Regarding the death at Summit Point, and other postings to the group about
'''overly aggressive drivers'':
When I first became interested in vintage racing in the mid 1980s, it was the
love of the cars that attracted me, not the skills (or lack thereof) of the
drivers.
When I wrote my book on vintage racing British sports cars in 1989 and
interviewed more than 100 car owners, I was impressed with how nice everyone
was and how they cared about their cars.
When I became a participant in my 65 Mustang in 1993, first with VARA and
then with the SCCA and HSR after moving to South Florida, I was impressed
with how competitive -- yet level-headed -- most of my fellow drivers were on
the track. It made racing fun.
Those three thoughts keep me in vintage racing, for it is not an inexpensive
hobby, especially for an ink-stained wretch like myself.
But I also know that it is a dangerous sport and that when there are 30 cars
on the grid (or sometimes just 10), not everyone is going to be paying
attention or approach every pass with the value of the car in mind.
So I know that it is up to me to not only judge what I am doing, but know
what the person behind or ahead of me is doing. Maybe that means I will never
finish first in a race (heck, I'm not that good a driver to finish first,
regardless!), but it most likely means I'll bring my car back in one piece,
and that I won't have caused any harm to anyone else.
We unfortunately are never going to weed out all the guys (or gals) who drive
in a red mist. We try to move them off when we discover who they are, but
some slip through, or the red mist only shows occasionally.
That doesn't mean that someone who is considering vintage racing and comes to
the sport with the right attitude ('''This isn't some cheap form of racing,
it's about the cars, dummy!'') should shy away.
Sure, we all risk injury or death just getting into the car, but most of us
out there are too sensible to make that risk too great.
I have no idea how the fatal crash at Summit point happened, whether
too-aggressive driving is to blame. I wasn't there and it's immaterial now.
But we should mourn the loss of the driver, who undoubtedly was just seeking
a good time, and keep the mind's-eye image of that crash fresh the next time
we get on the track and, in the heat of the race, start thinking we're
Michael Schumacher and that a career rests on who takes the next corner.
Sorry if this sounded preachy.
Terry Jackson
Miami, Fla.
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