The Daytona 500, Way to go Toyota! HA HA

[90Xjay]

Where are the cheating Toyota teams tonight?

Not in victory lane.

Toyota only managed to get 2 cars in the top 20! HA HA HA


I still say NASCAR should not have let them in just on principle, but whats done is done.

The deep pockets of the foreign owned Toyota couldn't buy success today my friends.

Way to go Toyota and all the turncoat Waltrips that helped you get in.


Oh what a feeling....toyota

[Green97TJ]

Haha... I wondered how they did. I only heard the last 3 laps, and didnt really pay much attention after it was over cause I was kinda mad that Mark lost. O well, I guess it could be worse. I am happier now that I hear that about toyota.

[TwistedCopper]

On one hand they should've thrown the caution flag at the end, but on the other you kinda have to appreciate them letting the two leaders dual it out. It was the right thing to do, but I would have liked to have seen the old dog win.

[Sparky-Watts]

Yeah, too bad Toyota is the only car in Nascar besides Dodge that is made in the US and pays US workers to build it. Chevy made in Canada and the Ford Fusion made in good ol' Mexico.....

[mingez]

Racing is stupid.

[Sparky-Watts]

Originally Posted by mingez

Racing is stupid.

So are you.

[90Xjay]

Originally Posted by Sparky-Watts

Yeah, too bad Toyota is the only car in Nascar besides Dodge that is made in the US and pays US workers to build it. Chevy made in Canada and the Ford Fusion made in good ol' Mexico.....

Ahh Sparky you've been drinking too much Darrel Waltrip Cool Aid.

GM and Ford make plenty of cars here in America and the corporate profits for GM and Ford stay here. The very generation that saved us from Hitler and Japan worked at those auto plants after returning home from the war and are now retirees or deceased and their sons and grandsons are being used like worker ants from the Japanese auto makers who import alot of the components and have us "assemble" them here. The corporate profits for Toyota got back to Japan so they can build a bigger empire and eventually buy us out of existence.
It is ironic that the grandsons and granddaughters of the men who saved us from Japan in WWII and now the cheap labor force Japan is using to crush what is left of the American industry that by the way, built the tanks, Jeeps, and airplanes that helped win that war.

We all have such short memories.

And also, what has Japan done as a global partner to help fight terrorism?

Oh yeah, I heard they sent over some I-pods to the troops.

Japan does not participate in fighting terrorism, they don't deserve my support for their products.

[Wrangl3r93]

Well i just got back from Daytona Saturday. Been going to the crafstman truck race for 4 years then drive home in time to catch the 500. Anybody here ever go to the races? Daytona has about a 1.5 mile strip with big stands and tons of free give aways. The 3 big american companies used to have set-ups but dodge and ford bailed out. They are losing too much money on their cars to spend that much on a single race promotion. Chevy had the 2009 camaro out on display and i got some pics might post them up later. This was the first year for Toyota to have anything but they had a silverado 1500 next to a tundra on the dyno's and every now and then would fire them off and let you see the results(might not have been pressing the gas all the way down on the chevy though if you know what i mean). They were pretty comparable though. The race was awesome search youtube for the Chevy silverado hd 250 and you can watch it. 3 trucks went across the finish line within 3-4 feet of eachother. Unfortunately a toyota won and i think had like 3 in the top 5? Just be glad Honda hasn't joined nextel circuits yet. They already own Indy it's gonna be ugly when they finally do emerge.

[90Xjay]

sounds like you had a blast.
Before we had kids, me and the wife went to about 10 Winston Cup events, mostly at PIR, no Bush there before the Cup Race, just the Copper World Classic.

My wifes bosses husband was the chief engine builder for Ba hare (sp) racing, used the be the Pennzoil Pointiac driven by Michael (traitor) Waltrip.

We got pit/garage passes and basically would spend the weekend in the garage area with the team. Most of them pretty nice. But some drivers are real turds when you meet them for anything more than a quick photo. Derrick Cope was one of the nicest guys.

about Michael Waltrip, we were following him and his wife Buffy into the track on race day morning. If you've ever went to PIR during the November races, when you turn down the road from the town of Avondale towards the track you are looking right into the desert sun. WOW, it is bright. Well Michael was eating something, holding a drink and trying to pull down the sun visor on the new Bonneville donated by a local dealership. That butt, ripped at the visor and broke it so it wouldn't go back up and had to hold it with his hand the rest of the way in. He was a really big baby back then.

We both loved be in the scene, but now that we have kids, and my interest has dropped a bunch since NASCAR has been taken over by the French Cuff stiff collar crowd, we find the living room is the most comfortable place to watch.

