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I was wondering if some of you NASCAR fans could 'splain this to me...

Now I know you like to label your favorite drivers as "athletes", but I'm wondering just how much skill it takes to drive one of those MO-chines. I'm watching this Duel(Dual?) 150 race earlier, and there's a guy driving by the name of James Hylton. Now granted the guy has been doing this for a long time, but he's also 72 years old. So even though he's been drinking from the NASCAR moonshine trough for a long long time, I'm thinking you don't need cat-like reflexes and boatloads of talent to drive a NEXTEL Cup racecar. Afterall, it's not like you have to deal with all the buttons on a Formula 1 car's steering wheel.

You ARE kidding me right? You did just post this to stir the pot right?

What can I say, I'm bored today.

So bored I went over to speedtv.com and had a look at their message boards. They have a 70+ page thread on Michael Waltrip's troubles! Now I could see a 3 or 4 page thread, but 70 pages?

Hey Derek
Tha thing looks like a Nintendo Wii controller!

Am I the only one who thinks the yellow, white, blue, green and red dials look like a WWII radio?

BTW, good luck with the serious replies you'll no doubt get from this

Just think Adey, James Hylton was born the same year as John Surtees. Could you imagine Surtees trying to qualify for a Forumla 1 race today?

I think you're on to something, Derek. Even if the ol' coot falls asleep at the wheel, he can continue to turn left until he wakes or runs out of fuel.

can anyone remember what was on the Jeremy Clarkson car written about NASCAR in last sunday Top Gear

I think it was 'NASCAR sucks' or something like that???

I know he dislikes America, Ameicans and American cars - so why go to Alabama with political, gay and anti-way-of-life slogans on cars and have the nerve to say Americans were not friendly??
To go into a small-town area like they did with 'Man love rules, OK' in pink letters on the side of the truck and then be suprised when he was nearly lynched drove me up the wall!

If he doesn't like the country, people and way of life, why the hell go in the first place?

I had never heard of this Jeremy Clarkson before, so I looked him up here. There's a real winner, the english mel gibson of the automotive press.

well for me all that was really funny but most what I remember ............are all car salesmen in Florida....
seems to me that they have special looooooooong seat belts in their cars for all that fat people

Look for the Yellow Transportation Car # 70 this Sunday 9th fastest quailifing time. Johnny Sauter is our driver.

Was never much of a NASCAR fan growing up in the NE just got involved through Yellow when we started running trucks, then busch now Nextel.

He loses an average of 15 lbs. during a race and I have seen him before and after a race and he looks like 20 miles of bad road after the race.

Anyone who can drive 180 miles per hour for 4 hours know matter what kind of race car he is driving has my respect.

Yeah, NASCAR is definitely for wimps, not real "athletes" like in Formula 1. Is that why we are seeing Formula 1 drivers either crossing over to NASCAR or contemplating it?

Perhaps as a Formula 1 elitist prig, you can help us all understand?

Lots of skulduggery going on at Dayton, it seems Jeff Gordon's car has also failed inspection. How many is that
5-6 cars?
What the heck is happening?

F1 fans don't like NASCAR because they believe that stock cars are technologically inferior to F1 machines and it takes no talent to drive in NASCAR. NASCAR fans will tell you F1 cars practically drive themselves, and therefore, it doesn't take much of a driver to handle one.

To some extent, both are right. F1 cars are technologically superior, with gadgets like traction control, clutch and shifters on the steering wheel, and rev limiters to gauge pit lane speed. Technology does most of the work for fighter jets; does any one doubt the ability of jet pilots? Does this make it easier to drive an F1 vehicle? In some respects yes, but F1 drivers exclusively drive on circuits, so the amount of braking, shifting, and turning is much greater than with what a NASCAR driver deals. NASCAR drivers drive cars that are less responsive than F1 cars and they deal with much more traffic, as NASCAR races feature 43 cars, while grand prix race only 22, at the most. A NASCAR season is certainly more grueling; NASCAR drivers race in more than twice as many races than F1 drivers, and turn out significantly more mileage. So, who's to say which drivers are more talented?

However, I can only categorize this thread as condescending and just a little malicious. Like I said in the other thread, did someone crap in your Wheaties today? Sheesh!

Same ol' stuff... just like American football vs English football, and on ,and on....

But this Jeremy Clarkson guy needs to tour the infield at Talladega once, & he'd likely get an "attitude adjustment"!

An interesting fact is how Jeff Gordon drove a previous year's model BMW F1 car at Indy ( on the F! course ), and for his first time in that car, or any F1 car, and the first time on the course, he was less than one and a half seconds off what it did the previous year. Yup, no talent there. It would be fascinating to see what he could do in one of those cars in full season or two. I would bet a F1 championship would be in the cards, but we'll never see it, he would take a pay cut.

