Author Topic: Sorry fans, but it looks like NASCAR bows to stupid ideas also.. (Read 1050 times)

ironglow · « **on:** April 21, 2012, 11:37:26 PM »

I am not a real big fan of NASCAR. It's not that I don't like them; quite to the contrary I have friends who truly enjoy NASCAR racing but I simply don't enjoy watching cars make several hundred left-hand turns in a row.
That's all beside the point however. What I am referring to, is the apparent efforts of NASCAR to bow to the stupid, "political correctness" game.
This article at least, seems to indicate that the organization is starting to try to make their pits and driver lineup constitute a group that is representative of a cross-section of ethnic groups, rather than simply the best drivers..regardless of their appearance. http://now.msn.com/now-plus/0421-driver-too-caucasian.aspx

I thought that somehow, Nascar and it's "good old boys" would be last to fall for the PC madness. I have been wondering why in recent years, a run-of-the-mill female driver has been promoted so heavily by NASCAR. I guess the answer is more clear now.

Running with the best apparently is less important than running with a politically correct field..

When do the principals involved start this stupidity with the NFL, NHL, NBA, Olympic swim team and the Lipton cup ?

ironglow · « **Reply #1 on:** April 22, 2012, 01:27:44 AM »

What's going on... it looks like NASCAR doesn't stand up for their drivers either..

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765570252/ESPN-drops-Christian-NASCAR-driver-for-his-beliefs.html

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/lauren-thompson/2012/03/30/christian-nascar-driver-blake-koch-loses-sponsor-after-espn-pulls-a

Is the big money starting to corrupt the "good old boys'...or have the good old boys been replaced by "greedy old boys" ?

Conan The Librarian · « **Reply #2 on:** April 22, 2012, 01:38:12 AM »

I'm surprised too. Looks like they are doing a common organizational life cycle thing, though. Turning away from the people that made them popular and shifting to a new and broader audience.

I thought it was noteworthy when they banned the General Lee:http://espn.go.com/racing/nascar/cup/story/_/id/7586239/nascar-turns-bubba-watson-general-lee-car-pheonix-race

Now they are parading a "hollywood roundup" of ethnic typeshttp://www.nascar.com/news/120126/drive-for-diversity-introduces-2012-driver-lineup/

ironglow · « **Reply #3 on:** April 22, 2012, 02:46:09 AM »

I can appreciate any competitive sport where people are NOT placed by some mysterious "ethnic/gender" formula. Sports should only have those who have proven themselves as top competitors; ....period.
This should be true in any sport..or any job..whether it is NBA, NHL, a sailing team, teaching English or working construction.

Ideally, we should be color & ethnic blind.

BUGEYE · « **Reply #4 on:** April 22, 2012, 02:50:21 AM »

as a long-time nascar fan, it's disturbing to see these kind of things. I guess PC will ruin racing, like it's ruined almost everything else.

Doublebass73 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 22, 2012, 05:12:16 AM »

Quote from: ironglow on April 22, 2012, 02:46:09 AM

I can appreciate any competitive sport where people are NOT placed by some mysterious "ethnic/gender" formula. Sports should only have those who have proven themselves as top competitors; ....period.
This should be true in any sport..or any job..whether it is NBA, NHL, a sailing team, teaching English or working construction.

Ideally, we should be color & ethnic blind.

Pro sports to this point have been one of the few entities where the best performers are chosen regardless of skin color. In the NBA the majority of the best players happen to be black. You never hear the PC/Affirmative action crowd asking for the NBA to be more racially diverse to reflect the cross-section of ethnic groups.

Empty Quiver · « **Reply #6 on:** April 22, 2012, 05:26:16 AM »

I was what you might refer to as a rabid fan. Ten years ago I slowly lost interest in NASCAR. What you describe is by no means a recent development.

Make no mistake NASCAR runs a business. The drivers participate in a sport sanctioned by the business called NASCAR. They experienced exponential growth through the nineties. Every track was adding seats as fast as they could get contractors on the track. The financial troubles of the 2000's came and NASCAR suffered like everyone else. They want the revenues back, they are begging for people of all ethnic backgrounds to SPEND money at the track. In their opinion diversified drivers are the key to this goal, fine.

