Danica and "the Call?"

[pdub]

14 page thread on Danica?

Find something better to do.

Hang on Stude, we're road racing now. Need some input!

[Cyclone03]

I have a little insite on what it takes to run at the front at the Pro Level,Not NASCAR but AMA Super Bike.

My very good friend hit the family lottery,Grand Father Passed in 1987. He was Arizona AMA/CCS #1 in 1986 IIRC,front runner and winner at local races in Pheonix,Las Vegas,Willow Springs. Starting in 1988 he hit the road to follow the AMA National Road Race series,about 15 races a year. For 3-4 years he never scored a point,best finish 21,one position out of the points. I think he got a top 50 once at the Daytona 200. Anyway, ONE day in 1992 He WAS ON,he said the whole race meet was just surial. He qauified 8th inside 2nd row,when the flag dropped he nailed the start and LEAD into turn one,had the best in the country at his wheel,both sides stuffing,and banging and he just hung in there. He was RACING FOR A WIN! Lap after lap dicing for the lead. Steve Evens calling the race for TNN,calling his name,who is this guy? He endded up 6th and was OVER the MOON! Latter that year I went to Topeka for the first race at Heartland Park,crewed for him,he finished 20th. And basicly it was over. He couldn't find that perfection he had that one day in Ohio. Why? Because to run on the edge from flag to flag takes HUGE MENTAL conviction 100% all the time. That so called 5 mile stare,from Thursday to the Sunday final.
He still hit Daytona for a few more years,DOMINATED back home in Az. But couldn't ,or didn't want to,HAVE to race that hard,that close to the EDGE. He still loves it and is faster than you,and me,and makes it look easy,but he doesn't go past 10/10,he stays on this side of the line. Ever take a bike racing class and have the instructor running away from you turned around with one hand on the throttle pointing at you to follow his line,dragging his knee,slidding the rear tire,eyes locked into your eyes and never looking forward at the track? Thats HIM!

ALL PRO RACERS HAVE THAT SOMETHING,that those of us who have tried it know we dont have. We all wish we had this or that,or that help or what ever. BUT pros know it,and know who has it,if you got it and put yourself out there 100% EEF everything else they will find you and you will be the next big thing.

Danica and the 43 others taking the green have it. NHRA Pros have it,and several of the Top sportmen racers. Record holders and chasers have it,when IT eats you 24/7 100% damn the wife,girlfriend,rent,food you have it.

I dont have it,I like things tammer,I would say maybe 1% on this forum has it. The rest of us like to talk about it.

[pdub]

I like talking about it, and about once a year I like trying it. I have no aspirations to be a pro, I never will, can't be. I'm too old and not pretty enough. Not even close, like the 99% of the rest of us.

But given the venue, taking that car out onto a real road course, and slinging it around like we'll never have a chance to do on the street, that got me. I mean that GOT me. I have to go do that again. I'll never set any records (although I did by accident one time, in a straight line) that road course thing is just too cool to be true. I'd recommend it to anybody, although it's only because I enjoyed it so much and the next person may not like it at all. That's just my thing. I found "it." That's what it is.

[moparmaniac07]

I know that feeling of concentration. I used to shoot trap competitively in high school. Most of the time I didn't have it, but one time out at nationals, everything just clicked and I didn't miss a shot. I wasn't thinking or trying, everything just happened. It was only that once though, and I was never one of "the best" aside from that day. I also never had anybody announcing or TV coverage. Being truly competitive takes a lot of mental concentration. Skill only gets you so far, mental puts you over the edge.

[moparmaniac07]

"Drivers and Danica, start your engines" I guess Danica's not a driver?

[Brian Lohnes]

Boy, she sure is making a fool of herself today, huh? Total embarassment. Oh wait....

[nesabo]

She didn't wreck, and led a few laps. Lets party!

[realsteelfreak]

Not a JJ fan, congrats Jr and Mark Martin. I may have to eat my words about Danica. Cars look somewhat better.

Just a momento to the Outsider , If she had truly had gotten the call , she would have been in victory lane this evening.

Biggest congrats goes to Erin Andrews for snubbing 50Cent on the kiss.

[Scott Liggett]

Not a JJ fan, congrats Jr and Mark Martin. I may have to eat my words about Danica. Cars look somewhat better.

Just a momento to the Outsider , If she had truly had gotten the call , she would have been in victory lane this evening.

Biggest congrats goes to Erin Andrews for snubbing 50Cent on the kiss.

OMG! Mark Martin actually finished the Daytona 500!!

[oletrux4evr]

In all honesty, she did pretty well today. She ran a very respectable race. I thought the "Start You Engines" command was out of line, though. Tacky at best.......

[Monk]

I'll say this...for a woman she's got lots of balls.

[pdub]

I'll eat crow. I watched the last three laps.

WHAT did we bet that I bet she would not make it past Lap 2? I lost that one by 198.

[silver_bullet]

i also think the start your engines call was tacky at best...we still have a ways to go...

[pdub]

Did y'all see where after the race 50 Cent tried to smooch the FOX reporter and she dissed him? HAhahaHAH!!!!

EDIT: This is plumb funny: http://www.freep.com/article/2013022...044/1048/rss03

[1970camaroRS]

Did y'all see where after the race 50 Cent tried to smooch the FOX reporter and she dissed him? HAhahaHAH!!!!

It was epic.

http://deadspin.com/5986533/50-cents-attempt-to-kiss-erin-andrews-was-one-for-the-ages