David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
1/20/11 1:02 p.m.

I know, I know, NASCAR sucks, blah, blah, blah. Anyway, I can hear them from my office right now. They're doing some testing at Daytona. A small-block V8 turning that kind of rpm does sound pretty sweet.

minimac
minimac SuperDork
1/20/11 1:06 p.m.

You bet your sweet Bippie!

alfadriver
alfadriver SuperDork
1/20/11 1:07 p.m.

When do you start hearing sounds for the 24 hr practice?

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
1/20/11 1:09 p.m.

Rolex practice was a little more than a week ago. I could hear it, too.

DaveEstey
DaveEstey Reader
1/20/11 1:18 p.m.

I talk smack about roundy round racing but one of my favorite days was spending time with a camera in pit lane during Sprint Cup practice last summer.

Awesome sound.

dlmater
dlmater New Reader
1/20/11 1:50 p.m.

A few years ago we stopped by the Charlotte Motor Speedway while passing through and the "Richard Petty Experience" happened to be using the track that day. I did not have a reservation but they allowed me to pay the $100 and ride along in a NASCAR for 3 or 4 laps at 150 mph or so. The sights, sounds, smells, etc. were incredible...just incredible. Never watch it much, but when I do, I have a whole new appreciation for what those guys get to do every Sunday.

Klayfish
Klayfish Reader
1/20/11 1:58 p.m.

I live about one hour from Pocono and go up there every year to watch practice and qualifying (going to the actual race is a nightmare...140,000 people and only one road leading too/from the track). As I get close to the track, I turn my radio off and make sure the window is wide open. The sound of 43 of those things is like nothing else.

And dlmater is right, being on the track gives you a whole different appreciation. I've only done about 7 HPDE days in my life, but they were all at Pocono. The first time I dove into turn 1 at speed, I nearly E36 M3 my pants. And I was only going about 110mph or so, not 200. I've also ridden as a passenger at The Glen, which was awesome.

kb58
kb58 Reader
1/20/11 2:39 p.m.

I was working FSAE West, at California Speedway a year ago. We were on the infield, while a "NASCAR Experience" class was circulating on the big oval. I guess they have straightcut cam gears, straightcut transmission gears, and maybe straightcut rear end gears. Regardless, it made them sound like they were part turbine with the loud whine. Sounded great.

plance1
plance1 Dork
1/20/11 7:12 p.m.

Thats the only thing I like about NASCAR, the sound. I have some old videotapes of races years ago and I remember hearing some of the in car camera microphones picking up some of those awesome sounds. I may have to go and dig those up! I recall one race where the announcers all agreed to shut the he!! up and let us hear the engine in one of the cars as it did one lap. Just awesome...on a related note, I was always wondering what the Richard Petty experience is like, sounds like its worth it...

ncjay
ncjay Reader
1/20/11 7:37 p.m.

I've done some stock car school stuff. Won't ever forget the first time rolling down pit road heading out on to the track. 3rd gear, accelerating and - BOOM, that thing just gets crazy loud just the other side of half throttle. Awesome fun. I do kinda miss the days when stock cars had more rumble to it. They sound much closer to an Indy car these days. I live about 15 minutes from Charlotte Motor Speedway and it's always cool to listen to open practice. I think it's better when the track is empty. The sound just echoes off everything. Just about every race school offers a low buck driving experience for about $300 to $500. It is soo worth every penny.

wbjones
wbjones Dork
1/20/11 8:16 p.m.

I did a PDX at Rockingham a while back... my entry into NASCAR 1 was, to say the least, a bit un-nerving ... those guys enter at 100 + ... side-by-side.... me ? I coasted in at ~ 85 ... never could make myself flat foot through 1 & 2

them guys carry theirs around in large wheelbarrows

Curmudgeon
Curmudgeon SuperDork
1/20/11 8:19 p.m.

I did both the Buck Baker school and Richard Petty Experience. I agree with ncjay, it's worth every dime to do one of those.

wbjones, is the big square 'patch' still in turn 3 at Rockingham? That's what they told us to aim at so we would come out right next to the wall; ride the 'stripe' on the banking, point it at the 'patch', then nail it.

NASCAR's cars are very well designed from a safety and rigidity standpoint, the sound is awesome, the acceleration is awesome, the controls are how I like them: direct, full of feedback and you gotta put a little effort into them... I just wish the whole 'WWE' stigma wasn't there. Oh, and that ALL the tracks turned both ways.

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