I have attended both NASCAR and Formula 1 races. TV cannot possibly convey the speed these cars run. The first time I sat trackside in a practice session and watched an F1 car go buy at 215mph I pissed my pants. F1 cars represent the ultimate in tweaking... eveything is computerized: traction control, launch control, automatic transmission shifts (count 'em 7 speeds), engine performance (V10, compressed air valves and 17,000rpm) and telemetry. Some teams even have engineers at the tire plants full time. They even make computer models of all the tracks to set up their shocks and springs. I also love NASCAR because the cars can bang into each other, and the wall, without disentigrating. No high tech here... they use old fashioned carburetors, fuel pumps, and 4 speed manual transmissions with clutches. If you go to a race, wear your earplugs... race cars are seriously loud.
Any AudiogoNers Winston Cup fans?
Do any of you follow the NASCAR Winston Cup? Do you have any favorite driver? I've been following it over the last 10 or 12 years myself. Got into it while living for a short time in South Carolina in 1990 - 1991. Some friends took me to the tracks at Talladega and Darlington. Got into following Mark Martin. Watching the dance of a 200 mph traffic jam and pit stop strategy is pretty cool.