Is NASCAR trying to alienate the older fans?

[Matt]

As a board rookie may I add something my dad taught me a long time ago when I still needed a comb and 28 inch waist Wranglers "It is the mark of a reasonable and intelligent man that he realizes another person may hold an opinion completely contrary to his own and still be an equally reasonable and intelligent person. Of course dad also told me not to waste my life wrenching on old cars, to be moderate in consumption of malted beverages, and not to hang with women of questionable morals but like most things dad taught me while realizing the validity of what he was saying I didn't always take it to heart. There's nothing like roaring along towards that lonely cool before dawn in a hot car with a gypsy angel after a couple cold beers

As for this wple "NASCAR-Love it or leave it" argument nothing gets me grinding my teeth to powder quicker. I will not compare patriotism in these troubled times to racing (which is after all a sport) as our nation's future is a whole lot more important than who wins Daytona. But if you're going to say "America- agree with the way it is or leave it" I have an issue with that. If I feel differently than the president (who I voted for once) on the Iraq war it is not only my right to speak my peace but my obligation. If I am troubled by other aspects of national or foreign policy that does not mean I love this county any less. As long as I act within the framework of the Bill of Rights rather than commiting treason by advocating the otherthrow of the federal government I am doing what way too many soldiers fought and died for... using my right of free speach.

Same with NASCAR. Are you a big fan? I can make an argument I am too. I have been following the sport for 40 plus years. When I attended my first race live Richard Petty, David Pearson and Buddy Baker were still battling it out for wins with big blocks under the hood. Note I am not saying it you are a newer fan you have no right to speak but just that nobody has to tell me about the "good old days." I was there. And I listened to older fans who told me of tracks (Hillsboro) and drivers (Curtis Turner, Junior Johnson, the Flock boys, Freddy Lorenzen and Fireball Roberts) who were stars before I was born. I tended to listen a lot and talk little when they told me stories. In the late seventies and early eighties my buds and I often hopped in the car and headed south for races often with no tickets or place to stay but we always got in. I think back now to two long haired yankee kids in a black 70 El Camino big block with headers you couldn't put more than ten gallons in because the tank had a leak up high heading for Darlington with an ounce of weed in the console and thank God I am not still in prison considering some triple digit blasts down rural highways. I've slept on friends floors, made friends so I could sleep on thier floors, let friends sleep on my floor and helped run a racing newspaper out of a tiny office where we were always months behind on the rent. But it didn't matter because I was in the garage area and seeing the circus. I even got to break some stories, one in particular where that night I celebrated by sleeping in the back seat of a rental car in the track lot. I first got angry with NASCAR over the way they treated Tim Richmond. I really didn't care for how they kicked ESPN to the curb either. And the death of Dale Earnhardt and thier response to it really boiled my blood. So yeah, I've written some critical things, but when ill informed outsiders have attacked this sport I've also come out swinging in NASCAR's defense.

I guess it comes down to two world views. Some folks feel since the France family owns the bat, ball and home base (not to mention the ballpark through the ISC) they can do whatever they want and if you don't like it, tough. But I (and many, many others like me) feel that the house was built by drivers of ages past who invested thier sweat, tears and too often blood to build NASCAR into what it is today. The food on the table of that house has been provided by legions of diehard fans who spent thier hardearned money through good times and bad to support NASCAR. As such the France family does not own the sport. They hold it in sacred trust for the fans and the drivers of yore who ran for championships back when they paid about what today's drivers get for doing a 30 second commercial. Don't tell us there's no room left for us at the table now that its prime rib rather than meatloaf on the menu at least as far as the money involved. And don't try to tell me the Chicken McNuggets of modern NASCAR racing are as tasty as the fried chicken we enjoyed sitting on the tailgate outside of Darlington back in the late 70s and early to mid eighties. You can hand me a turd and tell me it's a Baby Ruth bar but if I got a whiff I won't eat it.

This concludes the aging hippie's rant. We now return you to your regularly scheduled regurgiation of press releases.

[AfterShock]

Mr. Matt,

Permission to shake your hand and give you a big NASCAR hug?

