[Fot] To Consider Before you Race

Sat May 23 09:33:22 MDT 2020

As a member of SVRA for just four years, and minimal events participated in, perhaps I am not the most qualified to critique the issue of whether or not to be racing during this unsettling period. My racing involvement spans four decades with many organizations, and my experiences with SVRA has been exceptional from everyone I have had the pleasure to be in contact with. SVRA prescribes meticulous directives and protocol to provide maximum safety for it's members and competitors.  

With a few exceptions, racing is basically a money losing proposition for most of us. Whether your pockets are deep, or you need to exercise prudence over financial resources, racing is a luxury. it is not an essential activity of well being. It provides no homeostatic need other than to actualize a passion, which, I will agree, does keep many of us sane.  

Now, unfortunately, each of us needs to make their own decision on whether to continue this pleasure under the guise of something that could potentially make one terminally ill or be a catalyst to others. I do not wish to engage in a dialogue of opinion and personal discernment .I do not believe there is a right or wrong answer, SVRA has taken extraordinary actions to assure personal safety, and I applaud their endeavor. Yet, I have to ask myself, is the risk worth the reward for me?   

I have looked forward to participating in the Mid-Ohio/Kastner event, for the past several months, particularly since racing at Mid-Ohio has been on my bucket list for over 40 years. Regretfully, I have made the decision to suspend further participation until the current health situation has some positive resolve. To quote Steve McQeen  "Life is racing, the rest is just waiting." For myself, it is time to wait. I hope the wait is not too long.  

Lastly, this is a passionate debate, and there appears to be an atmosphere of rancor among a few of the postings. May I suggest that before one presses the send button, that they wait overnight and carefully re-read what has been written. We can disagree, but a little civility might be exercised.  Zeal and anger can be a volatile combination. As grandma said, "you catch more bee's with honey than vinegar"  After all, this post is called "Friends of Triumph". 

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 From: "Ken Knight via Fot" <fot at autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, May 22, 2020 7:56 PM
To: "J Wagner via Fot" <fot at autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: [Fot] To Consider Before you Race   
 Well then all is going to just fine and you this will magically go away.  Good luck.

 Sent?from?my?Verizon?Smartphone
 On May 22, 2020 2:44 PM, J Wagner via Fot <fot at autox.team.net> wrote:   
 Guess what Ken, I give everyone social distance.  I wear a mask when requested by the business.  I don't go over and hug folk. I don't visit retirement homes.  if I did, I'd wash up, wear a mask, and social distance as required.  

 I recall a friend died of a bacteria around his heart many years ago, shortly after my dad's death.  The doctors said this particular bug likely came from his garden.  In the years since, did I stop gardening?  Did I lay awake at night thinking about what I might pick up in my garden and share with family and friends?  Dad, on the other hand, had a heart attack after a day of skiing.  You never know what's going to take us.

 A best friend from high school died of pneumonia late last year as he tried to sleep off, alone, what he thought was a cold.   Age 57.

 Really, look at the numbers.   We can't live in a bubble.

 Every year, it seems, someone I personally knew has died, long before Covid-19 came along, and, no doubt, it will continue long after.  So far, none have passed from Covid-19 that I personally knew, but It could happen.  Maybe it will be the guy in my mirror.  

 This is not the pandemic where it's so bad every family will be touched and it's ok to leave leave bodies at the curb for pick up.  It's not playing russian roulette to try to get back to some semblance of normalcy.

 I beg you to not let the early predictions of this virus to lead you to not even admit your "Russian Roulette with an automatic." was way off base.

 And by the way, "While you are getting through Covid with no problems"... you mean like how I'm unemployed with no prospects because what was supposed to be a short term chance to get our hospitals and emergency services prepared, so there'd be enough beds, masks, and ventilators has gone on well beyond the need?   

 Your scare mongering is going "to be a real bitch when someone we personally love" faces financial ruin, commits suicide, is victimized by predators, etc.  because of the lockdown.  How's it feel to have people's deaths laid on you like that?  I wouldn't have gone there.

