Stock Car Racing's Short Term Memory Problem

Anon ^ | 2/26/13 | Anon

[Sax]

[cripplecreek]

Everybody there knows that there is danger. Its mitigated as much as possible and whining like a liberal bedwetter won’t change a thing.

[Sax]

Whining like a liberal? Thanks for the personal attack. I'll just say I've been to dozens of races at Daytona and I'll continue to go (my favorite is the Rolex 24).

I'm humbling saying that if you send 30 people to the hospital the day before, you may want to tone down the party atmosphere just a bit, not stop the race, just subdue the tone.

Thanks for the dig, but I'll stick to my opinion.

[saganite]

Wow! A link that takes you-——— right back here! The very definition of navel gazing!

[ZOOKER]

I bet the track sold every seat Sunday, just like it did Saturday.

[cripplecreek]

A local couple from here in Michigan were among the injured. They local news got an interview and just want their racing friends here in Michigan to know that they’ll be at the track in June and again in August.

[driftdiver]

Well yeah they probably did, of course those seats were sold BEFORE Saturday so thats really not a measure.

[Sax]

I think if they sold every seat on Saturday, they may have sent 45 people to the hospital. I've been there a ton, and my point isn't their effort in establishing a safe environment (they certainly do) it was the ‘swept under the rug’ feeling that was prevalent on Sunday.

[ilgipper]

I see no problem with Jimmie and his team celebrating a huge Daytona win. The drivers all mentioned those injured the day before. This race is the grand prize in the sport, and it was a well earned win in a great race.

[Nik Naym]

“...you may want to tone down the party atmosphere just a bit, not stop the race, just subdue the tone.”

Why? For what reason?

I don’t think you really understand racing, or race fans.

Stuff happens. The race goes on. If you can’t handle that then stay home.

And yes, you are sounding like a whiny liberal. That’s not an attack it is an observation.

[Tenacious 1]

That’s it! No more racing and no more football. Let’s get rid of metal bats in college and highschool. In fact, wood bats splinter and the balls hurt fans when they go out of the stadium so we need to rethink baseball. Basketball is racists. Hockey is too and way to violent. Wrestling hurts peoples feelings and MMA is just gory.

What are we, French?

Your chances of winning the lottery are better than being hit by nascar suspension parts while watching a race. Think of the payout those fans have comming. I feel sorry for them and all. But....Really?

[driftdiver]

So a 3400lb car going 200 mph hits a fence, and that fence absorbs most of the energy and car parts.

I’d say they did a lot of things right.

[Sax]

wow, thanks hardliner. no, I’m as conservative as they come and when you get a bunch of people hurt, even in an extremely rare fluke, in my personal opinion, decency should direct you to go about your business as normal, but with a subdued tone out of respect for the dozens of people having been hurt less than a day before under very similar circumstances. Nothing hardline here - just don’t get carried away just because it’s a long anticipated event.

[Sax]

Yes, f*** the injured, FIDO - they knew the chances. Next group up....

[cripplecreek]

There were 3 people killed during a CART race at MIS some years ago. It didn’t mean the end of racing at MIS.

They raised the height of the fence and reinforced it a bit more. In fact I believe that accident was what lead to wheel tethers in NASCAR.

Frankly, reasonable safety improvements are the best possible tribute.

[deweyfrank]

Well said FRiend!

[Sax]

Where is the compasion and why is that not a conservative trait? I’m a capitalist and I understand the tremendous investment in this event and the pump it gives the sport – I’m all for that. What I’m saying is that I believe the sanctioning body missed an opportunity in decency to both hold the race and be sensitive to the personal loss/pain/injury that a number of their fans suffered at their venue just the day before. There was a better way, but in my opinion business drivers blinded them to it. Conservatism isn't a blood sport.

[ZOOKER]

Maybe I was misunderstood by some folks; my point was that fans will buy tickets for sporting events, despite (maybe even because of) the fact that there is risk.

I hear that in Europe they still race on public roads with no fence of any kind between cars and fans. The bulls run every year in Pamplona despite frequent injuries and occasional fatalities. Snow skiing, cycling, skateboarding - all are prone to injury.

You want to be safe, play chess.

[deweyfrank]

I have compassion for those people who were injured. And I think the sanctioning body acted stupidly following the Nationwide race. They suppressed all info about the injuries. All video and photos also. It was despicable. However, It was a freak. Not unlike fans being killed/injured by baseballs, bats, hockey pucks, etc. $hit happens. I, too, hope they can take this incident and make it safer for the fans. A few tweaks are all that is necessary.

[Sax]

Accepted risk, yes. However, when the risk is taken and the results are tragic, you can acknowledge it and be sensitive to it, and not simply sweep it under the rug. The sanctioning body missed the opportunity to have the sport 'continue on' and do it in a more respectful tone that carries through the entire event and not just an opening session lip service.