Your dad, my dad, cut from the same cloth I think.
You and me? We think alike.
You're just able to put it all into words better.

One thing that really caught my eyes, because I can relate, having had a similar experience back in my buttox huggin' Levi daze, with optional ponytail, was,......

"There's nothing like roaring along towards that lonely cool before dawn in a hot car (Grabber Green 1970 Boss 429 Mustang in my case. Also "before" Dawn), with a gypsy angel after a couple of beers."

I figured with that car, Dawn would have at least considered a visit to my somewhat undersized back seat. But, alas, Dawn was only along for the ride to fetch a "couple of beers."

Even after consumption of said "beers", ol' Dawn still said NO WAY Jose!
And, she wasn't even Spanish.
But I still understood.

She wound up with a Trans Am driver.
Bummers.

If only I'da had a Firebird decal on MY hood, things mighta turned out differently.

From that I learned, SOMEtimes, the fastest car doesn't win the chick.
I often wonder whatever happened to good ol' Dawn?
Last I heard, she was hooked up with her fourth hubby, drivin' a mini-van full of kids.

Oh! ---- What might have been.
Even in a small back seat.
"After a couple of beers."

[smyler]

Obviously, many of us love this sport.  The season is at rest for the moment but will be with us soon.  We shall choose to either continue to adore it or to abandon it.  My choice is still to pay attention.  I just hope they know that this is a pivotal moment.  I watched the special today on ESPN about the development of MWR and have to admit I am looking forward to this coming season with much anticipation.  There are so many teams and only so many spots for them all to race.  God bless America and God bless NASCAR, in spite of those who might want to think of us as pawns with visa cards.

[IndyCarzGo]

As a board rookie may I add something my dad taught me a long time ago when I still needed a comb and 28 inch waist Wranglers "It is the mark of a reasonable and intelligent man that he realizes another person may hold an opinion completely contrary to his own and still be an equally reasonable and intelligent person. Of course dad also told me not to waste my life wrenching on old cars, to be moderate in consumption of malted beverages, and not to hang with women of questionable morals but like most things dad taught me while realizing the validity of what he was saying I didn't always take it to heart. There's nothing like roaring along towards that lonely cool before dawn in a hot car with a gypsy angel after a couple cold beers

As for this wple "NASCAR-Love it or leave it" argument nothing gets me grinding my teeth to powder quicker. I will not compare patriotism in these troubled times to racing (which is after all a sport) as our nation's future is a whole lot more important than who wins Daytona. But if you're going to say "America- agree with the way it is or leave it" I have an issue with that. If I feel differently than the president (who I voted for once) on the Iraq war it is not only my right to speak my peace but my obligation. If I am troubled by other aspects of national or foreign policy that does not mean I love this county any less. As long as I act within the framework of the Bill of Rights rather than commiting treason by advocating the otherthrow of the federal government I am doing what way too many soldiers fought and died for... using my right of free speach.

Same with NASCAR. Are you a big fan? I can make an argument I am too. I have been following the sport for 40 plus years. When I attended my first race live Richard Petty, David Pearson and Buddy Baker were still battling it out for wins with big blocks under the hood. Note I am not saying it you are a newer fan you have no right to speak but just that nobody has to tell me about the "good old days." I was there. And I listened to older fans who told me of tracks (Hillsboro) and drivers (Curtis Turner, Junior Johnson, the Flock boys, Freddy Lorenzen and Fireball Roberts) who were stars before I was born. I tended to listen a lot and talk little when they told me stories. In the late seventies and early eighties my buds and I often hopped in the car and headed south for races often with no tickets or place to stay but we always got in. I think back now to two long haired yankee kids in a black 70 El Camino big block with headers you couldn't put more than ten gallons in because the tank had a leak up high heading for Darlington with an ounce of weed in the console and thank God I am not still in prison considering some triple digit blasts down rural highways. I've slept on friends floors, made friends so I could sleep on thier floors, let friends sleep on my floor and helped run a racing newspaper out of a tiny office where we were always months behind on the rent. But it didn't matter because I was in the garage area and seeing the circus. I even got to break some stories, one in particular where that night I celebrated by sleeping in the back seat of a rental car in the track lot. I first got angry with NASCAR over the way they treated Tim Richmond. I really didn't care for how they kicked ESPN to the curb either. And the death of Dale Earnhardt and thier response to it really boiled my blood. So yeah, I've written some critical things, but when ill informed outsiders have attacked this sport I've also come out swinging in NASCAR's defense.

