How do you do NASCAR correctly?

You will need to learn every life detail of every driver and commit it to memory. It is hard to believe the sport has nothing to do with race cars.

Mike

Hearing protection is a good idea, just keep a couple of those little spongy ear plugs in your pocket and see if you can stand the noise from where you're sitting. I'd recommend the white ones to be more subtle, rather than the blaze orange.
I hadn't heard about people keying imports - to be safe, why not take a cab so that you can partake in the turkey leg tradition and not risk messing up the car on the drive home?

Robert,

I'm heading to Vegas on Sat morning. And yes, I got tickets to the race. Unless you are sitting very close to the track, you will not need hearing protection. But it is loud. They don't call it rolling thunder for nothing. I wouldn't bother with the headphones. Never even heard about the turkey thing? I would NOT try to drive to the track on race day. Traffic jams are miles long! Drive the porch downtown to a secure garage and jump on a shuttle bus. They are allowed to go through the air force base and don't have to deal with the traffic. Nascar, if you take it for what it is, can be fun. Maybe I'll see you at the track.
Doug M

Hey Robert it's a once in a lifetime thing to do. I went to Taladega in '98. I'm not a fan at all. I can tell you it's better than Formula1 because you can follow the cars for more than the 2 seconds it drives by you at 300+ kilometers an hour. The euphoria is special. I prefered the fact you could follow the cars around the track; with binoculars, although it does take some effort. As stated the pre and post race tailgate parties are great, plus you will get a better show than going to the beach. One thing I was told to do (and I am sorry I did not), Go down to the fence when the cars are racing by and feel the sound boom and the air movement. Hey enjoy, have a great day at the races.

I think our seat are right by the track, so I will get hearing protection.

I am getting excited, which surprises me because I have been hatin' on NASCAR my entire life. Mostly just for fun, I actually have a huge respect for the business side of the series.

INZOWHO - I will have my iPhone, so I will have access to Facebook (if you use it), email and phone. Let me know if you want any of my info.

- Robert

I've been an auto racing fan my entire life and a serious NASCAR fan going on 23+ years. While a dorky jacket may not be required, a tee shirt and a hat will do you fine. Just make sure the hat has some kind of alcohol sponsor on it! I personally like listening to the radio commentation on headphones while watching. It gives you good insight as to what is going on on the race track.I've also been lucky enough to attend races at many different race tracks thruout the country. Unfortunately, one of my less enjoyable experiences was at Las Vegas. This is the only track I have been to where coolers were not allowed. I was able to purchase food and refreshments at the concession stands, but the beer served in plastic bottles got warm instantly, and then the concessionaires ran out of food....????? Have these people done this before???? All of that coupled with the fact that Dale Earnhardt had died just weeks earlier kinda soured my experience there. However, once we got back into town, all was forgiven! Have fun!

What does NASCAR stand for?

Non-Athletic Sport Centered Around Rednecks

Pretty boring really. But if you must go rent the headset and radio for $25 at the track so you can hear the driver and crew talk. It will also work for hearing protection.

quote:

Originally posted by LF - TP 2511:
What does NASCAR stand for?

Non-Athletic Sport Centered Around Rednecks

VERY original!!

quote:

How do you do NASCAR correctly?

....Don't watch it!

Well if you want to fit in, a mullet, prison tats and a few missing teeth help. If you go to an "infield party" just say no if a woman asks you if you want to ride bareback!! Also reherse string profanities together while shouting at the top of your lungs to the drivers.
Good luck, have fun!!!

I am going to have fun, no matter what you haters say. :-)

If nothing else, it will be an adventure.

- Robert

Robert,

I'll send you a PM with my cell phone #. I don't do the facebook thing but e-mail is good or even a quick phone call. Enjoy the race!!
Doug M

Rent the headsets you can listen to the commentators or the indiviual drivers banter to the crews, also if your seats do not have backs you can rent a seatback for about 6 bucks, well worth the money.
Also try not to be in a rush to leave I just stroll around until some of the crowds leave.
I went to my first NASCAR race on my 18th birthday at Richmond, Virginia Darrell Waltrip won that day, Feb 22nd 1981. A buddy and I left early on a sunday morning and we were the third car in line for the infield. Both of us were still in high school and had no idea what to bring. Back then there was NOTHING in the infield but port-a-jons. No food, nothing to drink. We were screwed cause we brought nothing but some money to survive on that day. Thank god some good people parked next to us saw what we had done and fed us and gave us anything we wanted during the race.
To cap off our day while driving home on I-64 we saw a huge wing from something on the highway in front of us and two teenage gearheads we HAD to see what this was. Well it was a hemi Superbird cruising down the interstate!! What a day!!
Jeff

Robert,
We're all waiting to hear how it went...
Did you have a blast?
Did you eat a turkey leg?
Were earplugs required in your seats, and/or did you go for the radio headsets?


It's still too cold in this part of the world for any car events, so we need to live vicariously (ok, so there are the ice car races, but otherwise, not a lot)

I arrived a couple of hours early so I could check things out. There was a lot of stuff to buy, but since I don't have a favorite driver, I wasn't into the gear.

I planned on having a turkey leg...until I saw the Shelby food stand featuring a $15, Special Addition, 427 burger. Four kinds of meat, two kinds of cheese, and seven toppings. It was basically two hamburgers crammed full of yummy stuff with big flags stuck in them. Frickin' awesome! I ate about 60% percent of it along with some funnel cake...and I didn't get sick!

This will sound corny, but I felt very patriotic sitting right in front of the main stage. They had a military honor guard, talked about our troops overseas, had a prayer, sang the national anthem and then the Thunderbirds flew right over my head. I watched people stand, remove their hats and sing...and they seamed to really mean it. I was touched.

The driver introductions happened right in front of me, but I didn't care. I don't know anything about the drivers. I didn't know they actually say "gentlemen, start your engines." That was fun.

The rolling start was exciting because the cars are so loud. We were in row 15 in the middle of the front straight, so I probably needed ear plugs, but I didn't get any. I liked hearing the motors. We were sitting right in front of pit row which was fun as well.

I probably should have rented the radio headphones, because I got board after about 80 laps. Too many cautions. By lap 141 I was sunburned, bored, and had no one to cheer for since the UPS car (I rooted for the car with the best looking graphics) broke. I was sort of pulling for the Cherrios/Hamburger Helper car, you know, because both of those things are yummy.

We left around lap 145, raced home and watched the rest of the race on TV just to see who won. Not sure why, I don't remember who it was.

So, I would say it was a fun experience. I did learn I can't watch cars drive in a circle for 280 laps. There just isn't enough action. I will stick with F1. I am glad I went.

I will post some photos when I get them off my camera.

- Robert