All weekend I'm going to be covering the opening Formula One Grand Prix of the season live at my F1 blog The Black Stuff. This is a hugely daunting task.
I've never really done the whole live sports coverage thing before. I've done more analysis than I can shake a stick at, and taken part in umpteen of these live chats with the guys over at Shutdown Corner, but never actually done one myself.
Well, still, lets see how I cope. Drop in over the weekend and check it out -I'll be live whenever the cars are on the track.
Showing posts with label nascar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nascar. Show all posts
Friday, 12 March 2010
Thursday, 4 March 2010
Introducing: The Black Stuff
Once more no OC for you guys as I've been just ridiculously busy recently getting some new projects off the ground. One of them is my new F1 blog, www.TheBlackStuff.co.uk
Go There.....now... GO!
Go There.....now... GO!
Monday, 15 February 2010
NASCAR Daytona 500 Hour by Hour
As I sometimes do, I recorded my thoughts throughout an event. Here are my thoughts on the Daytona 500...
17:58 – I do love the over the top intro videos that you get on big sporting events.
18:02 – I love the whole patriotism thing you get before the flag as well. You don't get that over here, sadly.
18:05 – I love how in F1, a great race has a lead change on the track. In NASCAR, a great race is a 'Crashfest'.
18:08 – Obligatory Danica Patrick mention #1
18:16 – Only in America do you get commentators plugging beer on air during a race.
18:21 – Boogity Boogity Boogity! Let's go racing!
18:29 – That wasn't long before the first crash, was it?
18:39 – How Juan Pablo Montoya hasn't just spun everyone else out yet is beyond me.
18:46 – I blinked and missed it – what happened to Mark Martin? He was in the lead last I saw...
18:47 – Oh yeah, caution pit stops. I knew that, don't any of you say that I didn't.
18:56 – This is where NASCAR does get a little dull, when nobody is crashing and it's all single file. I mean, I know that is F1 all the time but at least in that you get more interesting circuits.
19:11 – Crash, damn you. 50 laps with one caution is just not good enough. CRASH!!
19:13 – My laptop is running like mud recently. Methinks a spring cleaning is in order tomorrow.
19:22 – Mass pitstops!! Is there a more beautiful sight?
19:29 – Yes – the whole field running close at top speed. Freaking awesome!
19:57 – Why do US sports analysts always tell UK audiences that the race\game\etc. is like some chess match on speed?
20:03 – Oh Dale Jr. “It's fun being that lose, but I don't think it's going to be very productive”
20:10 – CRASH! All I want is one 10 car pile up, is that too much to ask?
20:15 – Popping Tyres. When will people learn drugs and racing don't mix.
20:43 – I go for dinner and find everyone stopped in pit road! WHAT HAPPENED!?
20:45 – The track broke. How the hell does a track break...
20:50 – I love Dale Earnheart Jr. Wise cracks and baseball trivia in race, that is the way to roll.
20:56 – Seriously, how does a track break? I've heard of relaying tarmac overnight but an in race repair? Yikes...
21:28 – Yawn. The guys are now talking about who should QB the Eagles next year. RACE AND CRASH DAMN YOU!
21:43 – Don't get me wrong, I like hearing from all the drivers, but dear lord is it boring. Still, I'm a man and as a man shall see this through to the end.
21:55 – They are getting back in their cars! Woop! I don't care if it will still be 20 minutes or so till the green flag goes, they are getting ready!
22:10 – WE ARE RACING! Fucking finally...
22:20 – Pack racing at 190mph. This is what we want, why not start this race at night if this is the result?
22:26 – I would love to spin a NASCAR car like Allmenginger just did. Looks kick ass fun.
22:41 – So the racing gets good, and the track breaks again. Nice one, NASCAR, way to look competent.
22:44 – Wohoo! Another hole!
22:47 – If they call NASCAR's flagship race because of an asphalt problem on a NASCAR owned track, then they deserve all the stick they get. This is absolutely bleeding ridiculous. Seriously, you would never get the Super Bowl match called off over the pitch, the Monaco GP over a track problem, the World Series over a pitchers mound or the Stanley Cup over an ice problem. Why can't NASCAR get their track sorted for THEIR flagship event?
22:58 – Dear NASCAR Drivers – Yes, I wish that they would just race around it too.
23:18 – RACE DAMN YOU! I WANT TO GO TO BED!
23:23 – Juan Pablo Montoya? More like Juan Porky Montoya AMIRYTE!?
23:26 – That's a good point – why does everyone harp on about Schumacher racing at 41 when Mark Martin does it at 51? I know F1 is very different to NASCAR, but still...
23:28 – The Sky Sports studio guys nearly just kicked seven bells out of each other. Proper Oprah\Brees awkward.
23:42 – Come on, race already! It's been nearly six hours of my life I have dedicated to this! Oh, and crash too. Kthxbai.
23:57 – I've always liked Scott Speed, so here is hoping there is a caution.
00:05 – You get the feeling that this is going to end in one big crash as everyone goes for broke. Or at least, I hope thats what happens.