I guess it comes down to two world views. Some folks feel since the France family owns the bat, ball and home base (not to mention the ballpark through the ISC) they can do whatever they want and if you don't like it, tough. But I (and many, many others like me) feel that the house was built by drivers of ages past who invested thier sweat, tears and too often blood to build NASCAR into what it is today. The food on the table of that house has been provided by legions of diehard fans who spent thier hardearned money through good times and bad to support NASCAR. As such the France family does not own the sport. They hold it in sacred trust for the fans and the drivers of yore who ran for championships back when they paid about what today's drivers get for doing a 30 second commercial. Don't tell us there's no room left for us at the table now that its prime rib rather than meatloaf on the menu at least as far as the money involved. And don't try to tell me the Chicken McNuggets of modern NASCAR racing are as tasty as the fried chicken we enjoyed sitting on the tailgate outside of Darlington back in the late 70s and early to mid eighties. You can hand me a turd and tell me it's a Baby Ruth bar but if I got a whiff I won't eat it.

This concludes the aging hippie's rant. We now return you to your regularly scheduled regurgiation of press releases.

Man I could not have said it better myself... From one old hippie to another...though for me my weapon of choice back in the day was a 440ci tri power (Edelbrock not Mopar) 1968 Dodge Charger with a flip glass Daytona nose grafted to it.... RIGHT ON BROTHER SMYLER!!!!

[Dustcloud]

Aww, a dust-up without me? I'mma swing back a bit to some of the early posts, since I missed them in my extended absence *hands the teacher her doctor's note* Doesn't help the only NASCAR news I've heard this winter that I cared about came a bit over a week ago. Slow season is soooooo slow now that silly season got moved up to... what, April? On the bright side, the lull meant we got the time to respect a great man and great driver in our own ways, right?

Back to the topic at hand though, I've always been told by my parents, it's a fool's errand to think anything or anyone is perfect "as-is." We can all used a little improvement, and sometimes what we think are improvements are actually a big swing in the other direction.

What separates people is what they do once they realize this. Or if they realize it. and I think the same is true with decisions about corporations, groups and sports.

I've made no secret I don't like a lot of what NASCAR has done lately. I stop watching once the Chase starts. I think NASCAR just refuses to see it isn't a good thing, much like with the Cup guys in Busch. and therefore they're going to keep trying to convince me how cool and great it is. I like the idea of COT but not the car itself, if that makes sense. But I guess if they won't react, I have to decide what I want to do. I doubt I'll stop watching NASCAR completely. I like it too much most of the time. But that could always change. Heck, I never thought I'd wash my hands of the Busch series. But when a body makes enough new decisions to ruin the sport for me personally, it's my business to decide where to put my attentions, neh? Cup is still at a point I generally enjoy it. Busch is not. I don't care what they do with it anymore. So, I watch one and not the other.

I don't think France is trying to drive off older fans. I think it's just an inadvertant consequence of what he IS trying to do, namely make NASCAR more "entertaining" (and I use the term loosely, since I thought it used to be plenty entertaining before all the changes).

But it always makes me glad to see people constructively criticizing the changes they don't like. That means they still care enough about it to want to see it improve. It's when the griping stops that NASCAR *really* petter check the currents.

Wow, that was rambly. Maybe I need another few days at the doctor's office... 

[Matt]

There's nothing like roaring along towards that lonely cool before dawn in a hot car (Grabber Green 1970 Boss 429 Mustang in my case. Also "before" Dawn), with a gypsy angel after a couple of beers."