HA!!
Real racers go from 0 to 330 mph in 4.46 seconds .

Oh my, who open this one.

Being a die hard F1 fan i am very bias towards all things F1 and really dont give a monkeys about NASCRAP.

But as has already been said here, it is the Real Football v American Football argument all over again.

And i dont know much about NASCRAP so i really cannot give any comparisons.

BUT, i find NASCRAP incredibly boring. Which if you think about it is rather ironic, because any non F1 fan will tell you, F1 is incredibly boring.

Horses for courses I guess.

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An interesting fact is how Jeff Gordon drove a previous year's model BMW F1 car at Indy ( on the F! course ), and for his first time in that car, or any F1 car, and the first time on the course, he was less than one and a half seconds off what it did the previous year. Yup, no talent there.

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I remember watching that program. Trading paint it was called. And you are right, Jeff Gordon was only a couple of seconds of the pace, (the pace being the pace set by that car the previous year) BUT, i think most talented drivers from any racing series could do that when they are the only car on the track. The real test is when there are twenty other cars on the track in the heat of battle.

Incidently, the car Jeff was driving was the previous years Williams, which although powered by a BMW engine, was a car that was significantly 'off' the pace the previous year.

Personally i was hoping that that little publicity stunt would open the door to Jeff Gordon entering F1 but it wasnt to be.

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Yeah, NASCAR is definitely for wimps, not real "athletes" like in Formula 1. Is that why we are seeing Formula 1 drivers either crossing over to NASCAR or contemplating it?

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Actually, the ONLY F1 drivers who are making the switch to NASCRAP are those drivers who are not good enough for F1 any more. Case in point Juan Pablo Montoya and Jacques Villaneuve.

Quailty F1 Drivers realize when they come to the end of their F1 careers that the only thing left for them is inferior racing series, so they retire gracefully. Montoya is milking what he can out of NASCRAP. Come next year he will move on. I dont think any of the NASCRAP teams wanted Jacques, they reaslize what a whiner he is.

Ask a local short track racer what he thinks of NASCAR. It still has the attraction of the top level to achieve, but marketing has sucked much if the real racing out of it. There are several talented cup drivers that could drive an F1 car better than some of the purchased rides by people with more money than talent. I don't pay much attention to anything other than the truck series in NASCAR. I would rather drop $25 for a pit pass at the local track and see REAL racing.
To anyone that thinks turning left is easy, it is:if you want to run in the back half of the field. Just about anybody can do that. If you want to win, you better have a fanatical work ethic, talent and brains. I worked my tail off for my 1/4 mile championship 14 years ago and get pretty cranky at anyone that tries to dismiss stock car racing as trivial.
Sorry, I'm also a bit cranky about having to sell my bike. I need a vacation.
Mike Sr.

So you didn't take yesterday off work like it was some kinda holiday?

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That's the whole idea behind this thread, Mike. Mean-spirited, vitriolic, and pointless.

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Sorry, but i dont see anything mean-spirited here, and secondly, look in the lounge on any given day and you will see a handfull of "Pointless" threads. The difference being, "Pointless" to some-one may be of interest to some-one else.

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and my interest waned after the debacle in Indianapolis when Michelin had tire problems causing most of the grid to drop out before the race even started.

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Derek. I was at that race. Quite an interesting day i can tell you. Funny. All the non F1 fans and so called "Expert" racing critics were saying that that race was the deathnail for F1 in the USA. Yet last year they had almost the same attendance for the GP.

So much for experts.

Holy Pooopoo. Shades of Talledega Nights. I am now waiting on a slightly gay frenchmen to come out of the wood work and slap us all silly

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I worked my tail off for my 1/4 mile championship 14 years ago

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Was that roundy-round or real 1/4 mile racing .

Like a friend of mine says, "If it has a motor it's a Sport, everything else is just a game." NASCAR vs F1 racing is like comparing Football to Soccer. They both require various skills at varying levels.

The only change I would like to see in NASCAR is at the middle of an oval track race, have all the cars pit and then send them back out, but have them turn right instead of left. Now that would really change things up.

Tom

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You funny guy! How about NASCRAP? Not mean? Please....

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Oh you spotted that. Not really mean though, but OK.

The only time i can watch NASCAR and sort of get into it is when the race on road tracks. Watkins Glen is it, maybe, i know there are a couple of races each year where they dont go around in circles for hours on end.

most drivers slow down (from 65-75) when they put Jersey barriers on the street to form a single lane...(which is pleanty wide enough to accomadate a TRUCK...never mind running inches from someone infront of you AND beside you at speeds in excess of 160 mph...
a vast majority of cage drivers CANT talk on a cell phone and drive at street legal speeds with PLEANTY of room around there vehicle...

these guys are driving with out mirrors and trusting the ever present voice in their ear to guide them and keeping in constant radio contact with their crew...at speeds in excess of 160 MPH...