00:16 – Here we go – shootout time. Can. Not. Wait.
00:22 – Right, let's try that again.
00:25 – So glad I didn't back Khane. Nearly did, though...
00:35 – Well after 6+ hours, well done Jamie McMurray. SLEEEEEEP.
17:58 – I do love the over the top intro videos that you get on big sporting events.
18:02 – I love the whole patriotism thing you get before the flag as well. You don't get that over here, sadly.
18:05 – I love how in F1, a great race has a lead change on the track. In NASCAR, a great race is a 'Crashfest'.
18:08 – Obligatory Danica Patrick mention #1
18:16 – Only in America do you get commentators plugging beer on air during a race.
18:21 – Boogity Boogity Boogity! Let's go racing!
18:29 – That wasn't long before the first crash, was it?
18:39 – How Juan Pablo Montoya hasn't just spun everyone else out yet is beyond me.
18:46 – I blinked and missed it – what happened to Mark Martin? He was in the lead last I saw...
18:47 – Oh yeah, caution pit stops. I knew that, don't any of you say that I didn't.
18:56 – This is where NASCAR does get a little dull, when nobody is crashing and it's all single file. I mean, I know that is F1 all the time but at least in that you get more interesting circuits.
19:11 – Crash, damn you. 50 laps with one caution is just not good enough. CRASH!!
19:13 – My laptop is running like mud recently. Methinks a spring cleaning is in order tomorrow.
19:22 – Mass pitstops!! Is there a more beautiful sight?
19:29 – Yes – the whole field running close at top speed. Freaking awesome!
19:57 – Why do US sports analysts always tell UK audiences that the race\game\etc. is like some chess match on speed?
20:03 – Oh Dale Jr. “It's fun being that lose, but I don't think it's going to be very productive”
20:10 – CRASH! All I want is one 10 car pile up, is that too much to ask?
20:15 – Popping Tyres. When will people learn drugs and racing don't mix.
20:43 – I go for dinner and find everyone stopped in pit road! WHAT HAPPENED!?
20:45 – The track broke. How the hell does a track break...
20:50 – I love Dale Earnheart Jr. Wise cracks and baseball trivia in race, that is the way to roll.
20:56 – Seriously, how does a track break? I've heard of relaying tarmac overnight but an in race repair? Yikes...
21:28 – Yawn. The guys are now talking about who should QB the Eagles next year. RACE AND CRASH DAMN YOU!
21:43 – Don't get me wrong, I like hearing from all the drivers, but dear lord is it boring. Still, I'm a man and as a man shall see this through to the end.
21:55 – They are getting back in their cars! Woop! I don't care if it will still be 20 minutes or so till the green flag goes, they are getting ready!
22:10 – WE ARE RACING! Fucking finally...
22:20 – Pack racing at 190mph. This is what we want, why not start this race at night if this is the result?
22:26 – I would love to spin a NASCAR car like Allmenginger just did. Looks kick ass fun.
22:41 – So the racing gets good, and the track breaks again. Nice one, NASCAR, way to look competent.
22:44 – Wohoo! Another hole!
22:47 – If they call NASCAR's flagship race because of an asphalt problem on a NASCAR owned track, then they deserve all the stick they get. This is absolutely bleeding ridiculous. Seriously, you would never get the Super Bowl match called off over the pitch, the Monaco GP over a track problem, the World Series over a pitchers mound or the Stanley Cup over an ice problem. Why can't NASCAR get their track sorted for THEIR flagship event?
22:58 – Dear NASCAR Drivers – Yes, I wish that they would just race around it too.
23:18 – RACE DAMN YOU! I WANT TO GO TO BED!
23:23 – Juan Pablo Montoya? More like Juan Porky Montoya AMIRYTE!?
23:26 – That's a good point – why does everyone harp on about Schumacher racing at 41 when Mark Martin does it at 51? I know F1 is very different to NASCAR, but still...
23:28 – The Sky Sports studio guys nearly just kicked seven bells out of each other. Proper Oprah\Brees awkward.
23:42 – Come on, race already! It's been nearly six hours of my life I have dedicated to this! Oh, and crash too. Kthxbai.
23:57 – I've always liked Scott Speed, so here is hoping there is a caution.
00:05 – You get the feeling that this is going to end in one big crash as everyone goes for broke. Or at least, I hope thats what happens.
00:16 – Here we go – shootout time. Can. Not. Wait.
00:22 – Right, let's try that again.
00:25 – So glad I didn't back Khane. Nearly did, though...
00:35 – Well after 6+ hours, well done Jamie McMurray. SLEEEEEEP.
Thursday, 11 February 2010
Motor Racing and how it Ruined The Western World
Lets face it, motor sport probably has the most elitist fans in the world. I don't mean that in a bad way, its just that each set of fans will stand up for their own particular discipline of motor sport with the sort of passionate fanboy-dom that is usually reserved for video game consoles and professional wrestling.
