Saturday, February 23, 2008

UNIFICATION - Humor Me and Read This

As a blogger, I realize that many of my readers are stay-at-home moms that home educate their children. I should know, because I'm married to one of my readers and she fits the mold. I'm also quite certain that the rest of you that read this might not be interested in the content of this post, but I need all of you to humor me and read this, anyway.

I haven't said too much on my blog about how much I love open-wheel racing and the Indy 500. If you don't know what open-wheel racing is, it's the kind of cars you see at...the Indy 500 and Formula 1 races and Champ Car races (if you know any of this). No fenders. Really fast cars.

If I tell most folks that I like "racing" it instantly conjures up images of Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr...you know, NASCAR. I'm not going to knock NASCAR (biting tongue right now), but I'm an open-wheel fan. Believe it or not, before NASCAR became a national obsession, the Indy 500 and IndyCars were the biggest thing going in this country. So, now you know about that.

Please, keep reading. It's important to me.

Yesterday something VERY IMPORTANT HAPPENED. This goes back to 1996 when open-wheel racing was ripped into two separate racing series. At this point, it's not worth pointing fingers. Not only did it split the racing teams in two different directions, it also split the fans. From 1996 until recently there was the IRL (Indy Racing League--also known as the Indy Car Series) and ChampCar (which was called CART until recently).

Did I mention that yesterday something VERY IMPORTANT HAPPENED?

After all this time, the two managed to get back together. It's a dream come true for a dork like me. If you're a racing fan and you're reading this, it's really time that you give IndyCar racing a chance...or a second chance.

Thanks for reading. You can now go back to whatever it was that you were doing.

12 comments:

Elephantschild said...

It's about bloody well time. I prefer open-wheel, too. The crashes are better, among other things.

In '96 I stopped following Indy cars because all of a sudden I didn't know any of the drivers and I wasn't allowed to call them Indy cars anymore. Phooey. We haven't had cable TV for years, and I miss being able to watch the occasional race.

(My dad raced hobbystock on a 1/4 mile dirt/mud oval when I was a little squirt. They used to run the Modified time trials first 'cus the alcohol-fuel smell chased all the mosquitoes away. Wait - they STILL do that, and when I go in the summer with my Dad, he says stuff like, "That kid drives just like his dad always did.")

Big Doofus (Roger) said...

Elephantschild - My opinion of you (which was already good) just moved up several notches. I'm impressed.

The unified series will more than likely still be called the Indy Car Series, but it will have all of the drivers (well, most of them). You still may not know them, but it's a good time to start over. However, all of the cars will be painted mauve, which is the official color of unification. :)

Mr. E said...

I used to watch the Indy 500 every year, much like I watch opening day baseball! But for some reason I stopped. I got into NASCAR for a little while but it got boring. I hate Jeff Gordan and Tony Stewart. Maybe I should watch a little more "open-wheel" races again.

Elephantchild is right. The crashes are more spectacular. And you always have the chance at seeing Danika Patrick throwing another tantrum. That was too funny! Let's just hope all she takes off is her helment.

I will try watching a few more races this year and get back with you.

Unknown said...

Well, you HAVE to have a high opinion of me whether I am an open-wheeled racing fan or not, or even if I don't know what in the heck you are talking about! Seriously, though, I know this is a big deal to you and...wait, Jeff Gordon isn't an open-wheel driver?

Qtpies7 said...

Sorry, totally not my thing. But I'm sure all the poop stories on my blog are not your thing, lol.

Elephantschild said...

Hi, there, Sniz- Jeff Gordon is eye-candy for us ladies and he has a hot wife.

That's the REAL reason nobody likes him....

(ducking and running..... hee, hee, hee.)

Qtpies7 said...

Oh, now that is funny! I went to the speech meet and was saying how it was all geeks!!! My son prefers the term "nerd" though. And he is a drama geek, too! His speeches are basically a one person drama. LOL

Tech Daddy said...

Big Doofus (boy, it just feels kind of wrong addressing someone like that), that's for the comment on my blog and for putting me on your side bar. I've reciprocated.

It's funny that you found my blog through Mr. E's blog, because I first read your blog because he had you on his side bar. Well, maybe not funny, but ironic?

Anyway, thanks, and I'll be reading more often.

shay said...

So I couldn't get past "open wheeled racing" so I guess I fit the mold lol.

Mighty Morphin' Mama said...

Hey, my husband and I were just talking about this. He was explaining it all to me and all I could hear was this humming sound as he spoke.
Actually I used to watch indy with my dad as a kid and here in Edmonton we have a terrific Grand Prix every summer, the first one started the day my daughter was born and we could hear the races from the hospital room. Exciting.

Big Doofus (Roger) said...

That Edmonton race was a ChampCar race. However, it's rumored that it will stay on the schedule (along with a handful of other ChampCar events) for this year, but with the unified series. Even though I've been mostly an IRL fan over the years, I always looked forward to watching that Edmonton race on TV.

Unknown said...

It's the little things in life that mean so much isn't it?