I just watched a car race on television. it was the 99th running of the Indianapolis 500 which is the most famous American automotive race. Not one car in the race was powered by an American engine, in fact all cars were powered by the exact same V8 engine made by an automotive company that does not power its own automobiles with V 8 engines. Each car had a magic button that could be pushed about 12 times for a repeatable few second increase in horsepower so as to make the race supposedly more interesting due to the equal and politically correct engine construction regulations. Each engine is delivered to the race team in a sealed box and may not be altered or adjusted. If anything happens to the engine it is boxed and exchanged for another sealed unit with the same rules and regulations.

I was not amused nor entertained. Am I alone on this one ?

At least Model T Speedsters are real even with foreign ignition systems. Although they do not actually race. they compete in fun events not orchestrated commercial fiascos.

At least NASCAR still has three American engines competing with the now important foreign engine famous for sudden acceleration even though the race cars use a V 8 carbureted rear drive vehicle made by a company that only sells that car that they use as a front wheel drive four and six cylinder powered automobile available to the general public. But even this sanction does not entertain nor amuse me, am I alone on this one ?


Let's hear it for reality for a change ! ! !

easy big guy!! lets not forget the time when foreign cars dominated indy..peugeot, delage, mercedes, maserati,....then an era when english cosworths and brit chassis were unbeatable...and of course, honda and toyota as engine builders. harry miller and fred offenhauser had pretty good runs as engine/chassis builders and they not only didn't make V8's they didn't make street cars at all!! superchargers, turbos, the advent of leaded gas..all big issues at the time, worked out well.

maybe "old" is the operational word here.....[remember when "carburation day" actually ment cars had carburators???]

it's a business, and they made business decisions to maximise their profits. At least, the whole race hasn't been moved to china.

If Nascar was anything of what it was when it first started, I might could take a little passing intrest in it.But to see a bunch of rolling bill boards on wheels buzz around a track in a circle till 1 of the "drivers" makes a oopsy and bumps the wall,Bah,I would rather watch paint dry.
I think when Jerry Springer retires,he will get a job in Nascar directing the "fights" between the drivers.About the same level of drama.

I went to put my dog Runt in his lot last night I could hear the racket from Lowes,oops I mean Charlotte, motor speedway from the cars.5 years ago was the last May race I worked at the track for traffic pattern shifting to get that bunch of people in and out of that place.You absolutely would not believe the types of people and things they do and how they act at that place during a "race".
I honestly dont think the people care if the cars are the same,or anything else.They want to see wrecks,fights and drink beer and throw chicken bones.

All NASCAR vehicles have carburetors. I just don't like orchestrated reliability runs by all equal contenders. As you say, in the days of foreign reign on the tracks, at least the engines they ran were basically what they sold in their show rooms and the races were a forum for product display as well as a reliability run. This year the race was run because of fuel rationing, I would not be proud to win under those terms. Come on, it is supposed to be a race.

It is true that the current Chrysler NASCAR engine is basically the old 318-340 360 cubic inch push rod engine punched out and modified to put out over 700 horsepower. Those same basic engine are available in Dodge rear wheel drive cars and trucks today.

But it is that silly Indianapolis 500 that gets my goat. The race is won by a computer figuring power output rather than a guy running out of fuel and having to make another pit stop while the clock runs. The silly fule rule is made for gasoline conservation yet they do not burn gas.

Now when they run out of fuel they can't pass go and do not collect their two hundred dollars and, they might even have to go to jail if they change the rules any more to please the idiots.

It is no longer a sporting event and that is my opinion. How fast can you make your Honda V8 go that you purchased off the show room floor in America ? All of the Indy cars used that mystery engine that we have never seen in a show room.

AS far a the Miller's, Sour's, Meyer- Drake's and the like, at least they were all different and competing, not all out of the same DNA machine exact to the .00000000" or is it now called the .0000000mm ? Poooh Bahhh!

That's exactly how I feel about NASCAR. I don't know much about it but from what I understand the rules used to be that the cars driven in the race had to be available as regular, even if very limited, production models. Or maybe at least the motors? That's why there was the "Boss" Mustang 429 or whatever. NASCAR looks like luck to me. The cars all go about the same speed and you sure can't go to a dealership and buy one. I like to go slow anyhow.

Start your own Engine Company or Race Series and make your own rules. There was at least 250,000 people around this town that didn't seem to mind too much. As Dave pointed out there have been a lot of "foreign" engines in the Indy 500 for a lot of years. Everyone has the same "Magic Button" to use at their discretion. So what is the issue with that? There are a lot of nationalities involved in all forms of racing. Get over it.

