Carmen,

I hope you're not taking offense with my NASCAR comments. No, I don't think you fit the profile I'm speaking of in the least. It's not my "profile" by the way, but more a generally accepted stereotype of NASCAR fans. Sort of like the generally accepted stereotype of people from West Virginia that I fit into.

I don't think that all NASCAR fans are redneck hicks with offspring named Bubba, Bubba Jr., and my other brother Bubba. In the same way I don't think everybody from West Virginia meets basically the same characteristics.

Both stereotypes arose because there are a fair amount of people who do fit into these categories. When I bring up the stereotype it's because the people I'm poking fun at are so far away from having those characteristics that I think they will find it funny. This doesn't always work since I know in the past I've had to stop making fun of West Virginia around my mom since she found it upsetting.

So, in other words, if my comments are sounding more like personal attacks rather than attempts at humour, I understand and I will stop. I know sometimes it's hard to tell the difference.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by waybrig
[B]Carmen,

I hope you're not taking offense with my NASCAR comments.

 

I'm not sure I agree with the "typical" NASCAR fan comment. I agree that you're a big NASCAR fan, what qualifies you as a "typical" fan other than the fact that you love the sport?

This is all just semantics, but when I think of a "typical" fan of something it makes me think that they have many things in common with other fans besides a love of the sport.

Example: Do a significant percentage of other NASCAR fans own there own IT business, drive a high strung Japanese sports car in the summer, and a German sport sedan in winter? Even geographically speaking, do a significant percentage of NASCAR fans come from this part of the country?

I think it would be safe to answer "no" to all of these. You may have some other character traits that would qualify you as a "typical" NASCAR fan, but from just these I wouldn't consider you typical.

There's nothing wrong with that however, what's wrong with being a "not so typical" NASCAR fan?

.............Oh, wait, there is one thing that would qualify you as typical instantly: Did you name either of your son's Bubba or Jim-Bob?

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by waybrig
[B]I'm not sure I agree with the "typical" NASCAR fan comment.

 

Anybody else agree that Carmen's demographic is now becoming the "norm" of NASCAR fans?

Oh, and by the way, I'm not sitting in front of my computer working right now, I'm sitting in front of my computer chatting on a message board!

 

I think differently, I think the NASCAR fan is bandwagon fan that likes motorsports but does not know the complexity of racing. Sure the racing aspect of NASCAR can be exciting at times if you like cars that go around in circles and drink plenty of beer to go along with it but if the complexity of racing is what excites you then NASCAR has nothing to offer. By complexity I mean chassis dynamics and geometry, aerodynamics and engine performance. How many NASCAR fans without looking it up can tell you what the max cubic inches is allowed or max weight or cross weight or even ground clearance?

 

I disagree 1,000%. How many F1 fans, who sit in their air conditioned luxury suites and sample caviar, can describe "aero push", a "a wedge adjustment", a "spring rate" adjustment, "loose into the turn and tight out of the turn", the effects of "air pressure adjustments". How can you even question "aerodynamics" during Daytona week? Try driving 186MPH, 3 wide on a high banked road and see if aerodynamics are important. I'm not saying they're aerodynamically as perfect as an F1 car, they're tanks comparatively speaking, but aerodynamics is as important if not more so. Why are Toyota and Honda working with NASCAR to get into Winston Cup racing?

 

I would have to say that Honda and Toyota are interested in NASCAR due to it's huge popularity and market penetration. This is in contrast to racing series where they like training their engineers in a racing environment. I doubt that Honda or Toyota is really very interested in the type of technology used in NASCAR, but they are very interested in getting NASCAR fans buying their cars.

 

People in the luxury suites make up what % of attendance at any race for that matter? That point makes no sense. Nobody said aerodynamics were not important but how many people understand it. How many people know a NASCAR is wider in the front than the rear? and for what reason? Not everyone that follows real racing understands it either but the majority do. I have been at 186mph and I know aero is important. I never had so many uneducated people walk up to my car and ask questions as I did when we were teamed with a ARCA or DIRT series weekend and that was from crew members not just fans.

 

So your definition of "real racing" is when technology is pushed to the limits eh? Regardless of how boring the racing is? And "real race fans" are those with engineering degrees? As I said earlier, and I believe your brother concurred, I'd watch refrigerator races if they were competitive.

And check out how many fans PACK the NASCAR races for the weekend events of Craftsman Trucks, Busch Series and Winston Cup and compare that to the suits at the F1 races. Check out how many "unknowledgeable" NASCAR fans have scanners in the crowd so they can hear the strategy talk between crew chief and driver. The only communications anyone hears in F1 is "LET MICHAEL PASS, LET MICHAEL PASS". I'm all for the continuation of F1. That's what created our S2K engine. But don't expect me to get up at 5AM and watch follow-the-leader racing on some obscure channel.

Lastly, what is your point exactly in saying that the ARCA and DIRT fans didn't understand whatever form of racing you were in that weekend? So what? They are ARCA and DIRT fans! Why would they be knowledgeable about your form of racing? Do F1 fans know anything about ARCA or DIRT?