TV or not TV?

A conundrum at best. Watching nitro cars on TV is almost akin to popping a flash bulb in your face about every 25 seconds or so for 5-7 minutes, interspersed with interviews with a driver, tuner or owner who speaks in a language completely different than that of the casual observer. Which leads the novice viewer with the question "Wha hoppen?"

Then, were you to throw in the final rounds of handicap or Index Sportsman and the novice would be totally confused.

On the volume thing. Good idea. Or the volume ought to be, at least, the same level the commercials are. Currently, the cars buzz and the commercials break windows.

If he/she wants to watch race cars, they'll watch the same kind of racing that is comparable to the other TV they watch. Something they can either nap through part way, come in in the middle of and still know what's going on or glance at occasionally while doing something else. That's why people watch NASCAR and not NHRA.

In about 40 years, the TV people have trained the average TV viewer to accept about a 7 minute attention span before they give you three and a half to four minutes of commercials. So to keep the attention of the average person, who has an average of 200 channels to watch, you gotta do something besides pop flash bulbs.

It's also why NASCAR Cup Races are generally sold out. You can go get a hot dog or hit the can and still not miss out on much. In drag racing, same trip, you can miss out on an entire class while you're gone. And it took three days to actually watch the drags, and only 2/3 of a day to watch a NASCAR Cup Race. (That includes getting there and back.)

Bottom line, while they aren't my choice, make a reality show out of the drags. Seems to work for most everything else.

John Largent
Pueblo, Colorado

Making better TV

Burk, I am not sure this is worth the effort since this is as plan as the nose on your face. Agreed, I am sick of interviews with drivers, owner and tuners that only give the politically correct interview anyway. (Note to drivers and owners – I know who your sponsors are I don’t need to hear it six times in a broadcast)