September 21, 2002

So, you call yourself a race fan. Ever wonder how much time you spend on this little obsession (er … admiration)? Think about the typical fan’s life on race weekend.

The marathon usually begins with Friday qualifying, where all non-racing events in life – including husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends, parents, children, friends, pets, phones (traditional and mobile alike) – come to a stop. More than one fan has been known to arrange the carpooling schedule around Speed Channel’s coverage. Come on. Admit it.

You sit there in front of your large screen TV; surround sound turned up to near-deafening volume, staring at the tube, watching the cars circle the track one by one. You’re completely oblivious to anything else that’s going on around you. This is the pose you will assume nearly all weekend. Not quite couch potato, not quite at the track. But as close as you can get without a ticket. With qualifying under your belt, that’s at least two hours so far, depending upon the track. Plus, you dedicated at least two hours to racing news coverage – Totally NASCAR, rpm2night, and Trackside.

And if you’ve really “got it bad,” you’re tuned into For Race Fans Only that night, poised to purchase any new collectible that hits the screen. Being a little lighter in the wallet and anxious to face a new day of racing adventures, you finally retire for the evening. But instead of sheep, you dream of racecars crossing the finish line – over and over and over.

Saturday morning brings enough time to possibly run some very “critical” errands. Sporting your driver’s cap and your next-best racing shirt, you set off with your shopping list (aka photo of favorite driver’s car) in hand and run your own version of Sears Point through the market, picking up the essential beverages and snacks (that of course sponsor your driver) for the weekend. Let’s face it. You’ve also run your own Daytona 500 getting home in time for the noon-time coverage of Happy Hour.

Your buddies, who understand the unspoken vow not to speak during the sacred coverage – unless absolutely necessary, join you for the extended afternoon of racing. Kicking back in front of the outrageously large TV (all the better to see the race with, dear), the sound of 43 motors pumping through the speakers, you enjoy a blissful day – or at least four hours from Happy Hour to Busch checkered flag – in your Racing Room.

Yes, that’s right. You have an entire room dedicated to your obsession. Filled with banners, flags, posters, and cardboard stand-ups you “acquired” from your local store, restaurant, or bar, the room is a reflection of your passion for your favorite driver. In fact, it’s probably painted, wallpapered, or plastered in his team colors. Who out there has painted a room “Dale Jr. Red”? Any takers for “Tony Stewart Orange”? Somehow, you have crammed in there every lithograph, lug nut, blanket, magnet, can cozy, six-pack (that will never be opened and consumed), stuffed animal, remote control car, stein, diecast, and every piece of twisted sheet metal you could get your hands on. Call it a shrine. Call it a hobby. Who said Little Johnny needed his own bedroom?

With Sunday’s arrival, you enter high-gear race mode. You make sure to record NASCAR This Morning so you don’t miss it while visiting the family or attending services. Running the Pepsi 400 on the way home and finally coming to a screeching halt in the garage – much like a driver coming in to his box for a pit stop, you run into your Racing Room just in time to settle in for the pre-race coverage. With the mastery of a fan who knows his way around a remote or two, you flick on one TV for InDemand and one to the general broadcast. (Someone needs to figure out how to get this thing to work in picture-in-picture.) You fire up your computer and bring up your favorite fan site, ready to post should something exciting (or unnerving) happen.

Beverages and snacks by your side, wearing your finest racing gear, you sit back and enjoy a full afternoon of racing. Five hours of blissful enjoyment – all racing, all the time. The thunderous sound of 43 750-horsepower engines filling your shrine. The feel of being “in” the car thanks to the gigantic television. Radio chatter interjects from time to time. For you, it is the perfect day, especially when your driver pulls into Victory Lane.

To the observers (family), you look like that living commercial, “How bad have you got it?” They shake their heads in disbelief. Or is it awe? Shock? But to fellow fans, you are merely a passionate fan cheering on your favorite sport and driver.

With Sunday night’s recap show, you’ve just spent approximately 14 hours devoted to reverent adoration of your favorite sport. And let’s face it, if you’re really addicted, you haven’t left your computer since the haulers rolled into the track. So, chalk up at least half the weekend if you’re pinned to garage cam every race. If you are glued to rain delay coverage, well that’s at least 18 hours for the weekend.

But it’s all in the name of fun and good-natured obsession. Sport your favorite racing shirt. Put on your best driver cap. If you’ve got the shades, throw them on for good measure. And pledge your allegiance to this all-American sport!

You can send feedback to L.M. Burke at: Insider Racing News

Seriously Sunday

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The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN. Although we may not always agree with what is said, we do feel it's our duty to give a voice to those who have something relevant to say about the sport of auto racing.

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