A drinking game that has been around for decades, the ‘drinks price game’ was first introduced to the racing world in the 1960s. Since then, it has become an integral part of the sport, with many teams and superstitions surrounding this interesting pastime.
Drinking in the pits stops teams from throwing away a vital part of the race, which means better showings for the fans. It also encourages drivers to push their cars hard, knowing that any mistake is potentially costly. Finally, drinking in the pits helps keep the nerves fresh, as there is often a lot of strategizing involved in making up rival teams.
Here, we will explore the ins and outs of this classic pastime in more detail.
The Basics Of The Drinks Price Game
As the name would suggest, the basis of this game is simple. Two or more drivers from opposing teams meet in the pits after a race, exchange pleasantries, and then drink in unison as a mark of respect or camaraderie. In some cases, this might involve knocking back a few pints of beer, others prefer teetotals or non-chilled beverages, which is acceptable too.
As each team member drinks, he or she must put a money value on the remaining number of drinks in the pot. For example, if the pot contains only three bottles of beer, and the driver finishes his bottle, then he puts three MONEY chips into the pot. The value of the pot will then be added to his final score at the end of the race. This is to even out the score-settling process, ensuring that all drivers finish the same number of races with the same score.
Another aspect to the DRINKS PRICE game is that some teams will stop at nothing to win. For example, the CART teams of the 1980s would stop at nothing to beat their opponents, including the use of ineligible drivers or unduly aggressive driving. Some of those teams still carry this aggressive ‘everywhere it counts’ mentality today, and will seek out any opportunity to win wherever they can. Similarly, some teams will be good at playing it safe, ensuring that no accident happens during the course of a race. Those teams will register a lot of Laps Led, but few UnLaps.
Why Is It Called A ‘Drinks Price Game’?
Most notably, this is a game that is often played while competitors are on the race track. The term ‘drinks price game’ dates back to the 1960s, when it was first introduced to the racing world. Back then, teams would meet in the pits to give each other pointers about the next race, while also trading information on the competition and new strategies. As races got longer and longer, this informal meeting in the pits became a full-blown competition, with each racer trying to outsmart his rival by using his car’s resources effectively and efficiently.
Another factor that has helped make this a classic drinking game is that it is a great way for spectators to get involved in the sport. Since most tracks are now designed with grandstands and other places for fans to get close to the action, the DRINKS PRICE game provides them with the opportunity to actively participate in the action. Whether they are throwing back some beers with the competitors or keeping track of the action from the safety of the stands, this is a way for everyone to get closer to the beautiful game.
The Special Laps Of The Drinks Price Game
As races have gotten longer and longer, the special laps of the drinks price game have become progressively more interesting. Back in the day, a typical NASCAR race would last just under an hour. Due to the increase of driver safety measures, average race length has increased to around three hours. During this time, teams will be battling it out for position, while also using as much strategy and teamwork as possible to be the first to the checkered flag.
The first change that we noticed in NASCAR races was that they started using more caution flags. This is because accidents happen more frequently than they used to, and teams can’t afford to lose time getting back to the pits and having everyone waste time by having a clean-up session. As a result, we started seeing longer periods of time between cars, with many stops and starts, as well as more cautions. This has made the special laps even more interesting, as teammates are now passing the pits more frequently, giving them a better opportunity to catch up on the action and plot their strategy.
What Happens If A Car Gets In Trouble Mid-Race?
Nowadays, the biggest threat to any driver’s chances of winning is usually the possibility of a serious accident. If a driver gets into trouble, he or she will usually be handed over to the medical staff, who will look after them until they are back on their feet. However, during this time, the driver loses all participation points in the race. Teams will also have to start from the back of the grid for the following race. This effectively ends any chance of winning the championship, and the driver might not even make it back into the race.
Getting into trouble is always a possibility, no matter how experienced you are, so it is important to be prepared for any eventuality. While there is no sure-fire way to prevent accidents, you can always take some precautionary measures. For instance, you can prepare your cars by installing better seat belts, or retrofitting your vehicles with roll cages, or bull bars, or whatever other safety devices you can think of. These are all useful for protecting drivers from injury in case of an accident. Nevertheless, the possibility of an accident is always there, so it is better to be prepared than regretful. Especially since it is usually the opposing team members that you will be seeking out in the pits to resolve any disputes, and there is always the possibility of things getting out of hand if you are not careful.
How Is The Final Score Calculated?
Once the race is over, the final score is usually calculated in a straightforward manner, with the team members that drank winning a certain number of ‘pits points’, depending on how many beers or other drinks they consumed. As we mentioned above, the sum of these points will eventually determine the winning team, although sometimes tiebreakers are needed to reach a definitive answer. For example, if two teams are tied after 10 races but one has more wins than the other, then the team with the most wins will be the one that is ranked higher, even if they have the same number of points as their rivals. This is because winning is more important than sheer quantity when it comes to sports. For example, in tennis, it is possible to have a match that goes to a tiebreaker because the players are so evenly matched. However, on the road to the checkered flag, the advantage goes to the team that is best prepared and has the most effective strategy.
In conclusion, the history of the DRINKS PRICE game speaks for itself. This is a classic contest that has been played for decades, and it still continues to be interesting today because the competition still remains fierce and the strategies are always changing. Since races have gotten longer and longer, strategy has become more important than ever, even if it is just between teammates to see who will be the first to the checkered flag.