NASCAR vs NFL???

[Dlyne8r]

Originally Posted by jsarno

You just picked the wrong driver!



I do other things while watching, like play on the internet, or play with my Nintendo DS or something like that. There is absolutely no need to focus 100% on the race. If you plan to do it 100%, then 3 or 4 hours of next to boredom occur. It's like watching Soccer. I do pay more attention than a lot of people cause I watch the small aspects of the sport, each pass is something that is calculated. A lot of people see just a pass (hell we do it every day on our way to work, what's the big deal right?) but in fact, it takes a lot to pass people in NASCAR. I used to think like you until I actually dove in with both feet and tried to put myself in their shoes. The fastest I have ever been in a car was around 160. You have no idea how fast that is until you go that fast. I regularly drive around 100-120 around these deserted highways out here, and you are MOVING...NASCAR travels at close to 200 all the time. They take corners at speeds we only dream about. They "get loose" at 190 MPH, and if we "got loose" at 75 MPH our hearts would leap out of our chests. Focus on that kind of stuff.

And it also takes some brass ones to drive those cars as fast as they do in what has now become a common occurance: FOUR WIDE! Yikes! If you want the thrill of a lifetime (please hold all alternative "thrills of a lifetime" suggestions for another thread , try enrolling in one of the many NASCAR driving events like "Be Petty." I had the opportunity to drive one of their cars here a couple of years ago at Atlanta Motor Speedway and I have yet to calm down. It's basically a watered down Cup car (slightly shorter wheel base and ONLY 600 hp!), but man that was bar none the most exhilarating ride I've ever been on. I did 6 or 7 (don't remember, I was hyperventilating) hot laps alone behind the wheel of this monster. I followed a "professional" driver around the track and was not allowed to pass him. I didn't matter, I simply did not have the courage to even try coming out of turn two at AMS as I could have reached out and touched the freakin' wall. Dependant of the pace I was driving, the "pro" would either wave to slow me down (never happened) or the flag man at the start/finish line would wave for me to pick it up (yes, it happened ). It was awesome. I averaged only around 140 mph a lap, but I was later told that I was clipping down the back straight at about 160. How cool was that? Anyway, if you ever get a chance to do this, try it, you'll have a whole new perspective of what these guys do every Sunday.

[Dlyne8r]

Originally Posted by jsarno

To jump into this mini discussion that quake started...I am a Notre Dame fan (yeah, sucks this year), and I'll watch the games, but I won't watch Cal vs UCLA this weekend. I will only watch teams that don't matter to me if they have a direct relation to Notre Dame, which is basically very few. I did watch a couple games this year outside of the norm (LSU v Florida for instance) but that was because nothing else was on.
College football is in the hearts of young people that went or go to their colleges. The older fans will only follow their team, and if their team is not televised, then they will watch something else. There are what 120 NCAA Div. 1 teams? And there aer just as many NCAA Div 2 teams, and NAIA teams. There are 32 NFL teams. Every game is important, and there is always someone playing someone in your division to make it even more important. You can easily find a Redskins fan that is an NFL fan and will watch the Packers, or the Seahawks. Not to mention fantasy sports has opened the door to watch games you wouldn't normally watch.

I'd watch NASCAR any day of the week over any college football team.

That absolutely is not the case here in the south. I am unbelievably exhausted over the multitude of parties we've attended on Saturdays here in Atlanta watching college football. I'm in my late 40's and many of the people we've hung out with watching college ball are similar in age. It's not just the young "flat-bellies." While many have their favorites (mine is the Univ. of Tenn.), they all gather even after their team has played to watch whoever else is playing and it's not just because there's nothing else to do. Folks in the south just worship college football. It never ceases to amaze me how much these people know about not just their favorite college team, they are also walking dictionarys for practically every other team no matter what conference they reside in. it's a phenomenon I guess.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by Dlyne8r

And it also takes some brass ones to drive those cars as fast as they do in what has now become a common occurance: FOUR WIDE! Yikes! If you want the thrill of a lifetime (please hold all alternative "thrills of a lifetime" suggestions for another thread , try enrolling in one of the many NASCAR driving events like "Be Petty." I had the opportunity to drive one of their cars here a couple of years ago at Atlanta Motor Speedway and I have yet to calm down. It's basically a watered down Cup car (slightly shorter wheel base and ONLY 600 hp!), but man that was bar none the most exhilarating ride I've ever been on. I did 6 or 7 (don't remember, I was hyperventilating) hot laps alone behind the wheel of this monster. I followed a "professional" driver around the track and was not allowed to pass him. I didn't matter, I simply did not have the courage to even try coming out of turn two at AMS as I could have reached out and touched the freakin' wall. Dependant of the pace I was driving, the "pro" would either wave to slow me down (never happened) or the flag man at the start/finish line would wave for me to pick it up (yes, it happened ). It was awesome. I averaged only around 140 mph a lap, but I was later told that I was clipping down the back straight at about 160. How cool was that? Anyway, if you ever get a chance to do this, try it, you'll have a whole new perspective of what these guys do every Sunday.

I would LOVE to try that. I just don't have the typical fear that others have while driving a car. My wife tells me all the time I missed my calling as a NASCAR driver.
I wonder how I would respond to that? You never really know how you'll do until you're there. Considering I have driven 160mph in a real car with no jitters, I think I would do well with a NASCAR.