Most cage drivers freek when a little rain hampers there view ...these guys will drive BLIND thru smoke and glare based upon some voice in there ear telling them its ok to do so....at SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 160 MPH

most cage drivers suffer from road fatigue after a few hours of varying sceneary at street legal speeds....
These guys see the same damm thing 500 times in the course of 4 hours (without a potty stop) ...at speeds IN EXCESS OF 160 MILES AN HOUR....

MOST drivers (cage or not) wear there "ton" badge like its some great feat!!there pulse quickens fence posts fly by and the stripes on the road become one long strobe light there palms sweat and they strut like they've accomplished something...

These guys SLOW down to a "ton" and take corners at SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 160 MILES AN HOUR...WHILE some yahoo is "bumpin" them in the A$$ to remind them that they're there!!!

Most cage drivers belive that "they could do it" and that "they're not really athleats"...got news for you boys (and girls) the "older" drivers (40 plus) are in better(much) shape than 99% of us... and would SMOKE you armchair drivers" and your twice a week pickup game down at the gym isn't even close...

those who say "it's easy" or "it's only going around making lefts, how hard can it be" or "they're not really atheleats" are talking out their A$$ and have NOTHING in the way of experiance, to base there opinion on...

Most of us have issue's functioning after a flight due to "jetlag" these guys are flying in and jumpin in a car driving it 500 miles AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 160 MILES AN HOUR then flying back to the "office" for a Monday breakdown of the race on Sunday...then jetting off to some Sponsor's function..and so on till the next Sunday...this they do from mid FEBUARY till MID NOVEMBER!!!! How long is your Steroid pumpin baseball athlete's season assuming no post season (since not every team plays that)...

These guys will headon a wall/car/, flip down the back stretch rolling the car 10 or more times then GET OUT AND TOSS their helmut at the A$$hole who they think is responsible....then get BACK in the car next Sunday and do it again...



you don't have to like it...you don't have to watch it...but to belittle it or desparage the drivers...CLEARLY indicates you DON'T understand it and KNOW LITTLE about it...
and it speaks VOLUMES about YOU to have AND SPEAK an oppinion of such a definative nature with no knowledge to base that CLEARLY STATED AND SPOKEN oppinion on!!!

Sorry but I have no tollerance (NOR should you) for misinformation, or "facts" that are nothing more than somones ignorant oppinion perpetuated as the truth...

I put that in the catagory as "political correctness" and those who tout free speech then FREEK when someone says something they dont like and kick him out of the All Stars...but thats a totally different rant!!!



rant over....hackles down...

Wow, gotta say it does sound like the F1 boys are being a bit elitist here. I like NASCAR(P), I like INDY Series, I like F1, I like NHRA, I like Super Bike, I like MotoX, etc., etc. Each type of racing requires a different skill set, set of tools, talent and ALL of them require lots o' LUCK and MONEY to be successful. If you don't like one type or another, get over yourself and go entertain yourself some other way. No need to disparage one because you like the other. Personally, not a big fan of Futbol. However, I do respect the skill, strategy and athleticism required to play the game. Just not my cup o' tea, so to speak. Doesn't mean they aren't athletes in my mind, just that they are athletes playing a sport I don't enjoy. I used to think similar things about NASCAR when I was younger. Went to a race and saw all that is involved in the race and have been a fan ever since. Why don't we all relax, have a nice Friday and enjoy a favorite beverage or 8 or ten of our choice.

Peace out man!

Wow Rob right on !!!

All I have to say is anyone willing to get into a race car no matter what type NASCAR, F-1 has my respect and he does not have to prove his\her manhood to me, but if you really want to see nuts watch the Outlaw Races on 1\4 mile dirt tracks at night !!!!

Hey, all I'm sayin' is if a 72 yr old grandpa could do it, it can't be that tough. And in the interview I saw, Hylton didn't look like Jack Lalanne. That was the point I was trying to make. I didn't really mean to make this an F1 vs NASCAR thread.

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Jeff Gordon was only a couple of seconds of the pace,

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But did they measure the car afterwards to make sure it wasn't lowered? Sure is a lot of cheating going on in NASCAR.

Careful Rob.

They're gonna end up puttin' NASCAR in with the religious/political stuff .

I know bill...go figure I get all p!ssy over a NASCAR thread...I've had a tough week and seen my share of really F'n anoying news this week so my appologies to any I may have p!ssed upon it's not you...

the whole NBA story really has me spitting fire so every thing else gets amplified!