by Clinton Terry

It’s probably an age-old question, maybe as far back as when the first car was ever built, but it has to do with what makes us want to go fast. Why I Love Racing? Well, it’s a number of reasons, some understandable and some unexplainable, but it’s a feeling more or less of the heart that makes racing so appealing to everyone and myself. I assumed at first that it was a universal feeling that made people love the sport of racing, but after 3 weeks of post and comments from many people I found that the love of the sport is as divers as the people that love it. In this article you will read many different peoples versions of why they love racing. You will see many sides to an unanswerable question. One thing you will learn however is that when its all said and done, why shouldn’t you love racing? Though it’s just an opinion, there is no sport like motor sports.

Mod4 wrote to me and gave me his reason for loving racing. He told me it was an addiction, which I agree with completely, but I never thought of this other part that makes it so addicting. “Every race is the sum of all it’s participants: their work, their ideas, their Passions and talents. Every race is unique to itself: it can be like watching a master painting a canvas, or 7 year olds throwing dirt clods at laundry on a clothesline.” Colorful and true, with the exception of Daytona and Talladega lately, every race is something new.

RBC21 filled me in on a little secret that I haven’t had the opportunity to experience but hope to some day. He is a driver and when he was a child he dreamed of climbing in the car and racing around the track. I guess its proof that dreams do come true if you work hard at it. However, his most interesting point has to do with the Adrenaline rush from doing so. “I don’t know how to explain the feeling I get when I strap in my modified or even when I jump into a 5 hp Briggs & Stratton Kart…I’m getting goose bumps just thinking about it.” I get the same feeling when I'm pulling into the racetrack every Saturday just to watch. I can’t wait till I get into my own car some day and turn a few laps.

In racing one thing that I have noticed is that a little passion and adrenaline can result in Fire, but the kind of fire Sakimom brought to my attention took me a little by surprise. Although this is a woman’s perspective I have to admit this is a two-sided coin. “It has something to do with how cute race car driver’s tushes are in those one piece fire suits.” Well, I don’t know about the guys, but I have seen a lot of good-looking ladies in fire suites as well.

Little Meanness, after meeting her she isn’t so mean, told me about being a driver’s girl friend. She at first thought herself to be crazy after going to her first race; I guess the whole thing didn’t make any sense to her. Her Love for her boyfriend might have had something to do with her love of racing now though. “Being a driver’s girlfriend is tough, but I will also admit that I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s in his blood… I want him to have the life he wants. Now, four years later we’re still going strong… and the relationship is great too.” I have the privilege of getting to see her and her boyfriend every weekend since they come to Putnam County to race. I wish them both the best and I love watching him race on Saturday.

Robin touched on my favorite reason for loving racing. This feeling has never been more evident than it has in the past two years. Racing has seen a lot of tragedies at its top levels, plus the ones that go on in the local levels that we don’t always hear about. All in all it’s the Family that makes racing so great. “The stories of the people who make the sport. The different walks of life we come from, the adversities we overcome to get there, the triumphs and the tragedies. The best thing about racing is that we all come together in times of need no matter what track we are from or how much competition there is on the track. Off the track we are all “Family”.”

Support, by fans and family make the race that much more exciting as Linda will tell us now. “I think that all drivers should be supported by their family, fans, and most important of all the race track that they choose to race at. The men and women that race on a weekly basis enjoy the fans that come every week to support them. These racers probably have full time jobs as well as trying to keep up a racecar. Trust me there is a lot of work that goes into these race cars so the racers can be competitive and put on a good show for the fans.” I don’t think the fans even realize how much they mean to the sport of racing. I’m a fan, and more often than not I think of racing! As my means of escape from my hectic life. To think that I’m that important to a person that they would want to race to entertain me makes me want to show them all the support I can. I know there are many people that probably feel this way as well so I just want to say Thank you to all the drivers for your continuous desire to drive fast, and turn left, it keeps me going every day.

In a sport where victory favors the sportsman, the only way to survive is to love the challenge of Competition. Kyle had this to say about racing, “ I love the challenge of building the fastest, best car out there, and making it a winner.” When I got old enough to really understand why my dad spent every waking minute he could in the garage instead of watching TV with me I became a sportsman like Kyle. The challenge sometimes can bite you like a snake, and sometimes it can pay off, but the real sportsman keeps the battle alive by never giving up the fight.

Missy, I’ll let you wrap this up for me. “I love racing because it is filled with what all the greatest movies and novels are made of- Passion, Adrenaline, Fire, Love, Hate, Family, Sportsmanship, and Competition- a few broken hearts and always a happy ending for someone.” I couldn’t have said it better my self. Racing is by far the greatest and most unique sport on earth. It stretches beyond shores and territorial boundaries. Whether its stock cars or motorcycles, the feeling is always the same, the spirit of motor sports is felt the same way everywhere. To all of you who helped me with this article I would like to say thank you. To all of you who love racing, thank you. I hope that this article helps us all understand why WE LOVE RACING?


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