In article <ce3ogn$1er3$1@digitaldaemon.com>, Walter says...
>
>You might be right, I haven't been to a motorcycle race. What I mean by treating fans with respect is that when you buy a ticket to the event, you have access to the entire event, including the pits. You can walk right up to the mechanics working on the top fuel cars, watch them work, ask them questions, and get their autographs. They've always been happy to talk to me, and this aspect has always been much of the fun for me. This year, however, they kept us away from the staging area, which is a new restriction.

Well that's no fun.  If I went to a race I'd want a chance to talk to the mechanics.  After all, I'd think most "real" fans of the sport are gearheads, not groupies.


Sean

"Sean Kelly" <sean@f4.ca> wrote in message news:ce3qjr$1fnh$1@digitaldaemon.com...
> Well that's no fun.  If I went to a race I'd want a chance to talk to the mechanics.  After all, I'd think most "real" fans of the sport are
gearheads,
> not groupies.

I'm definitely in the gearhead camp. I find the technology fascinating, and couldn't care less about the personalities.

What was amusing this year was they apparently hit on the idea of selling their exploded engine parts as souveniers instead of throwing them out <g>.

I asked one chief mechanic if the kevlar blanket around the supercharger really worked in keeping the parts from an exploding blower contained. She said they hadn't tested that yet this year, crossing her fingers.

Walter wrote:
> 
> You might be right, I haven't been to a motorcycle race. 

I suggest you try one out!

> What I mean by
> treating fans with respect is that when you buy a ticket to the event, you
> have access to the entire event, including the pits. You can walk right up

At an AMA race you'll have to pay a bit extra for a Paddock pass - but then, you will also be able to stand at the edge of teams' tents (each garage is a tent off the side of a transporter) and watch mechanics prepare bikes.  That said, you won't talk to them - it'd be inappropriate while they are working (Thursday & Friday of a weekend you might be able to though).

Anyway, the racing is the best in the world.  (Tune in a MotoGP race on Speed for the absolute best racing action anywhere today)

> This is in stark contrast to airplane races, Formula 1, or boat racing.
> There, you're kept very far away from the pits by layers of security.
> Generally, you're treated with utter contempt despite being a paying fan.
> Formula 1 is the worst in this regard. No thanks, I'll stay away.

Well, in F1, you've got Millions, or, maybe Billions of $$$'s in play. Also, you've got many times the fans, spectators in attendance.

With NHRA, you've got a massively popular sport - which most people don't realize.  However, the number of events makes it so that attendance at any event isn't out of control.

F1 can see 200k people at a single event.  MotoGP 150k, and a big time AMA event (Laguna Seca) can hit around 110k.  At that point, things have to get less personal!

--Steve

"Stephen Waits" <steve@waits.net> wrote in message news:ce653q$2fnm$1@digitaldaemon.com...
> At an AMA race you'll have to pay a bit extra for a Paddock pass - but then, you will also be able to stand at the edge of teams' tents (each garage is a tent off the side of a transporter) and watch mechanics prepare bikes.  That said, you won't talk to them - it'd be inappropriate while they are working (Thursday & Friday of a weekend you might be able to though).

Of course. It would be quite rude to interrupt them when they are hard at work prepping for the next heat. Drag racing pits have the same setup, a tractor trailer with a tent coming off the side. The work area for the mechanics is simply cordoned off (some are, some aren't), there is no fence and no security. The fans simply respect it and don't interfere.

> > This is in stark contrast to airplane races, Formula 1, or boat racing. There, you're kept very far away from the pits by layers of security. Generally, you're treated with utter contempt despite being a paying
fan.
> > Formula 1 is the worst in this regard. No thanks, I'll stay away.
> Well, in F1, you've got Millions, or, maybe Billions of $$$'s in play. Also, you've got many times the fans, spectators in attendance.
>
> With NHRA, you've got a massively popular sport - which most people don't realize.  However, the number of events makes it so that attendance at any event isn't out of control.
>
> F1 can see 200k people at a single event.  MotoGP 150k, and a big time AMA event (Laguna Seca) can hit around 110k.  At that point, things have to get less personal!

I can understand that - but that makes it just not interesting to me. The drag racing organizers have put up signs making it clear that drag racing events can be hazardous to the spectators. That's part of the fun, but I suppose the day will come when a fan gets injured from exploding car parts, and the resulting lawsuits will ruin it for everyone. I'm a little surprised there aren't some serious fan accidents - years ago I saw a top fuel machine take off backwards when the light turned green (he had the silly thing in reverse!). Lots of people hang around behind them with no barriers at all, amazingly he didn't hit anyone and got it stopped before he hit the grandstand. (You'll note from the picture I was sitting off to the side, no way I'd sit right behind them!)

Walter wrote:

> "Stephen Waits" <steve@waits.net> wrote in message
> news:ce653q$2fnm$1@digitaldaemon.com...
> 
>>F1 can see 200k people at a single event.  MotoGP 150k, and a big time
>>AMA event (Laguna Seca) can hit around 110k.  At that point, things have
>>to get less personal!
> 
> 
> I can understand that - but that makes it just not interesting to me. The

Yes, and I'm interested in F1 for reasons other than the racing. Actually there isn't really any racing in F1, and hasn't been for a LONG time.  I just love the technology.  And yes, to a degree, I'm interested in the personalities.

Anyway, the AMA season is nearing its end with two races left, at Road Atlanta and VIR.  I'll be shooting at VIR on a media pass.  :)

Unfortunately, there's not really any venue up in the Northwest, or else I'd say you should really get to one of these events.  The nearest events are at Laguna Seca, Sears Point, and Pikes Peak I.R.

--Steve