The NASCAR farm system has never been tailored to an impoverished group. You cannot put up a track on the side of a garage, competitive cars are not to be had a K Mart. It is extremely rare to find a driver who is not fully capable of fielding a competitive car made by his own hands. You need time, money, and a place to work, this is assuming you have the talent.

One day the stars will align for a "driver of color" much as they did for Tiger Woods and golf. No doubt there are plenty of men who could be taught to drive and possess the skills but they will never be exposed, and the exposure is key. You cannot convince me that the children of the racing stars are genetically superior. What they have is exposure and grooming. Dale jr, Kyle Petty, the Andretti's and Unser's all of them are very good but nowhere close to what their fathers brought to the table. Dad had raw talent jr had training, either can get you on the track, both will make you famous.

Conan The Librarian · « **Reply #7 on:** April 22, 2012, 08:00:58 AM »

Not to totally derail the thread, but what attracted you to become a NASCAR fan? I personally don't understand it, but it is popular, so there must be something to it that's attractive to a lot of folks.

Empty Quiver · « **Reply #8 on:** April 22, 2012, 08:44:35 AM »

A few things melded I suppose.

1. I like to drive and am a bit competitive, I "put" myself in the car

2. I am one of those exposed to wrenching

3. I had a job that found me in front of a radio every Sunday afternoon and it was on the easiest to hold radio station in the area.

I became fascinated by the drama, the weekly "showdown" between the stars. I grew up in East Central Illinois. Several drivers are from the midwest, Alan Kulwiki Jeff Gordon (yea I know about Ca.) Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth, and Kenny Schrader among others. I watched several of those drivers at a local track at some point. It was fun to root for the home team as it were.

Seeing racing live makes a heck of a difference. Starting at the age of 5 makes a difference too. A well run local track keeps the action moving and might give you the idea of what I'm talking about. For you I might suggest River Falls Wi. area Cedar something speedway. Dirt races have more action as a rule.

Finally, if you want to go "all in" I will make this suggestion. Go to the fall race at Talledega, Al. The racing is strange , but that leads to just about every driver looking like he has a shot at some point during a race. Nothing beats the feel of "your" driver coming up through the pack. Plan to arrive as early as the campgrounds will allow (do camp as hotels are tough to come by). It is a county fair by any other name. Visit all the sponsor displays, many many are interactive. Watch the practice sessions watch qualifying, watch just about every on track session you can. Go with the idea of getting into it, enjoy the people.

I would advise getting a scanner to use at the track, rent, borrow, or purchase, talk to lots of folks who have one and figure out the best way to use it. i listen to the TV feeds and have a few drivers set to pop in rather than scan everything as that becomes very confusing. Do take your wife and kids I have and they all enjoyed the experience, maybe not the racing, might be the sponsor areas might be the autograph seeking.

NASCAR has gone to a TON of effort to make it an entertaining family event. Honestly, Disney has nothing on them here. Okay, more info than you wanted no doubt. Maybe I'm still rabid.

ironglow · « **Reply #9 on:** April 22, 2012, 01:04:04 PM »

EQ has a very good point;
We see sports where certain ethnic groups dominate and I agree that it is primarily one of exposure. MORC Sailing is basically a rich man's sport, so that's who is racing that class. Basketball is a game available to innercity youth with a $10 ball. Hockey is a northern, suburban game..primarily white.
Boxing gyms used to be inner city, thus blacks...then they moved into South & Central American countries and hispanics came along in numbers.
Snow sports are northern,suburban.. Martial Arts as I see it, are among the most diverse..

Just rambling...

Conan The Librarian · « **Reply #10 on:** April 22, 2012, 03:30:03 PM »

Thanks, Empty Quiver. Now it makes sense. I have seen parts of races televised, and they were not interesting, just roundy round driving. But it makes sense that it would be a greater spectacle at the track.

I have been to Talladega, many years ago, and I remember it as a road racing track. I didn't know they could do nascar there.

mechanic · « **Reply #11 on:** April 22, 2012, 03:53:55 PM »

Take the restrictor plates off and let 'um drive.......

