Your comments raise some very interesting questions, many of which were implicit in my original question.
How many pictures do you see in here (our photography forum) or even "out there" (Fred Miranda, Nikonians, POTW, et al) "exhibit much photo skills"?
Please dont get me wrong, I agree with you, and absolutely both were just "grab shots" (point and shoot camera phone shots)
So if I hadn't asked the question, you'd still feel the same way?
The more interesting question, to me, is the main reason I posed the question in the first place - the first one transcended the "oh, cool rare expensive museum car being driven on a Sunday morning" of the second: the sparks, the protective netting, working on a Sunday, typically a day of rest, some working while others rest (and play), the irony that I was in a high performance toy driving on a Sunday yet I was working (gathering notes for a review, on my way to a working car show...)
Would love to read any further thoughts, if any, for a discussion, and thanks for your comments so far!
TM