Way of life ending for NASCAR fans

September 19, 2001 8:04 PM

Way of life ending for NASCAR fans as coolers banned from racetracks. Is this an example of increased security or overt paranoia? "Right now you don't know who you can trust, you don't know who the guy sitting next to you is and you don't know if his cooler could be a bomb."
posted by mb01 (32 comments total)

There's a great "King of the Hill" episode in this one, once the war's over.
posted by nance at 8:13 PM on September 19, 2001

No more beer-filled coolers at NASCAR races? Is there anyone lining up to watch brightly-painted car drive at high speed around an oval track whilst sober?
posted by clevershark at 8:21 PM on September 19, 2001

Nance : definitely!

It's already getting absurd. I know this is hardly a huge issue of 'freedom' but people are getting frighteningly close to be willing to hand over their civil liberties in the interest of protection from terrorists. It tends to make one think of very wild conspiracy theories....

There are so many prejudiced and elitist jokes I could manage here about Nascar fans but I'll just go to bed perhaps a little entertained by the notion of exploding chicken buckets at tailgate parties.
posted by glenwood at 8:24 PM on September 19, 2001

Actually, this is pretty sad. I hate going to a sporting event and having to pay $5.00 for a hotdog that I could get at home for .10... And $5.00 beer? Get out.
posted by hotdoughnutsnow at 8:25 PM on September 19, 2001

"prejudiced and elitist jokes I could manage here about Nascar fans"

about Nascar? That would be original.
posted by hotdoughnutsnow at 8:27 PM on September 19, 2001

Since when are there problems with bombs being brought into sporting events at all? We're taking precautions on things that I feel won't ever happen, and are just taking away people's simple pleasures. Let them have coolers!
posted by Mark at 8:45 PM on September 19, 2001

This would've been like banning pot from Grateful Dead or Phish concerts. Is it possible to watch lap after boring lap without getting drunk? (dumb joke alert! q:what did the deadhead say when he went to the concert and didn't bring his pot? a:this music sucks!)
posted by suprfli at 8:47 PM on September 19, 2001

You can carry a bomb in a suitcase. How 'bout we ban suitcases from the island of Manhattan?
posted by tomorama at 9:11 PM on September 19, 2001

Does anyone think that ultra-conservative NASCAR fans, who are in 100% agreement that these attacks are an act of war, believe that a twitchy arab terrorist would last two seconds in a mullet haven. Seems unlikely. (Stereotypes included)

NASCAR has been trying to increase beer sales for years, and now they have the excuse... MORE PROFITS FOR NASCAR!!!!
posted by Benway at 9:22 PM on September 19, 2001

I think this rule will be pretty short-lived. I know many NASCAR die-hards, and I'm pretty sure most of them won't bother going if that's the way it's gonna be.
posted by spilon at 9:40 PM on September 19, 2001

Being Carolinagrl and the unofficial MeFi Nascar Fan spokesperson WHATT!!!!.....First no ciggarettes (ie Winston Cup) now no coolers.....This is downright UnAmerican!.....
Whats next? No boiled peanuts or pork rinds....
posted by carolinagrl at 9:41 PM on September 19, 2001

Does anyone think that ultra-conservative NASCAR fans, who are in 100% agreement that these attacks are an act of war, believe that a twitchy arab terrorist would last two seconds in a mullet haven. Seems unlikely.

Suicide bombers fear no hairstyles.
posted by frenetic at 9:42 PM on September 19, 2001

frenetic
Effing hilarious.

carolinagrl
What is a boiled peanut? Is it really just a peanut which has been boiled? Wouldn't that just result in a soggy peanut? Texas boy seeks enlightenment.
posted by Opus Dark at 9:58 PM on September 19, 2001

Opus Dark, boiled peanuts are soggy. My mom used to boil them when I was a kid. Never really liked them.