But, it doesn't take the place of that smell of rubber and racing gas!!!

[droopey]

It has been along time since i was at Talladega and have not been to MIS yet, but have been to the local figure 8 track almost every year, man what a blast! I cant wait till grad prix this year finely back in Detroit.

[mud4feet]

Originally Posted by red93

.............Anybody here ever go to the races?........

Yeah, I used to live in Palm Coast, FL (about 20 minutes from Datyona)...I was at the first night race at Daytona......Pepsi 400 held in October because of the fires in the area.....evacuated our whole county. Made it to the 500 once, the "Twins" a few times, and the Pepsi 400 3 times. Nothing like the pure horsepower you feel when the "pack" comes around on lap 2-3 (full speed)!!!!!! I watched the 500, but I've really fallen away from NASCAR...........like every other professional sport, it's all about the money anymore. I liked the days when you had independent teams runnin' cars (i.e.: Ricky Rudd and the Tide car). It cost millions now to field a team.....I think the "good ol' boys" are rollin' over in their graves!! And as far as Chevy, Ford, Dodge,Toyota????????...........those cars are RACE cars.......ain't nothing Chevy, Ford, Dodge, or Toyota about them (except, of course, the money). Local tracks (dirt, especially) are the way to go!! THAT'S what it's all about!!

[mingez]

Originally Posted by 90Xjay

And also, what has Japan done as a global partner to help fight terrorism?

Oh yeah, I heard they sent over some I-pods to the troops.

Japan does not participate in fighting terrorism, they don't deserve my support for their products.

Actually, Japan (next to Britain) is arguably the most significant ally we've had in the war on terror.

2004 the deployed a small contingency of troops to Iraq. It may have been small in size, but it was historical for the country:

This controversial deployment marked a significant turning point in Japan's history as it represents the first foreign deployment of Japanese troops since the end of World War II, excluding those deployments conducted under United Nations auspices. As Article 9 of the Constitution of Japan prohibits Japan from using military forces, the legality of this intervention is contested domestically.

This was very controversial yet despite this very important part of Japanese culture, they felt 911 was important enough to deploy troops. The first such action since WW2. And by the way, this was at the request of the US, and they complied.


It was the end of an era for the country whose policy was to not get involved in war. And they broke such policy at our request. I'd say that's pretty significant.

Japan has pledged $5 billion in total aid - $1.5 billion in grants-in-aid, with the rest being soft loans - for postwar Iraq, the largest amount committed by any single nation, bar the US. The $1.5 billion portion has already been disbursed, and the $3.5 billion soft loan is to be fully allocated by the end of 2007. Japan, the world's second-largest donor of official development assistance (ODA) after the US, is also considering becoming actively involved in an international project to create a new framework for Iraq's reconstruction.

However, Japan's eagerness to pour money into Iraq, the oil-and-gas sector in particular, has not been matched by other donors, much to Washington's annoyance.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Japan/HG26Dh01.html

Meaning, they are contributing more than anyone else.

From the Whitehouse website:

One man who believed in our cause was a Japanese diplomat named Katsuhiko Oku. He worked for the Coalition Provision Authority in Iraq. Mr. Oku was killed when his car was ambushed. In his diary he described his pride in the cause he had joined. "The free people of Iraq," he wrote, "are now making steady progress in reconstructing their country -- while also fighting against the threat of terrorism. We must join hands with the Iraqi people in their effort to prevent Iraq from falling into the hands of terrorists." This good, decent man concluded, "This is also our fight to defend freedom."
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/relea...0040319-3.html

Japan has been one of the staunchest supporters of the United States, its closest ally, in its war on Iraq. Abe's predecessor, Junichiro Koizumi, tested the limits of Japan's pacifist Constitution by dispatching ground and air troops to Iraq on an aid mission.
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2007/01/24/D8MRJUS00.html

Japan’s ruling party agreed April 18 to extend for six months a groundbreaking mission providing logistical support in the Indian Ocean to U.S.-led military operations in Afghanistan.
The Liberal Democratic Party backed the extension from the current deadline of May 1, setting the stage for the government to give the final green light later this month.
Japanese supply ships have been refueling naval vessels from the United States, Britain and eight other countries in the Indian Ocean.
Japan began the “anti-terrorism” mission in the Indian Ocean in December 2001 in the wake of the attacks on September 11 that year in the United States.
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=1708079&C=navwar

The JDS Tokiwa supply ship refueling the destroyer Sawagiri

Between 2001 and mid-2005, according to the Asahi, forty seven MSDF ships have participated in thirteen rotations on station. By October 2005 MSDF supply ships had supplied 552 ships in the multinational force, dispensing fuel worth 155 hundred million yen.

