A Voice for the Fans ~ Fans Have Some Responsibility, Too
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I bid you welcome gentle readers, and many
thanks to those that extended kind words on the previous article. Eulogies are
hard for anyone to write, and especially hard to keep it sounding light and
bright, as Buddy wanted. I’m much better at grumbling, so this one should almost
write itself.
Before I pitch the latest hissy fit, let’s go back and take a look at what Michigan International Speedway has done for us by way of safety improvements this year.
Before I pitch the latest hissy fit, let’s go back and take a look at what Michigan International Speedway has done for us by way of safety improvements this year.
This map from Google Earth is hopelessly out of
date, with an imagery date of 4/23/2013. Roger Curtis and staff have made some
changes that are not reflected here. Anyone have an address for the Google
complaint department?
At any rate, this is what is said to have been done to date:
SAFER changes: Planned to install SAFER barrier to pit-in and pit-out walls before June race. Tire-pack barriers will be installed at angled wall inside Turn 1. Infield at exit of pit road will be paved to function as skid pad and pace-car vehicle entry and exit.
It sounds good Roger, but those tires tied together are never going to be a substitute for the SAFER barriers. They’re a stop-gap measure at best. The aim is and always was… according to Dr. Sicking… to have those barriers in every feasible place that a racecar might make contact. Those spots, as we see time and time again, are not predictable. They are everywhere and every one of them needs the protection afforded our drivers by SAFER barriers. How about leading the way and getting that done? I have faith that you can lead the rest. Go for it, and show ‘em how it should be done.
Now then race fans, where were you? I guess a whole lot of folks need a refresher course in being a race fan. It kind of has to do with loving racing… and watching it. Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve talked about good things, such as the excellence of the new NBC gang and the way the races are being presented on that network. This past weekend, we visited the track voted America’s favorite in a USA today poll. It was announced before the race that Watkins Glen was a sellout. Honestly, at a road course, I’ve no idea how many admissions that amounts to, since there are generally more folks on the hills with folding chairs or blankets than there are seats in the grandstands, but still, it’s the first time we’ve heard those words in many years. Sellout! Has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?
Kudos and applause for those true fans that spent their weekend at one of the most beautiful tracks in the country. I’ve visited Watkins Glen many times in my younger days, though never when they happened to be running a race. You could not ask for prettier scenery than you’ll find in the Finger Lakes area of New York State. It is just breathtakingly beautiful! God and Mother Nature joined together to give Race Day ample sunshine and warmth, eliminating any need for the newly threatened rain tires from Goodyear.
As for the rest of you… SHAME! Where were you? We saw on Sunday what I have to describe as the best race of the year, which the Glen usually is, brought right to your living rooms by genuinely great camera work and an expert professional crew of broadcasters and color commentators. Last week, we spoke of thanking that crew by watching the races they present on the NBC networks. Then the overnight ratings came out. Instead of showing our gratitude for a job well done, we gave that great race the lowest rating of the year. Really folks? Really? If that’s the best we can do, then we deserve what we get.
This weekend, we roll into Michigan, as noted above, and our second look at Brian’s newest toy, the “high-drag” package, designed to, at least in his mind, create more pack racing… this fan’s very least favorite kind. Yep, let’s restrict their engines so they can’t possibly outrun each other, then bunch ‘em up so that when they wreck… and they will wreck; they always do… more of them will be involved. Whoopee! We’ll have “Big Ones” at every track on the circuit! The last time we saw this configuration was at Indianapolis for the Brickyard 400, where the intent seemed to be turning the big flat track into more of a joke than we’ve already made of her. Someone should tell him that you can’t make packs on a flat track. It’s just not gonna happen!
At Michigan, I won’t condemn the idea until I’ve seen it, but I hear drivers already panning it and issuing warnings of things to come. Still I remember how pleasantly surprised we were with the low downforce deal at lumpy, bumpy old Kentucky Speedway. And they say you can’t make a silk purse from a sow’s ear… but we did! Now, we sit and wait for the news about which, if any, of the “packages” will be used for the much vaunted but seldom watched “Chase.”
Only four races remaining before Brian pushes his little button resetting all the scores to his liking, and we forget all 26 of the previous races, forsaking them as meaningless while he plays games of non-elimination for the next ten. C’mon, all of you that call yourselves race fans. Let’s watch those last four. Remember, the real Champion, that has earned the title by being the best for ALL the races to date, is crowned by Patty’s Kids at the close of the Richmond race. After that, most of us don’t care who watches, who wins or if the sun rises in the west over Brian’s house. We’re close to the end of the part of the season that matters… the part without Brian’s fingers in the pie, as it were. Michigan, Bristol, Darlington and Richmond… that’s a great line-up! Let’s all enjoy the end of our season together. Just turn on your TV and I’ll meet you in the living room.
