The Magic of the Racing Season

by Gib Chew

There are moments of magic in our lives that we remember fondly, and often wish to repeat. These moments could be as diverse as family get-togethers, times associated with sporting events, parties, friends having fun, maybe camping, maybe traveling, it could be as simple as an afternoon at home with the family or friends, or a quiet moment in a quiet place that happens quite unexpectedly. 
 
We are often tempted to try and repeat them...to recapture those moments. In my experience this only seems to cheapen the original moment.  It is almost impossible to recapture that moment...to make the magic happen again. But if we do not get caught up in capturing that moment, we can make new ones, ones that become great memories in the same place. 
 
Every year there are at least 2 party weekends at Winchester Speedway: Labor Day and Winchester 400 weekend, and sometimes there are others. The parties are that way; magic happens and each is unique and fun for different reasons. Sometimes it is the party with the band, sometimes the campground, sometimes our campsite. We enjoy ourselves, and there have been times I have seen the sun rise before going to bed, and after only a few hours sleep (or less), I am back at work. But each time we try to do something that was fun at a previous party it is different, less fun, more like a routine than a party. I think that kills some of the fun, like it is something we have to do. 
 
This year was the most ambitious racing season we have attempted. More races, at more tracks, with all four divisions racing. I have been to a lot of races this year. Put a lot of miles on my little truck, and riding in a truck packed like sardines on the way to and from these races. And I loved it. This year I will remember with fondness, it was a magic year, filled with magic moments large and small. 
 
I am often asked why I do this. The easy answer - "it is what I do." Since I can remember, racing is something we did or watched. When Dad was trucking there was no time for racing, but we went and watched. When there was time, we started racing again. Sometimes we had good seasons, sometimes less than great years, but we always raced to win. And we did it as a family. 
 
But the more complicated answer is that it is tied up in it being what I have always done...and it is still a family affair, with two of my brothers traveling also. And it is the moments of magic that happen during the season, small moments like when there is time to catch-up with an old friend or the large moments when a driver wins a race after a tough year. 
 
There are legendary races such as the annual Labor Day event at Winchester (as one person said I went to a party and a race broke out), and of course the Anderson 400, the Winchester 400 the All American 400 Weekend, racing at Toledo, Berlin, Illiana, Angola, Baer Field, ORP,  and being there for the one of the largest crowds ever at the resurgence of Plymouth Speedway...all are times that will live on forever in my memory. 
 
At the end of year for the last few years I have been considering not coming back the next year. I was really happy the season was over. This year is not like that. I cannot wait until next year. It cannot get here soon enough.
 I will miss the racing, I will miss the crew, I will miss the drivers/crews/owners and many of the fans that seem to find their way to the tracks week after week...I will miss them all during the long, cold winter. 
 
I know next year will not be like this one, there will be new memories, and new experiences. We as a group will enjoy the season in a different way. We probably will not spend a late night at Fricking, Frickers eating the Fricking Frickers Burger and Fricking Fries while watching Daniel hit on the waitress. Or three nights in a row at Lonnies in Nashville, including Halloween, with all the young women in interesting costumes...watching Blake meeting two new "friends" in Nashville in the spring...the late night trips from one track to another...dinner in the middle of the night at someplace we have never been to, or are becoming regulars at 3:00 am. It was all very interesting, fun....... and tiring. 
 
Next year will bring new adventures, new friends, old friends hanging out, family fun and, if we do not try to replay this year, it will bring its own magic, and that is the fun of living...finding new magic and it is why I go racing.

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