http://carcraft.com/upcomingevents/116_0508_rse/  

Don't waste your votes!

Be informed!

See the voting guide in the thread "RSE: Who you should vote for"

http://forums.carcraft.primediaautomotive.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=carcraft&msg=1478.1&ctx=0

Freiburger, keep up the GREAT work on the mag! It's the best I've seen since Cruisin' USA started back in the 80's. I'm glad to see you bring it back. Our cruise (at the time) was said to be the best in the US by CC. (Mesa, AZ, Sept 1980?)

Lastly, I'm trying to get some publicity for my website (for the Nascar section) which is a non profit site, and it's all out of my own pocket. My goal is to write full-time instead of part time as I do now. Any problem with posting links in here to outside webs sites? Just in case it's OK, here's the link: www.marksrants.com

The Nascar section is obviously the reason for the link. And yes, I would even give CC the OK to link to my site if you want.

somebody ban this spammer already

I'm not spamming. I happen to be asking Freiburger if it's OK to publicize my website. It's car related, and I've had hundreds of great email responses from it.

I've looked at a thousand posts on these boards, and 30% of them are written by the same people, spouting off the same thing. I'm not slamming them, but I'm sure you are. If CC has a problem with what I'm doing in here, I'm sure they'll delete the messages and you won't have to worry about seeing anything again.

If you've ever tried to start something from scratch, like I have and only promo it to maybe 50 people, and suddenly find 2000 people reading it, that says something. So I must be doing something right. As it says on my home page, if you don't like it, don't read it. There are plenty of people who are.

Thanks for your kind words.

What does this have to do with rse, the rants part is ok, but I hate nascar, with a passion almost as much as top fuel if its not a real car I can hit the street with some one should blow it up.  Maybe you should write to nascar people about getting back to strickly stock vehicles across the board then maybe the domestic auto manufacturers will build something worth paying for over three to five.  I mean honestly once it got homoginized you may as well watch slot cars go around in a circle.  Make it real fun and load the slot cars with lady fingers a long wick and pop you torch at them when they are on the close side of the track.  and then theres no sun burn heat exuastion morons.  Beer or anything else for that matter to deal with.  So instead of banning the author ban nascar all together, though please switch up the post a bit I'm sure a couple congrats on crusin usa are adequate.  I'm not voting I just want to see the results, maybe you could get spike or speed channel to cover the RSE event, speed channel could use some thing other than more lame A$$ nascar.  I actually almost never watch any of the fairly decent things the have on because I fear the dizzying affect of watching over payed people go in a circle.  

What does this have to do with rse, the rants part is ok,

The truth be told, the reason I wrote it in this particular thread, was because I wanted to reply directly to DF.

 So instead of banning the author ban nascar all together, though please switch up the post a bit I'm sure a couple congrats on crusin usa are adequate.  I'm not voting I just want to see the results, maybe you could get spike or speed channel to cover the RSE event, speed channel could use some thing other than more lame A$$ nascar.  I actually almost never watch any of the fairly decent things the have on because I fear the dizzying affect of watching over payed people go in a circle.

This will be me last post on Nascar on this thread...just for you: Because of Nascar, the auto manufacturers are learning more and more performance information that is being transferred to the cars that are on the market now. Your opinion on Nascar is noted, however, it IS the fastest growing sport, and certainly highest drawing sport of ANY sport in the US. More people see Nascar races in person than any other sport, not to mention the TV ratings are kicking butt on most of the other sports.

And finally, on the statement of watching overpaid people going around in a circle: These drivers literally take their lives and risk them every weekend, for the fans. When was the last time you heard about ANY pro football, basketball or baseball player go to an autograph signing event, just for the fans? Never, they want to be paid for their autographs. Several years ago I got disgusted with the whiny ass pro "athletes" who walked out, got locked out and held out for more money. Who paid? The fans did. (Even the IRL/CART split affected the fans...just look at the lame A$$ Indy 500) I watch Nascar and follow my favorite drivers, and the stories about them. I don't recall the last Nascar driver being at a party where a security guard was shot (Lavar Errington, Redskins, 6/25/05), or the last Nascar driver that shot his limo driver, or stabbed his pregnant firlfriend, or killed someone.

Also, Nascar can be proud of it substance abuse policy, and have athletes that kids can actually look up. Can football, basketball, or baseball be proud of their substance abuse policy? No. Embarrassed would be more like it.

