Anyone like Nascar?

[Sherry]

Just spent 8 hours in a minivan coming home from Wisconsin listening to the Nascar race and my screaming husband. After the "bump into the wall" episode, he ranted for quite some time My son and I couldn't escape the madness Oh, well, at least the other Indiana boy was in good graces...Gordon stole up from behind to take a fourth. No point to this thread other than to see if there are other fans out there.

 

[bvdr]

No Sherry, I'm not a NASCAR fan. My youngest son however is a huge fan. The oldest son a moderate fan. Several years ago my oldest invited my youngest to join him at some NASCAR event in the Charlotte area. There was to be qualifying something or other, then a charity baseball game, then something else (maybe race?). Well my youngest, Chris, had worked in the pits during some races and knew some of the drivers. He was in the fray of things chatting when it turned out that one of the drivers was delayed in qualifying and they were short a baseball player. It ended up that Chris (in his middle 20s at the time) played in his sted. My oldest son, Jon, was wondering what happened to his brother until Chris got his attention from the ball field. Afterward, when the players(drivers) were signing autographs, Chris at first declined but the others told him just to sign because he would otherwise hurt people's feelings. So if anyone has some memorabilia with a signature they can't match with a face it just may be him.

 

[fyrfytr]

Hey Sherry,
I am a fan of Nascar and NHRA, I will have to take a picture of my garage to show you. I haven't been to a Nascar race but watch them all the time on TV and have attended many Drag races and when I was a teenager I used to race at Rocky Mountain Drag way won my class a few times.
Take Care

 

[ericaj]

T.Labonte fan

T.Labonte fan

Also a fan of nascar. I liked the SR. Earnhardt but my choice now is T.Labonte
in teh number 5 car. Not been to any of the races, but my Dad has and after all I am only 21 so still time!!

Erica

 

[Guest]

I am a NASCAR fan, for the most part.

However, my enthusiasm for the sport has dwindled since the cars are no longer "stock" cars that you can actually purchase at your friendly dealership.

For Chevrolet, the beginning of this "blasphemy" was in 1988, with the demise of NASCAR's # 1 winner, the Monte Carlo. Yeah, it returned in 1995, but not really...no more RWD, no more curvish body lines, no more knight/shield emblem. Blah.

And, now, most-recently, NASCAR has ensured that all cars have the same aerodynamic shape by requiring all makers (Chevy, Ford, Dodge) to have the same basic shape. Bah. At this year's MC Nationals in Bowling Green KY, Chevrolet delivered a NASCAR MC for our viewing...and I tell ya, the only way I could tell it was a "monte carlo" was by the back window and the rear taillights painted on. Otherwise, it looked nothing like the car you see at your local dealership.

Years ago, the stock cars used in racing were just that...stock cars, with only a few modifications.....

*sighs*

Ah, well...the sport does go on .

Cort, "Mr MC"/"Mr Road Trip"/"The Uniter", 30swm/pig valve/pacemaker
member & newsletter editor, Faith COB, Batavia IL
'72/'76/'79/'81/'87 & train & models = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/
Spotting MCs = http://www.chevyasylum.com/mcspotter/main.html

 

[Creed3]

Hi Everyone!
My entire family is into Nascar. I was talking to my mom today and she was telling all about that Indiana boy....LOL! She was so angry. She loves Gordon though. He is her favorite.
I have never been to any of the races, but almost everyone else in the family has. On my husband's side they all love it. They go to the Pocono races all of the time. They are able to get into the VIP area because my husband's Uncle Dan does Mass at Pocono.
My sister's husband also gets to go to the races. He gets to BBQ for all the drivers. Can you believe it. How cool is that. He certainly has some stories to tell.
I suppose I will end up going to a race sometime in the future. I have to see what it is like in person.

Take Care!
Gail

 

[Sherry]

Interesting replies.
Betty, that story about your son was really cool. You never know, maybe his autograph will be circulating around on E-bay someday

Dave, I'd like to see that pic of your garage sometime. Which driver is your favorite?

