I only know a few of you very well, and the rest I know from the persona you project on the board. Some of you I like, some of you I don't. Some of the former I might not like in real life, and some of the latter I might like. Really hard to say....I'd probably have to race you to make up my mind for sure.

I'm not going to do the bad thing, and post the latest article from Motorsport that's caught my attention - GO BUY IT EVERY MONTH!

But I will tell you about it.

I took a couple of months off from buying and reading completely what must be the finest auto racing magazine on the planet. I've regained my sensibility...with respect to this particular topic...and really enjoyed some more of that fine writing.

It wasn't Mark Hughs this time, but Mike Lawrence, writing about Don Parker. You, like me, probably never heard of him. Only Fangio beat Moss more often than Don Parker did. Don ruled F3 in the 50's.

As usual Motorsport accompanies these great stories with photos that are at least one superlative better than the words. I can't do the photo of Don justice with my own words but here goes: an English lady no doubt elegant and scarfed in white is putting the laurel wreath on Don, he with a grimy face, a stiff upper lip, a smile expressed with the bottom row of teeth and the lower lip - the face of celebration on a grimy little SCRAPPER. Behind Don stand men with smiles the sincerity of which is beyond question. Don's expression is one you'd love to see on the face of a son who's just overcome his limits, his doubts, and won...WON.

I'm tired of reading and hearing...and thinking...about winning. I don't want to think about the simple occurance - the mere position. Maybe it's the key, but it's just the key. Don's face shows what he see's on the other side of the whole DOOR.

This guy was a star, and turned down offers for factory rides with Lister and Lotus - because he lacked confidence in himself.

This guy was a multi-champion who when he stopped knew he had nothing to prove.

You know how some of use never appreciated Mika Hakkinen's personality till Kimi Raikonnen came along. There is nothing less interesting than a robotic winner - however much we might respect the accomplishment. What is interesting about a racer is the person themselves.

Motorsport brings these stories to us like nobody else does - their stable of writers aren't just journalists who happen to write about cars...and like them even. They are in love with the sport and the people.

You know the best part of a weekends racing...aside from the racing of course...is the people. However much went wrong with my Rose Cup weekend, the one thing that stands out as absolutely good was sharing it all with Victor, John, Nash, Demian, and all the rest of my friends. Every one of them brought something good to that weekend...a weekend as good for me as any Don Parker ever had, or Stirling Moss for that matter.

I don't think there's such a thing as a racing personality. There are as many kinds of racer as there are racers. There are certainly many traits we might share to one degree or another, but we've all travelled different paths to get here and we all want something a little different out of it. Recognition? Self Acknowledgement? Devil made me do it? It's gotta be something.

Scott, who thinks racers smiles look about as good as any he's ever seen....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...and really enjoyed some more of that fine writing.</TD></TR></TABLE>
It may well be the finest auto racing magazine on the market, I wouldn't know YET, but I do look forward to each issue's release... because I know we will be subjected to some of the finest Auto/Racing/Humanity writing that I have taken the time to read, from our own RR98ITR. And, I know my morning will be a little bit more enjoyable/bearable here at work.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You know the best part of a weekends racing...aside from the racing of course...is the people.
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So true, and as much as I would like to win, if you could take the whole weekend's experience away, but just put my name at the top of the Results list, and tell me I won... I would still choose to be there, have the experience and fun of being with my friends and fellow racers, and place DFL. Sometimes I wonder how many others feel this way, or if the really fast guys(the ones up front) aren't allowing themselves to think like that. I'm sure many would condemn my thoughts/feelings and simply say I don't "want it" bad enough. Well, I agree, winning is the best feeling in the world, but if you win all the time, maybe that one loss would be so devastating on a certain type of person, that it would ruin your season. For those of us who find great enjoyment from simply being there, that ONE win, or even a close second, will be that much sweeter. I hope the comaraderie we have in our series never changes, no matter how competitive it gets.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I don't think there's such a thing as a racing personality. There are as many kinds of racer as there are racers. There are certainly many traits we might share to one degree or another, but we've all travelled different paths to get here and we all want something a little different out of it. </TD></TR></TABLE>
Again, So True, and something every racer should remember.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Scott, who thinks racers smiles look about as good as any he's ever seen....</TD></TR></TABLE>
You always have a theme or point to your writing (I wouldn't dare call them postings... and lump them in with our trivial babbling), and I'm always able to see your point, and the pictures your descriptive writing paints before our eyes. Thanks for that.

