Jim, I, too, hope to be at TWS, and i'm sorry to say that I disagree with you.
I do not know your level of experience, but I suspect that you have not grasped
the import of what Greg has said and said well. Racing is a contest of speed,
vintage racing included. After many races and many years it is hard for me to
comprehend not being prepared to take to the grass/mud to avoid another car. It
is the unfortunate mix of experienced racers and those who are less knowlegible
that too often leads to unanticipatible, inappropriate moves that endanger
others and necessitate off course excursions. Though vintage is not 10/10ths
racing it is racing and the parade mentality causes problems. If you doubt what
I say watch Bob Merrill in the F Jr, a very talented, very fast racer, who will
take great care to avoid creating any situation that would endanger anyone.
There is, however, risk in racing. You should be aware and accept that or not
be out there. John Roper
Jim & Ann Brown wrote:
> Greg Solow writes,
>
> -----Original message-----
>
> > I have to disagree about the "two off" and even "four off" Racing is
> about
> > pushing the envelope. To plush the envelope it is necessary to explore
> the
> > limits. It is very possible to maintain control and go two or four off
> > because for a brief moment at a certain point you found you were going to
> > fast for the conditions. I believe that there is a very big difference
> > between being "out of control" and "driving you car off of the pavement"
> > because that was the "safe and incontrol" thing to do at the time and
> under
> > the circumstances.
> >
> > Greg Solow
> ------------
> I will say this for the above posting -- it appears to clearly define the
> ultimate question underlying this interesting and valuable thread.
>
> To say that in vintage racing "four off," standing alone, does not amount to
> being out of control, absolutely misapprehends, in my opinion, the
> fundamental difference between "vintage racing" and "racing." The word
> "vintage" has been read out of the equation.
>
> In a couple of hours all will stop in our household while we huddle around
> the TV to watch modern Formula One race cars driven by professionals roar
> around the Nurburgring. We fully expect to see one or more of these race
> cars go out of control as the envelope is pushed just a micro-tad too far.
> That is what these fellows are paid to do, and they are well paid --
> arguably the most highly paid athletes in the world.
>
> They are paid to put their race cars and their lives, and the race cars and
> lives of other drivers on the course, at risk. As just one example, it
> would not surprise me in the least today should one of these highly skilled
> professional drivers, Jacques Villeneuve, lose control of his car at the
> Nurburgring. It happens all the time, yet he is an ex-World Champion. He
> has proven his driving skills. His father drove in the same dramatic and
> devil-may-care way, and when Giles, a truly great driver, went 11/10 just
> once too often, he paid the ultimate price.
>
> When, however, I pay for the privilege of being Walter Mitty for a weekend I
> do not intend to put my car at risk, my life at risk, other drivers' cars at
> risk or their lives at risk by doing stupid things-- repeat, by doing stupid
> things. Nor do I expect that of other drivers on the track. I very much
> hope that next weekend when I am at the Texas World Speedway we do not have
> another driver sharing the contrary views expressed in the above posting,
> which I just could not let go by without a response. I would not even want
> to be a spectator within rebound range. I am proud to observe, by the way,
> that if we have such a driver in our club he or she has restrained his or
> her impulses very well.
>
> Forgive the length, but this is now down to the nitty-gritty. Pray do not
> misunderstand, accidents do happen even when the greatest of care is taken.
> But when a vintage race car driver believes it is acceptable to drive
> irresponsibly, I, for one, do not wish to share the race track with him.
>
> All the best,
>
> Jim Brown
> Houston
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