Kermit on NASCAR ...

[civic95]

Well you have 2 choices.

1. Quit watching Speed.

2. Contact Speed, find out how much money they generate from commercials during nascar tv's shows. Then find out how little money is generated from commercials during F1, motorcycle racing, etc. Offer to pay more than the difference if they broadcast other racing.

Remember TV is a business. The higher the ratings, the more $$ to be made. Unless F1 starts having pit crews made up of 20 something models in bikinis, it will not get more viewers than Nascar related shows. Period!

Analogy! Wrestling sucks in my book, its fake, boxing is much better. However I realize it gets more viewers, it's entertainment. There is no drama, no story to follow in boxing, or F1. But wrestling, and nascar both have that. Think of it as a mans soap opera.

You won't hear someone say "Man I can't wait to see Schumacher win AGAIN next week". But You'll hear, "Man Tony Stewart is going to get what's coming next week"

[HiPSI]

btw, avid NASCAR opponent here.... can't stand that shit or anything else that drives around an oval. they just need to throw a chicane into the mix at some of the races and see how many people can blow it and cause big nasty pileups.

[Kermit]

no, the answer is:

"ahhh we pulled some strings"

Holy crap that was funny! Ahhhh...this is getting carried away

[HiPSI]

they should just play "motorsport mundial" all day long

[HiPSI]

Holy crap that was funny! Ahhhh...this is getting carried away

never seen the blue collar comedy tour eh?

[99SI]

Ok, ok...on your first post; I too saw that driver switch thing with Montoya and Gordon, and did you notice how Montoya's reaction was "It was loud, real loud" and Gordon's reaction was more like a 7 year old who was let loose in a candy store? Or how Montoya has since said that he has no desire to ever drive another NASCAR and how Gordon can't wait for another opportunity to sit behind the controls of an F1 car?

And the second post: No form of traction control? Their wheels are different sizes so miminize the amount of steering input required. Not to mention that the tires alone are about 3 feet wide and as soft as bubble gum. Now, I'm not saying that it doesn't take skill to keep one of those things on the track (which is obvious by their inability to make more than 2 laps w/o "coming" into something) but come on, have you ever watch their lines on a road course? "Apex, what" says the average NASCAR driver.

That's the point, the cars do not have the wonderful advantages of many of the modern technologies of say, F1, champ, alms, etc. Those guys are very good drivers because they have to be. Most average drivers can drive a porsche 911 fairly quickly because of the refinement of the car. Yet you take the average driver and put him in a modified pinto and they're going to crash it or not be fast with it.

[Spyder]

Remember TV is a business. The higher the ratings, the more $$ to be made. Unless F1 starts having pit crews made up of 20 something models in bikinis, it will not get more viewers than Nascar related shows. Period!

Analogy! Wrestling sucks in my book, its fake, boxing is much better. However I realize it gets more viewers, it's entertainment. There is no drama, no story to follow in boxing, or F1. But wrestling, and nascar both have that. Think of it as a mans soap opera.

unfortunatly i have to agree with you.

i also think F1 would be better with bikini teams!

ps wrestling sucks.

[Kermit]

never seen the blue collar comedy tour eh?

Can't say that I have, you shouldn't have told me that though, I was going to give you credit for one of the funniest things I've heard (read actually) all day.

[bigb996]

guys guys guys!!! they cant help it they arnt Ambiturners........

[B16a2 Civic]

Well you have 2 choices.

1. Quit watching Speed.

2. Contact Speed, find out how much money they generate from commercials during nascar tv's shows. Then find out how little money is generated from commercials during F1, motorcycle racing, etc. Offer to pay more than the difference if they broadcast other racing.

Remember TV is a business. The higher the ratings, the more $$ to be made. Unless F1 starts having pit crews made up of 20 something models in bikinis, it will not get more viewers than Nascar related shows. Period!

Analogy! Wrestling sucks in my book, its fake, boxing is much better. However I realize it gets more viewers, it's entertainment. There is no drama, no story to follow in boxing, or F1. But wrestling, and nascar both have that. Think of it as a mans soap opera.

