Myles wrote:
> . . . Sterling [sic] was paid something like $20K or
> $25K to make someone's car look good. You can't
> tell me the owner didn't want to see it finish up near
> the front???
I'm tempted to say something like "You can't tell me that the owner wanted
to see his car crumpled and out of the contest after putting two other
competitors out in the first corner of the first lap either." But I'll
resist the temptation.
In fact, I rather suspect that some (please note that I only said "some") of
the owners of these virtually priceless, irreplaceable cars are operating on
a rather different level than we lesser mortals. (Duh!) Given unlimited
funds, the only consequence of a shunt is that you have to throw some more
money in the direction of your mechanic/restorer/curator. In the
million-and-up classes, history is not just something to be admired, studied
and treasured--it's something that can be bought and sold (or crashed and
repaired). And, for a very select few, the buying, "marketing" and selling
of these cars is--shudder--a source of considerable profit.
Perhaps, in these lofty circles, having ol' Stirl drive your car will raise
it's value when you decide to liquidate your car collection to finance
life's next adventure (modern art, statuary or whatever). Or perhaps it just
gives you something to mention casually to your chums ("Yes indeed, Sir Jack
and I brought the old Aston home first at last year's Goodwood Revival, you
know.")
I can't afford to loan my race car to someone who could easily write it off
without personal consequence. Not just because of the dollars involved, but
because I'd not be happy telling a story that goes "Yes, I spent three years
of my life restoring that car to raceworthy condition, then loaned it to
someone I don't even know . . . who promptly put it into a cement wall at
turn 5."
=============================
On a more positive note, at this year's Goodwood Revival Stirling's "loaner"
GTO was suffering from a balky gearbox and--rather than press on to the
inevitable gearbox failure--he chose to pit early so co-driver Tony Dron
could have a few laps. That's the vintage spirit!
Jim Hill
Madison WI
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