NASCAR has gone way far away FRom its roots - American stock cars.
Apart FRom safety regs, NASCAR should set maximum engine displacement, weight, wheelbase and track-width rules, and makem race stock cars off the showroom floor!
I agree.
Thank you!
Those REALLY WERE the Good Ol’ Days of NASCAR!
Too many rules make for dull and predictable races: Daisy Chain; wreck. Daisy Chain; wreck. Ad Nauseum.
It is so boring now that I DVR the Speedway races and FF FRom yelow flag to yellow Flag.
Except for the road courses; I watch the entire event! Those are a lotta fun to watch.
Maybe they ought to run the sports car track at Daytona? That would be a race!
And, they should race cars we could REALLY buy on Monday!
I’m curious. Do your skills as a race car driver deteriorate after the age of 35-40 like they do with all other athletes?
Eye hand coordination has to be a factor. Muscle quickness, eyesight all get worse as you get older. Jeff Gordon retired at 44. So, even though things slow down for experienced drivers, there must still be an endurance factor sitting in a car in a Nomex suit sweating for 2-3 hours straight.
I don’t know, I quit when I was 58, my uncle raced at a higher level than I did till he was 70. I don’t think age is a big factor. Jeff Gordon also started when he was 7 or 8 years old, so maybe was just burned out. Most of the going faster in racing, whether cars or motorcycles involves learning to be smooth, smooth is fast.
It does get awful hot in a suit and helmet, I’ll give you that one! .032 aluminum between you and the headers is not a lot of insulation.
I can also relate it to shooting sports, my eyes aren’t as good, but my basics are. I shoot better competitively than when I was 20.
I have a customer in his 70’s that drag races. He tells me that he is one level below professional. He has been doing it for many years. His kids and grand kids participate in their age classes.
I like to go up to the Loudon(NH) motorcycle races every July. What I enjoy is the Friday and Saturday races when you drive right into the infield, park and walk anywhere you want. Last year my son and I got drafted into helping a pit crew. There were two guys there from a team out of NC. They took turns on the bike. They were professional races.
My son had long pants on, so he could go across the wall. I was wearing shorts, so I had to stay on the inside.
Also, on the Friday and Saturday there are many amateurs. You can tell them when they pass by because the pros are going by them like they are standing still.
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