So I'll take lame A$$ Nascar over all the other sports combined, anyday.

NASCAR used to be relevant.

(You want to see a NASCAR RANT?  I'm about to oblige)

When NASCAR required the manufacturers to actually make and sell what they raced, it was a decent proving ground and a manufacturer's sales tool.  

But modern "NASCARS" (Quoting one of the dictatorial France family members) have nothing to do with what Detroit sells.  NASCARS are simply common-template funny cars riding on a fabricated tube frame-- loosely based (and I mean LOOSELY) on an early '60s Galaxie 500, but "updated" with '60s GMC/Chevrolet-style "truck arms" and "front-steer" suspension geometry.  Peel off the decals and only a total track junkie can tell any difference between a NASCAR Ford, Dodge and Chevrolet.  None of the body parts fit any street car I'm aware of.  

Only Ford's NASCAR engine is even remotely similar to what Ford's sold for the street--over 20 years ago!  (Dodge is totally a racing design; Chevy uses wild splayed-valve SB2 heads which have never seen an OEM application).  In fact, NASCAR V8s are so divorced from Detroit street technology that they commonly use bearing sizes developed in Honda 4s!

Furthermore, "NASCARS" contain virtually none of the technology which is now common to the vehicles which the ubiquitous decals say the NASCARS are--common things such as 16"-18" wheels, 13" anti-lock brakes, overdrive transmissions, electronic fuel injection, supercharging, traction control, more than two valves per cylinder, overhead camshafts, aluminum blocks, IRS, unleaded gasoline (think about that nice dose of LEAD your kids are getting in the packed grandstands).  An 18-year old 5.0 Mustang or 5.7 Firebird is a higher tech piece than a CURRENT NASCAR (think about that for a while). 

 In fact, I suspect NASCARs abhorrence of technology has actually held back progress of American cars (Just imagine where we'd be now if NASCAR hadn't killed incentives for U.S. development of OEM fuel injection, supercharging and overhead cam engines for "stock cars" in the late '50s and early '60s).

(the RANT continues)

With the possible exception of aerodynamics and valve train stability and longevity, "NASCARS" have absolutely NOTHING to do with modern automobiles. Sure, the "racing" is occasionally stage-managed to be "exciting," but to seriously suggest that the cars are an OEM developmental tool is beyond the bounds of credibility.

"Win on Sunday, sell on Monday?" What a joke. I see scores of "3" and "8" decals on Toyotas and Hondas everyday. I see Viagra "6" licence plates on Chevy trucks and "24" decals on Mustangs (Why any Ford owner would even give that backstabbing scum JEFF GORDON the time of day amazes me).

Finally, NASCAR's insatiable greed for dollars has caused them to jettison venerable traditions such as the Southern 500--the first superspeedway race for stock cars at the first superspeedway in NASCAR country. Just imagine the outrage if some greedy promoters decided to dump the Indianapolis 500, the U.S. Nationals, the 24 heures Du LeMans or the Grand Prix of Monaco? Imagine the reaction if they bulldozed Wrigley Field! Yet NASCAR kills the Southern 500 for another (yawn) "event" at another (yawn) cookie-cutter 1.5 mile track without any apparent backlash or outrage!

Don't even get me started on the modern "homogenized" drivers . . . .

"Also, Nascar can be proud of it substance abuse policy, and have athletes that kids can actually look up."

Oh, you mean like Dale, Jr. saying stuff on national TV like "there's nothing wrong a cold Bud wouldn't fix." Or Dale Jr. "kickin' it" in his basement beer joint named "Club E" on MTV's "Cribs."  Or current champ Kurt Busch extolling the virtues of "Crown Royal?"   Or the 30+ years NASCAR gave away the "Winston Cup," paid for by cancer-causing, addictive cigarettes made by R. J. Reynolds. Or when R.J. Reynolds and U.S. Tobacco gave away products to barely-legal fans at the tracks. Or when NASCAR fans at Talladega shelled the #24 with beer cans in protest of a win under caution. Or "Rusty's Last Call."

NASCAR may be a lot of good things, but I sure don't want my kids looking to them for guidance on "substance abuse!"  What a joke!

And "athletes the kids can actually look up [to]?"

