Blocking Mirrors, Fans, Fanatics and Being Thankful By-Don Hamm Check out ALL our sections and features here!! There is plenty to keep you busy on our main page! My recent article about those who are fans and those whom I call FanAtics seems to have created quite a stir as well as my writings about drivers blocking and causing "The Big One". I am so very thankful that the readership here at InsideThePitBox.com, for the most part, is reasoned, responsible and respectful of my writing and my insight on our favorite sport. When we write articles that point up controversy it goes without saying we will get controversial responses to those writings. One thing you will notice about this site is we open ourselves to responses from our readership unlike ESPN.com, FOX Sports.com and some other well-known sites. We have nothing to hide and aren't so insecure that we can't stand critical comment about what we write. I personally respond to every e-mail that I receive whether it is complimentary or demeaning. Truth be known, an article that generates no response makes me wonder if I am making an impact or any difference in how our sport is viewed by you, the fans. After having some time to dwell on the on track action at the recent Daytona 500 I have reached the conclusion that NAZICAR must step up to the plate and establish a reasoned rule about this very dangerous practice of BLOCKING. I think the IRL has the best idea in that they allow the leader one block and no more. Blocking in second place, as we saw, is a definite no no. I have cruised the linked articles at Jayski's and saw numerous opinions about blocking and the now infamous blocking mirrors. I for one have, for many years, lamented the fact that our drivers don't have side view mirrors and firmly believe they should be a requirement. In the past, NAZICAR has stated they don't want side view mirrors because they would endanger other drivers if they were knocked off and fell on the track. This is ludicrous in that the mirror element could be made of plastic which is no more a danger than pieces of a front valance or rear bumper cover. The so-called blocking mirrors used by some drivers are convex and do not offer very good depth perception. I say, "Let's install factory equivalent side view mirrors on both sides of the cars and help the drivers avoid cutting down or drifting up on a driver who has the nose of their car alongside either rear quarter panel." I truly believe this would improve on track safety for all the drivers by helping them avoid an inadvertent cutting down on another driver. Their use in blocking is a totally different matter. Having thought this through I also wonder, "What would factory equivalent side view mirrors do to the aerodynamics at Daytona, Talladega and Atlanta?" I don't profess to be an aero engineer but I can't help but wonder if the aero drag of the protrusions would slow down the cars without the need for all the other gimmicks NAZICAR has tried. Has it been tried? I don't think so but if I were Mike Helton I'd say, "Let's give it a try." Some times I truly amaze myself with my brilliance and unbiased perspective. Speaking of that, it has come to my attention that your humble correspondent has attracted some attention in the Ivory Tower down at Daytona Beach. Whoda thunk it? Since my webmaster is a cheapskate and doesn't pay me for these profound words of wisdom, I write for the love of it and the kind feedback of my three fans. My StepMother isn't one of them since she doesn't know NAZICAR from caviar. Thank you loyal fans and believers in the truth and what is right for our beloved sport. As for the true fans of our favorite sport I say thank you for believing as you do and for agreeing with my article about Fans and FanAtics. Of all the feedback I received there had to be that one FanAtic who felt compelled to write me and tell me his sick, demented and psychotic view on my column. He started off by telling me, with profanity, that my posterior was showing. He went further to tell me that was what racing was all about, "Knocking other drivers and sticking up for his favorite." The truly sick part was that he told me he had tickets for the race at Texas in turn four. He chose those seats because he had high hopes that he would be there to see Jeff Gordon have a "Bad Accident" to make his day. For the love of God, how can this man call himself a fan and live with his warped view of what our beloved sport is all about? Lisa wrote to tell me about this idiot in Virginia who has a vanity plate on his vehicle that says "3ISGONE". He happens to be an avowed anti Dale Earnhardt sicko. I ask you, my friends, where do these people come from and how can they consider themselves to be a racing fan? Again, I thank those of you who responded favorably to my columns and freely admit that I am troubled with the attitude of the few who are obviously very sick individuals. I can only wonder if these few demented ones are fans of Osama bin Laden? It truly heartens me to know that the majority of fans are decent, honest, caring and responsible. I wrote about the FanAtics because of what I have witnessed and I am truly grateful that they appear to represent a minority of our fan base. I can only hope and pray that the truly sick ones get help since it is quite obvious they are in desperate need of help. Those of you who have read my past rantings know that the suits at NA$CAR (NAZICAR) are not very high on my list of favorite people. I truly resent the money grubbing attitude they are possessed with and their total inattention to the fans who made them what they are today. Having said that I must rise to their defense on a limited level. I have read several articles linked from Jayski that blame NA$CAR for the NASCAR.com website charging for the WebCast feature. Don't blame NA$CAR my friends, blame Turner Sports. They paid big bucks to run the web site and now they are trying to rip us off to further enrich Ted Turner. You know Ted, the same demented idiot billionaire who thought the Muslim radicals who crashed into the WTC towers were brave men? I understand your anger at this outrageous policy but, for once, we can't directly blame NA$CAR. We can hope that Ted Turner gets the help he so desperately needs so long as it isn't at our expense. As always, you have the right to disagree but never the right to be disagreeable. May God bless America and may we NEVER Forget 911. Please honor our young defenders of our God granted freedoms Don@insidethepitbox.com Check out ALL our sections and features here!! There is plenty to keep you busy on our main page! 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