nascar races

[Kenneth G.]

hello all,

although technically not a corvette question, can anyone advise what kind of hearing protection is needed at a nascar race? i am going to my first nascar event at talladega on 4/29 and want to enjoy the roar of horsepower but dont want to go deaf. will those spongy inserts be adequate or will i need "headphone type" protection? also, if anyone familiar with the talladega racetrack can tell me if the moss-thorton towers (by the start/finish line, row 41, higher up) are good viewing seats. i know there are a few posters from alabama on here, so any other tips (re:parking etc) would be appreciated. yup, this yankee is headin' down south to drink some beer and hang out with 140,000 people watching race cars.

kenny #31871 69 fathom green 350/350 4 spd conv with a/c

[Robert E.]

Re: nascar races

Hi Kenny,

I went to my first Nascar race in Michigan a couple of years ago and sat in the second row from the front on turn 3. Although the cars were loud, they weren't loud enough in my opinion that would require the use of any hearing protection.

Being that Taledaga is a restrictor plate track, horsepower is reduced by a couple of hundred horses, but on the other hand, it's usually a train of cars which I guess can be louder than individual cars flying by.

Robert

[Kenneth G.]

restrictor plates?

i wonder why they would use restictor plates at talladega since i believe it is a pretty large track.............

[Robert E.]

Re: restrictor plates?

Kenny,

Both Taledaga and Daytona are both restictor plate tracks. I believe the track speeds were getting dangerously high and Nascar had to slow the cars down. Especially with Taledaga, those are some nasty high banked turns.

I think in the mid to late 80's, Bill Elliot set a track record qualifying speed in excess of 200mph!!!

The restictor plates make for a somewhat boring race, until the anticipated big wreck. There is usually one big one, usually towards the end of the race.

Have fun

Robert

[mac peppers]

Re: nascar races

come on down kenny, here's a site with good parking and traffic info. do your homework on parking before you get there or you could be in for a long walk to your seats. as for as wearing hearing protection, it's kind of like practicing safe sex, it's safer but you,ll miss a lot of the excitement.

http://www.talladegasuperspeedway.co...s_maps/traffic

[mac peppers]

Re: nascar races

one more thing, on that website it will give you a 3-D view of the track from your seat.

[Gary Bishop]

Re: nascar races

For me I recommend a head set that covers your ears that is a radio or one that you can plug into a walkman to listen to the race. I found once the race started I could not hear the track's loud speakers.

[Dick W.]

Re: nascar races

Kenny, when I went to the tracks I used EAR plugs. They have a NRR (noise reduction rating) of 29? The higher the NRR, the quieter things are. Be aware when the race is over and you remove the plugs you will think that everyone is shouting at you.

[tom444634]

Re: nascar races

Kenny,

I started going to NASCAR races back in 81. I would attend both Pocono and both Dover races each year. I finally made it to the "Superbowl of stock car racing", Daytona, in 1997. The only time I felt the need for hearing protection was one year when we sat in the third row at Dover in turn 1.

Talladega is such a big track, I think you will find the roar of the cars "just right" where you won't need hearing protection.

I do agree with one of the replies that a headset with an AM/FM radio will allow you to listen to the race broadcast and it will make the race much easier to follow.

Of course the ultimate is a scanner where you can listen to the drivers and the crews throughout the race. Team frequencies can be found on the internet.

Headset radios and scanners are available to rent at the track, but can be $$$.

Have fun!! There is nothing like 200mph cars and the smell of high octane fuel in the spring!

Tom

[Terry D.]

None! *NM*

[Clem Z.]

the little foam roll ups work very well

having a scanner or a radio to listen to the action adds to the race. you can rent a scanner which will allow you to listen to the crews and drivers and also the NASCAR officials at the track for less than $50 and it adds to the action. my first NASCAR race was darlington south carolina in 1955 and have been going ever since

[Chuck G.]

Re: nascar races

Shouldn't be too noisy at Talladega. Never been there, but it's a huge track, so I'd guess it would be less noisy than the tracks I frequent, Dover, Richmond and Pocono.

Noise is Dover. Concrete....1 mile....high banking. Richmond is also noisy, BUT Pocono isn't.

I always bring a scanner, as others have said. You can tune it to various drivers frequencies to hear the in-car conversations, or just tune it to MRN (Motor Racing Network) to listen to the race broadcast. Chuck

[Rod Wagner #27060]

Re: nascar races

If you are in the area Saturday, go to final practice. Go down to the fence on the straightaway (there's a yellow line that you can't cross) and just stand there. As the cars pass, they create a pressure wave you can really feel. You will also notice the differente makes sound different once they pass. I'm not sure if it's engine tuning or body shape, but after a few laps, you can tell which make just passed you with your eyes closed.

[Dick W.]

Re: the little foam roll ups work very well

Clem, I guess that you and I are gittin' old. My first race was N. Wilkesboro 1956. Watched the Keikiferr (sp) Chryslers run. First trip to Darlington was 1958. It was racing back then. And the drivers did not have to be politically correct unlike today.

[Clem Z.]

dick,what this gettin old s--t "WE ARE OLD" *NM*