Nascar Revisions Explored ~ The Deep South 2.0

I am not a big NASCAR fan. I am just being honest. There are an abundance of folks in the world who would say that it is the best sport in the world though. Here are some obstacles in my mind that deter NASCAR from being in my top ten sports. I may have to explore these in full detail at a later date:

• This sport uses an obscene amount of gasoline.
• Tires, lots of tires are used. I don't think that they decompose so fast.
• Pollution --lots of that.  
• Noise, pass the BC Powders.
• Rednecks. I really don't want to go here.
• Annoying bright colors and big ass numbers.

There is no wonder spectators drink themselves to stupidity. I think that Richard Petty promoting headache powder is just about right on as you can get.

But these are not the things that I would like to discuss in this blog directly. I would like to discuss the sport (or lack there of) with NASCAR. 

The Problem

NASCAR was born right here in North Georgia by transporting Moonshine. Yep, good ole White Lightning. Fellas would soup up their cars to outrun the law. They had to be tricky, sneaky, fearless, and be real good at modifying their cars to do so. They had to transport Moonshine, and lots of it, rapidly through Atlanta (MARTA moving alcohol rapidly through Atlanta). The locals will get that. This required unique cars with clever suspensions.

Well I would say that all of those traits have been successfully and completely eradicated from the sport these days. Here is why I think so:

• NASCAR is predictable. Turn left.
• No one is chasing anyone really.
• The cars have to all be designed basically the same way; engines, bodies, etc..
• There is no transportation involved.

 Now I am not saying that it cannot be exciting to watch, because they have a huge following. I just have suggestions (as usual) on how to take this sport up a notch or two. I mean after all, if we are going to pollute, burn rubber, and suck up gas, we need to make a concerted effort to take it to the max, and make it just a bit more old school at the same time.

First Things First  
The race cars have to tote moonshine in glass Mason jars in the trunk. Preferably in a wooden box in the trunk. This will require saw dust or wood shavings as a packing substance. No air bubbles sheets or Styrofoam peanuts to pack it with would be allowed. There is enough plastic pollution going on already. I figure that twelve quart size Mason jars should be enough at first. Every time you take a pit stop you would have to add another box of moonshine which would add more risk and weight to your ride. This will eliminate any unnecessary pit stops.
The other part of this transportation equation is that for every bottle broken points (laps) will be deducted. This may encourage some to ram into the backs of others, but after a few races this will change as there will be free reign to modify your car.

The Cars  
As in the olden days, drivers and teams will have freedom to modify their cars. This will make it messy at first, but after a while things will work out on their own. Moonshine running was dangerous, if you are a sissy you have no business racing. Also, if you are a sissy you have no business watching this if you have such a tender heart. It would be like no holds barred fighting. Real messy in the beginning, but they are fine now.
In the example of cars running into the back of other cars to break their bottles, this could be corrected by a simple modification. I would suggest a steel spike stuck onto the back of the car that would ram into your engine before you hit my bottles. OK, that was a bit medieval I will admit. That would be more like jousting. I will have to think about that some more.


The Race 
True NASCAR fans stopped reading about ten minutes ago. That is OK. Progress must be made. I will forge on diligently for the rest of us. This is where the true craft of new NASCAR racing begins.
The old moonshine runners had guns. I suggest paintball guns. Going two hundred miles per hour and getting shot in the head with a neon bright pink paintball would be like a hole in one during the Masters tournament. Cruising by an opponent and blasting their windshield with paint will take courage, skill, and a bit of luck. Hey, if you do not like the annoying colors of your opponent - blast them. 
I think there could be plenty of other challenges put in place as well. Here are a few suggestions:

• "Switch" - This is when a special flag is posted and all cars must turn around and go in the other direction.
• "Oil Spill" - Oil would be deliberately poured onto the track to cause havoc.  My suggestion is that this be done early in the race as there is always too many in the race to begin with.
• "Tacks" aka "The Wile E. Coyote" - I don't know. Maybe it is my Warner Brothers influenced childhood. 
• "Leave Them Where They Stop" - If a car breaks down, or parts fly off a car, the stuff has to stay in the road. This will make the track more of an obstacle course.