Moto GP and Superbike fans will mock those who take to four wheels, drag racers will argue their place atop of the hill due to their lightening quick reactions and rally drivers will consider themselves gods among men for their all terrain racing, despite the fact they never have to overtake anyone. Elsewhere, Formula One will continue to consider itself at the top of the world with a sense of elite pomp while touring car fans will argue that their rough and tumble variety of circuit racing is tops.
One thing, though, is true of pretty much all motor sport fans – they all dump on oval racing. Well, that is unless you are an oval fan to begin with, in which case you obviously think your discipline is tops.
I must admit, I used to be a part of the badwagon that jumped up and down at NASCAR and IndyCar saying that it isn't real racing as you don't turn right. “Oh no, he forgot to turn left!” I used to shout when they crashed, and I used to write oval racing off as boring. I was a true F1 and Touring Car fanboy, I was. Especially the not racing in the rain thing, that annoyed the hell out of me as the best F1 races are often in the wet.
Then, like most sports I'm not a huge fan of, I gave it a go. And I tell you what, it is awesome.
The racing and tempo is obviously a lot different to that of, say an F1 race. In Formula One, the lead may only change one or two times in a race and if you're lucky you might get one or two cars spin off innocently into a gravel trap. In NASCAR, however, you will see the lead change one or two times every ten minutes and seven or eight huge smashes are considered the bare minimum.
The main problem I think that a lot of trad circuit racing fans and oval fans have when trying to cross over to each others style of motor sport is that the philosophies are different. In F1, the aim of the race is to stay in complete control of your vehicle through a whole circuit, holding on to your own position while trying to catch the car in front. The emphasis is just as much on putting together a qualifying lap and nailing strategy as it is on getting your breaking and acceleration points right. Also, there is a huge emphasis on the car as a whole.
In NASCAR, it is proper mayhem, though. You get respites of yellow flag periods, where the race goes under safety car after a crash until the circuit is clear, but the rest of the time it is about running as close to the edge as you can get. You get packs of 40 plus cars all travelling around the 200mph mark, something that is impossible in any other discipline of racing, and then you see it all come to a pause when they crash into each other. Even the pit stops are so much cooler in NASCAR, to the point where the mechanics are often recruited out of college as athletes.
The long and short of this is just this – give other kinds of motor sport a chance. And if you like crashes, and frankly that is the only reason anyone ever watches motor sport, watch NASCAR and feel like a proper Roman.
If you don't know, the Daytona 500 is on Sunday. Check back here after the race for my thoughts. I'll be logging them.
Moto GP and Superbike fans will mock those who take to four wheels, drag racers will argue their place atop of the hill due to their lightening quick reactions and rally drivers will consider themselves gods among men for their all terrain racing, despite the fact they never have to overtake anyone. Elsewhere, Formula One will continue to consider itself at the top of the world with a sense of elite pomp while touring car fans will argue that their rough and tumble variety of circuit racing is tops.
If you like this, chances are you also like prawn sandwiches
One thing, though, is true of pretty much all motor sport fans – they all dump on oval racing. Well, that is unless you are an oval fan to begin with, in which case you obviously think your discipline is tops.
I must admit, I used to be a part of the badwagon that jumped up and down at NASCAR and IndyCar saying that it isn't real racing as you don't turn right. “Oh no, he forgot to turn left!” I used to shout when they crashed, and I used to write oval racing off as boring. I was a true F1 and Touring Car fanboy, I was. Especially the not racing in the rain thing, that annoyed the hell out of me as the best F1 races are often in the wet.
Then, like most sports I'm not a huge fan of, I gave it a go. And I tell you what, it is awesome.
The Colleseum circa 2010
The racing and tempo is obviously a lot different to that of, say an F1 race. In Formula One, the lead may only change one or two times in a race and if you're lucky you might get one or two cars spin off innocently into a gravel trap. In NASCAR, however, you will see the lead change one or two times every ten minutes and seven or eight huge smashes are considered the bare minimum.
The main problem I think that a lot of trad circuit racing fans and oval fans have when trying to cross over to each others style of motor sport is that the philosophies are different. In F1, the aim of the race is to stay in complete control of your vehicle through a whole circuit, holding on to your own position while trying to catch the car in front. The emphasis is just as much on putting together a qualifying lap and nailing strategy as it is on getting your breaking and acceleration points right. Also, there is a huge emphasis on the car as a whole.
In NASCAR, it is proper mayhem, though. You get respites of yellow flag periods, where the race goes under safety car after a crash until the circuit is clear, but the rest of the time it is about running as close to the edge as you can get. You get packs of 40 plus cars all travelling around the 200mph mark, something that is impossible in any other discipline of racing, and then you see it all come to a pause when they crash into each other. Even the pit stops are so much cooler in NASCAR, to the point where the mechanics are often recruited out of college as athletes.
The long and short of this is just this – give other kinds of motor sport a chance. And if you like crashes, and frankly that is the only reason anyone ever watches motor sport, watch NASCAR and feel like a proper Roman.
If you don't know, the Daytona 500 is on Sunday. Check back here after the race for my thoughts. I'll be logging them.
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