by Pat Gray

Created on: November 11, 2007   Last Updated: November 24, 2008

Ban Daytona and Tallagega, and then ban all the other races as well.

I live in dread of Sunday afternoons, which used to be my favorite time of the week.

We live in a small house - one living area and one TV, and every Sunday of the racing season, that TV is tuned to racing. I don't understand the nuances of the 'sport', nor do I care to - I once referred to it as "international paint drying", until it was pointed out that it is a true American 'sport'.

It figures.

But that that isn't why I want racing banned.

Nor is it because I fear for safety of the drivers or the crowds. Nor is it because of the inane babbling of the commentators. Nor is it because of the blatant advertising of products that may be "unsuitable for young viewers".

I have other reasons.

First, it sets the wrong example -it glorifies speeding. Every little hot-shot punk with a car or truck aspires to be a race car driver and they practice, practice, practice - in town, in the country, on the expressway and in the church parking lot across the street. If they put some of that energy in to studying or working at something worthwhile, they might get somewhere, other than wrapped around a tree.

Second, what a waste of petroleum! It isn't just the running around the track, for hours on end, there are the qualifiers and the testing of the vehicles during the week prior and during the off-season. There are the convoys of trucks and buses that move the drivers and their crews across the country to each race. There are the thousands and thousands of fans that drive to those races.

And what about the emissions? What are the standards for emission control? Ok, it is fairly localized, but what about all of the fan's cars, idling in line to get in and out of the racetracks?

Fourth, it is a waste of mental resources. If the skill and ingenuity used to create these four-wheel rockets were applied to real problems, just think where we could be. We could solve the problem of the impending oil-shortage (come on, you know it's coming), we could have cleaner, more efficient vehicles, we might even have proper space travel.

Fifth, I am all for occasional mindless escapism, but this is more like mass hypnotism on a grand scale. The excitement of the crash and the grudge matches on and off the track are the only highlights, and what does that say about our mentality. Don't grownups have something more intellectually stimulating to do? Oh, there are the endless and mind-numbing statistics that accompany every sport, and I suppose it could be said the recall of said statistics can sharpen the mind, but aren't there more useful things to be learned?

So on Sundays I hide in the garden or work in my little workshop. If I am feeling particularly lazy I prop myself up in a lawn chair with a good book, a glass of beer and a stack of CD's. And I look forward to the end of the race season.

PS Maybe if they really did have "Team Tampax" I could whip up a bit more enthusiasm.

Then again, maybe not.

Learn more about this author, Pat Gray.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.