You won't hear someone say "Man I can't wait to see Schumacher win AGAIN next week". But You'll hear, "Man Tony Stewart is going to get what's coming next week"

why not have f1 boxing and nascar wrestling....ratings would then be sky high

[Spyder]

guys guys guys!!! they cant help it they arnt Ambiturners........

ghey movie , great reference.

[99SI]

BTW I really am not a Nascar fan. I do however realize the skill it takes to drive those big heavy bastards in a circle at WOT for 4 hours straight. I would much rather watch an ALMS event. Theirs another thought, put Bush cars, Cup cars, and IROC cars together on the track at the same time like ALMS does. That would be some interesting carnage.

[Kermit]

Well you have 2 choices.

1. Quit watching Speed.

2. Contact Speed, find out how much money they generate from commercials during nascar tv's shows. Then find out how little money is generated from commercials during F1, motorcycle racing, etc. Offer to pay more than the difference if they broadcast other racing.

Remember TV is a business. The higher the ratings, the more $$ to be made. Unless F1 starts having pit crews made up of 20 something models in bikinis, it will not get more viewers than Nascar related shows. Period!

Analogy! Wrestling sucks in my book, its fake, boxing is much better. However I realize it gets more viewers, it's entertainment. There is no drama, no story to follow in boxing, or F1. But wrestling, and nascar both have that. Think of it as a mans soap opera.

You won't hear someone say "Man I can't wait to see Schumacher win AGAIN next week". But You'll hear, "Man Tony Stewart is going to get what's coming next week"

I both agree and disagree. Yes, NASCAR brings in huge amounts of revenue, and I don't think that it shouldn't be on TV. My original rant was about the fact that you can't turn to the SPEED channel anymore with out seeing NASCAR this, that, or the other thing, unless of course you're awake at 3:00am. And in all reality, how many different shows about the same damn races do we really need to see? Then, throw in the poker, the "reality" show, the discussion shows, more discussion shows, then replay last weeks race one more time just in case there was one person with eyeballs that didn't see it the first dozen times it was televised, and then have another discussion show about it.

SPEED has lost my interest, and if it weren't for the fact that once a month I might be able to see something other than NASCAR, I probably wouldn't ever turn it on. I wish they'd create a SPEED2 that had other forms of racing, but then again, it would only be a matter of time before NASCAR took that over too.

[The Yousef]

they should just play "motorsport mundial" all day long

ahhh...great show
especially when the show the Semi-Truck racing....holy shit!

[civic95]

I agree. I'm a huge nascar fan, but it seems like they recap the race on 3 different shows M-W. Then on Thursday they talk about the upcoming weekends race. Friday is filled with qualifying, Saturday Bush coverage, Cup Practice. Sunday is Cup race preshow, post coverage, etc. I like to watch other stuff too, but unfortunately other stuff doesn't get the ratings like these shows.

[The Yousef]

I wish they'd create a SPEED2 that had other forms of racing, .

now thats not a bad idea at all!

[Kermit]

Well, I just turned SPEED on to see what was on...NASCAR. And believe it or not, one of the drivers came into turn 3(?) too fast and well, yeah the race is under caution. Ohh, the excitement. Not trying to beat a dead horse, but...at least they'll have something to talk about for the next 2 weeks

[Spyder]

did he "come" on the wall? or is it "come" into the wall...

[Kermit]

I think it's "he came into" and yes, of course. I just turned it back, and I believe that this is what they call qualifying, dude couldn't even make it around the track by himself. Someone must have spit on the track before he went out.

[Spyder]

oval tracks are difficult to navigate.

[Kermit]

did he "come" on the wall? or is it "come" into the wall...

Whoa...I just read that again, and ummm...I'm not exactly sure of the answer. We'll have to leave it to an expert to get clarification.

[Spyder]

is there a nascar expert in the house? i need some clarification on this...

[Kermit]

I would as well. Anyone care to chime in?

