After waiting 5 months for my order I finally got a copy and boy does it live up to the hype. What a terrific way to map the feeling of racing a car around the track into a boardgame. Pretty easy to teach too, had both my wife and my 10-year-old playing within 10 minutes. Lots of stuff in the box as well to expand the base playing experience.
I know what you mean. Sometimes I am annoyed at myself for theme being so important for me to the detriment of enjoying great mechanics and a fun gameplay loop.
But “the heart wants what it wants” as a friend of mine is always saying.