Very well said Myles! I agree completely. Greg Solow
----- Original Message -----
From: <MHKitchen@aol.com>
To: <clmautz@yahoo.com>; <vintage-race@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, November 22, 1999 9:06 AM
Subject: Re: Vintage racing question
> After just reading a similar commentary on events at Goodwood, Monterey,
et
> al, it is apparent that there are distinctly different schools of thought
on
> Vintage Racing in Yurrup (stolen from Satch) vs. here in the colonies.
>
> It would seem that Yurrupeans don't mind trashing their hardware (and each
> other) in the "spirit of the moment", while at least most groups here seem
to
> frown on the practice. Personally speaking, I don't want EITHER Sterling
> Moss in a multi-million dollar Aston, OR some newbie in his $2500 Datsun
> (sorry Datsun drivers...nothing personal...they're just at the "entry
level"
> end of the spectrum at the moment...there was a time when they said the
same
> thing of my Cortina) 510 doing the same thing. Not everyone out there
bought
> Microsoft @ $2.00 and can afford regular rebuilds and restos....not to
> mention the risk of injury in a shunt.
>
> So, here I am preaching the gospel of "Vintage Spirit". We're all out
there
> to race (yes, really race), have fun, show off the cars, and generally
hang
> out and socialize with our friends and fellow racers. As has been said at
> countless driver's meetings, there are no giant purses, no big trophies,
so
> its not worth risking life, limb, and equipment to take the chequer first.
> (Having said that, I think we REALLY must examine the issue of PAID
drivers,
> like Sterling, who DO have something to lose when some talented amatuer
blows
> his doors off. Yet, you would think that the pro's, with their years of
> experience would be better equipped to handle such situations, now
wouldn't
> you??).
>
> I firmly believe that ANY contact, and serious agressive driving (as
> determined by the event officials, corner workers, and other drivers)
> deserves disciplinary action (including suspension for some # of races,
and a
> probationary period thereafter). Other than a catastropic mechanical
> failure, I don't believe there's ANY excuse for contact in a vintage race.
> If you're not a good enough driver to deal with unforseen situations, then
> dial it down a notch until you are. And, don't whine and complain when
> you're put on the trailer for taking someone out.
>
> Well, here I go again....spam away, gang!!!
>
> Myles H. Kitchen
> 1965 Lotus (also doubles as a soapbox) Cortina Mk1 #128
>
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