Cort, interesting history of the Monte Carlo. I've always been very partial to that car as I spent the good part of high school in one of a few different models. (Friends and boyfriend all had them.)

Gail, sounds like your mom was as mad as my husband, and frankly, after "other Indiana boy" was interviewed in Victory Lane, I was quite ticked off with his flip response. Guess we'll have to see how the officials handle him since this is the second incident in a few months.

As for Gordon, I have a cool story - I lived in Indy in my early twenties and worked at a tuxedo rental place on the Westside (near Speedway). Anyway, the manager made some mention of this cute kid from Pittboro, IN, coming in to pick up his prom tux that afternoon -- said he was on the local/regional race circuit. As it turns out, an hour later Jeff Gordon and his mom came in to pick up the tux. We all got to talking and his mom said he'd be famous someday. Boy, she wasn't kidding, was she? I'll always remember that.

 

[bvdr]

Sherry, I like the tuxedo rental memory. A nurse I used to work with in the ER was an Army brat and as it turned out, her babysitter, another Army brat named John Denver also made it big. Stephanie said he used to practice his guitar while babysitting her. He was about 15 at the time.

I don't usually like to put in hospital stories but to tell this I guess I must.
The hospital I worked at was the nearest major hospital to Rockingham, NC which had the Winston Cup Raceway. The last 15 or so years I worked in the hospital was mostly in ER but I also spent some of the time in surgical/neurosurgical ICU. Being where I was, I bet I have seen MORE of some of the drivers than their fans. And I will never never ever reveal their names!

 

[terryj]

When my husband and I retire in 6 years one of our goals is to go to as many Nascar tracks as we can to see the races live. My husband went to Atlanta Speedway for his 50th Birthday 4 years ago. Our kids took him. I stayed home and babysat the grandkids and watched the race on TV. We watch every race we can and even our grandkids have their favorite drivers. Unfortunately the 4 year old roots for the driver that seems to have an anger
management problem.

 

[Rich]

I am a fan also.
I was an engineer for GM for many years.
We resided at GM Design Center, it is where every car and truck made by GM in North America is designed.
I agree with Cort about the current MC ,but having worked on the design of that car I can tell you it simply comes down to dollars.
Hopefully GM will fix that in the not too distant future.
The cool thing that happened to me is while working in the design studios we had visitors on three different occasions.
Junior Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Sr.
Talking to Dale and getting his autograph was great.
Stewart needs some anger management classes, if he is not careful he may end up sitting at home for a while.
I would guess Home Depot probably is not thrilled with his attitude either.

 

[fyrfytr]

Hey Sherry,
I guess I am the odd ball here as I am a Dodge Fan, my favorite drivers are Bill Elliot and Sterling Marlin.

Rich, sounds like you have a very interesting job.

Here is a picture of part of my garage I guess you might say I have a passion for cars.
Take Care

 

[Sherry]

Dave, what an unbelievable garage!! Wish our garage looked half as neat as that one. Ours is just plain scary thanks to a slob 16 year old

Paul, I very well may take you up on that ticket offer. We're always beating a path to Wisconsin to see my brother and his family, so we could swing through Joliet on our way home and see the race next year. I'll p.m. you closer to the time if we think it will work out. How cool that you were there yesterday. I did see that mayhem between the crews today on Sportscenter.

Betty, what a neat story about John Denver. Wouldn't it have been cool to have been serenaded by the future star?