Sorry to hijack, but I couldn't let the implication that Japan does nothing to help with the war on terror go by.

[Sparky-Watts]

Originally Posted by mingez

Actually, Japan (next to Britain) is arguably the most significant ally we've had in the war on terror.

2004 the deployed a small contingency of troops to Iraq. It may have been small in size, but it was historical for the country:


This was very controversial yet despite this very important part of Japanese culture, they felt 911 was important enough to deploy troops. The first such action since WW2. And by the way, this was at the request of the US, and they complied.


It was the end of an era for the country whose policy was to not get involved in war. And they broke such policy at our request. I'd say that's pretty significant.



Meaning, they are contributing more than anyone else.

From the Whitehouse website:







The JDS Tokiwa supply ship refueling the destroyer Sawagiri

Between 2001 and mid-2005, according to the Asahi, forty seven MSDF ships have participated in thirteen rotations on station. By October 2005 MSDF supply ships had supplied 552 ships in the multinational force, dispensing fuel worth 155 hundred million yen.

Sorry to hijack, but I couldn't let the implication that Japan does nothing to help with the war on terror go by.

How's that crow tastin' now, Corky?

[Sparky-Watts]

Originally Posted by mud4feet

And as far as Chevy, Ford, Dodge,Toyota????????...........those cars are RACE cars.......ain't nothing Chevy, Ford, Dodge, or Toyota about them (except, of course, the money).

Amen, Brother Mud! And as for me, I don't care what brand they're drivin', all I care about is the actual driver. That's where my loyalty as a fan goes, not to the corporation whose stickers are on a 100% fabricated sheetmetal body. Some people just take **** too seriously to enjoy the actual race. Instead they ***** and moan about who's paying who, what sponsor keeps money in the US, how much valuable fuel is wasted, etc., etc., etc. That's what makes the pioneers of the sport turn over in their graves, fans that don't appreciate what the drivers do. That's sad.

[firemanharry]

www.fansagainstracingtoyotas.com

[90Xjay]

Originally Posted by Sparky-Watts

How's that crow tastin' now, Corky?

who is Corky?

[90Xjay]

Originally Posted by mingez

Actually, Japan (next to Britain) is arguably the most significant ally we've had in the war on terror.

2004 the deployed a small contingency of troops to Iraq. It may have been small in size, but it was historical for the country:


This was very controversial yet despite this very important part of Japanese culture, they felt 911 was important enough to deploy troops. The first such action since WW2. And by the way, this was at the request of the US, and they complied.


It was the end of an era for the country whose policy was to not get involved in war. And they broke such policy at our request. I'd say that's pretty significant.



Meaning, they are contributing more than anyone else.

From the Whitehouse website:







The JDS Tokiwa supply ship refueling the destroyer Sawagiri

Between 2001 and mid-2005, according to the Asahi, forty seven MSDF ships have participated in thirteen rotations on station. By October 2005 MSDF supply ships had supplied 552 ships in the multinational force, dispensing fuel worth 155 hundred million yen.

Sorry to hijack, but I couldn't let the implication that Japan does nothing to help with the war on terror go by.

How many Japanese forces are on the ground now?

I mean, I am impressed somewhat at the information on the money and supplies, I'll admit that much.
The country can surely afford it.
But other than the small deployment 3 years ago, have they kept any troops in the area to speak of?

[mingez]

Originally Posted by 90Xjay

How many Japanese forces are on the ground now?

I mean, I am impressed somewhat at the information on the money and supplies, I'll admit that much.
The country can surely afford it.
But other than the small deployment 3 years ago, have they kept any troops in the area to speak of?

You have to understand 90, after world war 2 Japan vowed to never send forces anywhere in the world. The fact that they sent any at all..EVER...is pretty impressive, because it's so ingrained into the culture that doing so is against the collective country's beliefs.

They pulled all ground forces out, but stepped up monetary support of the war. Just about everyone else pulled all forces out of the war AND pulled all $ as well. Considering that this war was considered by most of the world to be wrong, we are lucky to have the support of anyone, and especially one as generous as they.

Remember, Iraq was our war, and is our problem to get out of, yet they still choose to help, in the face of that unpopularity. Most people didn't consider it just, and separate it from the "war on terror."

Suggesting that because they no longer have troops on the ground (which most countries do not anymore) and implying that because they don't they aren't contributing will surely alienate (Further) the few allies we have. We Americans are really good at that sometimes.