My wife says, "If you think I'm going to spend 10 seconds watching cars go round in circles, lap after mindless lap, then think again, Old Man!"
Attendance at all levels of racing is dropping to record lows, from black-eyed Bernie Ecclestone's F1 to John Casale's nearly vacant Flamboro Speedway.
Joyce has a point. Even the most ardent of supporters have a siesta halfway through NASCAR's Coca Cola 600, some 4 hours, 400 laps and 20 yellow
-flagged cautions later, before racing finally breaks out in the final 50 laps.
If you're going to be there at the finish, what's the point of racing for the first 350 laps when all you have to do is follow the leader, who will no doubt burn out his engine eventually, trying to prove how macho he is?
It's about as exciting as watching cars drive by on Hwy 401. Maybe a little less.
Whether it's NASCAR, Formula 1, IZOD Indy Cars or Flamboro Thunder cars, racing has to be set up for either the family or, more importantly, women.
In the good old bad old days, Pinecrest Speedway had a Powder Puff Division, women only, racing their husband's or boyfriend's cars. It was a ball! Some
of them would be lapped 5 times in a 6 lap race. Others would throw the fear of the Lord in anybody that came near them, such as the Starter, light poles, the pit gate, the grassy infield or fellow competitors. Lorainne 'Never Lift' Hallahan comes to mind.
Racetrack owners seem to believe that faster cars are more exciting. Ain't so. That nice looking cars provide a more professional look and make a better field. Not true. That throwing a lot of yellows makes it more interesting. Nope. Pinecrest might have thrown a yellow if a driver was hanging out of a burning car unconscious. Might not, too. Depends if he was any good or not.
Tough competition is OK, but if the babe in the 18th row doesn't know that the guy driving the #5 car looks like Brad Pitt, it all goes for nought.
There has to be family stuff going on.
"Ladies and gents, let me introduce the marching band from Orillia Secondary School. They will entertain yo
u with 1 lap of the track - probably doing it faster than Mary Lou May just did in the Powder Puff race heh! heh! heh! - with all the tunes that won them second place in the CNE competition 2 weeks ago. Let's hear it for the Orillia Marching Band!
After that, folks, please take a walk through our massive tent outside, which shows all manner of foods grown locally and which are for sale. Better get over there quick before the supply of hot hot hot dogs, crispy french fries and cold cold Coca Cola is sold out!
There's also singing groups, a fiddle contest and a bunch of old guys showing off their restored antique cars!
And did I tell
you that our race winners from last week will be there to chat and sign autographs?
Enjoy the intermission, folks, we'll be bringing you the Feature race shortly!"
Auto racing boring? Not in this scenario!
Attendance at all levels of racing is dropping to record lows, from black-eyed Bernie Ecclestone's F1 to John Casale's nearly vacant Flamboro Speedway.
Joyce has a point. Even the most ardent of supporters have a siesta halfway through NASCAR's Coca Cola 600, some 4 hours, 400 laps and 20 yellow
-flagged cautions later, before racing finally breaks out in the final 50 laps.If you're going to be there at the finish, what's the point of racing for the first 350 laps when all you have to do is follow the leader, who will no doubt burn out his engine eventually, trying to prove how macho he is?
It's about as exciting as watching cars drive by on Hwy 401. Maybe a little less.
Whether it's NASCAR, Formula 1, IZOD Indy Cars or Flamboro Thunder cars, racing has to be set up for either the family or, more importantly, women.
In the good old bad old days, Pinecrest Speedway had a Powder Puff Division, women only, racing their husband's or boyfriend's cars. It was a ball! Some
of them would be lapped 5 times in a 6 lap race. Others would throw the fear of the Lord in anybody that came near them, such as the Starter, light poles, the pit gate, the grassy infield or fellow competitors. Lorainne 'Never Lift' Hallahan comes to mind.Racetrack owners seem to believe that faster cars are more exciting. Ain't so. That nice looking cars provide a more professional look and make a better field. Not true. That throwing a lot of yellows makes it more interesting. Nope. Pinecrest might have thrown a yellow if a driver was hanging out of a burning car unconscious. Might not, too. Depends if he was any good or not.
Tough competition is OK, but if the babe in the 18th row doesn't know that the guy driving the #5 car looks like Brad Pitt, it all goes for nought.
There has to be family stuff going on.
"Ladies and gents, let me introduce the marching band from Orillia Secondary School. They will entertain yo
u with 1 lap of the track - probably doing it faster than Mary Lou May just did in the Powder Puff race heh! heh! heh! - with all the tunes that won them second place in the CNE competition 2 weeks ago. Let's hear it for the Orillia Marching Band!After that, folks, please take a walk through our massive tent outside, which shows all manner of foods grown locally and which are for sale. Better get over there quick before the supply of hot hot hot dogs, crispy french fries and cold cold Coca Cola is sold out!
There's also singing groups, a fiddle contest and a bunch of old guys showing off their restored antique cars!
And did I tell
you that our race winners from last week will be there to chat and sign autographs?Enjoy the intermission, folks, we'll be bringing you the Feature race shortly!"
Auto racing boring? Not in this scenario!
