Vroom Vroom

2006-08-06T15:30:00.001-07:00

I went to see Talladega Nights on Friday and it made me think. This is a country absolutely obsessed with anything that has an engine. In fact, the number of cars outnumber drivers at 1.9 cars for every 1.8 drivers according to The Physics Factbook. This is quite the staggering fact and really reflects why there is a huge surge in this nations motorsports; namely, NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) and it's recently headlining Indy Series thanks to the vivacious Danica Patrick. We also can't forget about such things as many water sports and boat racing that are all based around an engine.

What is it that drives our need to own big, fast, shiny car and then follow it up with a car for everyone else in the family? Then, what is our desire to sit and watching other people drive big, fast vehicles around a track? I'd have to say that both are a combination of things, some of which are strictly based on American ideals and some that are a widely human characteristic.

1. As Americans, we want to live the American dream. Before there were even automobiles, it was the person with the finest horses and the finest imported French carriages. Now, it's the person with the fanciest and most expensive collection of imported and vintage automobiles. We want our neighbors to see what we have and we want to feel as though we've truely made it. You don't even need to be rich to delve into this. You could just try to one-up your neighbor by getting your truck raised or have louder straight pipes installed. "Hooooweee, did you here Bill's truck goin' down the street?". Sure, this isn't only an American quality. Every country has the desire to be better than the guy next to you or even the country next to you. I'm sure President Bush would certainly buy a bigger Air Force One if Tony Blair had something better.

2. Not that speed and power is a strictly male endeavor but it certainly is a stereotype that could hold some relevance. I personally don't know many women who are interested in anything more than how the car looks. It could handle horribly but as long as she thinks it's cute, that's perfectly acceptable. As a male, we not only want our car to look nice but we want it to drive well, turn heads and go fast. We somehow feel a need to show off our manhood through the use of speed and the spending of money. It makes us feel better about ourselves. Plus, how better to impress people than to have a 4 car garage filled.

3. When it comes to motorsports, America and many European countries have come to appreciate a spectacle where they can watch someone do something that they wish they could be doing. Watching a car go around a track at 200 mph is something many people can only dream of. Not only is it entirely too dangerous for most people to even attempt but it's knowing how dangerous it is that brings back the primal feeling once felt while watching a gladiator slice and dice his way to victory. We want to see these people tear up the track and risk their lives to win. Plus, who hasn't watched NASCAR just in anticipation of a wreck. We don't want the driver to be hurt but there is nothing quite like it.

I'm sure that there are plenty of more things that drive us to own cars and watch them on TV but those are certainly a good starting point. I personally love cars and the fact that we are at the beginning of a transition towards alternative fuels, I will probably have to rant on what the future of motorsports looks like and what the future of owning a car will entail.

Gold Diggin'

2006-08-05T16:15:00.000-07:00

I talking to two female friends of mine this morning and they were both talking about how they both have individual guy "friends" that buy them all kinds of stuff and invite them to things like box seat Reds games. Now, this is not a comment on women because if I were in their situation, you better believe i'd take free stuff too. The problem I have with the whole ordeal is that these guys are either way too old for these girls or they are trust fund babies throwing their parents hard earned money around. I mean, how is an honest young guy supposed to compete with that? I certainly can't afford to buy a girl season tickets to the Bengals. Plus, these girls aren't even dating the guys they are getting stuff from. I just don't see what the point is. Are these guys trying to buy sex or are they just looking to have a pretty face next to them so that they look important? I think it's probably a little bit of both really.

Still, if you're an older guy, try and stick to women your age. If you're a trust fund baby, I don't respect you in general. You'll never know what it's like to struggle to get where you are and therefore you're a weaker individual for it. I'm guessing it's nice to be filthy rich but I don't think i'd feel right spending thousands upon thousands of dollars that I never earned on someone i'm not even dating. I guess, in the end it doesn't really matter. Women are always going to be attracted to someone who can give them anything they want but in the end they realize there is more to it than that. It's like the girls who date the stereotypical "assholes". They eventually realize what they are doing wrong. I like to think that everyone can change for the better.

The Thoughts of a Crazy Red Head

Vroom Vroom

Gold Diggin'