A story I just HAD to share!

[bhallg2k]

When I lived in NJ and somehow my previous residences came up in conversation, it was regularly assumed that I like NASCAR. And that reminds me that I have, in fact, spoken of F1, but those words always fell upon deaf ears.

"No. I like racing, though. Just not NASCAR. An endless of succession of left turns doesn't really do it for me. F1, though..."

(Blank stare.)

Good times. Good times.

[SeijaKessen]

When I lived in NJ and somehow my previous residences came up in conversation, it was regularly assumed that I like NASCAR. And that reminds me that I have, in fact, spoken of F1, but those words always fell upon deaf ears.

"No. I like racing, though. Just not NASCAR. An endless of succession of left turns doesn't really do it for me. F1, though..."

(Blank stare.)

Good times. Good times.

When people hear I like racing, they automatically ask, "NASCAR??"

I proceed to rattle off a number of race series that most people don't know about outside of the mention of F1...the blank stare is always given after that. I've had many who think F1 is the Indianapolis 500. I just nicely explain that isn't the case.

What part of NJ did you live in?

Even though I live in northern NJ, there seems to be a decent NASCAR contingent around. I encountered a lot of them when I used to bowl...coincidentally, I don't bowl any longer. Not really a great mix; tifosi and rednecks.

[jon-mullen]

I'd think people from Jersey would like the refueling ban.

[raceman]

Anyway, I have included a photo of my framed print, which is now my prized possession.

ahem, but I can't see the photo!

can you please include it again?

[bhallg2k]

[...]

What part of NJ did you live in?

Even though I live in northern NJ, there seems to be a decent NASCAR contingent around. I encountered a lot of them when I used to bowl...coincidentally, I don't bowl any longer. Not really a great mix; tifosi and rednecks.

I've lived all over SEC-country and now in Texas. I've only ever lived around rednecks in NJ. The Burlington area is full of 'em.

I'd think people from Jersey would like the refueling ban.

I hate pumping my own gas.

[Absolutelee]

I'm sure there are lots of other in NYC, but I'm sure I'll never meet them haha

[jon-mullen]

I met another F1-superfan yesterday at the liquor store. Maybe you guys just need to get out more? Not necessarily to the liquor store, but, you know, where there are people.

I hate pumping my own gas.

I don't particularly enjoy it, I just don't like being considered a hazard. But I can see that some Jersey girls are.

[bhallg2k]

People? Surely, you jest.

And you'd be surprised by how quickly you come to enjoy not having to pump your own gas, though. It took me about two weeks to adjust to that. I've been gone for nearly a year, and I'm still coming to terms with the readjustment.

(I've actually gone inside a gas station to complain about an inoperative pump only to be reminded that the lever must, in fact, be raised for the operation to succeed. Talk about feeling like an idiot...)

[SeijaKessen]

[...]

What part of NJ did you live in?

Even though I live in northern NJ, there seems to be a decent NASCAR contingent around. I encountered a lot of them when I used to bowl...coincidentally, I don't bowl any longer. Not really a great mix; tifosi and rednecks.

I've lived all over SEC-country and now in Texas. I've only ever lived around rednecks in NJ. The Burlington area is full of 'em.

I'd think people from Jersey would like the refueling ban.

I hate pumping my own gas.

I've been down to Burlington several times, and it's not a region of the state I care to go to for the reason you mention.

[SeijaKessen]

People? Surely, you jest.

And you'd be surprised by how quickly you come to enjoy not having to pump your own gas, though. It took me about two weeks to adjust to that. I've been gone for nearly a year, and I'm still coming to terms with the readjustment.

(I've actually gone inside a gas station to complain about an inoperative pump only to be reminded that the lever must, in fact, be raised for the operation to succeed. Talk about feeling like an idiot...)

I actually would prefer to pump my own gas in NJ. I grow tired of waiting for gas attendants to either come over to start the pumping, or to remove the pump. Most of them are oblivious, and I find if I could do it myself, I would be out of the station much faster.

[Red Schneider]

I actually would prefer to pump my own gas in NJ. I grow tired of waiting for gas attendants to either come over to start the pumping, or to remove the pump. Most of them are oblivious, and I find if I could do it myself, I would be out of the station much faster.

This. In Oregon it takes half an hour to fill up. Utterly ridiculous. 20 cars lined up and two attendants. They're not even dicking around but it still takes forever.

[bhallg2k]

I never ran into that problem at all. Of course, South Jersey has at least one gas station per square mile. I thought that was a bit much until I moved to Texas, where there are about four gas stations per square mile.

[joeyg02]

Anyway, I have included a photo of my framed print, which is now my prized possession.

ahem, but I can't see the photo!

can you please include it again?

My ftp site is acting up, send me an email at joeyg02@gmail.com stating who you are and i'll send it.

As for the conversation about most of us from the U.S. being Ferrari fans, the only reason i'm a ferrari fan is because i've been an Alonso fan since his Minardi days. When he won his World Championships with Renault it took my fan-level up to the next step. I never lost faith, even when he went back to renault in 08-09 and struggled. Now that he's at Ferrari most people assume i'm just an Alonso fan because he's with Ferrari. I've always loved his aggressive yet somewhat conservative driving style. I you look up on youtube at some of the moves he's pulled on some of the veterans and other talented drivers they will amaze you. Another one that impressed me was when he drove with NO CLUTCH for nearly the entire race in Sepang in 2010. He wasn't able to flick through the gears, he'd have to put the car in neutral every corner and then select the gear and pop it out of neutral. The commentators said they had never seen anything like it in the History of Modern F1. Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEyoWVtIYPI it's amazing. He ran competitive (in 3rd or 4th I believe) for 50+ laps with no clutch having to do the little neutral trick every corner and blew the engine with 1-2 laps left. To me he's the greatest modern driver. There isn't anyone that I can personally see that is up to his par when it comes to driving. I mean look what he's doing to the same ferrari that massa is driving. Also he did the same thing to Fisichella back in Renault in 05-06.

I just have always loved his driving style, and now that he's at Ferrari it couldn't get any better for him (especially if Ferrari got back to their A-game like they were in 07-08).

[joeyg02]

Gentlemen, I suggest we need a South Eastern Grand Prix Club (now hearing motions on the name). Funny that most of us seem to be Ferrari fans?

I'm all the way down for it if anybody else wants to make one. I don't care if we only get 4-5 members that can hop in some chat-room somewhere to watch the races. That would be great (a lot better than me talking about what happened in F1 this week to the deaf ears of my Dad who is a HUGE Nascar fan). Just let me know.

[bhallg2k]

I don't care to belong to any club that will have me as a member.