Digital Mars - digitalmars.D

↑ ↓ ← → "Kris" <someidiot earthlink.dot.dot.dot.net> writes:

That doesn't look like you, or your car Walter ...

<g>

"Walter" <newshound digitalmars.com> wrote in message
news:cdv559$1gho$1 digitaldaemon.com...
 "Walter" <newshound digitalmars.com> wrote in message
 news:cdta2r$q0i$1 digitaldaemon.com...
 I'm taking the day off tomorrow to head out to the drag races. Woo-hoo!


 I'm back. Here's the fun we had:

 www.digitalmars.com/foo.jpg

Jul 24 2004

↑ ↓ ← → "Walter" <newshound digitalmars.com> writes:

Well, I can wish, can't I? I'm the nerd behind the camera! When I arrived
home, I found I was covered with specs of burnt rubber. Anyhow, I like drag
racing because it's the only motorsport left that treats the fans with
respect.

"Kris" <someidiot earthlink.dot.dot.dot.net> wrote in message
news:cdv5bt$1gkr$1 digitaldaemon.com...
 That doesn't look like you, or your car Walter ...

 <g>

 "Walter" <newshound digitalmars.com> wrote in message
 news:cdv559$1gho$1 digitaldaemon.com...
 "Walter" <newshound digitalmars.com> wrote in message
 news:cdta2r$q0i$1 digitaldaemon.com...
 I'm taking the day off tomorrow to head out to the drag races.






 I'm back. Here's the fun we had:

 www.digitalmars.com/foo.jpg

Jul 24 2004

↑ ↓ ← → "Kris" <someidiot earthlink.dot.dot.dot.net> writes:

"Walter" wrote ...
 Well, I can wish, can't I? I'm the nerd behind the camera! When I arrived
 home, I found I was covered with specs of burnt rubber. Anyhow, I like


 racing because it's the only motorsport left that treats the fans with
 respect.


Amen. And they dispense free rubber too! Last time that happened to me was
at the clinic ...

Jul 24 2004

↑ ↓ ← → "Walter" <newshound digitalmars.com> writes:

"Stephen Waits" <steve waits.net> wrote in message
news:ce3gie$1a84$1 digitaldaemon.com...
 Walter wrote:

 it's the only motorsport left that treats the fans with
 respect.


 Nah..  motorcycle racing (as in AMA) is still good.  Though I've watched
 it get bigger and bigger over the past decade and I don't know how much
 longer it will last.


You might be right, I haven't been to a motorcycle race. What I mean by
treating fans with respect is that when you buy a ticket to the event, you
have access to the entire event, including the pits. You can walk right up
to the mechanics working on the top fuel cars, watch them work, ask them
questions, and get their autographs. They've always been happy to talk to
me, and this aspect has always been much of the fun for me. This year,
however, they kept us away from the staging area, which is a new
restriction.

This is in stark contrast to airplane races, Formula 1, or boat racing.
There, you're kept very far away from the pits by layers of security.
Generally, you're treated with utter contempt despite being a paying fan.
Formula 1 is the worst in this regard. No thanks, I'll stay away.

Jul 26 2004

↑ ↓ ← → "Ben Hinkle" <bhinkle mathworks.com> writes:

"Walter" <newshound digitalmars.com> wrote in message
news:ce3ogn$1er3$1 digitaldaemon.com...
 "Stephen Waits" <steve waits.net> wrote in message
 news:ce3gie$1a84$1 digitaldaemon.com...
 Walter wrote:

 it's the only motorsport left that treats the fans with
 respect.


 Nah..  motorcycle racing (as in AMA) is still good.  Though I've watched
 it get bigger and bigger over the past decade and I don't know how much
 longer it will last.


 You might be right, I haven't been to a motorcycle race. What I mean by
 treating fans with respect is that when you buy a ticket to the event, you
 have access to the entire event, including the pits. You can walk right up
 to the mechanics working on the top fuel cars, watch them work, ask them
 questions, and get their autographs. They've always been happy to talk to
 me, and this aspect has always been much of the fun for me. This year,
 however, they kept us away from the staging area, which is a new
 restriction.

 This is in stark contrast to airplane races, Formula 1, or boat racing.
 There, you're kept very far away from the pits by layers of security.
 Generally, you're treated with utter contempt despite being a paying fan.
 Formula 1 is the worst in this regard. No thanks, I'll stay away.


I have a friend who follows Formula 1 and he says it's funny when someone
with a camera comes close to their monitors that keep track of the car
performance as it races around. He says pit crews throw their bodies in
front of the screen to prevent other teams from gaining any advantage. Not
that it matters with Schumaker around. :-)

Jul 26 2004

↑ ↓ ← → Sean Kelly <sean f4.ca> writes:

In article <ce3ogn$1er3$1 digitaldaemon.com>, Walter says...
You might be right, I haven't been to a motorcycle race. What I mean by
treating fans with respect is that when you buy a ticket to the event, you
have access to the entire event, including the pits. You can walk right up
to the mechanics working on the top fuel cars, watch them work, ask them
questions, and get their autographs. They've always been happy to talk to
me, and this aspect has always been much of the fun for me. This year,
however, they kept us away from the staging area, which is a new
restriction.


Well that's no fun.  If I went to a race I'd want a chance to talk to the
mechanics.  After all, I'd think most "real" fans of the sport are gearheads,
not groupies.