Damned pity that Scott Dixon, from New Zealand, lost his wheel coming out of the pits. That was about the 70th lap. It dropped him back to 22nd place.
Did I mention Scott Dixon comes from New Zealand?
By the end of the race, his talent (he IS a New Zealander!) and strategic use of the 15 second boost button saw him finish in 4th place!
Yaaaahooo!
Driver (and team) talent!
John Stokes
New Zealand
PS did I mention where Scott Dixon comes from?

LOTS of things have changed in my lifetime but I still enjoy life and the Indy 500. Originally a farm boy from Indiana, the singing of "Back Home Again In Indiana" by Jim Nabors always brings a tear to my eye. No one does it better! The race is different than when I went every year as a young adult. Now I'm communicating from Arizona with people I don't know via a computer. That's probably an even bigger change.

Bill R. '25 Fordor

I'm with Frank on this one.
Same as last year-all the same Honda V8.
Now they'll have to do something so that what happened to that Scott Dixon doesn't happen to anyone else. How unfair, I wonder where that guy Scott Dixon is from anyway?
Maybe they should all drive cars with an electric motor with an onboard charger? Or trolley cars and each could have their own tracks. More fair that way. that' it!
I watched close last year but did not watch this year. Still don't know who won. Don't care.
It is not the foreign engines or the foreign drivers- it is the fact that the racing team had nothing to do with the engine. NOTHING.
Where's the opertunity to develope and modify and invent?
Do the powers that be have something agains individuals trying new things?

I dont even watch open wheel racing, because of the points that Frank mentioned.

As for NASCAR..... They need to get back to their roots. STOCK cars. Ok, they can modify them some, but.... It should be a car, that you can buy at the dealership on Monday. Production engines, and more importantly, production sheet metal, all built with off the shelf parts. Lets allow the needed safety equipment, like roll cages, and anti lift spoilers, but lets give it bake to the car builders. That will entice the manufacturers to build something special. No standard body design. If one of the manufacturers, want to make, a super sleek race car... LET THEM! But mandate that it also be available for sale. Everybody remember the Superbird? Remember when Ford got behind in the horsepowere battles? So they started racing the "Fastback"?

I have an idea . . . . . let's do fantacy racing like fantacy football so no one gets hurt and we don't waste fuel. Ooooops sill all the same engines . . . . damn !

Hey John, where did you say Scott Dixon comes from?

Talking about winning first tme out of the box, the John Britten story is pretty cool. No standard engine here, and it certainly was not made in Japan (or China): http://www.britten.co.nz/ (click on History then Races)

1st Daytona .....

Cheers
Adrian

I think Mack summed it up pretty much on the money. I have not watched NASCAR or the INDY 500 for many years. Just not interesting any more.

Adrian
Now you're just being silly! Everyone knows that the talented Scott Dixon comes from NEW ZEALAND!
Yaaaahooo

I lived 65 miles from the Indy 500 track most of my life and was never at the race. Went to qulifications once and been to the first 5 NASCAR races at Indy but I have lost interest since NASCAR let Toyota in the race.
I've been to a lot of tracks and the Indy track is the worst track for watching a race.

Why do they call it sports, when all but a few are just spectators?

i used to go to alot of nascar races but now hardly ever watch it to TV.i`d rather go to one of our local dirt tracks and watch the 410 sprints.thunder cars and late models.it`s more of who has the best stuff and how to use it and cheat a little and get away with it.much more action in my opinion.in dirt track racing you have maybe 25 laps to get it done not 500 miles or laps to sit back and wait till it`s almost over.and best of all their all American v8 powered.i tell people my model t is the great,great grandfather of those 800 horse engines.

Where's Fred and Augie Duesenburg when we need them?

Where was old Zealand?

Good question Rick – Sure not like those other “Real” sports like
baseball, football, hockey, tennis, soccer, basketball, and maybe even
them Olympic games where the spectators can join in by streaking.
(well maybe not the winter Olympics). In some countries all the
spectators run out on the field for their own type of sport.
Hmm no wait - I think that ones called a riot.
Don’t seam to be a hole lot of neked streakers at them thar race tracks. <g>

Aaron ask above,"Where's the opertunity to develope and modify and invent?"
I am sure Mr.Opertunity is out there.He has knocked on doors till his arm is tired.Folkes aint looking for him.Plain and simple.And that aint just raceing either.That is society as a whole.

"Do the powers that be have something agains individuals trying new things?" Aaron ask as well.I would say they do.They are afraid someone will steal thier ideas.They cant concieve the idea that others may have some level of intelligence other than them,or possiably moreso than them.So they hold the door shut to Mr Opertunity for the few that may be looking.

It all started with the idea of some level of safty for the drivers I am sure.Then it mushroomed and folkes got to useing the term "in the name of safty" to level the playing field for all drivers and cars.
Somebody mentioned running the stock bodys as they are in the showroom.Sadly,I have a hard time id'ing cars now if I cant see the name plates.they all look the same.

