by barfle » Wed Mar 09, 2005 5:27 pm
While there's nothing like driving in a race, I can say from experience that it's a lousy place to watch a race from. Face it, you're busier than the proverbial one-armed paper hanger with lice.
You have to know what the cars around you are doing, and you have to know where you are on the track, but once you've started paying attention to those, little things like your overall position in the race, lap counts, and any other battles on the track are beyond your interest.
You are also paying very close attention to what the car is doing - you're depending on all the mechanical elements to keep working properly, and if they stop, it's a real good idea to have plan B. I remember once I had a rear wheel loosen up, and believe me, that's a very disturbing feeling on a race track. Shoulda stopped one lap before I did.
And I doubt if the drivers ever "get used" to trying to beat a similar car into a turn. Your heart and a couple of other glands seem stuck in your throat the whole time. It's a kick, and when you're pushing your skills and the limits of the car, you know the defecation can hit the ventilation at any time.
--I know what I like--