[Fot] Sad news from Road America

[Bill Babcock]

I couldn't agree with you more Gary. Everything you said is true, and  
everyone drives these cars at the limit they choose. But most of the  
folks I meet in racing--any racing--are trying to go as fast as they  
can. That means respecting the cars limits and their own limits. But  
they are still trying to go as fast as they can. The notion of 8/10 is  
that you go eight tenths as fast as you can. If you were doing that  
you wouldn't be trying to improve your lap times and you wouldn't say  
things like "at least for now".  There are some people driving  
8/10ths. But treating that as the norm is simply not realistic.

Believe me, I don't race for trophies. If I did, I'd pick another  
venue. I know there are people who get on the track to parade their  
cars. I don't do that. Sounds like you don't either.

On Sep 22, 2008, at 8:26 PM, GSFuqua1 at aol.com wrote:

> As a newbie in the Vintage Racing Arena I'll offer a comment.  Yeah,  
> I get lapped occasionally, never have been several times but I  
> wouldn't care if I were.  Who are we really racing and for what?  In  
> my opinion we race ourselves individually, we race the track and we  
> race our own personally prepared equipment.  Would I like to win?   
> Sure but I also know my limits and try my best to avoid the red mist  
> of competition.  Been there and done that but many years ago and in  
> sports that you usually don't have much of a chance to get killed  
> in.  I race to improve my own skills and do my best not to get in  
> the way of others that I know are much better.  At least for now.  I  
> also remind myself that I'm racing equipment that despite my best  
> efforts to maintain and keep safe is pushing 50 years old.  Things  
> break..... unexpectedly.  I like going Mach III with my hair on fire  
> but not if I'm going to be endangering others.  When you win, what  
> do you get?  Points or some $10. Plaque?  To me winning is not  
> always finishing first.  First it is finishing, second it is  
> improving my own lap times, lines in an out of corners and making  
> some of the best friends I've ever made in my entire life.  THAT is  
> winning, at least to me.
>
> It is NOT my intention to be contentious or argumentative but I race  
> with a lot of people too and many of them feel the same as I do.   
> No, it isn't a parade but is sure isn't worth dying for either.  On  
> the other hand if I were to go out that way it wouldn't hurt my  
> feelings one little bit.  At least I would be with some of my very  
> best friends and doing something I have come to love.
>
> Again just my opinion and probably not worth the time it took to  
> read or write it.
>
> Gary Fuqua
> Classic Sports Cars
> Branson, MO
>
>
>
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Bill Babcock
Babcock & Jenkins
Billb at bnj.com
503.936.7660
www.bnj.com

Editor
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