NO! Well, I mean aside from the fact that she wouldn't go out with me.

It's got something to do with expectation and probability.

Have you ever been stripped down to nothing...lost all your landmarks and points of reference...all the way down to who you were, why you were, and what to make of it all?

YES...assuming you didn't just throw your hands up and go smoking in the boys room!

You see, I got this Mom...My Mom...and she casts the evil eye on my racing...not a fit activity for one of God's children...thinks I should be going to Church on Sunday.

She's out to save my soul. And Jennifers too. We're talking about Eternity after all.

I get a little defensive. I have no quarrel with God, or his people. But I'm pretty devoted to Tolerance, and freedom from oppression at the hand of my fellow man - no matter how well intentioned they think they are.

There's this book alot of people I know seem to be reading called something like "The purpose driven life". And my Mom turned Jennifer on to it. She's listening to it on audio, and is just working thru it, and we talked about it just a little at dinner the other nite. She said I probably wouldn't like it - that it would sound like the preaching my Mom does to me. She said a bit more, and I said back something like "We're always praying to God for help in matters of this life, but we're here to Serve and Worship Him".

I hadn't thought about the most fundamental basis of life in a long time. I tend to focus on this life in this world. People living too much for the next life scare me to death.

So what can I do, have I to do, to please God? Help others? Help them survive physically, and thrive spiritually?

Of all the things to enjoy, that'd be pretty good - I can't deny it. Jennifer and I don't have any children to focus our lives on. We pretty much live as pleasure machines beyond our taking care of each other and our friends and family.

Is God a little disappointed that we play while millions suffer around the globe?

We didn't travel to any of those 8 cities to be in the moment with the musical intermediaries to divinity. I can see past the indulgent personal cleansing to the potential for real good in something like that. But I know that healthy and well fed people have real challenges in this life too - not the least of these the struggle to find meaning in life. Meaning beyond survival, propogation, and pleasure.

There's got to be more to it right. If there wasn't we'd have to make it up just to survive. Which is not to say that I believe we did just that. But everybody believes something - that much I would dare say I know.

So with that kind of thing bouncing around in my head, I look into my shop, see broken ****, unfinished ****, unstarted ****, and IT JUST ISN'T THAT IMPORTANT today.

I see this long connective chain of events and actions required to play the game that takes my spirit to one of its favorite places - working a machine around a course in pursuit of magic moments where I disappear into perfection and come off the track with a halo I can feel and others can see. Is it pride and vanity alone? I want to say no, because it's like the flower of a plant - life expressing itself in joy.

OK - God wants us to serve and worship him. Of our own free will. But as what kind of people? As happy people loving the life he gifted us with? As toiling machines hopelessly repeating softly spoken magic spells?

A long long time ago, one of my old girlfriend's girlfriend and I ran into each other, and she asked me how I was doing and how my racing was going. And my answer - which I can still hear myself saying to this day - was "I'm winning". I said it as if it was validation. Not just of my chosen direction thru life at the time, but as if it were validation of my life itself. To say that I'm embarrassed and mortified about it now is about right.

But I'm still playing the same kind of game. But at different levels of expectation and probability.

And that girl? The prettiest one at school? She's raising her family, trying her best to serve God, and praying her children will live happy and healthy lives and join her in heaven some day.

Scott, who is way OT he knows, but maybe not too much, racing keeps many a kid on the straight and narrow, many an adult showing up at work regularly, and maybe, every so often, shines a light on the meaning of life to someone who's misplaced their zealotry...

 

You know if you strip away the fat you make an excellent point. Racing keeps kids off the street, it gives you an adrenaline rush like none other and you work at something with a purpose.

 

Do you know why I never dated the prettiest girl at school?

Because you spent all your time contemplating actually asking her out and never actually did?

Just an educated guess.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Do you know why I never dated the prettiest girl at school?

Because you spent all your time contemplating actually asking her out and never actually did?

Just an educated guess.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I thought it was because he spent all his time writing a book about why he never dated the prettiest girl in school.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Do you know why I never dated the prettiest girl at school?

Because you spent all your time contemplating actually asking her out and never actually did?

Just an educated guess.</TD></TR></TABLE>

And you'd be WRONG.

We went out one time. But it was not to be. We became good friends. And one day when I really needed a friend, she appeared out of nowhere and saved me.