Smyler, by coincidence my first car for those late night runs with a pretty woman seeing how fast it would go and how far she would go were taken in a 70 428 SCJ Mach One with the slats, spoilers, and shaker. Sorry Dawn was so cool. Veronica eventually said yes and if the back seat on Mustangs of that era were small an abundance of enthusiasm made up for lack of space when that whisper of soft surrender finally came along. Dad sold the CJ after the third time the cops hauled me home for street racing (and the injustice of it is I wasn't racing just doing side by side burnouts with a buddy's 440 Cuda in an industrial park, believe it or not beneath the lights of a that giant Exxon sign) and said since I spent my money on the car it was mine. I could buy a new car but not a hot rod. Every night he'd get home and I'd ask "Dad can I buy a Chevelle?" What size engine? A little tiny 396. NO GO! Dad, can I buy an Olds Cutlass? What size engine? 455. NO GO! Finally one night I asked, Dad, can I buy a Buick. Dad smiled. That's a good American car. Plenty of sheetmetal to protect you if you wreck. Yeah, you can a Buick. Dad arrived home the next night as my buddies and I were bolting the Cragars on a 70 GS455 Stage One. Getting out of the car his eyes narrowed and he told me "That better not be what I think it is." I pointed to the decklid and told him, "Dad it's a Buick just like I said." Over the years those cars were followed by a 68 390GT with CJ heads, two Boss 302s, a Shelby GT350 (I traded the Grabber Blue Boss for it) and an 82 GT (only one ever painted by the factory gray) an 83 GT (Buddy wrecked the 82) two 85s (both stolen) an 87 and an 89 with a Paxton. Outisde of the Stangs I've had over 100 cars including a 428 CJ Ranchero four speed (major traction issues) a 70 Road Runner 440- Six Pack (worse traction issues) a Hornet SC360 (Did I mention I used to smoke dope...it cost me 600 bucks) a 70 442, an 84 L69 Z28 (Worst piece of crap I ever owned), a 66 Tripower 442 (I used the legs from a fat guys jeans to patch the air intake tubes two LS6 Chevelles, five 454/390 Chevelles (Two of em rag tops all of em four speeds) two 396/375 67 Chevelles, a Stage IV GTO, three more GSs, countless small and big block SS Camaro and Chevelle clones and for four wonderful hours a 437-435 Corvette convertible.

So the moral of the story is I'm going to spend the next five nights watching Barrett Jackson while trying to avoid the urge to put a 44 Mag in my mouth recalling what I sold all those cars for.

[AfterShock]

Smyler? 

Thanx for the complement Matt. 
But, I'm AfterShock, Shakey AfterShock. Some folks call me Shocky.
However, nobody has ever called me "Smyler".   

Better check with the real "Smyler" first. He might not appreciate being
imitated. Even though we're both just hieroglyphics on a contrasting background, we're both exactly the same,...........
only different.

This message has been brought to in living
C O L O R   

I live in Southern California, Smyler lives in God's Country. He could survive in my neck of the woods, I'd freeze my patootie off in his land o' living. Although, it DID snow where I live last week. My neighbor has the photos to prove it.

I know it'll take a while to get us all figured out Matt. Hail! I've been here for years, and I STILL get confused. Some may even say I'm always confused. I wouldn't argue with that assessment.

I'm an only child. But, if I had a choice for a brother, Smyler would be high on my list of potential candidates.
It would be an honor for me if I was even on Smyler's list.
Yes I would.

Every time I watch Barrett Jackson, I too try to swallow a .44 Magnum. But I can't afford the bullet. So, I tape two .22 rimfires in the chamber. I just can't seem to get the powder to ignite.
I paid $3,600 for my Boss 429 when the dealer was getting out of the high performance end of their business. A few years ago, a neighbor, who also owned a Boss 429, showed me three for sale in a high performance section of a magazine. Least expensive was $70,000. 
I traded mine in for a four wheel drive pick-um-up truck.
Never claimed I was smart. 

Now, I never can. 

