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November 01, 2012 at
12:57:38 PM
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I'm 61, just started going 2 years ago (8 days) & thoroughly enjoyed both years. I don't imbibe.
First year I was surprised at people booing Schatz, now I'm ready for a different winner, but would never boo Donny. Risking his life for our entertainment & a helluva driver!
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November 01, 2012 at
01:14:32 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: meatbag on October 31 2012 at 03:43:51 PM
1) As I stated in original post, I personally didn't care for the racing or track conditions my 2 trips there previously.
2)People on here ARE NOT the deciding factor on whether or not I attend, but it sure doesn't help with a 10 hour drive! Just seems like year round there is always discussion about attending the GREATEST race of the year, but I can see a lot of good racing within 2 or 3 hours instead of 10.
3)Last...I think I'll have to wait for Schatz to not be racing before attending, if I drove 10 hours to watch him stand on the podium I would puke all over everyone in the stands and start a whole other 44 page thread lol
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I would LOVE to hear what Meatbag considers to be better racing than Knoxville. Where can you watch sprint cars go faster, closer to the wall, with more precision than at Knoxville? Where else can you go to see this caliber of drivers competing against one another? Oh, I guess you can settle for some locals running, save $$$ on the ticket, but not me. There IS a diffrence.
Larry
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November 01, 2012 at
04:06:01 PM
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44 straight years and haven't had a bad time, yet!!!!! It's not just a race. It's an event. The atmosphere and tension before the start of each race still gives me chills and goosebumps, because of the format. Also, there's something going on somewhere 24 hours a day. If you're ever bored during Nationals week, it's your own fault. I guess to simplify it: Great racing, great friends, great food, great party, great times. My favorite week of the year.
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November 01, 2012 at
04:47:06 PM
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If Knoxville Raceway was smart, they'd be capturing some of this for marketing... some very well said stuff, right from the people who count!
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November 01, 2012 at
07:57:58 PM
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This message was edited on
November 01, 2012 at
07:59:22 PM by tatnellmania
It is THE SPORTING EVENT. No other sporting event comes close. Super Bowl? Yawn. Baseball World Series? Yawn, Yawn, Yawn, Yawn.
No other race car in the world comes close to 410 Outlaw sprints. Not far behind are Unlimited dirt late models. 3rd, guess I'd have to say F-1, though I only watch laps 1 and 2 and then fast forward to the last 2 or 3 laps. Who, at the track in person watches a race in which they can only see the cars for a few seconds during each 3 mile lap?
If you can get excited about a 4 day race in which a hundred or more 900 horsepower sprint cars that weight next to nothing, rorar around a half mile track, then you need to see a doctor.
XXX? I thought Triple X was a wrestler
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November 01, 2012 at
08:07:09 PM
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Nothing is everyones cup of tea. I wouldn't attend a stock car pavement race if they dropped me at the front door and had free hospitality suite tickets. Just me ... I don't think that fans that go and pay their hard earned $$ for tickets are ignorant or stupid. Just different strokes ..for different folks.
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November 02, 2012 at
05:58:53 AM
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This message was edited on
November 02, 2012 at
06:07:49 AM by StanM
Reply to:
Posted By: tatnellmania on November 01 2012 at 07:57:58 PM
It is THE SPORTING EVENT. No other sporting event comes close. Super Bowl? Yawn. Baseball World Series? Yawn, Yawn, Yawn, Yawn.
No other race car in the world comes close to 410 Outlaw sprints. Not far behind are Unlimited dirt late models. 3rd, guess I'd have to say F-1, though I only watch laps 1 and 2 and then fast forward to the last 2 or 3 laps. Who, at the track in person watches a race in which they can only see the cars for a few seconds during each 3 mile lap?
If you can get excited about a 4 day race in which a hundred or more 900 horsepower sprint cars that weight next to nothing, rorar around a half mile track, then you need to see a doctor.
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Excited enough to read the box scores the next day, yes. Excited enough to obligate a week of vacation and $1,000+ every summer to do it? Not so much.
Anyone that has a non-race-fan wife willing to tolerate them going on a week of vacation by themselves is pretty lucky. Anyone who's in those circumstances and is fortunate enough to take a second non-racing vacation of equal or greater value to appease her is pretty fortunate.
