Posted on 05/24/2014 5:02:09 PM PDT by Loud Mime
I love the excitement of racing; the speed, sounds and feeling. I also liked Hockey when Gretzky played: fast and classy.
Jimmy Clark’s death was sad. But Jochen Rindt’s just spoiled racing for me for some time. I still like drag racing, because you see the entire race and its tremendous power.
There has been a special floating around on cable TV about the changes in Grand Prix safety from the Clark, Rindt days. It’s worth watching.
Jones started out in a '34 Ford jalopy. "Whoa Nelly" Jalopy racing was popular in So. Cal.
I was a crew member for 20 yrs,
shook hands with Louie Myer thru Tony Stewart,
I stood on the winners podium with Arie Lyendyck and went to Scotty Braytons
funeral.
Many emotions but never,ever,
SHAME !
“I stood on the winners podium with Arie Lyendyck “
Were you there when he and AJ got into it?
If you don’t want to take a chance of dying, don’t drive a race car!
I’ve always taken the attitude that if it saves time, or you can win the race and have a 50% chance of survival, I DO IT!!!
safety is for cowards!
i’ve busted myself up a lot of times but i’m still here at 76.
can’t say that I recall that,,
I remember the look in Al Jr’s. face when he didn’t make the show driving Roger Penskes car
by that logic nobody should drivecars anywhere anymore. thousands die on roads every year either by ther own stupidity, someone else’s or totally by unfortunate accident.
also all pools will be shut down, no more going in the ocean, bathtubs and jacuzzis are banned, no plane travel, boat travel, no motorcycles, no horse riding, etc etc. because when somebody dies, it’s time for a re-think.
i've been present for three driver deaths, Francois Cevert, Helmuth Koinigg and J. D. McDuffie, only McDuffie was during a race the other two prior to raceday all of them knew the chances they were taking and none of them would have wanted to have the race canceled/stopped...
that is part of what makes them drivers, accepting the risks involved
Your telling me. got home movies out at the jalopy races when I was 4 years old....
“So men died and they kept racing? I see we haven’t progressed since the Roman colosseums.”
No one is sent out on the track at the point of sword. They all knew it was dangerous and they, being FREE MEN, chose to do it anyway.
Apparently you don’t understand racing. Fifty years ago, but still racing.
Tell me, what should they have done? Never race again? Is that what you want?
“Real men — true men — never exult in the loss of human life. “
Excuse me, but as a life long race fan I object to your uninformed and STUPID and INSULTING statement. People did not and do not attend races to “exult in the loss of human life”.
YOU do not understand racing, or race fans. Or what it means to be a free man or for that matter what it means to be a real man.
“Automobile racing is exciting because death is waiting around every turn.”
No. That is not what makes automobile racing exciting. Apparently you are not a fan, which is ok.
But you don’t get it.
The idea is to push the envelope. If you don't push it, you can't win. You can't even compete. At any moment anything can go wrong and your life is in danger every moment of the race. Yet in the face of that danger, you press the pedal to the floor and nothing else in the world exists.
If it weren't a very dangerous sport, then the sport would not have any more fans than the people who get a thrill out of watching a marathon.
Thanks for that Hurtubise picture!
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1997-07-11/sports/9707110120_1_arie-luyendyk-foyt-johnson
Foyt, Luyendyk Fined
Auto racing
July 11, 1997
THE INDY Racing League has fined A.J. Foyt and Arie Luyendyk for their altercation following last month’s inaugural True Value 500K. Foyt was fined $20,000, and Luyendyk was fined $14,000 for the unsportsmanlike behavior they demonstrated after the June 7 race, the IRL announced Thursday.
Following the race in Fort Worth, Texas, racer-turned-car-owner Foyt attacked Luyendyk when he entered Victory Lane after A.J. Foyt Enterprises drivers Billy Boat and Davey Hamilton were listed as finishing 1-2. Luyendyk was listed in third. Convinced that he had won, Luyendyk charged into Victory Lane, prompting Foyt to strike him twice in the back of the head and shove him to the ground. Luyendyk was later declared the winner after race officials determined that a computerized scoring system had malfunctioned.
Here it is on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR3NY9n_hIY
AJ had many issues,,
1997 I went to Team Green,
Dario and Paul Tracey.
Being on a crew was intense.
thanks for the info.
Yes! Yes he did.
I agree - it’s a noble career and only the great succeed. I love racing of all kinds - my experience didn’t touch that. I just didn’t like what I saw in the crowd that was around me.
I too have pitted in a racing team, and at almost 70 have 2 Harley’s, 3 classic Triumph’ motorcycles - and I push every one of them. It’s in my blood. Love racing of all kinds, but auto racing the most.
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