At any rate, this is what is said to have been done to date:
SAFER changes: Planned to install SAFER barrier to pit-in and pit-out walls before June race. Tire-pack barriers will be installed at angled wall inside Turn 1. Infield at exit of pit road will be paved to function as skid pad and pace-car vehicle entry and exit.
It sounds good Roger, but those tires tied together are never going to be a substitute for the SAFER barriers. They’re a stop-gap measure at best. The aim is and always was… according to Dr. Sicking… to have those barriers in every feasible place that a racecar might make contact. Those spots, as we see time and time again, are not predictable. They are everywhere and every one of them needs the protection afforded our drivers by SAFER barriers. How about leading the way and getting that done? I have faith that you can lead the rest. Go for it, and show ‘em how it should be done.
Now then race fans, where were you? I guess a whole lot of folks need a refresher course in being a race fan. It kind of has to do with loving racing… and watching it. Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve talked about good things, such as the excellence of the new NBC gang and the way the races are being presented on that network. This past weekend, we visited the track voted America’s favorite in a USA today poll. It was announced before the race that Watkins Glen was a sellout. Honestly, at a road course, I’ve no idea how many admissions that amounts to, since there are generally more folks on the hills with folding chairs or blankets than there are seats in the grandstands, but still, it’s the first time we’ve heard those words in many years. Sellout! Has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?
Kudos and applause for those true fans that spent their weekend at one of the most beautiful tracks in the country. I’ve visited Watkins Glen many times in my younger days, though never when they happened to be running a race. You could not ask for prettier scenery than you’ll find in the Finger Lakes area of New York State. It is just breathtakingly beautiful! God and Mother Nature joined together to give Race Day ample sunshine and warmth, eliminating any need for the newly threatened rain tires from Goodyear.
As for the rest of you… SHAME! Where were you? We saw on Sunday what I have to describe as the best race of the year, which the Glen usually is, brought right to your living rooms by genuinely great camera work and an expert professional crew of broadcasters and color commentators. Last week, we spoke of thanking that crew by watching the races they present on the NBC networks. Then the overnight ratings came out. Instead of showing our gratitude for a job well done, we gave that great race the lowest rating of the year. Really folks? Really? If that’s the best we can do, then we deserve what we get.
This weekend, we roll into Michigan, as noted above, and our second look at Brian’s newest toy, the “high-drag” package, designed to, at least in his mind, create more pack racing… this fan’s very least favorite kind. Yep, let’s restrict their engines so they can’t possibly outrun each other, then bunch ‘em up so that when they wreck… and they will wreck; they always do… more of them will be involved. Whoopee! We’ll have “Big Ones” at every track on the circuit! The last time we saw this configuration was at Indianapolis for the Brickyard 400, where the intent seemed to be turning the big flat track into more of a joke than we’ve already made of her. Someone should tell him that you can’t make packs on a flat track. It’s just not gonna happen!
At Michigan, I won’t condemn the idea until I’ve seen it, but I hear drivers already panning it and issuing warnings of things to come. Still I remember how pleasantly surprised we were with the low downforce deal at lumpy, bumpy old Kentucky Speedway. And they say you can’t make a silk purse from a sow’s ear… but we did! Now, we sit and wait for the news about which, if any, of the “packages” will be used for the much vaunted but seldom watched “Chase.”
Only four races remaining before Brian pushes his little button resetting all the scores to his liking, and we forget all 26 of the previous races, forsaking them as meaningless while he plays games of non-elimination for the next ten. C’mon, all of you that call yourselves race fans. Let’s watch those last four. Remember, the real Champion, that has earned the title by being the best for ALL the races to date, is crowned by Patty’s Kids at the close of the Richmond race. After that, most of us don’t care who watches, who wins or if the sun rises in the west over Brian’s house. We’re close to the end of the part of the season that matters… the part without Brian’s fingers in the pie, as it were. Michigan, Bristol, Darlington and Richmond… that’s a great line-up! Let’s all enjoy the end of our season together. Just turn on your TV and I’ll meet you in the living room.
Time now for our Classic Country Closeout, and
first up today, I’ve chosen an extremely upbeat little number. Anyone that ever
listened to the “old” Grand Ol’ Opry will remember Dell Wood, introducing the show
with her awesome piano talent, playing “Down Yonder.” Tap your toes; stomp
your feet and enjoy!
Next, through the miracle of YouTube, we can
listen to Chet Atkins and Marty Robbins, pickin’ and singin’ together.
Now how about a little Les Paul and Mary Ford,
pickin’ and singin’ together, just like old times… a medley of “In the Good Old
Summertime” and “Steel Guitar Rag.”
And one last one for today. After hearing the
theme song on that last one, I simply have to play one of my all-time favorite
songs, “Vaya Con Dios.” (Go With God) I know a young teenager that wore holes
in the record on the jukebox in Jimmy’s Sweetshop on Lake Avenue in Rochester..
Be well gentle readers, and remember to keep smiling. It looks so good on you!
~
PattyKay