What happens when NASCAR goes green?
No, I’m not referring to green flag racing.
This is a question that looms in the not too distance future. What will happen to one of the most popular sports in America once all of the major automobile manufacturers discontinue building vehicles that use fossil fuels?
We all know this day is coming; it’s just a matter of time. What will NASCAR become? The easy answer is that the sport will not stop using fossil fuel, but what if the auto manufacturers stop supporting the sport? It’s a given that auto racing in all its varied forms has represented the leading edge of vehicle development from its inception. Will the manufacturers ask that NASCAR and the other major auto racing organizations switch to what they are then offering the public on their showroom floors?
Let’s look at this from a different angle. I think of all the sports we as fans enjoy in America (and I’m sure there are many that would argue this point), the fans that follow NASCAR are the most conservative and patriotic. NASCAR exudes patriotism. From this perspective, it appears that if our country is going to be prosperous in the future we’ve got to, like it or not, divorce ourselves from fossil fuels. This one move will go a long way toward maintaining a healthy economy down the road. Our reliance on foreign oil must be stopped. Can you imagine how much money we send overseas on a daily basis for this one commodity? Just think what we as a country could do if all that money was staying home and being used to stimulate our economy instead of being sent to our good friends in the Middle East or down in South America. In the final analysis, cutting ties with fossil fuel is the patriotic thing to do and I don’t think anyone will disagree with that.
So here’s the conundrum: What will NASCAR and its fans do when the auto manufacturers complete the switch and fossil fueled vehicles are no longer offered for sale in our country and NASCAR is asked to switch as well?
What are the options?
Hydrogen fueled combustion engine cars is the most logical replacement, but how safe would it be to race vehicles featuring Hydrogen fuel cells? Without going through a lot of scientific research, suffice it to say that the amount of Hydrogen necessary to fuel a vehicle for any extended length of time requires that it be compressed into a very strong container. If that container is punctured in a grinding, spark filled accident, the potential for a huge explosion would be great. Can you see that happening at an event with over a hundred thousand fans in attendance? Technology can and will overcome a problem such as this, but how far into the future will it be?
Electric, battery laden cars might be the answer, but at what cost to the popularity of the sport? Can you imagine sitting in Bristol and watching a bunch of race cars run by hearing only the occasional squeal of tires through the turns? The echoing roar would be long gone. Looking at it in terms of today’s technology, the amount of power necessary to run an electric car at conventional racing speed would drain today’s batteries in no time. Would racing fans be subjected to a Tortoise verses the Hare type of racing as the racing teams tried to figure out the best mix of speed and power conservation? In the same vein, pit stops could take on a whole new mind set. What if it takes 20 minutes to recharge a race car’s bank of batteries? Drivers pull their race cars into the pit and a guy storms out to plug the car in then turns to nonchalantly help another couple of guys change the tires, clean the windshield and maybe crank on the suspension settings, all while the driver gets out for a stretch and maybe takes a bathroom break. At the end of the stop the plug is removed and the race is on once again!
What if the car, running at 150 MPH on average, can stay out for 40 laps before needing a 20 minute recharge? What if the same car can make 60 laps at 100 MPH before having to pit, or it can go 100 laps at 80 MPH? It would certainly change the whole idea of “racing”…
What other alternatives might there be if fossil fuels are done away with and the support NASCAR enjoys from the automobile manufacturers fades away?
I know it seems sacrilegious, but that day is coming sooner than we may like to believe.
Check out what’s going on with auto racing and alternative fuels:
BMW’s Hydrogen Race Car:
At least it sounds like a race car...
Drag Racing in Oregon!
Running a Road Course:
Will this be long gone?
Very interesting, D man.
ReplyDeleteThe engineers and crews in NASCAR go beyond the normal limits with their equipment all the time. If they had to develop and test a new engine (motor?) that was non-combustible it would probably take them less than three years to be competition ready.
Maybe they should already be working on it? They would have to rig up some kind of pinwheel with playing cards attached to it to make some noise.... like our bicycles back in ancient times.
Gene,
ReplyDeleteI really got a laugh out of the playing cards approach!
The women should really like going to the track under electric motor conditions. It could become a real bonding event with lots of intimate conversation suddenly being enabled (without the roar of the cars drowning them out!). (I'm probably in trouble now!)LOL
Yes you are in trouble Dwindy!!
ReplyDeleteI know they are moving towards something - but now for the life of me cannot remember...the catch can guy is going away for sure and they are doing whatever it is the trucks do to eliminate that position over the wall.
Thought we were going towards no carburetors...
I think if the cars LOOK like what we buy but run on "old tech" that might be enough to race on Sunday buy on Monday. Cant imagine completely "green" racing. Will have to ask the Brew Crew about it at Sonoma.
Way to make us think Dwindy!
So you don't think an electric motorized NASCAR wouldn't be condusive to "bonding"? LOL
ReplyDeleteFurther down the road with this green thing I believe the technology will do away with fueling stops all together. Cars under whatever fuel they use (fusion?) will only need chassis adjustments and maybe tires (who knows maybe tires will regrow themselves or something). As fast as technology moves along it might not be too long before then either...
Thanks klvalus!