And, while we're at it, let's ban all backpacks in schools and everyone has to park at least two blocks from the school. Parents must drop off their kids at locations where a shuttle will pick them up.

(OK, that last paragraph actually referenced the parking situation at some of the sporting events/airports/etc.)

Yes, I believe it's over-protective. Instead of banning, they could just search them, like they do at some events (clubs, shows, concerts, etc.). But then again, I always carry an eyeglass case emblazoned with S&W on it into these places and that never gets searched. I could be carrying a knife or (very) small gun in it.
posted by omen68x at 10:25 PM on September 19, 2001

Because you know... the symbols of America are the WTC, Pentagon, White House, and Dover Downs. And in that order.
posted by dogmatic at 10:29 PM on September 19, 2001

Boiled peanuts are DEEELICIOUS. They are not soggy if done right, the shells should still remain slightly crisp. They are boiled as the name implies in VERY VERY salted water. The nut tastes salty yet almost sweet. When warm they are the best and in cold weather they make one heckuva handwarmer! Just love cracking open that shell and sucking that salty juice inside! More southern favorites...MoonPies and eatin peanuts from your Pepsi bottle(farmers picked it up as a one handed snack + drink)...not that you can even get Pepsi "bottles" anymore...HEY I think its some kinda conspiracy! Ma...quick hide dem guns!
posted by carolinagrl at 10:38 PM on September 19, 2001

frenetic: Fear the Mulletia!!!

spilon: i remember the same arguement was used a long time ago here locally when they stopped letting fans bring coolers to baltimore orioles games. they said the die-hard fans would stop coming and even "Wild Bill" the orioles crazy man fan protested and stoppped coming to games. people were pissed but time healed all and it was quickly forgotten. food and beer is expensive as hell at camden yards and it's sold out almost all the time despite the fact the orioles have sucked for years.
posted by suprfli at 10:40 PM on September 19, 2001

Is this added security or another way to increase profits by stopping cheaper beer getting in
posted by timetostepback at 10:59 PM on September 19, 2001

Seeing that many here not familiar with the NASCAR culture (other than the usual stereotypes), I should point out that the cooler-ban is just a way for NASCAR and its tracks to ban outside beverage. If security was a major issue, they would ban Infield RV Passes, not a six-pack cooler. And this maybe a one race deal for Dover. Phoenix still allows coolers in the grandstands, but no strollers.
posted by tamim at 11:07 PM on September 19, 2001

tamim, good point. I forgot about those RVs. BTW, I've been to a couple NASCAR event and I'm Asian American. ^_^
posted by omen68x at 11:35 PM on September 19, 2001

Doh! events, not event.
posted by omen68x at 11:36 PM on September 19, 2001

Wow! What a load of elitist bigots. Thanks for finally revealing yourselves folks.
posted by HTuttle at 12:33 AM on September 20, 2001

If I can't watch my cars goin' round in circles while drinkin' my BUD and smokin' my Marlboro Reds, then what the hell's the point of even bein' American. I'm a goin' to Mexico and smokin' me some Mary Juana. Gee Gee Gee
posted by kbutz1 at 12:46 AM on September 20, 2001

Next there gonna tell me I can't smoke on the aeroplane.....what?.....you cain't.....Well Hell that's what they've been yellin about. I just thought they were aholes.

Maybe they should stop servin them minis too. Lord knows I could go off the deep end and shatter one of them bbabies against the overhead compartment and take the whole damn plane hostage.

How come you can get metal forks but only plastic knives?

How come anyone can get to the cockpit but the the flight attendants will rip your head off for coming into first class?

