I have been racing for some 20 years now but even since
Karting as a youngster, I have understood three basic rules of confrontation at
the race track.
1. If you throw your crash helmet at the ground or a
competitor’s race car, the best possible consequence is that, you will have to
buy another crash helmet.
3. If you get out of your car to confront a race car on a
live race track, the best possible consequence is, you don’t get run over.
It still boggles my mind that drivers and team members
cannot think these things through to their conclusion. People argue about how
it is a “Heat of the moment” incident but racing drivers are supposed to thrive
on keeping their cool under pressure. When they come off the track to “kick someone’s
ass” on pit row, how do they think it will pan out? I can say with all
certainty that it will not change the result of the motor race. But it might
stop the driver throwing the punches from entering the next race.
The angriest I have been in a race car was a late model race
in Belgium in 2011. I had come through from the back of the field to second
place. I also had picked my own number in a sweepstake so, if I could win, I
would leave the weekend with a tidy profit. I was catching the lead car easily when
we got a caution with three laps to go. The 2x2 re-start would put me on the
outside of the leader. I would be past him by the exit of turn two. This race
was a full gone conclusion and everyone knew it apart from the pole sitter. He
came into turn one so hot that he shot out of the bottom groove, ran over my car
and went straight into the wall. See
the video here. I was mad as hell. A race I should have won I was now not
going to finish. Throwing a tantrum would not magically put my car back
together. So I went back to the pits and started making preparations for the
next race.
Last night we lost a talented young Sprint Car driver
because we still seem to think it is ok to walk back onto a live race track and
show your displeasure at the driver you feel has wronged you. This is a
dangerous thing to do with a limited number of possible outcomes. None of those
outcomes are good for the drivers, the fans or the sport in general. Yesterday
we saw the worst possible outcome and I extend my deepest sympathies to all
involved.
I hope we all learn from this and put safety at the
forefront of every decision we make whether we be on the track, in the pits or
in the grandstands.
***All the crap you see written here is Kelvin's opinion and not that of his associates, race team or marketing partners.***