[Fot] CAR RACING & DEATH

[BillDentin at aol.com]

In a message dated 09/25/2008 3:11:12 PM Central Daylight Time, 
jsnook at wcnet.org writes:


> I resemble that remark!!
>  
> Jeff Snook
> 
> 

Snook!  Snooker!  That's funny.

I don't think it hurts at all for racers (all of them) to consider how and 
why they're racing, and the fact that death (or worse) is a possibility.  I 
think it is wise to consider it and foolish to ignore it.

I just returned from two days in Sterling, Illinois at Doctor Surjit Hermon's 
wake and funeral.  Less than a month after spending two days in Geneseo, 
Illinois at Jack Drew's wake and funeral.  And the two little Illinois towns are 
less than 50 miles apart.  It's hard for me not to spend some time thinking 
about death and racing.  

On the bright side, as sad as these wakes and funeral services were, at no 
time did I sense any ill feelings towards vintage racing.  In each case, the 
families, both of whom were crushed with the loss, seemed to understand the racer 
died doing something they loved to do.  I guess that's good, and like sugar, 
helps get the medicine to go down.

These discussions we have that use rulers like 8/10ths to describe 'safe 
vintage racing' are pretty academic.  After all, 8/10th is just a number, often 
used in Vintage Drivers' Meetings to describe racing safely and not on or over 
the edge.  There are vintage racers I race with who race at 9/10ths and even 
10/10ths, and they do so safely.  They are a joy to behold, and I have a super 
seat to see it.  I love it.  But I am also aware of some vintage racers who 
race at 10/10ths and even 11/10ths, who do not do it safely.  I don't think they 
belong in vintage racing.

Because last pays the same as first.  Because these are old and often tired 
cars.  Because we are called upon to make split second decisions, and get them 
right the first time...it just seems to me like saving a 1/10th or so will add 
a safety cushion to the mix.

Bill Dentinger
  
  


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