The assumption seems to be that "real racing fans" will attend the Nationals at all costs. What exactly is a "real racing fan"? The opposite of an unreal racing fan? By the definition in this thread I wouldn't qualify in spite of all the years spent doing photographer and writing for racing publications. On the other hand suppose that the only race a person attended all season was the Nationals. They would be a real racing fan but the guy (or gal) trudging through the heat and cold from April to September two, three or more nights a week would not be a racing fan.
Granted I've got some connections to weekly racers down at Knoxville and I wish them well but the Nationals is not very high on a lot of people's list for economic and family reasons.
Stan Meissner
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November 02, 2012 at
09:46:41 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: StanM on November 02 2012 at 05:58:53 AM
Excited enough to read the box scores the next day, yes. Excited enough to obligate a week of vacation and $1,000+ every summer to do it? Not so much.
Anyone that has a non-race-fan wife willing to tolerate them going on a week of vacation by themselves is pretty lucky. Anyone who's in those circumstances and is fortunate enough to take a second non-racing vacation of equal or greater value to appease her is pretty fortunate.
The assumption seems to be that "real racing fans" will attend the Nationals at all costs. What exactly is a "real racing fan"? The opposite of an unreal racing fan? By the definition in this thread I wouldn't qualify in spite of all the years spent doing photographer and writing for racing publications. On the other hand suppose that the only race a person attended all season was the Nationals. They would be a real racing fan but the guy (or gal) trudging through the heat and cold from April to September two, three or more nights a week would not be a racing fan.
Granted I've got some connections to weekly racers down at Knoxville and I wish them well but the Nationals is not very high on a lot of people's list for economic and family reasons.
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There is another option though. (for those of us with non-race-fan wives who don't tolerate us leaving for a whole week and spending 1000+ dollars) We leave Wednesday afternoon of the 410 nationals, take 2.5 days of vacation, spend 500 dollars and are gone from home 4 days instead of 9. Been pulling that off for 10 years now with little complaint from the Mrs. She doesn't even flinch and it's not a pocket book breaker. Campground will rent to you for just the 4 days if you wish.
Just saying, you don't have to go to the whole thing. (I would love to, but won't happen 'til my kids are all grown up.)
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November 02, 2012 at
10:38:34 AM
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The whole week can be a little long. I went from Friday of the 360 Nats through this year, and I must say, by Mon/Tues I was a little bored w/ the whole Oskaloosa thing. But once Wed hit, it was awesome once again.
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November 02, 2012 at
01:50:59 PM
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Yea, Front Row Challenge didn't have any Outlaws if I recall, even defending champ Sammy. I enjoyed watching Larson win again, tho. Wednesday track was fast but not much passing, a bunch of fast qualifiers never got out of heats. Thursday & Friday kicked ass.
Stan M: I think all the comments about ""real racing fans" were directed at original post from Meatbag. Anyone with common sense realizes not everyone can spare time & $$ to go. I'm lucky, summers off (sub teacher) By Labor Day I'm broke....
Life is short, scratch where it itches....
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November 02, 2012 at
04:26:53 PM
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Luckily I've been going for all 10 nights the past few years and been able to make almost every regular season as well. Thankfully my job and wife allows me to do this. The ticket deals Knoxville does inclines her to go more often...
I don't go to the front row challenge to watch the outlaws. When Jac won it from the back they (outlaws) weren't all there but it was still fun to watch. I wish they wouldn't water the track down so much for the FRC and also take in the big white corner tires some too. If I remember correctly when Jac won that race he got some lucky breaks and the track was a little dry but didn't take rubber. To be honest the more bigger names are there the less likely we'll see someone even take the challenge from the back.
I'd still go to this race even if only 20 something cars showed up. The first few years Terry would race, I believe to help add cars.
The 360 Nats in my opinion is right up there with the 410 nats. I wish more people would make the trek to the Thursday and Friday night shows of the 360s.
Keep It Real
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November 02, 2012 at
05:28:26 PM
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I went for 15 years before I decided the expense vs the racing wasnt worth it. I miss the social part of it,but really thats about it.
Luckily I now live in Indiana and there is plenty of good sprint car and or midget racing nearby to keep me busy these days.
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