Irresponsible Journalism
Once upon a time, people could read the daily newspaper and know that the tenants that govern journalists would prevail from their authors.
But after reading this piece from a California Newspaper, I have lost all faith in traditional news media. Besides having absolutely no point other than to declare his obvious rah-rah status for NASCAR, and his complete ignorance to drag racing, the author Paul Oberjuerge only goes against every tenant of journalism there is in one article.
Here's some of the highlights from this piece:
Dull? 8,000hp propelling a car from 0-330 mph over 1320 feet in under 4.5 seconds is dull? There is more horsepower in ONE CYLINDER than an entire NASCAR engine. Races can be decided by thousandths of a second, and the adrenaline is constantly pounding with each match. I could argue that watching a car that has as much horsepower as some of my past street-legal daily drivers have had going in circles for hours is DULL. But I'm not that closed-minded.
Oh, and I suppose that those same metal sticks of bleachers that make up Daytona are just so much more "grown up?" I've attended those races before. Lets see, you watch them roar past you, and then disappear in the backstretch for 60 seconds at a time before you see them fly by you again. And again. AND AGAIN. For 3+ hours straight. At least between rounds at NHRA race you can actually go into the pits and interact with the drivers and the crew members and see everything close up. You can go to the midway and buy parts for your own hotrod (because drag racing is accessible to ANYONE). There is always excitement and diversity at a race, no matter who/what your interests. There is Ford, Chevy, Mopar, Imports, Sedans, EFI, Nitro, Blowers, Alcohol, Gasoline, Turbos, Nitrous.... its endless. From rental car racers to full out dragsters. And while NASCAR may have live coverage, how many people are guilty (ME!) of just watching the final laps, because that's all that really matters anyways, right?
Yep, drivers just stand on the gas pedal. Because piloting a 8000hp rocket is so easy that ANYONE could do it, right??
Come on! I agree that NASCAR drivers have talent... but don't downplay the skills needed by drivers and crew of NHRA events.... In a race that lasts mere seconds, things can happen in the split second... drivers must react, and that kind of horsepower is hard to harness. Teams can completely rebuild an entire car in the 60 minute time frame between rounds. Not just fuel up and make tire changes. Rebuild an entire 8000 hp engine. In front of your very eyes.
There is a comment feedback section for this article, albeit censored. I was surprised that they did include my response, and of the 16 to date, ALL of them are supporting drag racing and blasting his skewed, biased, and ignorant opinion of the sport.
Have something to add? Comment back!
But after reading this piece from a California Newspaper, I have lost all faith in traditional news media. Besides having absolutely no point other than to declare his obvious rah-rah status for NASCAR, and his complete ignorance to drag racing, the author Paul Oberjuerge only goes against every tenant of journalism there is in one article.
Here's some of the highlights from this piece:
NHRA is dull, no matter how many times somebody runs 300 mph.
Dull? 8,000hp propelling a car from 0-330 mph over 1320 feet in under 4.5 seconds is dull? There is more horsepower in ONE CYLINDER than an entire NASCAR engine. Races can be decided by thousandths of a second, and the adrenaline is constantly pounding with each match. I could argue that watching a car that has as much horsepower as some of my past street-legal daily drivers have had going in circles for hours is DULL. But I'm not that closed-minded.
The dragster folks. Those guys. Who staged their season-concluding Finals on Sunday at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona. In front of a couple of banks of glorified high-school bleachers. With TV exposure on ESPN2. On a tape-delay basis. Daytona, it wasn't. Let alone Talledega or even California Speedway.
Oh, and I suppose that those same metal sticks of bleachers that make up Daytona are just so much more "grown up?" I've attended those races before. Lets see, you watch them roar past you, and then disappear in the backstretch for 60 seconds at a time before you see them fly by you again. And again. AND AGAIN. For 3+ hours straight. At least between rounds at NHRA race you can actually go into the pits and interact with the drivers and the crew members and see everything close up. You can go to the midway and buy parts for your own hotrod (because drag racing is accessible to ANYONE). There is always excitement and diversity at a race, no matter who/what your interests. There is Ford, Chevy, Mopar, Imports, Sedans, EFI, Nitro, Blowers, Alcohol, Gasoline, Turbos, Nitrous.... its endless. From rental car racers to full out dragsters. And while NASCAR may have live coverage, how many people are guilty (ME!) of just watching the final laps, because that's all that really matters anyways, right?
Considering that NHRA is about people standing on the gas pedal and seeing
what happens ... it's not that bad a gig.
Yep, drivers just stand on the gas pedal. Because piloting a 8000hp rocket is so easy that ANYONE could do it, right??
Come on! I agree that NASCAR drivers have talent... but don't downplay the skills needed by drivers and crew of NHRA events.... In a race that lasts mere seconds, things can happen in the split second... drivers must react, and that kind of horsepower is hard to harness. Teams can completely rebuild an entire car in the 60 minute time frame between rounds. Not just fuel up and make tire changes. Rebuild an entire 8000 hp engine. In front of your very eyes.
There is a comment feedback section for this article, albeit censored. I was surprised that they did include my response, and of the 16 to date, ALL of them are supporting drag racing and blasting his skewed, biased, and ignorant opinion of the sport.
Have something to add? Comment back!
Posted by Erica Ortiz on Wednesday, November 07, 2007 at 11:17 AM | Permalink 
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