There are more that we can all think of if we put our minds to it. I think with these few changes NASCAR will become more interesting and more like the original sport. 


I would guarantee that if races were run like this fans would not have to drink themselves stupid at a race just to have a good time. 


To all of the NASCAR fans around the world. Love ya, mean it. I just have two words more for you. Sun Screen.


gf

Four Way Stops ~ The Deep South Part 1.5

My town is the epicenter of the universe when it comes to four way stops. There really is no reason for most of them. I suppose that most were created by a stern "recommendation" by some crusty Board of Commissioner's wife who did not like it at all that she had to wait her turn at the entrance of her subdivision. This is precisely how ninety eight percent of all four way stops were most likely born in our county.

On my five mile drive to work there are two three way stops, one four way stops and three traffic lights. The issue is not whether drivers need to slow down, and they do, but rather what they do once they have stopped. The majority of southerners do not know what to do at a four way stop. They feel bad that you had to stop too. Therefore they do the only Southern thing to be done....wave the other person on through who got to the stop last. I found out lately that this is not the only time this event takes place. I was turning left at a traffic light last week when a nice lady coming toward me stopped on her green light (backing up traffic) to let me turn left. It's a Southern thing? Not sure about that.

What are the rules? Glad you asked.
Click here for South Carolina rules on a four way stop.
Click here for Georgia rules on a four way stop. Page 38.
Here is Jim Loy's notes on a four way stop. He has some very good insights.
EHow chimes in here.

I think that the problem in this county is that there is no real understanding of why a four way stop should be put in place. Stopping all traffic with a four way would mean logically all the traffic is even from all four directions. This is not the thought process in this county. Stop everyone no matter what is the motto. Stopping the flow of traffic for a subdivision entrance, for example, is nonsense.

Recently the city build an access road connection two county roads within the city limits. It connects heavy traffic from a Super Wal Mart to another county road, and will lighten traffic around major congestion. It has been completed. However, we cannot drive on it because it will cause a traffic dilemma as there is no traffic control at the intersection.The county said that they will not install a traffic light as they did not build the road; stating that the city built the road and they should have factored that into the cost. The Mayor closed the road citing that it was a dangerous intersection. He did suggest a solution: a four way stop. Hooah! Victory! Great thought processes are at work here.

Now I think that this is epic enough of a situation that a real solution be brought to light. A grandiose solution at that! Traffic circle. All of the great cities have them. Atlanta has the greatest traffic circle of them all in the Watermelon 500 (I-285). Paris, Saigon, London have them, and they are all pieces of art.

 Damascus

London

 Paris

 Saigon

 Not sure where this is. Ugly.


So Douglasville Georgia, give it a go. Traffic circles will solve your ills.

gf

Five Star Day Cafe

Athens Georgia can be an odd place to visit. There is obvious creativity abounding around every corner; however you can also see that there is also plenty of failure as well. This town is littered with the remnants of creative entrepreneurism. "Throw enough "crap" against the wall to find out what will stick." is the quote that comes to mind. But, that is what makes this town successful. As I walked around downtown geocaching, after eating breakfast with my kids at the Five Star Day Café, I found haunting examples of this, in the empty buildings that we passed. Some were empty because they were closed, and some were empty because they were open. Some of the coolest looking spots were closed, along with two corner spots, which were perfect for making money. I think that some of the issues have been either over thinking, or under thinking the business. I think that the problem most of the time is not the ideas, but rather the execution. It is not enough to envision what the end product should be like. Looking around I am sure that some of these businesses had a good idea what they were going to do, but then just forgot what they were doing. The journey on how to get there is the real test of intellect, perseverance, and patience. But hey, that is just my opinion. This is why college towns are intriguing though. 