[PinkTaco]

oh shut the fuck up, i'd like to see you do what they do for even a few miles at 190+mph. I got the privlidge to ride in a stock car at 160mph around lowes motorspeedway and didnt have the muscle in my neck to look left or right because of the g forces. So dont diss it until you really know what they have to do, its not simply turning left.

[RutRoe]

So do you want an IA member that actuall works for the Speed Channel to chime in or should I let you guys keep talking about stuff you don't really get?

It's your call... I'm in Charlotte right now for the races, typing on my Speed Channel laptop, watching a re-run of qualifying on Speed Channel.

I'll start as soon as Kermit tells me how many races he's been to.

GO

[The Yousef]

So do you want an IA member that actuall works for the Speed Channel to chime in or should I let you guys keep talking about stuff you don't really get?

It's your call... I'm in Charlotte right now for the races, typing on my Speed Channel laptop, watching a re-run of qualifying on Speed Channel.

I'll start as soon as Kermit tells me how many races he's been to.

GO

i knew it just a matter of time until you get in on this....lol
how was the Allstar race? Mark Martin is my man! i'm so glad he won that night...he really deserves it!

yousef

[RutRoe]

It's just really funny to me.. I mean, it's not like he's calling me out, but in a way I feel like it.

All star race was crazy, but I guess not that impressive to Kermit since tons of SCCA guys race for 1 million dollars all the time... oh wait. No they don't.

I'm not hating but I'll share some experiences here...


Tonight, at Charlotte's Speed Street, I MC'd for our trackside Live show... I stood on stage in front of 10,o00 people and got the crowd pumped up before I introduced our hosts. 10,000 people in the middle of downtown charlotte all going crazy for Speed and Nascar.

It was incredible... I was on my game and the people were fired up. Why ? Because they have passion about something.

If you've never been to a race before, you commenting on it is like me talking shit about the Space program that NASA puts on. What the hell do I know about it ?

The sport is crazy for sure. The speed, the rumble of when a car passses you at 200 mph... it's insane. and if you've never been inside for a race you probably aren't going to get it.

The corportate side of NASCAR is obvious. Like many other things in our culture, Cash RUles Everything Around Me (CREAM) and in our country if there is good money to be made all the big dogs want it and that's exactly what's happening.

We are owned by Fox, so in the end, it's their call. But what has put us truly on the map is the EXTENSIVE Nascar coverage. Does that mean I don't want to see more F1 or American Le Mans series? Hell no.

Dig it though... Two Wheel Tuesday, Build or Bust, Unique whips... we've got tuns of shows for other stuff too.

Plus premiering June 29 is an all new show called "Pinks" which is a show where people talk shit, they race, and if they lost the race, they lose their car. Real life, real cars and it's awesome.

But like others said, you can either start your own motorsports network, you can realize that since it is a motorsport and you're an auto-enthusiast that it's ok to support it even if it's not your #1, or you can go get on www.SpeedTV.com and join the insider message boards and start preaching what you want done.

Either way, in the end, you don't really know that much about Nascar or the skill that is involved in the sport. Did you know that more and more guys who become crew chiefs have degree's in Mechanical Engineering? You probably did since you know tons about the sport

[quickdodge®]

I only know that I don't like it. I think it sucks. I think it is a waste. But these are all my opinions. It is what I think. I am not telling others to think that way. I don't hate on you or anyone else who does like it. I understand the money aspect of it. I just hated that Speed went to NASCAR as heavily as they did. I don't like turning to Speed and all I see is NASCAR. I miss watching nothing but everything but NASCAR. Later, QD.

[Kermit]

Alrighty, looks like a couple of people got a little upset.

Pink Taco-I have never taken a ride around a track in a NASCAR, I hope you enjoyed yourself. I have however, taken hot laps around Road Atlanta in a Panoz and have driven myself on several tracks including, but not limited to, Road Atlanta, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Roebling Road, Little Talladega, and a few others. So I too, know how the stressors effect the body in similiar types of conditions.