BTW
Now that I've read a smaple of your writing, Matt, ---- I'm even 'glader' you're now a member of the family.
GOSH!? 
Does that mean we're brothers?
Perhaps we're ALL brothers and sisters here. 
Hmmmmmm

Cyber Siblings? 
Ya reckon?

[smyler]

My first car was a beat up 67 Impala.  My dad thought it would be a good first car cuz it was made of metal and it was cheap.  I paid $250 (which I earned as a box boy at the local grocery) in 1978.  I also paid all the insurance myself.

I still wonder how I never got into any wrecks in that thing.  It had a V-8 in it and could move quicker than a 16 year old should go.  I remember driving too fast in the Oregon rain.  Whew, the overspray from the trucks would make it near impossible to see out the front window and I wasn't smart enough not to  tailgate back then.  My how times have changed.  Impala wasn't a marque nameplate, but I had some good times in the car.  I was never embarrassed.

[Tyyrus]

Well...my High Performance Vehicles kinda were on one side of the extreme to the other..Man !
My 1st Performance Car was a 1971 Trans-am c/w  455 H.O. pushing approx 525 BHP @ the Crank.
Dyno-Tested it produced around 415 @ the rear wheels. Great looking car for the time White with Black
Interior PS , PW / PB and off course Muncie 4 Speed with Hurst Competition Plus Short Throw Shifter.
I believe I left the 3:35 Rear-end in tact , which was posi-trac with 14" Wheels and Good Year White letter
Poly-Glass. Still remember the thump..thump....thump when the tires sat over night during colder evenings    took about a quarter mile till they smoothed out. Great Turn Pike Cars , great top end...just around 200 MPH
with the Headman 2-1/2" Headers and 850 CFM Holley Double Pumper with Mechanical Secondaries. Hell
you could hear that car coming from 2 Miles away with that Shaker Hood Scoop howling when you dropped
the hammer..Baby ! Not real quick off the line or through the quarter..but look out once she got rolling , that
torque monster engine really left them in the dust on the Super Highways.

My Second Pony Car was a 1972 Camaro LT-1 350 CI/375 BHP approx 300 A the Rear Wheels. Metallic Mid-Night Blue with Black Interior. PS , PW , PB and again Municie  4 Speed Transmision with a Hurst Rock Crusher
Shifter . Loved this car for Boulevard cruising , great off the line performance for a small block. Made a lot girls heads turn with this little gem , only about 130 MPH due to the 3:73 Rear End , but great from street light to street light..Eh !

My most cherished ride was a real sleeper , 1970 1/2 Falcon...yeah I said Falcon ! I landed this dream car
through the grape vine. I had a buddy at the time who was a real car nut. I mean I was an enthusiast but
this guy just lived cars. He called me one day and said I had to see tjhis falcon..yeh right ! Well I eventually
agreed...went to this country estate were numerous cars & trucks were in behind the barn..Eh ! So I look
around and say so wheres the Car. The Old gent says the wifey's Grocery Getter is around beside the wood
shed. Over we go and pull off the tarp and my eyes almost jumped out of my head. Falcon..nah this here
is a Torino..Man ! c/w the Shaker Hood. He says no its a Falcon. I open the door , sure enough says Falcon
on the Glove box and on the Owners Manual (1970 1/2 Falcon) But you haven't heard the best yet. Remember that there Shaker Hood...yep popped the hood and glory...glory 429 Cobra Jet...I mean Mechanical Lifters and Factory Headers and get this...Detroit Locker Rear End..Man !  Weird colour Mettalic
Gold  , Black Interior (Bench Seats) Lady Driven Remember c/w 4 Speed Automatic Tranny. Black Stock Wheels with Chrome lug nuts & rim inserts and Whtie Lettered , you guessed it Good Year Polyglass Tires. Ok ..are you sittin down I asked him what he was askin for it $1,500.00 I said does it run he said yep , but the throttle cable is broken . I checked the oil and tranny levels , started the beast up and the rest is history had that car
from 1977...until 3 years ago...sold it for $45,000 as is...still miss that old girl sure did run sweet for a grocery
getter...eh ! She would lay rubber from light to light....Man !  Those were the days...Baby !