Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam Mac
Just my 2 cents about racing from an ex racer.
Since this thread has gone totally of track and is now focused on the upcoming racing season I thought I would share a conversation that I had back around 96 while I was instructing for the BMW Car Club. We were at New Hampshire International Speedway. I was chatting with Ted Goddard who was in charge of operations. Somehow I said something about Nascar and racing. Ted’s comment was that Nascar is not racing, I asked him to explain. He said do you see all of those seats over there in the bleachers? Yes I do. Well people have a certain amount of what we call entertainment dollars to spend per year, it’s our job to put them in the seats, show them a good time and relieve them of as many of their dollars as possible and to have them come back year after year, In order to do that we have to put on a good show. How many times have we heard the comment “The Show” no my friends even though I watch Nascar it is not in my opinion true racing. To me real racing is what you see at the club and local track level.  |
I do believe there is a portion of the race that is "show" to keep people coming back to drain their wallets. But having a good friends son who works for Gibbs team, there is racing on a weekly basis.
None of it today is as it was back in "the day" of grass roots racing. But I still think it's a sport that would be harder on a persons body and brain than any of the "ball" games that are out there. Takes much more of an athlete.