Let me explain...

From some of the recent post I'm afraid some here at RR may have the wrong opinion of my views, and in an effort to smooth the waters, I want to take a moment to state my position. I love NASCAR and have since 1972. Naturally in my eyes no other time in the sport can equal the thrills and excitement of the racing and competition of the early to late 70's.I still get chills when someone post a great picture of those BIG cars or I hear a great story. When I think of NASCAR racing, my thoughts go back to that era first.Even though the sport began many years before, in my eyes this was the beginning ofwhat we all feel in love with and what we have carried a passion for all these years.

I may not agree with some of the views and opinions I read here but I do appreciate the passion that comes through with every word, and I understand why some feel the way they do. My only beef is when I readthat the sport today is junk and NASCAR has turned it's back on the "Ol Timers" and forgot it's roots. I understand this argument but it is wearing thin. When faced with the options they have, I think NASCAR is doing a commendable job. Sure I don't agree with some of their decisions but I don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. The COT, dropping tracks from the series and the chase are some of the things I still have mixed feeling about, but I still tune in or buy a ticket to support the series. Try as they might NASCAR will never be able to bring the sport back to what it was when I fell in love with it. The stock bodied 2 door coupes are gone, never to return. As are the days when driver could carry a lesser car to the lead. All because of the efforts of the teams to get every millisecond out of the cars and the influence of the engineers in the sport. Can we exspect the teams to "Un-Learn" all the knowledge they have gainned over the last 30 plus years? No, and why should we.

We can fuss, scream and argue with each other but the sport has morphed (or defromed) into what we have today. I can appreciate the sport today while I wish and miss the days of yesterday. I can be disappointed by some of the changes but I don't have to be negitive or critical. No amount of criticism can reverse the sport back to my favorite era and I'm tired of trying to explain my views to others who don't know the era I'm talking about. Us Ol Timers know very well that we witnessed something special and are grateful when we fined ourselves with others and can share stories and re-live the racing of our past. I love RR for this reason and I hope that in the future when we find ourselves on different sides of an opinion we can all agree that it is the passion for the sport that drives us to such extremes.

Lets Go Racin'!

Bumpertag

S. Carolina

I will say Amen to that BT. We can not wind back the clock and I agree 100% with your thoughts.

As much as I love to debate with you on Racing I will commend you on this post. What the seasoned members on Racers Reunion do have in common are we all miss what WAS the best days of Nascar. Now we relive those days (as we did last weekend at Middle Ga Raceway) at tracks open and closed nitely here. Opinions are what keeps this site alive and jumping and a little technical thriller thrown in for good measure.

If you need a refresher course come to Columbia Speedway at their next reunion and you will see.

Well said BT. Always enjoy your perspective. I think it mirrors the feelings of many. I look at this site as..."therapy" sometimes. In effort to deal with a less-than-desired situation one often needs a place to express opinions (thats why shrinks get paid so well)). That situation will always bring out the "I liked it better then because"...discussions. Its all healthy so long as we don't stoop to personal attacks, etc. Keep it coming, BT.

Jeff

Good post B.T. Because I went through the era of the 50s, I thought it could be no better. Then the 60s came along and they were pretty awesome although we lost too many of our true pioneers and heroes that decade. You are right about the 70s. Maybe it was the age I was then, or maybe just the fact the racing was awesome, but the 70s were awesome. The 80s started out pretty good as far as I'm concerned and then started to slip. For me, personally, I'm sure, at least subconciously, it was because the Petty teams were becoming less competitive and I had grown up through Lee, then Richard, then Kyle. That was hard for me. I still pull for the number 43 anywhere it runs and no matter who drives it, but it's not the same. I still watch, I still read, and I still participate in present day NASCAR discussions and, as I've said many times, NASCAR will always be a part of me. But I miss the short tracks, I miss the dirt tracks, I miss the true personalities of the drivers of the past. I would rather spend the day with Rex White or Bobby Allison ANY DAY than the day with Kyle Busch or Carl Edwards. Not cutting down Kyle and Carl, just saying they don't have the connection, and never will, that these guys from the past have. Yet, it was these guys from the past that made possible what Kyle and Carl enjoy today. So, I am not crying over the hour glass running out of sand, I just prefer to remember the way things

were than try to envision where the sport is going when they take The Southern 500 from Darlington on Labor Day weekend. Such disregard for tradition clearly indicates what was, is no more and, as you say, never will be again. Yet, the sport continues and young guys with class like this year's Daytona 500 winner give me hope that there will be future heroes worth my time.

Tim

Thanks for all the kind words. I find that at times I pour out my heart and it doesn't come accross very well, and other times I connect with others that know just where I'm coming from. Those days make it all worth while. Thanks.

Bumpertag

Like Robbie, I don't recall anything that bad from you. I must've missed that discussion. I admit I don't watch as much as I used to, but I have more of a problem with broadcasting (Fox) than anything else. As far as the racing, it's the same 'ol same 'ol with the exception of this years Daytona 500. That was a race!!

Keep the discussions coming and I always enjoy a good civil debate...especially with Mallonee.