Is it just me, or is NASCAR really boring?
Discussion
Saw a bit on telly the other night. The American press rave about it but so far as I see it it's just a load of pretty identical cars being driven round in circles for 500 laps. Looks like the sort of racing you could still do if you fell asleep at the wheel. Just highlights how exciting even a dull F1 race is in comparison.
I was in Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago and went to see a local Nascar event at the Las Vegas Speedway. It was really enjoyable - a lot more interesting than watching it on tv.
Just hearing the cars was exciting enough. Add in some crashes and a lot of overtaking and you get a very exciting event.
I would assume a proper 500 lap race could get a bit tedious though!
Just hearing the cars was exciting enough. Add in some crashes and a lot of overtaking and you get a very exciting event.
I would assume a proper 500 lap race could get a bit tedious though!
I think it's cool. It took me a while though. I used to work a crappy shift and used to get home around midnight and would be wide awake. It led to lots of late night TV. At first it was boring, just loads of cars going round and round, but after a while you pick up on strategies and you can tell the driving styles of the different drivers and you realise the difficulty of gaining places and it becomes good.
But then the same thin happend with American Football. At first it was like a crap stop/start game of rugby with armour, but after a while once you get exactly what's going on it becomes a great game.
But then the same thin happend with American Football. At first it was like a crap stop/start game of rugby with armour, but after a while once you get exactly what's going on it becomes a great game.
It is if your doing the driving. Imagine driving round a corner at the limit then add one car in front of you that your trying to overtake whilst trying to keep another behind you trying to do the same to you.
Add cars sometimes either side of you on the bigger superspeedways and it certainly get's your attention. Although in recent years it has been dulled by restrictions which turn most races into last lap sprints which has made it dull for the spectator unless you're a moonshined-up good 'ole boy from Alabama. In which case just the spectacle of seeing a "horseless carriage" and people completely unrelated to you is enough to get you excited.
Add cars sometimes either side of you on the bigger superspeedways and it certainly get's your attention. Although in recent years it has been dulled by restrictions which turn most races into last lap sprints which has made it dull for the spectator unless you're a moonshined-up good 'ole boy from Alabama. In which case just the spectacle of seeing a "horseless carriage" and people completely unrelated to you is enough to get you excited.
Just spent 3 weeks in the states and when looking for motorsport on the tv this was just about all I could find.
I don't doubt driving it might be fun, but watching it made the most boring f1 parade feel like a world cup final between England and Germany, I tried, honest I tried, but no, lots of cars looking very similar, doing very similar speeds around a very similar corner , having the occasional very similar crash - I honestly don't get it.
Budweiser(sp?) were promoting themselves quite a bit with their heavily sponsered Nascars and I noticed the bodies look plastic, anyone know if this is the case?
I don't doubt driving it might be fun, but watching it made the most boring f1 parade feel like a world cup final between England and Germany, I tried, honest I tried, but no, lots of cars looking very similar, doing very similar speeds around a very similar corner , having the occasional very similar crash - I honestly don't get it.
Budweiser(sp?) were promoting themselves quite a bit with their heavily sponsered Nascars and I noticed the bodies look plastic, anyone know if this is the case?
Check out the site to learn more 
www.nascar.com
This year I've watched some really exciting races finishes
www.nascar.com
This year I've watched some really exciting races finishes
FourWheelDrift said:
Metal bodies on the cars
they do look very plastic, mainly becuase they appear to have no panels and cut outs for lights etc - also no suggestion of doors being welded as the were only grooves where you would expect a gap. do they use one piece pressings or maybe I was looking at an advertising gimmick?
It's just thin sheet metal used as a body shell, the oly section in it that moves is the bonnet. When they get damaged all they do is cut away the damage and send them back out. Metal is better than carbon fibre or plastic that could shatter as it poses a lesser problem of puncturing tyres than metal. It's also part of the "cheaper" aspect of running a Nascar.
All the metal bodies have to comply with technical regulations regarding dimensions.
All the metal bodies have to comply with technical regulations regarding dimensions.
It's boring. Boring, boring boring. I have even seen it live on a hot summer's day at Michigan International Speedway courtesy of a suplier and the only thing vaguely interesting was thr choice of free drinks and ice cream. We left eatly.
Ridiculously boring way of spending a day. But interesting compared to American football.
Ridiculously boring way of spending a day. But interesting compared to American football.
It does strike me as strange that a country notorious for making cars that don't corner should put so much into a motorsport formula that is only corners!
I must admit that I do enjoy cart(when its on a track rather than an oval) and transam racing but the round and round (and round) type of race bores me senseless.
for good racing fun you can't beat aussie V8 brutes and supercars
I must admit that I do enjoy cart(when its on a track rather than an oval) and transam racing but the round and round (and round) type of race bores me senseless.
for good racing fun you can't beat aussie V8 brutes and supercars
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