I started watching racing in the '50's at Gardena stadium and Lions drag strip. Those were the days of individual innovation and it was fun to watch and participate. I gave up on the whole thing at the end of the '60's when it became a game of who could spend the largest amount of money on a car that no one could compete with (except another money boy). I haven't watched any type of racing since, and couldn't care less. It's kind of like riding a Harley used to be something before all the movie stars got hold of the idea. Sure glad I grew up in the old days....

Me too Chuck.
The only car races worth watching these days are "Pinks All Out" or "Pass Time".
Don't even get me going on early drag racing or Lions Drag Strip, I cut my teeth on that.
I was "Harley" back before it was "cool" and every lawyer and his mother had one.

62 Panhead "Bobber" circa 1970's

There is still a 500 miler that has all American cars with American engines. In fact they are all Ford cars and engines. It is called the Montana 500.

(you too could be a part of it!)

Frank Harris, "Let's hear it for reality for a change"??? What planet are you from. Reality does not exist. Hasn't for along time I think. That is why so many people bury their brains in iPods and high definition. I like my fantasies better. At least I am still alive and able to do some things for myself.
The most (only?) fun racing I ever saw was the Calistoga Classics about 35 to 40 years ago. All model T speedsters and race cars on a half mile dirt track. The most fun I, and many others say the same, ever had. The wonder is, how in four years, no one was hurt or killed. There were a few close calls, that was why it ended.
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but if I remember correctly, the Ford T race car run at Indy about 1923 had to have a special engine block because the rules that year limited the cubic displacement and a stock block was too big.
Enjoy friends and your favorite fantasies, and drive carefully, W2

You guys need to go to the 24 hours of Lemons. $500 max per car, any make.
http://www.24hoursoflemons.com/

Harold - old Zealand was in Holland! Abel Tasman sailed here before Captain Cook, but he didn't claim the place (lost interests as there were no windmills or canals here, I suspect). Anyway, Abel Tasman came from the village of Zealand. Hence the name. Well, that's my understanding.
Oh and I forgeot to say.... we are thinking of making Danica Patrick an honorary New Zealander - not because she drives well, but - like most kiwis - she looks good!
John Stokes
New Zealand

Pretty soon they won't even have a winner.. cuz it may hurt the other drivers feelings.. So they will give awards to all the drivers and we will live in a wonderful happy world full of flowers, rainbows and puppy dogs...awwwwwwwwwwww...

The drivers allready get thier feelings hurt.so it wont be long.That is why Nascar needs Jerry Springer.To come in and help them settle the real issues they have with the other drivers cousin or something.

Old Zeeland appears to have been in Holland, according to Wikipedia.

"The first European name for New Zealand was Staten Landt, the name given to it by the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, who in 1642 became the first European to see the islands. Tasman assumed it was part of a southern continent connected with land discovered in 1615 off the southern tip of South America by Jacob Le Maire, which had been named Staten Landt, meaning "Land of the (Dutch) States-General".

The name New Zealand originated with Dutch cartographers, who called the islands Nova Zeelandia, after the Dutch province of Zeeland.No one is certain exactly who first coined the term, but it first appeared in 1645 and may have been the choice of cartographer Johan Blaeu. British explorer James Cook subsequently anglicised the name to New Zealand. There is no connection to the Danish island Zealand.

Although the North and South Islands have been known by these names for many years, the New Zealand Geographic Board has stated that as of 2009, they have no official names. The board intends to make these their official names, along with alternative Mâori names."

I followed the flight of a Beech KingAir from Lima to OZ last winter, and was amazed at maps.google.com and the flight following maps using native names for all the islands. Could not even find Papeete in Tahiti, for example, which also goes by a different name now.

rdr

any racing drivers from van diemen's land???

where's new zealand, isn't that part of Australia................ John, sorry about that !!!

David.

James - you are quite right - as said, Abel Tasman came from Zeeland, but it was a province, NOT a town! Thanks.
David W - I don't know what part of Aussie he comes from, but only the Aussies could come up with a race car driver whose name is Will Power!
David D - I've worked in tourism most of my working life - years ago, when I was doing my tourism cadetship in Wellington, I was confronted by an American woman who felt she had been lead astray - her travel agent had told her that New Zealand was at the other end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge! True story!!!
John Stokes
New Zealand
PS now is everyone sure they know where Scott Dixon comes from?

I wonder if they'll try to re-create any part of the first race next year?

Hey there John, I was tied up with racing in the 1960 to early 70s working on two pit teams but I have never heard of Scot Dixon so who to hell is he and what and when did he drive, the only NZ driver I met was Richardson in the Touring cars....Ray