You mean like when Tony Stewart assaults reporters and curses (that's "cusses" for our Southern friends) on the scanner? Or Kevin Harvick or Robby Gordon or others lose it and start ramming other cars? Or the infamous intergenerational "feud" between "fat old" Jimmy Spencer and Kurt Busch?  Or when each of them spew through their litany of sponsors instead of answering any question put to them with candor? Or when "Ol' DW" jabbers nonsense like "boogity, boogity, boogity" and how wicked Toyota trucks are (after living off the largess of Chevrolet for three decades)?  I won't even mention the antics of the late Tim Richmond, Shane Hmiel, Kevin Grubb, Scott "DWI" Wimmer . . .  Yeah, I want my kids to be just like them . . . .

It's great to see the rebirth of the RSE. I tried to talk Henry D into bringing this back a few years ago.

In 1997 my car was selected  to participate  in the last RSE.  I had a great time and enjoyed hanging out with the staff for the week (Chuck, Miles, John, Marlin, etc...).  Good luck to the chosen.

Links to RSE12 write up.

http://www.geocities.com/forced347/_borders/CCPG1.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/forced347/_borders/ccpage2.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/forced347/_borders/ccpage3.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/forced347/_borders/Paul.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/forced347/_borders/mike.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/forced347/_borders/forced347.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/forced347/_borders/Craig.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/forced347/_borders/rocco.jpg

Well, a couple of posts back I said it would be my last Nascar post, but I guess not. THIS ONE WILL BE THOUGH.

Nascar grew into the sport it did because of Winston/RJR. SO DID DRAG RACING! Laws have been passed to stop the promotion of tobacco products, so you should be OK with that. 

If and when alcohol is found to be the cash cow that big tobacco is, it will get hammered down just like tobacco did. It's too bad there are too many politicians that own portions of beer distributors, etc. That one will never go. But beer is advertised on every channel with the exception of maybe Nickelodeon, so what's the problem with beer sponsorship?

By and large, Nascar should be proud of it's drivers and policies. Are there a few bad eggs? Sure, there are in any given segment of society, so I don't expect Nascar drivers to be perfect. But I'll take Nascar drivers as a group over NFL, NBA or MLB players any day of week.

I wrote an article damning Shene Hmiel for his suspension and even said I would support a lifetime ban for Hmiel.

Scott Wimmer was drinking and driving and was busted for it. He's paying his debt.

Tim Richmond was suspended from Nascar competition for massive amounts of decongestants and antihistimes I think. He died of AIDS.  Let him rest in peace.

I don't care much for Harvick or "Rubby" Gordon and have no problems with their penalties/probations, etc.

The point is Nascar DOES SOMETHING about it when one of their guys does something wrong.

Can't say the same for those role models like  OJ Simpson, Jamal Lewis, Ray Lewis, Rae Carruth, Darryl Strawberry, Allen Iverson, Leonard Little, and Kobe Bryant.

Yeah, that's who I want my kids looking up to. NOT.

this dude needs to get down to the hospital fast, and have his blood checked for testosterone. dude, you need to be reading motor trend or something like that.  

Time to drop this gay NASCAR is cool, NASCAR is crap stuff. This is an RSE thread as in Real Street Eliminator, which means, to my way of thinking, you're either in it or are building something or got something that should be in it.

All this other stuff is just a pissing contest between the have nots and the never will's. Post somewhere else please.

If this is a problem for you bring your stuff to Hot Rod's Drag Week and prove it up as you are not in the running for RSE. Other wise STFU!

We voted, I think every one just got caught up in the wanna be nascar jurnalists thing.  If your gonna be close to KC for the event maybe youl get great bend it was one of the first real tracks in america, though Californians probably think they invented racing all together.  If you do and drive from there to drag week hop off of 70 and take 24 a bit a little curvey and slower but people in those small towns like silver lake give you the thumbs up as you rumble through, even if you have a rust bucket like me.  Personally I hope both corvairs make it, send a post card to Nader,  I am sure we all aspire to have a car the quality of yours, and all that.  At the current build rate I will be atempting to enter about 2011.  So there is no need to talk smack.  Seriously though I wich you and all of the other potential competitors the best of luck.  And if you need a heads up on any of KC, KS, MO, OK, hospitality drop a line on here I was a sound engineer in the area for many years and can get you in to most clubs for free.