"SwStudio" <
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> "HardwareLust" <
[email protected]> wrote in message >
> > "SwStudio" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
> >
news:[email protected]...
> > > <
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> > > > Watching the Nascar race today I heard the annoncer say that Nascar
> is
> > > > a "high speed game of chess" where you have to decide "how to move and when to move."
> > >
> > > That announcer's being silly - comparing chess in any way to Nascar (which is about as
> > > intellectual as 'pro' wrestling) is pretty silly. I'm
> not
> > > suggesting that running requires mental prowess or whatever, but at least it hasn't been
> > > Americanized into a silly circus for kids and
> trailer
> > > park types!
> > >
> >
> > Ah, ignorance *and* prejudice, what a great combination!
> >
> > Considering that you just insinuated that the sport of running doesn't require "mental prowess
> > or whatever", then it's obviously the perfect
> sport
> > for you.
>
>
> hahaha, good one.
>
> Seriously, I don't mean to cut up the phenomenon known as Nascar. Have fun with it, dude. You are
> right that I made a generalization based on the average fan I see. Perhaps I'm wrong, or perhaps
> there's a grain of truth to be seen.
>
> Either way, I honestly think Nascar is on a par with the WWF in the corny way it is presented. We
> all have our opinions, and this is the way I see it. I also can't see it being intellectual in any
> way. Sorry you don't see it my way.
>
> Agree to disagree.
>
> cheers,
I have a slightly different take. In taking up running, I see some parallels to chess in that there
is a significant amount of mind games played. Aany level of competition this seems to hold true. And
from running I see similar parallels in NASCAR.
During a race there are tactical and strategic moves you make. Timing those moves is as
important as making the move itself. Notice these issues and realize they apply to both running
races and car races
Do you pass early, gain the lead and establish yourself as the
leader? Can you hold that lead for any significant amount of time?
If starting from farther back, do you go with the flow of the traffic? or do you weave thru the
field working to gain position early in the race?
Do you join the lead pack? or do you stay back just a little to make it seem like you're struggling?
Do you pass on a long straight-away? Or do you hold your move to just before the curve in order to
gain the inside position?
having a lead on someone, do you add speed to keep your inside position? or do you keep pace to
conserve fuel for the long? (trading a little time here to gain as the other person has to take a
stop later to refuel.)
Do you pass on the uphill or downhill?
Do you ever try to gage the condition of a racer ahead of you? To pick out a "target"? Are they low
on fuel and you can make a move? Or are they still strong and you'll have to use some tactics such
as making your turns tighter (thus shorter). Or maybe ducking behind a third person trying to
prevent the "target" from seeing you?
Do you try to pass before the final sprint in order to break your opponent's spirit and thus
hold off a replying pass? or do you wait so your opponent will not have the time to respond
before the finish?
These mental games are different from chess only in some of the details. Turning your weakness
into advantage, getting opposition to underestimate you, pushing the advantage at the right
moments, and others are what I saw in the announcer's remark. To me they seem true for NASCAR,
running, and chess.
And I suspect real fans of all three see this as well.
just another view, Ed
