As the economy sputters into disrepair, this is how more and more people are watching auto racing

QUESTION: why don't we do what we used to do...and cover the late news on as many series as possible? Quite simply, today's news is, as someone used to say, only fit to wrap fish. It's old, it's done, and it's time to move on to the next thing, unless you are really into reading old, stale news. In my opinion, there are many, many very capable people out there covering racing at every angle. I would rather cover why people race because definitely. it's not for the faint of heart. Hurling a giant mix of metal parts at high speeds is a reckless, dangerous, fascinating thing for people to do, and not everyone has the stomach for it...but a lot of people like to watch, to root for someone, or hate someone, or wish they had the finances, time, opportunity and guts to try it.

We care about the big sanctions to the little guys, the newbies to the veterans. If it's racing, it can't be all bad. We want race tracks to prosper, racers to win and race fans to be happy. Race tracks like Daytona International, Texas Motor Speedway and Atlanta are helping lead the way with deals for fans on tickets and souvenirs and working with local hotels to cut room rates. When racing fans come to town in droves, room rents shouldn't go up...they should go down so more fans can afford the trip.

It's not NASCAR but then most of racing today isn't NASCAR. There are lots of other great series and sanctions such as NHRA, and our own personal favorite, IMCA, which allows little guys opportunities many series don't. It's open to anyone with a little money and a qualifying car.

Both cars above have "bit the bullet" so to speak, for the present time. They are "resting" while our family driver Dave gets ready to trot out a new model for 2009...the IMCA Modified called Cujo. The thing about a race car is the same as a pickup--they aren't ever really dead...parts of them can always go on to something else.

LATE NEWS

Familiar names get on track with an eye to the future...

A trio of Georgia NASCAR upstarts in David Ragan, Reed Sorenson and Joey Logano (from right to left) pose with a photo from their career as youths driving Legends and Bandolero cars at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The original photo was taken at Lanier National Speedway.

Anything about racing, anytime, Coming soon, our racing blog. We call it "Spare Parts" because doesn't everyone in racing have some of those? E-mail us.

The biggest problem with going to a major auto race now, in these uncertain times, is, quite honestly, the cost.

Did you ever, as we have, discover when you arrived in a town for a big race, suddenly everything is higher? The philosophy for some seems to be, while the fans are in town, rip them all for all you can.

But Atlanta is making a stab at cutting costs for visitors. True, I don't consider $130 for a motel room a "bargain" but it's better than previous times. Atlanta has a new agreement, with some motels/hotels to give the fans a break. At least you can get an idea of what it's going to cost instead of getting that "big surprise" when you check out.

Atlanta Motor Speedway Partners with Local Hotels to Cap Rates for Fans Attending 2009 NASCAR Events in Atlanta

HAMPTON, Ga. (February 6, 2009) – In an ongoing effort to make attending Atlanta Motor Speedway NASCAR events more economically feasible for its fans, Atlanta Motor Speedway has partnered with local hotels to offer fans discounted room rates.

Atlanta Motor Speedway is working with more than 20 area hotels to provide NASCAR fans with rooms priced at $125 or less. Each cooperating hotel will not require multiple-night stays and will provide locked-in rates for fans using promotion code, “AMS Discount.”

“As a part of our ongoing commitment to providing fans the best race experience at a reasonable price, we have partnered with local hotels to provide acceptable rates to our fans,” said Ed Clark, president and general manager of Atlanta Motor Speedway. “We are already offering a number of special ticket prices and providing these hotel rates can only help to make attending events at Atlanta even more affordable for the fans who have supported us throughout the years.”

Fans can visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com to view the list as additional hotels are added. Atlanta is offering a payment plan for tickets. Good deal!

Fans have needed a "payment plan" for tickets for a long time. I always resented that certain tracks wanted a full season's ticket money and they wanted it before Christmas. That made them have a merry Christmas but didn't do much for me. It's about time someone in power at NASCAR realized how expensive their racing dates are for the average fan. People who wanted to go were priced out. Maybe this will be a wave of the future if NASCAR wants to continue to thrive and do well in a down economy. Do you think about why TV, video and web sites are doing so well? It's because going in person has become so expensive.

People still want to be race car drivers. Maybe you are one of them.

You're standing in the wind, covered with dust and greasy grime. Your hair is on end, caked in grunge from wearing that helmet with the padding inside that is beginning to reek from old fear sweat.

Your pants are creeping up into your crotch, the legs are too short because the elastic around the bottoms of them is crawling up your thighs as well. Your shoes are so thin on the soles you can feel every pebble underfoot. Worse than that, they are supposed to be that way, and they cost more than any shoes you've ever owned. .

Altogether, within one hour, you've been elated, hopeful, scared, furiously angry, in pain, and none of it with a sense of humor. You've been zippered, strapped in, bound down and suddenly discovered you most desperately needed to go to the bathroom. You considered going down the leg of your pants but what if the unexpected happened and you are thrust into bright lights with a microphone in your face and a camera dead on the center of you? Should that happen, a big wet patch on your trousers would not be very heroic looking.

But, no way that's going to happen, the winning interview that is, you realize with finality, after someone makes something like a crumpled soda can out of the car you've slaved over for weeks, and he doesn't even apologize. As he sails by you, he gives you the finger.

You aren't even sure what it is, and it came upon you in your most vulnerable of times, when you were young and innocent and totally unaware of what was about to hit you.

But what it is is a sport, a business, a pass-time, a recreation, a passion, a money-maker, a bigger money-sucker, an ego trip, an ego destroyer. It makes friends; it also destroys friendships, relationships, marriages and businesses. You are admired, envied, despised, questioned, misunderstood, laughed with, cried over, cursed at, hired, fired, abandoned, sought after and, in the end, dumped. Someone might let you announce, give interviews, write a book, or give a class, but, basically, you are dumped.

And people actually like this condition, seek it, long for it, struggle for it, suffer for it, but then...people do a lot of crazy things.

Many believe there is too much money being paid drivers, spent by teams, and that there is a disconnect between racers and ordinary fans. In these tough economic times between gas, (even with what may be a temporary gas reduction in price), overinflated motel prices, meals and souvenirs, the average fan for a "big" race can spend $1000 or more on a single event...even something like $500 on a Sat. night short track race on transporting the car, racing fuel, meals and entry fees for several people.

Our personal gripe lists includes price gouging by area motels (fans should get a discount-not a 2-3 time rate hike), plus unearthly prices for souvenirs. More fans are choosing to desert the stands and watch at home rather than deal with $40 t-shirts and $7 beers topped with massive traffic jams. Big time track owners' ideas of great deals...like two tickets for one price with one soft drink and hot dog thrown in are laughable. They need to cut prices to a realistic level, cut concession prices and actually sell decent food.

We'd like to know how you feel about: prices, crowds, parking problems, "getting out of the track", what about the COT...is it a vehicle you like to watch? Do you think NASCAR is fair when passing out penalties and fines? Is NHRA going to be bigger than NASCAR? What is your favorite kind of racing...big track, little track, bikes, dirt cars, midgets, sprints, dragsters...or something else?

Coming soon, paintings of not-famous racers, cartoons, t-shirts. Everything will be exclusive with us. If you are looking for help with anything written, visit our "other" site, www.jeanlawrence-artandwriting.com