Rut Roe-It was said by me, and more than once, that my complaint wasn't that NASCAR was on TV, my complaint is that when you turn on SPEED, NASCAR is all you see. NASCAR this, NASCAR that, NASCAR everything. And your comment about the SCCA guys not racing for a million dollars--you're right, the purse isn't that large. But, I think that's what makes them more impressive. The majority of people who race in the SCCA use their own money to buy, fund, fix, and run, and they do it without million dollar purses. And to reply about me supporting NASCAR-No. Many many years ago, the 2 letters that are in the exact middle of NASCAR, "SC" used to mean something. No longer to they have any relevance. If they do, someone please tell me what Ford dealership I can go to to get a RWD Taurus, much less one with a V8. Which brings me to you comments about Mechanical Engineers and their role in NASCAR. They are required, you'd have to be an engineer to work on something that you would never see otherwise! So, no, I'm not impressed and what does the level of education of the crew chiefs have to do with the sport anyway? Has SPEED done a show on that too?

[The Yousef]

Has SPEED done a show on that too?

actually they do...it's called NASCAR performance.....lol

but yeah i see your point....i actually like you idea about splitting up the network....Speed1 can be like the old Speedvision, while Speed2 can be all NASCAR...but the problem is finding advertisers willing to advertise just for Speed1....

yousef

[RutRoe]

Hey Kermit,

I wasn't meaning to sound pissed, just trying to sound like I was supporting something I am a part of, which I am sure you can understand.

My only thoughts for your really should be that one, you need to go to a race to really understand it. If you have a real interest in it, then I'll look for a pit pass and a ticket and you can go with me in the fall to Atlanta and see how much stuff there is.

Two, I'd just figure out a stance that shows you support motorsports of all kinds, TV networks that can actually survive showing the stuff, and the people who are into the different catagories.

I have no interest in high HP drag boats, but I still give those people props you know?

I'll post some pics tomorrow of what the stage looked like when I was MC'ing and you can see how many fans there are in soem of these cities.

[quickdodge®]

You have no choice. You have to like NASCAR. Lolol. Later, QD.

[jdmlude]

lmao, i completely agree..i really can't fathom why it's soo watched in america? nascar is the remedial school of racing (and most of indy)...circle track racing is so insipid, and come on, only 4 drive gears???LAME

f1 is where it's at, but cherish the rest of this year b/c next year no more v10's, FIA is regulating to v8's, which is freaking lame...

[Kermit]

RutRoe--If given the opportunity, I probably would go to a NASCAR race. In the end, I am a race enthusiast, of all kinds. I will be the first to admit though, that NASCAR is very near the bottom of the list for many reasons. But you're right, I have never been to a race, and although unlikely, after having been to one I may see it differently??? As far as NASCAR on SPEED is concerned, I just think that they've gone way over the top with the coverage and shows involving NASCAR, the drivers, their family, their pets, their poker matches, etc etc. There are races of all sorts all over the world, yet we are forced to watch NASCAR or nothing at all, and I don't understand why it has to be that way. For example, I don't understand how anyone would rather watch NASCAR drivers playing poker than an actual race with real cars. SPEED used to not be that way, and I wish they'd go back to the way they used to be.

[quickdodge®]

I agree with Kermit. Why not change the name of the channel to NASCARvision, or something. Being at a NASCAR Race is probably a little more exciting than watching it on TV, but it is still watching cars go in a circle. That gets really boring to me after a lap or two. Anything is better live rather than on TV, except for a Simon and Garfunkel concert). But it seems that Speed is NASCAR dependent. I used to love waking up on Saturday mornings and watching BTCC and at nights watching the WRC. Now there is none of that. Later, QD.

[Kermit]

Werd-NASCARAVISION

[B16a2 Civic]

i miss Kermie

[civic95]

NASCAR > all other sports

[Spyder]

NASCAR > all other sports

BAHAHAHHAHAAHHAH!

[Spyder]

i miss Kermie

I see he has been logged on recently but hasnt posted.. odd.