How come it has just come to the airlines attention that maybe 3 1/2" leatherman knives could be considered dangerous?
posted by kbutz1 at 12:55 AM on September 20, 2001

Next time I see a dark-skinned person wearing a NASCAR hat, I'm gonna stab them through the heart with my Nazi dagger (just a souveneir from WWII, i promise).
posted by ttrendel at 12:58 AM on September 20, 2001

Is there a difference between nascar and cart (I follow F1 myself) (Is nascar covered wheel?)? Anyway, I was travelling this weekend, but picked up an english language paper in Frankfurt Airport on tuesday to read all about Zanardi - sounded terrible. I gather he's OK now (ie not going to die)? F1's no fun 'til next year, when Williams will be back on form and have a driver worth supporting (Montoya)...
posted by andrew cooke at 2:27 AM on September 20, 2001

Just another example of changes being cynically and opportunistically made while our attention is mostly diverted. Next up: some very real reductions in civil liberties, such as monitoring of phone calls and Internet access, maybe even the mandatory carrying of identity cards.
posted by skylar at 5:22 AM on September 20, 2001

Andrew:
In two sentences: NASCAR are covered wheel touring cars, while CART are open wheel (formerly known as Indy-cars) cars with turbocharged engines. NASCAR is the American equivalent of BTCC, while CART is similar to F1.

Technically, NASCAR is the sanctioning body, a la FIA, for what are essentially a group of touring car racing series. Almost all the races are run on ovals. Winston Cup, the premiere series visits two road courses during the year: Watkins Glenn (site of many USGPs from years past) and Sears Point, while Busch Series visited only Watkins Glenn. Starting 2002 Busch will be an all-oval series.

NASCAR allows the teams to field cars (and trucks for the Craftsman Truck series) with names that are currently in the market or have been sold in the USA in the past 18 months. The similarity of a NASCAR car with any production vehicle ends there. This is why you see a 'four door' Ford Taurus sedan racing a 'two-door' Chevy Monte Carlo coupe. Due to strict regulations on engine, break, and all sorts of technical issues, all cars that race NASCAR are essentially the same under the shaped body panel. This article from a really old issue of Popular Mechanics (which was an associate sponsor for Darrell Waltrip for a few years) explains the details of NASCAR.

CART on the other hand runs cutting edge technology on open wheel. They run in all sorts of tracks, including short and long ovals, permanent road courses, temporary street circuits, and even a runway in Cleveland.

In common usage of the word NASCAR, it is often referred to cars that look like this:



And a CART looks like this:



[On a side note, it is horrible what happened to Zanardi. At least he is still alive.]
posted by tamim at 5:49 AM on September 20, 2001

I understand how they could do this. If you attack a NASCAR event, the country will come to a standstill. Who will fix your car or RV? Fastfood production will come to a standstill. Every all night diner and pancake house across the US will close it's doors.

I'm tired of this self important bullshit attitude. Everyone, everywhere is the next targert. I understand the fear and sympathize with the victims, but come on people.

I live in a medium sized (600,000+) northern Canadian city, and they shut down city hall the day of the attack because they thought they could be next. Egotistical bastards.
(Sorry, had to get that off my chest)
posted by Starchile at 8:29 AM on September 20, 2001

tamin to the rescue with a lesson on auto racing. more of that, and less of this nonsense [yes, I see the sarcasm].
posted by hotdoughnutsnow at 9:05 AM on September 20, 2001

[Dammit! I came in late for another interesting thread...]

I'd like for everyone to take a second a read back over the comments from this tread and see just how much idle prejudice there is at work here. Just because it's more socially acceptible to crack generalizing "redneck" jokes than to make fun of other groups doesn't make it morally okay. The jokes told here are fairly innocuous (I grew up in West Virginia; I've had every inane hick joke you could possibly imagine directed at me at some time or other), but the perjorative tone to some of the posts here is really not very flattering to the people that made them.

There's a great "King of the Hill" episode in this one, once the war's over.
Is Hank even a fan of NASCAR? I've never heard a racing reference on the show, but I would imagine him to be more of a dirt track fan, myself.
posted by arco at 10:56 AM on September 20, 2001

I didn't understand the thing about the nuts and salty juice that squirts out...
posted by hellinskira at 1:41 PM on September 20, 2001