Scott, who understands how you might have thunk you nailed it...

 

&lt;shrug&gt;
I took a shot.

 

If I hadn't spent many hours trying to justify to myself how devoting my life to racing is important in the Grand Scheme of the Univerese, I would make fun of you. But I HAVE thought about just this: Is God, in whatever form you take him, happy that we spend so much energy in these pursuits when millions starve?

The problem with being an intellectual is that you have the power to create any reality you want if you just think about it long enough.

In my reality, devoting one's life to racing, to any sport, embodies the "pursuit of perfection" that I think drives most cultures. It would be very hard for one person to be everything to the world, so we have to split up the job. Some people's calling is to help the hungry. Other's are good at sports. Athletes are our modern heroes, and the awe they produce and the inspiration they provide enrich everyone's life and challenge them to achieve more themselves. It's an important job. Watch an Olypic Ceremony, then think about a world without sports. Depressing.

I try to think of myself as a cog in the machine, in which the racing community itself perpetuates the myth of the racing "Hero". An intelligent, talented, brave individual, who constantly strives to acheive. We present this to the world as our ideal, like so many other sports do, for the world to marvel at our achievements, and explore how they could also acheive in their own realms.

So I think that if you are racing for your own vanity and ego, then your creator might be a little angry. But if you race to compete, and if you would rather get second after years of practice, and a grueling battle with another talented racer, than get first place by ten laps, then probably you have a little bit of the divine in you. You know that your opponents accomplishment would not be possible without you and your hard work, that you lifted him up to his greatness. When we realize that only together do we do great things, then you can see how racing can be an important undertaking. To your God too .

 

RE: "stripping out all the fat"

See, without all that so-called "fat" its not exciting. its not interesting. it doesn't have 'it'. it in this case, for me, being something worth reading, a creation with some real thought put into it, something that makes you think about things other than rules, regs, and all that boring "carp on the market".

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Do you know why I never dated the prettiest girl at school?

Because you spent all your time contemplating actually asking her out and never actually did?

Just an educated guess.</TD></TR></TABLE>

haha! Sounds like someone I know very well!

I've spent his life overanalyzing everything, and kicking and screaming all the way to not do so... consciously or otherwise

chris - who just wrote a long few paragraphs.... re-read it and deleted. Not quite having the point I thought I was going to have. however what gotocrx just wrote has a bit of what i was trying to say - minus all my babble.

 

You probably don't but here it is anyway.

Racing, in and of itself, is a cruel, beautiful, horrific, graceful, vindictive, unforgiving, alluring and awe inspiring Siren that sings to the human spirit. But she’s just that, a Siren; a passing apparition along the way…

Like everything in life, something doesn't come out of nothing and racing for its own sake lacks the poise, the panache and even the substance to stand alone; it is the will, the desire and passion of the human spirit, in its effort to aver against reason, against common sense and forward in pursuit of its own meaning, the fulfillment of its own desires, aspirations and wants that facilitates the medium through which all of life's adventures take on meaning.

It is (and this is going to sound cliché) in the act of doing that we define the meaning and gravity of the things we do, the people we love and the moments of perfection, Zen and the momentary epiphanies that move us, inspire us and drive us forward.

It isn't this one thing, it isn't all these things put together; it's the bright light that guides our spirit through every moment of doubt, question, disbelief and loss of direction that guides the way for us to take those temporary vacations to place beyond ourselves, as in: "- working a machine around a course in pursuit of magic moments where I disappear into perfection and come off the track with a halo I can feel and others can see. Is it pride and vanity alone? I want to say no, because it's like the flower of a plant - life expressing itself in joy."

God, I think, is nothing like He's been represented by his people and -although I don't know you, what you've done, etc. - I'd be inclined to say that He smiles just the same upon you in your moments of perfection just the same.

 

Stripping out the fat as in paraphrasing all those words. My goodness some of you guys write novels. I mean its fun to read, but I have a very limited attention span.

 

Time for my shorter novel.

My parents always ask me why I drive endless miles and spendless endless amounts of my limited money for 8 minutes of fun. I am 24, my parents are on the wrong side of 70 and have led, in my books, rather mundane lives. I don't want to reach their age and ponder whether I have spent my whole live just going through a cycle.

To me autoxing/racing/whatever you call it, is fulfulling that greater purpose. I wanted to be unlike the sheep, sitting on the couch playing video games all day growing obese.