Sean

Jul 26 2004

↑ ↓ ← → "Walter" <newshound digitalmars.com> writes:

"Sean Kelly" <sean f4.ca> wrote in message
news:ce3qjr$1fnh$1 digitaldaemon.com...
 Well that's no fun.  If I went to a race I'd want a chance to talk to the
 mechanics.  After all, I'd think most "real" fans of the sport are


 not groupies.


I'm definitely in the gearhead camp. I find the technology fascinating, and
couldn't care less about the personalities.

What was amusing this year was they apparently hit on the idea of selling
their exploded engine parts as souveniers instead of throwing them out <g>.

I asked one chief mechanic if the kevlar blanket around the supercharger
really worked in keeping the parts from an exploding blower contained. She
said they hadn't tested that yet this year, crossing her fingers.

Jul 26 2004

↑ ↓ ← → Stephen Waits <steve waits.net> writes:

Walter wrote:
 
 You might be right, I haven't been to a motorcycle race. 


I suggest you try one out!

 What I mean by
 treating fans with respect is that when you buy a ticket to the event, you
 have access to the entire event, including the pits. You can walk right up


At an AMA race you'll have to pay a bit extra for a Paddock pass - but 
then, you will also be able to stand at the edge of teams' tents (each 
garage is a tent off the side of a transporter) and watch mechanics 
prepare bikes.  That said, you won't talk to them - it'd be 
inappropriate while they are working (Thursday & Friday of a weekend you 
might be able to though).

Anyway, the racing is the best in the world.  (Tune in a MotoGP race on 
Speed for the absolute best racing action anywhere today)

 This is in stark contrast to airplane races, Formula 1, or boat racing.
 There, you're kept very far away from the pits by layers of security.
 Generally, you're treated with utter contempt despite being a paying fan.
 Formula 1 is the worst in this regard. No thanks, I'll stay away.


Well, in F1, you've got Millions, or, maybe Billions of $$$'s in play. 
Also, you've got many times the fans, spectators in attendance.

With NHRA, you've got a massively popular sport - which most people 
don't realize.  However, the number of events makes it so that 
attendance at any event isn't out of control.

F1 can see 200k people at a single event.  MotoGP 150k, and a big time 
AMA event (Laguna Seca) can hit around 110k.  At that point, things have 
to get less personal!

--Steve

Jul 27 2004

↑ ↓ ← → "Walter" <newshound digitalmars.com> writes:

"Stephen Waits" <steve waits.net> wrote in message
news:ce653q$2fnm$1 digitaldaemon.com...
 At an AMA race you'll have to pay a bit extra for a Paddock pass - but
 then, you will also be able to stand at the edge of teams' tents (each
 garage is a tent off the side of a transporter) and watch mechanics
 prepare bikes.  That said, you won't talk to them - it'd be
 inappropriate while they are working (Thursday & Friday of a weekend you
 might be able to though).


Of course. It would be quite rude to interrupt them when they are hard at
work prepping for the next heat. Drag racing pits have the same setup, a
tractor trailer with a tent coming off the side. The work area for the
mechanics is simply cordoned off (some are, some aren't), there is no fence
and no security. The fans simply respect it and don't interfere.

 This is in stark contrast to airplane races, Formula 1, or boat racing.
 There, you're kept very far away from the pits by layers of security.
 Generally, you're treated with utter contempt despite being a paying




 Formula 1 is the worst in this regard. No thanks, I'll stay away.


 Also, you've got many times the fans, spectators in attendance.

 With NHRA, you've got a massively popular sport - which most people
 don't realize.  However, the number of events makes it so that
 attendance at any event isn't out of control.

 F1 can see 200k people at a single event.  MotoGP 150k, and a big time
 AMA event (Laguna Seca) can hit around 110k.  At that point, things have
 to get less personal!


I can understand that - but that makes it just not interesting to me. The
drag racing organizers have put up signs making it clear that drag racing
events can be hazardous to the spectators. That's part of the fun, but I
suppose the day will come when a fan gets injured from exploding car parts,
and the resulting lawsuits will ruin it for everyone. I'm a little surprised
there aren't some serious fan accidents - years ago I saw a top fuel machine
take off backwards when the light turned green (he had the silly thing in
reverse!). Lots of people hang around behind them with no barriers at all,
amazingly he didn't hit anyone and got it stopped before he hit the
grandstand. (You'll note from the picture I was sitting off to the side, no
way I'd sit right behind them!)

Jul 27 2004

↑ ↓ ← → Stephen Waits <steve waits.net> writes:

Walter wrote:

 "Stephen Waits" <steve waits.net> wrote in message
 news:ce653q$2fnm$1 digitaldaemon.com...
 
F1 can see 200k people at a single event.  MotoGP 150k, and a big time
AMA event (Laguna Seca) can hit around 110k.  At that point, things have
to get less personal!


 
 I can understand that - but that makes it just not interesting to me. The


Yes, and I'm interested in F1 for reasons other than the racing. 
Actually there isn't really any racing in F1, and hasn't been for a LONG 
time.  I just love the technology.  And yes, to a degree, I'm interested 
in the personalities.

Anyway, the AMA season is nearing its end with two races left, at Road 
Atlanta and VIR.  I'll be shooting at VIR on a media pass.  :)

Unfortunately, there's not really any venue up in the Northwest, or else 
I'd say you should really get to one of these events.  The nearest 
events are at Laguna Seca, Sears Point, and Pikes Peak I.R.

--Steve

Jul 28 2004

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