 I believe you remain way off base, but we can agree to disagree.   I only posted a response because I felt compelled to respond so that FOT members have a balance.  

 Never be beaten by a virus!

 -Justin

 On May 22, 2020, at 1:45 PM, Ken Knight via Fot <fot at autox.team.net> wrote:

   Well Justin you go for it and good luck to you.  While you are getting through Covid with no problems let's just hope you are not one of the 35 % that doesn't know it and spread it to someone you care about.  That herd immunity is going to be a real bitch to achieve and means someone we personally love will be dead.  Ken

 Sent?from?my?Verizon?Smartphone
 On May 22, 2020 1:08 PM, J Wagner via Fot <fot at autox.team.net> wrote:    

 I'm sorry Ken, IMHO, you're way off base.

"....Covid is killing people in all age groups, no one should consider themselves 'low risk'.  This virus is like playing Russian Roulette with an automatic...." 

 That describes the Covid-19 that the early models were describing, but those models were wrong and have been discredited. 

 Yes, in fact, some people can consider themselves "low risk" and no, it's not like playing Russian Roulette at all.  And it's certainly not like playing it with an automatic.

 If one is elderly, particularly those with underlying issues, sure, they should play it safe.  And anyone with an underlying issue should weigh the risks and watch out for themselves.  The rest need to get on with their lives.  

 The flu didn't stop vintage racing.

"If people die at the current rate of 5.9% then...."     

That "current rate" is not sustainable so your supposition is not based in reality.  The curve doesn't just happen in a day when we cross a threshold, it happens slowly as we reach herd immunity.    

And weather is proving to be significant as the southern hemisphere faces their fall and numbers are rising there.  We're heading into our Summer! 

 Let's all take a reality pill here.  

You said, "We are all big boys and girls and we get to make our own decisions.  I think this decision should be made on sound medical science and fact, not what we would like to have happen. "  

Yes.  So enough with the "russian roulette with an automatic" analogies.   That's gross hyperbole, not science.  

It's a bad bug, but we go on with life, just as we always have with the various threats that face us every day.  

What's the stats for race car drivers getting hurt or killed?   What's the stats of sports fans being hit by lightening?  What's the stats on dying from pneumonia?  Car accidents?  Going to an ATM late at night?  

Yet we all get on with our lives.  

-Justin  

On May 22, 2020, at 10:26 AM, Kenneth Knight via Fot <fot at autox.team.net> wrote:

The CDC just announced today that 35% of Covid cases are asymptomatic.  It appears you can spread Covid 19 and not know you are sick.  What if you are one of those folks that then go home an give it to your family?  

As of today there 1.61 million cases in the US with deaths at 95,213 or a death rate 5.9%.  Over this weekend we will pass 100,000 dead.  

Covid is killing people in all age groups, no one should consider themselves 'low risk'.  This virus is like playing Russian Roulette with an automatic.  

It is clear that the US national strategy is to open up and either get a vaccine in 18-24 months or achieve "Herd Immunity" which requires some 60-70% of the population to have lived through being sick in order to develop antibodies against the virus.  

The numbers needed to get to Herd Immunity roughly require 200,000,000 Americans to have had the virus.  

If people die at the current rate of 5.9% then some ±11,000,000 people would perish in getting to Herd Immunity.  Even if better treatments and the demise of very high risk people cut the death rate to just 1%, we would see some 2,000,000 people die of Covid.  

Someone once said that if wishing were so, pigs could fly.  You can cross your fingers this going to get better in June in the Midwest but all the indications are quite the opposite.  We opened the country in mid May to varying degrees (not right or wrong, just fact) and infection rate numbers and death rates are likely to significantly rise in June.  It takes a couple of weeks before people start showing up sick at their locale hospitals.  

We are all big boys and girls and we get to make our own decisions.  I think this decision should be made on sound medical science and fact, not what we would like to have happen.   I have a couple of good doctor friends, until they are willing to go back racing after what they are seeing in their hospitals, I will not return to the track as much as I want to.  I wish all the very best of luck.  

Ken 
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