Excuse me, please. Even if it’s quiet, I’d like to have everyone’s attention. There is a heated debate about noise and NASCAR. And since this has been my home for 30 years, it matters to me when fans get their information from misinformed people.
Earlier this week, someone leaked a story to Sports Business Journal that said NASCAR wanted to make the cars quiet. This is false, completely false. These cars cannot and will never be “silent”.
When I was six years old, my grandmother took me to Ellis Speedway to watch my brother race. For 30 minutes she explained to me what was going to happen. She covered everything, 10-lap qualifying races, 25-lap events, rivals, races, strategy and, oh yes, trophies handed out by pretty trophy queens.
One thing my grandmother couldn’t fully explain to me was sound. That beautiful thunderous sound of racing engines at full throttle that echoed throughout the valley. I was addicted to everything, the cars, the speed, the beautiful sound… and the trophy queens. And for five decades, all I’ve thought about is running.
From the first moment you see those cars, feel that rubber burn, and hear those roaring V8s, that’s when racing gets under your skin and becomes part of your DNA. This moment should NEVER disappear. But there’s a big difference between an exhilarating moment and four or five continuous hours of a wall of noise at decibel levels that far exceed comfort and tip over into downright cruel.
For some time now, I’ve been talking behind the scenes with industry leaders about the noise in our cars. When asked what we could do to make the sport more enjoyable for fans, I mentioned noise. I had a friend who recently purchased an open-air road suite at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Throughout the pre-race activities and during the driver introductions, he and his company’s guests were delighted. Just above pit road. Right in the middle of the action. A beautiful scene. And when the order was given to start the engines, anticipation soared. His guests were shouting words like “amazing,” “incredible” and “really awesome”! The newcomers couldn’t wait to drop the green flag. Then they couldn’t wait for the noise to stop.
Anyone who knows me, the way I built my running store, the way I engage on social media, the main reason I’m lucky enough to be TV Michael is the way I get to see the sport through the eyes of the fan. I’m a fan. I’ve been a fan since Ellis Speedway and very few people can say they’ve been at a race track for 50 years. I can!
Recently, several journalists have spoken out on this subject. Ride them, they say. Noise is our sport, they say. If you don’t like it, stay home and watch TV, they say. It’s funny and sad, when I talk to people who have spent their whole lives in this sport, they often ask me: “What did you say?”
Everyone is entitled to their opinion on this subject, just like me. But make sure you understand what you’re talking about in the real world. There are two ends of the spectrum here: Quiet and NASCAR. I’m sure there’s enough room in the middle to make everyone happy. Fans are the consumers of our sport, so let them be heard.
Or I have a suggestion. Do what I did last fall when I left the friendly confines of the television booth and headed to the stands for the final practice of the Cup series. My mission was to find this guy with a scanner and a headset. It didn’t take long. He was there with his Dale Jr. hat and Jimmie Johnson t-shirt. I sat next to Ron from Vermont and his young son. I asked: “How are you?” and he jumped out of his seat. He said, “Hey Mikey, what are you doing here?” while removing his helmet. I told him I was responding to a survey.
“Ron, do you think the cars are too loud?” I asked.
“No,” Ron said, putting his helmet back on.
I patted him on the shoulder and asked, “So why are you wearing those headphones?”
“So I can hear the drivers,” he said.
“Wouldn’t it be better if you could listen to the drivers and talk to your son during the race? I suggested.
“What?”
I repeated myself.
“Yeah, that would be cool.” Ron and I looked at his son sitting next to us, and even though the 10-year-old had no idea what we were talking about, he both gave us a thumbs up.
Personally, I want to see what OEMs can do. The technological advancements made by these manufacturers must be incredible. Hell, in 1990 I had a jet boat that could be heard from one side of Lake Norman to the other when I wanted to step on the throttle. But when I entered a marina, I could flip a switch and the noise would be so muffled that it wouldn’t disturb other boaters. It was 27 years ago. I can only imagine what has been developed since then.
Is there a way for decibel levels to decrease as revs increase? Can we make every car brand different? Can a Chevrolet, a Ford and a Toyota have their own distinctive and identifiable sound?
One thing is for sure, cars have become faster, more aerodynamic, safer, more technologically advanced and more reflective of the car you see in the showroom. Another fact is that they are getting louder and louder.
I look forward to seeing what we can do collectively to solve this problem. And that’s precisely a problem. And it’s time we make it happen so that the fan who spent a week’s salary buying family tickets and going to the races can comfortably talk to their family while enjoying the incredible races we see these days.
I love when my daughters and grandchildren come to a race. That’s how I was raised. When they are there, I feel like a kid again, seeing NASCAR through their eyes. But when the engines start, it’s not their eyes that come to mind, but their ears.
We have created our playoffs, our elimination rounds and now our stage races. So far, every single one of them has been positive for the sport and the competition is bigger than ever.
So, regarding noise, PLEASE don’t let it go in one ear and out the other! This is another thing my grandmother told me about.