Is it wasteful, sure it is but isn't everything in the end wasteful? We have massive SUVs getting 2mpg and people spending fortunes on shiny diamond rings only to annull a day later. Sure this hobby is expensive, but its cheaper than drugs and far more respectable.

About that God guy, I dunno I never met him/her/it. I am a man of science and I can't help but ponder his/her/its existence.

Maybe one should invest in Oolon Coluphid's trilogy of philosophical blockbusters: Where God Went Wrong, Some more of God's greatest Mistakes and Who Is This God Person Anyway?"

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 94accordsedan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You know if you strip away the fat you make an excellent point. </TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 94accordsedan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Stripping out the fat as in paraphrasing all those words. My goodness some of you guys write novels. I mean its fun to read, but I have a very limited attention span. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Department of Redundancy Department head liason?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bb6h22a &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Department of Redundancy Department head liason?


</TD></TR></TABLE>

7PM on a Wednesday evening and I am still at work. Does that answer your question.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 94accordsedan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

7PM on a Wednesday evening and I am still at work. Does that answer your question. </TD></TR></TABLE>

At least you've got good sense of humor, you know, once you're done trimming all that fat.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bb6h22a &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

At least you've got good sense of humor, you know, once you're done trimming all that fat. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I am not fat... just big boned.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gotocrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So I think that if you are racing for your own vanity and ego, then your creator might be a little angry. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Why would my creator be angry with me if I race for my own sake? Isn't that essentially why we race? I love competition and I race to race, no other reason (besides that fact it's just really fun). Is that so bad?

Why should I be made feel guilty by others for not going to church regularly? If I don't, does that make me evil, a cast-out? Are they supposed to be better than I am? Are they saved and I'm not? *** that.

I'm a Catholic and do believe in God, but religion, in my book, is knowing the difference between right and wrong, and being a good person.

$.02

 

"I was Seventh!"

Almost makes me want to cry.

I've been there. I feel bad about it.

I had to be there, and feel bad about it, to realize where I was.

Scott, who thinks some of God's best people are probably undercover.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by johng &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Why would my creator be angry with me if I race for my own sake? Isn't that essentially why we race? I love competition and I race to race, no other reason (besides that fact it's just really fun). Is that so bad?

Why should I be made feel guilty by others for not going to church regularly? If I don't, does that make me evil, a cast-out? Are they supposed to be better than I am? Are they saved and I'm not? *** that.

I'm a Catholic and do believe in God, but religion, in my book, is knowing the difference between right and wrong, and being a good person.

$.02
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Not trying to anger you, just merely being philosophical. What is noble and what is not is very close to what is right and what is wrong.

My statement was not an opinion as much as it was a statement derived from the vices and virtues of western culture. In essense, to race for your own ego is to have commited the sin of Vanity or Pride. While to race for the sake of competition is to cultivate three of the four Cardinal Virtues: temperance, courage, and justice.

So with the proper mindset, we can have pleasure racing and not feel guilty. but again by common western morals, to derive pleasure from simple self serving acts is "wicked".

My favorite quote on this subject actually came from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: "Ask yourself, why do you seek the cup of Christ? Is it for His Glory, or for yours?"

It just points out the fine line between simple action, and action with purpose. Which do we do when we race?

 

Leykis 101. Nuff said.
http://www.leykisonline.com/ma...s.htm

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gotocrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Not trying to anger you, just merely being philosophical. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Me too. I was just making general statements and used your quote to get my ball rolling

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by WWDTrackRacer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Leykis 101. Nuff said.
http://www.leykisonline.com/ma...s.htm</TD></TR></TABLE>



Damn! That's a hot double chin.

 

To believe in God the Father, God the Son, God the HOLY GHOST....takes faith....that's all it is.....FAITH.

NOTHING ELSE WILL GET YOU INTO HEAVEN.

NOTHING!!!

Read the BIBLE, that's all it takes, Believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST and THOU Shalt be SAVED.

NOTHING more....that's how simple it is!

 

Yeah, I think Tom Lickass is about as credible with the subjects that he talks about as he would be with weight loss.

 

There's a little bit of Napoleon Dynamite in everyone...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kb58 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">There's a little bit of Napoleon Dynamite in everyone...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Now THAT'S something I can believe in!