[Fot] CAR RACING & DEATH

[Gary Horstkorta]

Bill:

 

I concur.  One of the best races I've had was with a good friend of mine, he
in his Alfa GTV and me in my TR4.  We raced for a whole session, as fast as
we could , nose-to-tail, side-by-side, swapping positions but we did so
respecting each other's space, no unsafe maneuvers, just good, clean racing.
Of course it helps to know who you're racing with, it makes a world of
difference when you have confidence the drivers around you won't try any
unsafe moves.  One of the practices our club preaches is "get to know the
other drivers in your group".  The club also puts a letter G for Guest or X
for Rookie on the rear of a car which helps experienced drivers ID new cars
out on the track.   10/10ths racing can be fun and safe.if you race with
your head and not your foot.

 

Gary  

 

From: fot-bounces at autox.team.net [mailto:fot-bounces at autox.team.net] On
Behalf Of BillDentin at aol.com
Sent: Thursday, September 25, 2008 3:13 PM
To: jsnook at wcnet.org; kaskas at cox.net; Gt6steve at aol.com;
budscars at comcast.net; Billb at bnj.com; standardtriumph at btinternet.com
Cc: fot at autox.team.net; bdischer at blakedischer.com
Subject: Re: [Fot] CAR RACING & DEATH

 

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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