 

I needed this post Scott..........................

Due to some conversations last night I began to question my drive to do this. Some of my close friends are saying that my racing is waste of time and money, especially since I am going to race a car that is not considered anywhere near competitive. All this was said behind my back. It truly hurt my feelings adn I began to wonder why I would pursue such a thing when my friends think I am a fool and are going to act like it is cool to my face and turn around and dog me behind my back.

Though be it my feelings are definently hurt, I realize I do not do this for them. I do this for me. And why do I do it? Becuase I absolutely love it. I do not care about winning or losing, I want to race. If I am not racing I want to watch racing. If I am not watching racing I am thinking about racing. I have met some incredible people at the track who opened there arms to welcome me into a society of truly genuine people.

This weekend is my first race ever. I am scared shitless, honestly. I will be on track with guys I have looked up too and guys who have been doing this for a long time. But I know when I get off track, wether if I place first or deead last I will have the smile you are talking about. I know I had it when I recieved my proviosional comp liscense 2 weekends ago. That has to be one of the proudest moments of my life.

One of the things that truly makes this all worth it is when my best firend, Corey (DUH!), told me he was so excited for me to get liscensed not becuase I would get to race but becuase he would get to race with me on track.

Morgan - who is now, more ready than ever to race

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by urbanlegend21 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Morgan - who is now, more ready than ever to race</TD></TR></TABLE>

After 3 years I can tell you that every weekend I get in the car I'm not ready to race. I think there will always be that fear there but that's what makes the highs so great. Ultimately we do what we do because we enjoy it... so make sure, above all else, that you enjoy it this weekend.... and you don't have to win to do so.

 

Morgan,

I'm sure I'm not the only one that thinks you're going to do just fine out there.

 

I stumbled onto a pre Tour de France show on OLN the other night, and spent my usual few minutes getting choked up on the hero stuff.

If you've ever put much time in on a bicycle in a serious way you know that there are few venues for grit and guts that come close - and certainly nothing to compare with the tour.

In the race for what would be Lemonds second tour victory Laurent Fignon had a massive lead and the race was his to any reasonable observer. Lemond put out an incredible performance and nipped him. The video coverage from the time was dominated by "Fignon has lost the tour".

There, lying on the ground wracked in pain and spasm, was a man who'd just given everything he had and come up a few seconds short. Somewhere nearby was another man jubilant in victory. The win obliterates so much of what they shared, but it is what they worked so hard for after all.

It's hard to reconcile not winning with who and what we are if we believe in ourselves and feel the pull of competitition. As civilized people though we find a way, and we come back again and again.

Imagine that you were so narrow as to be focused on victory exclusively, and that you disliked and disrespected your competitors. What a lonely place the track would be, and what a pointless excercise then to play the game.

The real beauty and meaning in our sport, as in much of the rest of life, rests in a fine balance. Funny that we should have to maintain such a fine balance in something that we have to jump on so hard - but that's the way it is. Alot like actually driving the car. Think about how violent and sudden what we're doing with the car is, and how from our perspective behind the wheel we think in terms of finesse.

It's a wierd sport, but one of several I've done where people use machines to have fun and explore the limits of the life experience.

Scott, who wishes you luck Morgan....you pathetic crack head

 

you maybe be a fool morgan, but you are a happy fool if this is something you love. don't worry too much about what others have to say. sometimes they're just jealous and wish they can do what you're doing. have fun. that's what it is about (for me at least).

i'm sure you guys are sort of familiar with the stuff that i went through recently. it was absolutely the most life changing experience i've had. i'm principally the same person, but how i present myself to the world will be different. i also quickly learned who my friends were, and who were just like grass - the fall where ever the wind blows. lesson of life.

anyway, i'm getting off course. back on topic. i was chatting with a guy name Brian Cates whom i met at Sears Point earlier this year. He raced with PD and Randy Pobst back in the 80's. He respects Pobst and not as much for PD. both because of personality, and skills. I dunno about PD vs. Pobst on skills, but having interacted with both, I'd agree with his assessment. Randy is a super nice guy. wherers PD has this little "cocky" smirk on his face. hehe. just my 2 cents. of course, both can kick my butt any time anywhere.