Why seeing it live beats TV coverage

[trahsub]

Making the trek down to PLM this year from NY, I must say even with the shortened race I'm not disappointed. I DVR'd the race and started watching when I got home yesterday. As we all know, the focus on TV coverage is usually for the overall lead, with good reason this year given the Peug vs Audi battle, but a couple of things TV can't capture that were amazing at the race:

Klauf's surge from pit lane to 1st place in P2 - unreal. That car was so composed in the conditions it was nuts. Seeing it pass the Peug gave an indication of its speed, but watching it's position from one place on the track. . . each lap it had advanced so much you would think the guy was taking a short cut in the middle of the track. It was awesome.

The other, Patrick Long was driving the #45 at 11/10ths! The turn after Scott Sharp's huge crash. . . when Long came over the curbing the car would bottom out and slide about 8 feet - he was about 10 mph faster than the otehr GT2 cars heading into the esses. One lap he almost lost it and slid like 15 feet sideways leaving two nice strips!

I brought a buddy to his first live race and he was not disappointed.

Can't wait for Lime Rock 2010!

[The Badger]

One word .....SOUND !!!

[DanShenise]

The other issues that grab my attention is that the cars are much smaller in person than they appear on TV. The nature of the long head-on shot down the straight, followed by the stretching effect as it turns creates a situation where the cars seem to visually stretch out on TV. The Lola is pretty small in particular.

The other thing everyone who has ever been to a natural terrain road course is the significant elevation changes. There are some very steep hills at Road Atlanta.

[trahsub]

Originally Posted by DanShenise

The other issues that grab my attention is that the cars are much smaller in person than they appear on TV. The nature of the long head-on shot down the straight, followed by the stretching effect as it turns creates a situation where the cars seem to visually stretch out on TV. The Lola is pretty small in particular.

The other thing everyone who has ever been to a natural terrain road course is the significant elevation changes. There are some very steep hills at Road Atlanta.

We were standing at the 'valley' of the esses, right after crossing that stream with the saplings for a bridge, and he said "this track is a ski mountain!

And yes, sound is easily the best part of the experience. I loved when the cars were out of site on the straight yet you could still hear them at full throttle.

[d.rocky]

the sound, smell and atmoshpere is why seeing it live is better.

or if its rallying then i always like to think getting hit by gravel adds to the experience!

[DanShenise]

Last year we sat at the end of the esses for awhile and it was pretty cool of the diesels to come in quiet, go over the curbing with their right wheels making a long brrrrap sound and then leave in near silence after they got off the curb. Its a great place to watch.

[Ryan]

Tv cannot replicate any of the sounds nor can it replicate the viewing angles that spectators get. I will take standing in the woods in the braking zone going into turn 5 at Road America any day over a grandstand seat at any oval in the world.

There is nothing like seeing Jon Field trying to out drag and Audi up the hill.

[DanShenise]

What's an oval?

[Purist]

Hmm, based on Brooklands and the second iteration of Trenton, I think the definition is still being worked out.

Sorry, but isn't the run to Turn 5 at Road America downhill? Now, the run out of Turn 14 along the start/finish straight is uphill. In fact, my desktop is a picture we took of the field forming up at the bottom of the hill for the start of the Road America race in 2007.

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by Purist

Hmm, based on Brooklands and the second iteration of Trenton, I think the definition is still being worked out.

Sorry, but isn't the run to Turn 5 at Road America downhill? Now, the run out of Turn 14 along the start/finish straight is uphill. In fact, my desktop is a picture we took of the field forming up at the bottom of the hill for the start of the Road America race in 2007.

Sorry, I meant going up the hill to turn 6.

[andy_b]

Originally Posted by d.rocky

the sound, smell and atmoshpere is why seeing it live is better.

x2 The sound of the vettes (both types) and Panoz made me smile every time they went past. Bloody awesome

[Denosaur]

I remember Adelaide back in 2000, sight, sound and feel!!!

To this day, best ever race meeting I have ever been too!!

[DanShenise]

Yeah, turn 5 is basically a valley. I wonder how much water was standing there on Saturday.

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by d.rocky

the sound, smell and atmoshpere is why seeing it live is better.

It is difficult to replicate the port-o-lets and bathrooms at home.

Originally Posted by DanShenise

Yeah, turn 5 is basically a valley. I wonder how much water was standing there on Saturday.

A crapload. You should have seen the water running through the infield Saturday morning.

[skeeskirrt]

I would have to agree. Even though I spent a couple hours yesterday drying out and cleaning the red dirt off of all my camping gear, it was well worth the trip.

The sensation of speed at Road Atlanta is simply amazing to watch in person. I highly recommend it.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by JHamilton

A crapload. You should have seen the water running through the infield Saturday morning.

not to mention the water running through the tents of have the spectators, I even saw a few people digging trenches to try and prevent the saturday rain from ruining their saturday pm camping.

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by joeb

not to mention the water running through the tents of have the spectators, I even saw a few people digging trenches to try and prevent the saturday rain from ruining their saturday pm camping.

I saw that too Joe. This is Josh. Hope you had a smooth ride home.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by joeb

not to mention the water running through the tents of have the spectators, I even saw a few people digging trenches to try and prevent the saturday rain from ruining their saturday pm camping.

who's shovel was that? i may bring a mini excavator next year.

[GT6]

It is always better to be there than sitting watching it on the tv even if it is live, whatever form of motorsport you are watching a TV can not replicate the atmosphere, excitment, sounds, smells, confusion (even with radios and screens) but the best point of being there is that you can converse with like minded fans and all the other people who have made the effort to support motor racing rather than letting it disapear into history.

You can't be at every race but everyone should attend some races that way everyone can see the other races on the TV. If no one goes then motor racing will slowly die.

[Steven Humphrey]

Another thing tv can never show properly is the speed-watching the Audis & Pugs through Becketts at Silverstone last year was awesome. I marshalled the LMS race at Silverstone this year & was on the pit straight-having the cars pass a few feet away at about 180mph was pretty special.

[dj choc ice]

sight sound and feel, having you're ear drums bored out by a C6R, Judd V10 and those glorious Aston Martin Lola's is great, i was media at silverstone LMS this year sat in front of the fencing at maggots eating my pasta, Lapierre in the Oreca got one hell of a tankslapper on at about 140-150mph at the apex of Maggots and watching the Pescarolo scythe through there as well, noticeable quicker and more planted than anything else was a sight to behold, plus, sitting just before Bridge corner, with the car's blasting past about 1-3 feet away just takes you're breath away, the Vette and the Spyker were savage at LMS, the Ford GT1's of matech were just brutal though, deafening V8 thunder.
Then you have that lovely oily, hot exhaust smell which i always get from Silverstone for some reason, i just cant believe i have to wait until May to get my Sports car fix again