Pre race ceremonies

[J]

Are the biggest waste of time.

 

[clwill]

Are the biggest waste of time.

So don't come for them. Don't like previews? Come to the movie late. Don't like driver intros, time your arrival accordingly. They start the race almost always exactly on time (at 11:00), so just plan for it.

Personally, there's nothing like wandering the pits on Sunday morning. The atmosphere is just wonderful. Anticipation in the air, the warmups, there's just a certain electricity. If I could convince my daughter (who regularly comes to the races with me) to come at first light, I would.

 

[CrewGuy]

I gotta agree w/ Jeremy. Sitting in the stands @ Half track- what do you see? Just show them on the big screen as pairings when they run.

 

[J]

So don't come for them. Don't like previews? Come to the movie late. Don't like driver intros, time your arrival accordingly. They start the race almost always exactly on time (at 11:00), so just plan for it.

Personally, there's nothing like wandering the pits on Sunday morning. The atmosphere is just wonderful. Anticipation in the air, the warmups, there's just a certain electricity. If I could convince my daughter (who regularly comes to the races with me) to come at first light, I would.

Well let me rephrase that,its very frustrating to have Pre race ceremonies when there is a excellant chance of rain. I.E. Bristol,I sat in the stands hoping they would start early due to the rain coming on the radar,could have got the event DONE ALOT EARLIER,instead of 11pm.

 

[d'kid]

Sunday Mornings, I'll wander the pits, catch the RFC, swing by the DRAW booth, be at the AAA cars for warm up @ 10AM, and final prep... then head into the stands and get to my seat about ten 'til.

Yepper, skip the pre-race... and only leave my seat for a head call, or to grab a cup of coffee or lemonade. Yeah, I love watching the Sportsman classes Too.

Fridays, I go to the Pits after floppers... not a big pipe rack fan... Saturdays, hang until the toys get put away... Sundays hang until the traffic dies down, after the winners circle stuff...

d'kid

 

[d'kid]

Well let me rephrase that,its very frustrating to have Pre race ceremonies when there is a excellant chance of rain. I.E. Bristol,I sat in the stands hoping they would start early due to the rain coming on the radar,could have got the event DONE ALOT EARLIER,instead of 11pm.

Jeremy, On Sunday at Richmond, They can Not fire the cars until 10AM, that includes sportsman.

Your local laws may vary.

d'kid

 

[J]

Jeremy, On Sunday at Richmond, They can Not fire the cars until 10AM, that includes sportsman.

Your local laws may vary.

d'kid

OK I was at Bristol. Dont think they have a curfew there.

 

[Bob]

Well let me rephrase that,its very frustrating to have Pre race ceremonies when there is a excellant chance of rain. I.E. Bristol,I sat in the stands hoping they would start early due to the rain coming on the radar,could have got the event DONE ALOT EARLIER,instead of 11pm.

The schedules have to have a level of credibility, even with approaching weather. How would you feel if you were going to arrive at the track about 45 minutes before eliminations were scheduled to start, only to find out that you missed half of round one of Pro eliminations because someone was looking at the radar and thought it might rain?

 

[Andy]

Well let me rephrase that,its very frustrating to have Pre race ceremonies when there is a excellant chance of rain. I.E. Bristol,I sat in the stands hoping they would start early due to the rain coming on the radar,could have got the event DONE ALOT EARLIER,instead of 11pm.

You've never been to a NASCAR race, have you?

Even with the threat of rain, they wait hours and hours. Last one I was at, they were waiting for the FOX telecast.

 

[The Counterfeiter]

Are the biggest waste of time.