Let me get back to our breakfast. You know that it is the most important meal of the day, right? Who came up with that nonsense? Why is it more important that lunch, dinner, or snacks even? How do think that makes those other meals feel? It is important, I agree, but more…not so sure about that. So, anyway, we all hooked up at the Five Star Day Café for the most important meal of our day. Most of the stores in downtown Athens are narrow shotgun style buildings. Most have big picture windows perfect for stray rocks or bb's to lodge themselves into. Five Star was no exception to this general rule. The four of us piled into the store all at once. This action was not too well prepared for by the owners. People entering your establishment should not be this challenging. There was not much room to stand and we were all close together like cows in a feedlot. I was handed a menu, which was a challenge, as I was trying to negotiate between my reading glasses and my to-go cup of coffee that I was still working on from the ride over from Atlanta. Reading the menu while fumbling around was not working out so well for me, even with assistance from my daughter. I went to plan "B" which was reading the chalk board with the Specials. Done. This should have been the deal from the beginning. Scrap the menu, write it on the board. The cashier was friendly and helpful, she took our order and then morphed into our waitress moments later. This may have been intentional, or it may have been a staffing issue. I never did figure that out. She kept my coffee cup full so we got along just fine.

The food came along rather quickly, which was a surprise. I don't know, I figured the dish boy and the cook were sharing jobs just like the cashier and waitress were. Big portions, with little star shaped biscuits as a garnish. Very nice touch. I saw a spark of intellect in that move. My thoughts were that they had found a star shaped biscuit cutter, and then named the place. Not sure about that. Anyway, I ordered the special scramble plate that had veggies tossed into the eggs. This was very good and filling. I donated my star biscuit to my son as I did not want to eat any poison on this fine morning. The general consensus was that the five star biscuits were tough and rather hard, but cute. The larger biscuits that came with the meals were lighter and were perfect. The signature dishes at our table and at other tables (yes, I went around and bugged other people while they were eating) were the biscuits and sausage gravy and the potato cakes. The sausage gravy was reported as a bit on the thin and runny side, but made up for that weakness with exceptional flavor. The potato cakes were described like unto a salmon patty texture with plenty of texture and flavor. I believe this was a potato and bread blend with seasonings most likely prepared just like a salmon patty. The eggs were light and fluffy, not overcooked like I cook them. The coffee was average, which was disappointing I admit. I always feel that if you call yourself a café you need to have exceptional beverages.

 
What makes visiting a place like Five Star Day Café fun is the small details that no one really pays attention to. There are so many quirky cool things that happen in places like these. I think it is the fact that they are not a cookie cutter operation, and that free thinking still has the upper hand. This can be a negative as well, but I think as long as owners to not have too many sacred cows themselves they will be just fine. Advertisements and stickers on the door is a key ingredient to any real establishment. Lots of beggars and promoters sticking crap on your door may indicate that you are a place where people will frequent often. Really cool signs and logos are a key ingredient as well. Five Star Day Café with those five star biscuits is real unique. Or maybe the goal is to get five stars on a review? Chalk boards are a another sign that point to creativity and uniqueness. I think that Five Star needs to go straight to a chalk board set up as they have limited foyer space. They could also hire servers and take the orders at the tables. This would solve the foyer issues as well. The cashier could be the host as well, but they would have to change the configuration of the cashier stand. This may not be a bad change for this store as they entry is somewhat of a cluster anyway. I was curious about the drink/tea bucket cooler in the foyer as well. It was sucking up space, and it was not really adding to the experience save some cool Nehi drinks that no one was really paying any attention to. There was art work for sale on the walls; this is always a clever way to decorate cheaply, especially in a college town. Five Star sported a semi open kitchen, where you could see flipping and stirring going on. I like an open kitchen view to a degree, and they did it very well. Cooks with crazy bandana hats and mix matched uniforms were featured.

The real star of the show was the food. Great food at the Five Star Day Café. They have not forgotten why they are there, or why you came there. People go out to eat to eat. Great job. Over all score ~ Four and a Half Stars. The Four and a Half Star Day Café. Athens Georgia. Go there when you are in town and you should not be disappointed.




 
gf