When I was born (in the 1940's), my dad was racing stock cars all up and down the east coast from Hialeah, Fl, to Ft. Erie, Canada. That was before NASCAR was even formed and it was much like an 'outlaw' circuit for hard core racers. It's often been said I cut my teeth on a 9/16" wrench in the pits of many short track 'bullrings'. He was a member of NASCAR in 1947 and actually raced on the old 'beach course' before Daytona Int. was built in 1969, but retired only a few years later.
Well, I grew up loving it and raced for a few years myself around many of the 'bullrings' in the southeast and still today love 'stock car' racing as much as I ever did. However, I no longer go to any of the big tracks like Daytona, 'Dega, or any of the 'cookie cutter' tracks. I would much rather watch any of those on a big screen TV from my recliner at home with a cold one on the table beside me. You can actually see so much more than being there in person. I still do however attend many local (and even some more distant) small tracks and still love it just as much as ever.
And for general info, there's much more to it than just turning left, going fast, and hurrying back. The driving requires much technical knowledge as well as physics. There's more geometric and physical calculations and design features in those cars than is taught in many schools. You have to be able to feel when the car will let you turn in to a turn, when to get off the gas, how hard to push into and around the turn, when you can get back in the gas and how much without spinning out, and how the air around you will affect your car and situation at all those times. I think only those who have 'been there and done that' can fully understand and appreciate all that goes into that simple turn left, go fast, and hurry back. If it were really as simple as some think, those guys wouldn't be making in the millions of $$$'s per year. There are no gauges or meters to tell the driver those things, he must be able to feel it in the seat of his pants and react accordingly. NASCAR still does not allow computers for traction control, skid avoidance, no ALB's, etc. I even hate the fact they eventually went to EFI rather than carbs and the stupid digital dash gauges.
All that being said, NASCAR and all other forms of auto racing except drag racing still appeal to me after all these years. Especially the "Whelen" modifieds and "Outlaw" figure 8's. I fully appreciate drags from the technical standpoint. It boggles my mind how they can get the HP out of those push rod engines they do without them exploding on ignition. And I fully recognize the expertise required of those drivers too. But that straight line racing just doesn't do it for me like 'rubbin' -n- racin' !!
Just this man's opinion ..... !!!