Well, Speed Pryncess and I make a point to get up close at prerace ceremonies. Unless you have some very heavy duty credentials, you can't do that in any other racing series.
Prerace at the Indy 500 lasts two hours, and most of the 300,000 fans are there and enjoy it very much.
It's a tradition in every racing series, and we greatly enjoy Bob Frey's humor and enthusiasm. Recognizing excellence by the pro teams and saluting our country and it's soldiers is NOT a waste of time! - JMHO

 

[clwill]

The schedules have to have a level of credibility, even with approaching weather. How would you feel if you were going to arrive at the track about 45 minutes before eliminations were scheduled to start, only to find out that you missed half of round one of Pro eliminations because someone was looking at the radar and thought it might rain?

Very well said.

 

[J]

You've never been to a NASCAR race, have you?

Even with the threat of rain, they wait hours and hours. Last one I was at, they were waiting for the FOX telecast.

NO Never at a Nascar race Never will be.

 

[J]

The schedules have to have a level of credibility, even with approaching weather. How would you feel if you were going to arrive at the track about 45 minutes before eliminations were scheduled to start, only to find out that you missed half of round one of Pro eliminations because someone was looking at the radar and thought it might rain?

Usually people are there early for the Nitro warm ups,so doubt that many people would miss it.

 

[Jenn]

If I'm not mistaken, they do have a 'condensed' version of both the pre-race and the pre-final ceremonies.

I enjoy the pre-race invocation for the safety of our drivers. The RFCs usually do an excellent job and there's not doubt at a time like that that we live in the greatest nation on earth, but ...

Nothing, nothing gets my heart swelling like a good old National Anthem going with the flag dropping and followed by a "Start your engines".

The pre-final ceremonies, just gives the racers turn around time. It may seem like a long time for the fans in the stands, but it's not a whole lot of time when your nerves are tight and you are racing for your dream.

 

[PJ]

I usually walk the pits or take in the mater mtg during the opening stuff. Seated in time for the Prayer and Anthem.

I would rather see the super stock or comp guys go another round then the pre final stuff. Although since I go to several races its always the same and a bore to me. To the person who goes once a year it may not be a bore to them. Plus they do need to give promo time for the companies that sponsor.

 

[Gordon]

Yepper, skip the pre-race... and only leave my seat for a head call, or to grab a cup of coffee or lemonade.

d'kid

You said "head call." Once a squid, always a squid!

As for the pre-race stuff, I agree that it's about schedule credibility. If people plan to show up in time to fire the first pair (11:00), it's NHRA's responsibility to wait until the scheduled time to do so - threat of rain or otherwise. That Sunday ticket ain't exactly cheap, so it's only right.

 

[d'kid]

Usually people are there early for the Nitro warm ups,so doubt that many people would miss it.

Jeremy, I've had people ditty-bop in just in time for round 1 Pro Stock, and gabb the whole time about how much they LOVE Funny Cars. You know, the same guy that runs a blown alky 700cid 67 chevelle with hemi heads, 4 4barrels and a 'lineco' trans with an 8000 stall reverter on the street as a daily driver.

Kinda the way people show up 10 minutes into the first quarter at a football game, bottom of the second inning, or 15 minutes into a movie....

only to find out later the cat's only general admission tickets and claims he was told he could sit anywhere in the grandstands... after killing three beers during the first round of pro stock... I mean funny car... rotflmao 7 months later, wasn't quite as funny when it was happening....

d'kid

 

[Rich]

Just as I arrive at the movies early just to make sure I don't miss the preview trailers, I also arrive at the track early to insure that I am able to see the pre-race ceremonies. I enjoy the driver introductions, singing of the national anthems, and everything else. My kids tell me that one of their favorite pre-race traditions is the tight four-wide salute to the fans lap that is a staple at World of Outlaws shows.

 

[PJ]

Myabe my mind is foggy but I remember they used to parade the cars down track before first round. That would be cool.

I remember the missing man formation they did for Lee Shepard in pro stock


I would like to see them add a second motel 6 screen, not sure if its feasible but somewhere behind the starting line. Although tracks with towers that cover the track it couldn't happen

 

[Toejam]

I can't remember the last time I sat through Pre-race ceremonies. I think this is for the sponsors more than anything.