Johnny Cochran: "Gentlemen break up your engines!"

RPM.ESPN.com ^ | 4.8.02

[Dog Gone]

3 HOURS and 6 deaf people later, we realized that the front row is not where you want to sit at a NASCAR race!!!!

People have NO idea how loud these races are until they've actually attended a race. And when the pack comes by you at Talladega or Daytona, it's like being enveloped in a tidal wave of sound. The air in your lungs vibrates and your dark glasses shatter.

[DJ88]

Well, actually, I thought I got stung by a bee (a really BIG BEE) UNTIL I asked my Dad, "Do you see anything on my lip?" and he said, "Yeah. Something black. Looks like it's stuck there." ?????? So I said, "Exactly what do you mean by something black and it's stuck?" He said, "I think it's from a car." Oh great. So, I went to the "restroom" (ahem) and I looked in the mirror, and sure enough, there was about a 1/4" piece of rubber EMBEDDED in my lip. So, I went to the first aid station. They put ice on it, then told me that I would have to have it taken out. Well, I took it out. It hurt like heck, too. Then it started bleeding everywhere...I still have a little scar. And yes, the piece of tire too. ;-)

I will live through casualties to see a race. ;-)

[DJ88]

No doubt about that! The first time I went to Daytona was the last time they ran the Pepsi 400 during the day. I was so darned excited! I told my husband that I HAD TO go down near the front to see the cars go by....he said, "OK." So, down I went and around came the cars right before the green flag. "This isn't so bad," Dingbat says to herself. However, 2 laps later, Dingbat nearly got thrown off her feet and went screaming up the stairs!!! ;-)

[joebuck]

"What's next fot the cockroach, suing Heinz for having a monopoloy on Heinz catsup?"

Actually, this comment is right on. I have been a motorsports fan my entire life. (Hey, what can I say, I'm from Indianapolis - Racing capital of the world). I like just about every form of motorsports (except F-1) and have watched races in many States across the country. There are hundreds of small racing ovals across the country (dirt tracks and paved tracks) which have races every friday and saturday night and include stock cars, midget racers, outlaw racers and champ cars. Virtually none of these small stock car races and circuits are affiliated with or sanctioned by NASCAR. I watched Jeff Gordon grow up racing midgets on the dirt track circuit here in Indiana. Although Jeff was an open wheel racer back then, many of the nights I watched him there was also a stock car feature race on the ticket. In fact, I had watched literally hundreds of stock car races before I ever saw my first NASCAR event. There is absolutely no way in the world you can truthfully argue that NASCAR has a monopoly on stock car racing. NASCAR only has a monopoly on NASCAR racing, which is currently the most popular racing series in the Country and possibly the world and therefore gets most, if not all, of the television coverage of stock car races. Maybe in Johnny's world if it isn't on TV it doesn't exist.

[billbears]

There's one racing at the moment. He was the first African American to qualify for Indy if I'm not mistaken.

Willie T Ribbs

Races for Bobby Hamilton now in the truck series

[Charles Martel]

Yep, Willie did qualify for the Indy 500 - back in the pre-IRL days, I believe.

[billbears]

I agree with you on Bristol. But Darlington runs a close second. Don't like the superspeedways anymore. Take the plates off and let them go racing. Also saw DJ is getting back in the groove. Matter of fact both the Yates' boys looked good this weekend. BTW, have you seen that new TRAC racing they are going to start next year. Mustangs, Vipers, and Vettes, all 7 liter enginee. First race is at CMS next April

[Peace4EarthNow]

3 HOURS and 6 deaf people later, we realized that the front row is not where you want to sit at a NASCAR race!!!!

LOL! OMG, I completely understand this one now. A month or so back, I was at the race in Las Vegas. That was my first race ever, and I couldn't understand why I got such a "great deal" on tickets in the 2nd row. Let's just say I was very thankful when my hearing was fully restored the next morning! That night, I could hear people talking to me, but I couldn't always distinguish the words.

I had a GREAT view of the cars & the drivers from that seat, and had an unbeleivably great time, but from now on will try to sit in the TOP rows, and bring ear protection!

[aomagrat]

Texas Motor Speedway is not owned by ISC and wants a second date. If one is granted, the suit may be dropped, according to Cochran.

They should take away the one race Texas does have and give it back to North Wilksboro.

[DJ88]

ROFLOL!!!! Isn't THAT the truth??? We have the scanners so we can listen to the drivers (MOSTLY RUSTY BECAUSE THAT'S MY HUSBAND'S DRIVER) and we've heard some pretty darn funny things on there...and um, some NOT so pretty things on there. ;-) Have fun at your next race! :-)

[DJ88]

I have to agree with you about the restrictor plates. These races are getting more and more dangerous, and until they take them off...and let them run, I say we're going to see some serious wrecks, and I hope no deaths. Losing Dale Earnhardt was bad enough. I know NASCAR thinks they are doing it for "safety" reasons, but when you have 42 cars out there going 4 wide, I don't see any safety there. I actually had NAIL marks from clenching my hands so tight while watching Talladega.

BTW....let me tell you the funniest story..when my husband and I were watching qualifying a couple of years ago for the road course race in Sonoma, I realized that I could hear Ned Jarrett giving out the lap times...and where they were in qualifying. My husband, who has a hard time hearing things like that from working in loud noisy plants, couldn't hear them. So, I started saying, "Wow! He had a great run! .46 seconds, wow! He's gonna be 3rd. On and on it went. My husband just kept staring at me in disbelief. "How can you TELL?" say he, the grand master of all that is racing. "I don't know, I guess I'm just getting better at the lap times." I did this through the entire qualifying event, and I swear he thought I was the PRINCESS OF ALL THINGS THAT IS RACING......

Only after dinner did I tell him what I had done. He laughed so hard that I thought he was gonna fall off his seat. :-) I am a little prankster, that's for sure. ;-)

[DJ88]

Yeah. What you said, aomagrat. NASCAR don't like to play no games. ;-)

[billbears]

AMEN!!! When ESPN Classic plays the old races, I love watching N Wilkesboro. Went there one time before they closed it down.

[aomagrat]

I used to live in Hickory NC back in the early '70's. I saw a lot of good racing there at the Hickory Speedway. I like the old short tracks. All of these new 1.5 milers look the same, and the races there are the same too.

[billbears]

As you know (at least I think I told you), I grew up in Gastonia,(or as locals say it Gas-toney), so I've taken a trip up or twelve up towards Hickory. Burned my own tires a couple of times at Shuffletown and spent many a Friday night down at the Carolina speedway down near the state line

[Vigilantcitizen]

"They should take away the one race Texas does have and give it back to North Wilksboro."

Thanks for the ping, aomagrat, I'll drink to that!