Actually, we've never been to a Nascar race but used to attend the Indy 500 during and after college. Believe it or not, we would spend the day in the infield, which now that I look back on it, was a scary thing. All sorts of tawdry and violent things happening there. I remember guys dousing a junk car that they had driven in there with gasoline and setting it ablaze

 

[KathyH]

Hi Sherri, I am a nascar fan too. Our goal is to go to every different track, there is nothing like being there live. We take our RV and and usually camp the weekend. We go to both NH races and the spring Dover race. We have been to Daytona, Lowes & Talladega once and may try to go to Alabama in the fall. We like Dale JR and Mikey , but like to see others win too. My little grand daugher 3 1/2 even can name some of the drivers when she see's them on TV.
Fyr, your garage is cool. If you ever have the chance, take the RACE SHOP tours in Charlotte your visit alot of different race shops and it is well worth the 50 bucks.
Kathy

 

[Mary]

Dave,
Your garage is a thing of beauty. I wish my boys' bedrooms looked half that good.
Mary

 

[Guest]

*spots the picture of Dave's garage*

*raises eyebrow*

Man...I love that garage . Care to share, Dave?

*turns to Sherry*

So, the most-important question...what year(s) of MCs do you remember the most? . He he he...don't worry if you can't answer. And, btw, for more history on the car (if you so choose), check out the 2 websites at the end of my original post in this thread .

*turns to Rich*

I remember you! He he he...I sure hope I get to meet you when I'm in Michigan this coming August for the Woodward Dream Cruise. I wonder if you know a friend of mine, Brian, who works at GM, too, in Michigan. Or, maybe you know Mark, the current marketing manager for the impala/monte carlo duo. At any rate, I understand about it coming down to $, but I hope GM/Chevrolet turns things around soon...otherwise, a new Chevrolet will never grace my driveway. (BTW, the petition has over 2K signatures now!!!)

*pauses*

As for that race...wow...what a flurry a little hit caused...lol.

 

[Sherry]

Cool websites, Cort. In answer to your question: generation 2/3 models. I just remember the generation 2 cars having doors that were so heavy that I needed to grab them with both hands in order to shut them. Ah, yes, your website and this discussion has taken me down memory lane

 

[Rich]

Dave that garage is great, I'm jealous.
Cort I hope they get the message, I was part of the Design team for both the current MC and the Impala.
We did them together in the same studio.
During the latter stages of that one is when I had my attack and landed in the hospital. Guess I wasn't too happy with those cars either.
I guess my favorite would still be the '72.
I don't know about the Woodward cruise yet, it can be a real nightmare over there.
Two friends of mine have gotten there cars hit during that cruise.

 

[Perrster]

NASCAR: Nextel #97. Busch #5

NASCAR: Nextel #97. Busch #5

Sherry,

I just can't lurk without replying to your thread. We are NASCAR fans because my wife's cousins are young guns' Kurt (Sharpie #97) and Kyle (#5 Lowes) Busch.

We attended the Michigan Nextel race the last two Father's Days (excellent both times!) and the following weekend this year went to the Milwaukee Mile Busch race. As we were leisurely driving up to Milwaukee that Saturday afternoon, my wife's cell phone rang and she was surprised that it was Kyle's dad (his team spotter). He sent a golf cart out to pick us up (we never had pit passes at all) and took us right to their motor home where we enjoyed a good chat and even had dinner with them as we watched qualifying runs on the TV and listened to it live right outside the door. That was pretty cool.

Our garage is in the midst of a NASCAR theme transformation. I will post pix when it's all done.

Yeah, we got it bad! But, it's even more interesting to know someone on the inside.

We're hoping to visit them at home someday during the off-season, if there is such a thing. The entire family is involved and traveling all over the country at times, including grandma who stays home to watch all the dogs.

Regards,

 

[bvdr]

Dave, your gargage could be the cover picture for a magazine! It is beautiful.

 

[Granbonny]

My son and Grandson are huge fans. They went to last Atlanta Race..Took camper down on Thursday night..To get a spot with friends....Lots of pre-race activities always going on...before the BIG race on Sunday.....Bill Elliot lives 30 miles from me in Dawsonville, Ga. //BILL from DAWSONVILLE... We have a road..labeled....The moonshine run..around Dawsonville to Atlanta...Where years ago, these drivers were the best to outrun the Law....Most of these driver's became racecar drivers..Years ago.. Bonnie