Ben

BUGEYE · « **Reply #12 on:** April 23, 2012, 01:54:11 AM »

Quote from: Conan The Librarian on April 22, 2012, 08:00:58 AM

Not to totally derail the thread, but what attracted you to become a NASCAR fan? I personally don't understand it, but it is popular, so there must be something to it that's attractive to a lot of folks.

I like the science behind the performance.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #13 on:** April 23, 2012, 02:08:41 AM »

They went down hill when Winston had to leave and get worst every year. They got PC ! As far I can tell they rank along with pro wresling now as for being real.

Due to rules they took the lions off the track and replaced them with kittens.

ironglow · « **Reply #14 on:** April 26, 2012, 06:51:18 AM »

Quote from: SHOOTALL on April 23, 2012, 02:08:41 AM

They went down hill when Winston had to leave and get worst every year. They got PC ! As far I can tell they rank along with pro wresling now as for being real.

Due to rules they took the lions off the track and replaced them with kittens.

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I haven't followed it but it sounds like things are getting messed up over at NASCAR... can you elaborate ?

r29l20 · « **Reply #15 on:** April 26, 2012, 10:37:54 AM »

Well lets see, a black guy would steal the car, an asian would crash, a mexican would have the taco balls in his face on his p- cup.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #16 on:** April 30, 2012, 03:00:52 AM »

well they can bump much anymore

it racing ain't it

well was at one time. The cars are all the same with different paint and decals and some small cosmetics not STOCK CARS ! win on sunday buy on monday

can't happen really ( maybe in model name but not in real looks ). And everything is limited , no more HP wars . To PC for me now . There is a dirt track back in the woods near here where most anything goes ( like NASCAR was in the bigining

) where some real good racing takes place near here it by invitation only for drivers and people watching . An effort to keep the winners and PC crowd out !

ironglow · « **Reply #17 on:** April 30, 2012, 05:04:35 AM »

Quote from: TM7 on April 30, 2012, 04:58:07 AM

The thing I like about NASCAR is the drivers have all their corporate sponsor's logos attached to their racing suits and cars. That is an idea that should be employed on the suits of Congressmen and Senators and Presidents....
.
.
..TM7

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Good one TM!!!

ironglow · « **Reply #18 on:** April 30, 2012, 05:27:44 AM »

Quote from: mechanic on April 22, 2012, 03:53:55 PM

Take the restrictor plates off and let 'um drive.......

Ben

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I have a better suggestion..Yeah, take off the restrictors if you wish..but then take them off those counter-clockwise circles and put them on the REAL road. Uphill, down hill, lefts, rights in all kinds of weather..a couple of drops of rain not stopping the race.
This would be a much better test of the car, driver, brakes, steering, suspension and durability for day to day REAL usage.

Now, here is a REAL man's driving test...I doubt NASCAR'S best could stay with these little jobs under natural driving conditions like this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj7QbRMeukc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9idTlS01KGg&feature=relmfu
BTW: I wish those Europeans would learn not to stand upon the track...

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #19 on:** April 30, 2012, 06:08:38 AM »

back in the 70's the stock cars ran in the 24 hour races in europe and did well. they were not invited back because of the damage they did around the track to buildings etc. Those big V8's rattled the place

BUGEYE · « **Reply #20 on:** April 30, 2012, 06:25:29 AM »

road courses are my favorites, and the nationwide series cars have the hardware to install windshield wipers and they have rain tires in the pit.
though they are seldom used.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #21 on:** April 30, 2012, 06:31:07 AM »

If they use the correct chemicals and go fast enough they don't need wipers

. Tires are easy .........

ironglow · « **Reply #22 on:** April 30, 2012, 02:26:57 PM »

They used to claim racing was used as a way to develop better cars for the rest of us. Our conditions of everyday use are much like the road racers....except the road racers do it 4 times faster & rougher. It seems like that may truly build better cars.
I wonder just how well the NASCAR rigs would do in that winter racing in Sweden ? ...But being European, they are probably "politically correct already..or are they in rally racing? Idunno...

This stuff is fun; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjAVYjZ0TOs&feature=related