My dad took me to my first race about 1945. Wow, that has been a few years ago. It was a local track where they raced midgets. Since then I've followed racing of all types. I remember years ago when I watched TV, I was desperate for some racing and watched a 24 hour riding-lawnmower enduro from England broadcast on Speed Channel (no, I didn't watch it for 24 hours).
I went to my first sports car race in 1956 in Mansfield, Louisiana, held on an airport track.
And, I actually raced sports cars a little in the sixties.
My favorite racing to watch was and is road racing.
But, of course, there was always NASCAR, which I also watched.
After giving up TV and Speed Channel many years ago, somehow I've been keeping-up with NASCAR over the Internet. A couple of years ago, my pal Eddie, found a place on the Internet where all types of racing is available.
OK, what am I leading up to, here?
Back in the old days the racers actually raced cars that looked the same as the cars we could go to our local dealers and buy. And, though highly modified they still looked like the cars out front at our dealerships. Didn't they used to say, Race on Sunday and sell on Monday, or something like that?
Yes, today we have so-called stock cars with a million horsepower that are called Toyota Camerys. Oh, well. When reading fiction we often have to suspend disbelief.
NASCAR has become a well-choreographed spectacle. No, I'm surely not saying that's bad. Folks, there are millions and millions of dollars at play here. It costs millions of dollars to get those cars out on the track. Nope, we long ago got away from the time when some of these cars were actually hauled to the track on an open trailer.
Typically the drivers are introduced and most likely driven around the track in a pickup truck with the drivers waving to the fans.
Then there's a fly over, often times with really cool old planes.
Yes, there's a showing of colors. Yep, when our military men and women are shown with the American flag.
And, the National Anthem.
As an aside, NASCAR and most racing organizations have made great strides in safety over the years. Now a days we see NASCAR racers flip and roll a hundred times and the driver jumps out unscathed.
OK, so what I'm pissed-off about. The convocation.
Yep, that's what gets me. And, that's what pisses me off.
Actually, pissed-off most likely doesn't accurately describe my feelings. I think it is more being disappointed that in 2014 we ignore all reason and logic. That we cling to beliefs that are wholly-based on superstition and myth; that when it comes to religious beliefs we put on our intellectual blinders and no longer require evidence.
Back to the convocation. Typically, it's a local pastor, minister, or what-have -you. Yep, and it goes something like this.
With the minister looking upward at times, Dear heavenly Father, we ask that you protect these racers from harm and that we have a safe race. We ask that you look over them and we also pray that you look over our men and women serving overseas.....blah, blah, blah....we thank you for the beautiful weather today.....blah, blah, blah....and, yes, Heavenly Father.....blah, blah, blah.....and, yes, we ask in the name of Lord Jesus Christ....blah, blah, blah.
Wow, so much BS! What does the old reverend say when someone is killed or severely injured in a race? God works in mysterious ways???? God's testing us? We can't question God?
Of course, this is NASCAR's show and they have the right to do whatever they want and believe whatever they want. Hey, this is America and we still have freedom of speech.
And, this is my blog and I have the right to say whatever I want. Great country, ain't it?
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