[Land-speed] Driving skills

[drmayf]

I responded earlier to Dan's musing on driver safety. Now having see 
some other messages, I have to ask... who gets to decide when you are 
too old to drive? Or even too young? I saw 60 as a number. But why that 
number? Why not 35? Or 70? Maybe all driver's need to meet fighter pilot 
standards? Who gets to decide who is not capable of driving? That makes 
a very elitist organization. Is it unsafer today that it was in the 50's 
and 60s? No, it probably is far safer. Was there hue and cry about 
drivers then? Why now? This is an amatuer sport. Make the release paper 
very good and let all who can meet a   minimum standard, such as getting 
out fairly easily in some time standard, drive.  I would vote for 
eliminating all drivers over the age of 40. Our reflexes are just not up 
to what they were when we were 30 or so.  Ron Jollife watched me bail 
and he was very cool about it. Wanted to know that I knew where all the 
knobs and doo dads were and how to shut the car down safely. Then he 
said don't get to excited about trying to get out really quickly because 
if the car is on fire, you will get out. I practiced, like everyone else 
to be able to do it in under 20 seconds from about 35 mph or so.  I 
don't like the sounds of the organization making nosies about 
eliminating people by age  for any reason. Capability and competence are 
the only gauges I would suggest.

mayf