Racing (Formula One and NASCAR)

[phosetklr]

I'll bet no one ever thought there'd be a posting concerning car racing on this forum, but I am a car racing fan and I have to "vent" for a few minutes over something I just read concerning some changes that some folks are pushing forward for Formula One racing in the future...basically, Formula One racing is THE premiere car racing going on these days, the cars are the fastest, split-second maneuvers and decisions are being made by the drivers, and the tracks are sometimes actually set up on regular streets in cities around the globe.
What I just read in one of the Formula One sites is that some people are proposing that most of the technology be taken away from the teams, a severe limit would be placed on how many engines the teams would be allowed to work with for each race, and one proposal being pushed is that the cars "downforce" be severely limited as well! While I'll admit that Ferrari has dominated this year, they have used the same rules as everyone else, they just seemed to "get it right" more often this year with their car set-ups, etc.
IF these proposals actually go through, I can see Formula One racing going the way of NASCAR...and don't get me wrong, I used to be a big stock car fan, but nowadays it just doesn't seem like "racing" to me when I see a NASCAR race. No, now it seems like 499 miles of drafting and simply avoiding the walls and other guys crashing, then it's the lucky driver who happened to get the good draft for most of the race who might just end up in the winner's circle. That's not racing, it's drafting! NASCAR drivers are very talented, I'm not saying otherwise, but they've got restrictor plates on their engines, they've got times when they can't come into the pits because they're not allowed to, heck, once in the past year or so NASCAR officials even tried to penalize one type of car (Ford or Chevy) because they felt there was an "unfair advantage" or something like that.
My point is this: F-1 (Formula One) racing is fast-paced, it's highly technical in the interests of making it EXCITING to watch, so
why mess with it? And, if there are any NASCAR fans out there who agree with me that NASCAR needs to let the drivers actually RACE EACH OTHER like they should, then write some letters to NASCAR and tell 'em about it....
As for me, I'll do the same with F-1, if they start to go through with these ridiculous ideas. I say LET THEM RACE!
I'm done venting now, thank you......

Sincerely,
the pantyhose tickler

 

[QBWeaver]

It's great to see another avid racing fan in the group. I've been heavily involved in racing for 32 years now. I've been a corner worker, pit crew, chief of a speciality and I also serve on the Board of Directors for a racing club. I also organize the workers for the World Superbike races at Laguna Seca and coordinate everything from Race Control.

I too was surprised when I saw the proposals for F1. However, with the politics within FIA (and FIM) so mind-boggling I doubt you'll ever see those implemented. The last thing they would ever want to do is introduce limitations that mirror a US organization. They are SO anti-US it's amazing.

But time will tell. Racing is a fickle sport at times.

 

[guitman69]

My big problem with the new NASCAR rules (not a big F-1 fan) is this new 1 engine rule. You have to run the same engine to qualify that you run in the race. And if you need to change that engine, say you blow it during Happy Hour, you have to start at the back of the field.

Now here's the thing. The guys who blow thier engines out during practice, are the ones who are winning the races. Or at the very least coming in towards the top. Even after having to start in last place.

 

[red indian]

Its worth remembering........

the scorn that was vented on Nigell Mansell when he went to the states to try his hand at American motor racing, a number of American pundits inadvisedly went on record saying he had no chance and that American racing is "real" motor racing and not all about hiding behind technological tricks like F1, but what happened? he pissed all over them and won the title with ease. Then these same punters started saying "oh well of course the Newman/Huase car was technologically superior to the other teams and thats why he won so easily"!!!....go figure, as you Americans say.