Life is short. Drive fast.
That's a popular saying, I suppose. But sometimes driving fast can shorten a life.
There's been a lot of talk, probably, since the invention of the automobile, about why people race. And, of course, people
were racing on horses long before automobiles were available.
We've all seen the phrase "the need for speed", and I'm always amused by it. Nobody actually NEEDS to drive a vehicle faster than anyone else (in their class, or in general). But some folks may believe that they need to do this.
I don't want to appear overly critical about anyone who desires to race vehicles. I've done a tiny bit of motor vehicle racing myself, although I didn't set any very spectacular records that I know of. I actually believe, though, that I have the world's record for use of the smallest fuel tank on a motor vehicle while drag racing. This was on a small motorcycle -- and for a fuel tank, I used an automotive fuel filter that could hold maybe 2 ounces of gasoline. It was enough to get me down the track and then back to the pit area.
Yes, that's silly. But it's my record. How much fame did it get me? I don't know, and I don't much care.
Fame can get a lot of money for living people. How much does it cost to attend a Taylor Swift concert?
Fame seems to be given to living people, while "glory" may be more often associated with someone who's no longer alive.
I think that glory is over-rated. Should we assign glory to (I'll choose a name . . . Gary Gabelich)? He's no longer alive.
How much good will glory do him? I don't know. I was impressed by the record(s) he set in the Blue Flame rocket car.
In the world of land speed racing, it's a bit rare for someone such as the person operating the vehicle to get paid a lot of
money as a result of going fast, even if one breaks a record. People usually do it for the fame (otherwise known as
recognition of achievement, in my opinion), excitement, and fun. If there was no opportunity for fame in this endeavor,
I wonder how many people would make the effort.
If someone makes up a silly category and claims that they have a record in that category, it floats my boat about as much
as having a bicycle with the most chewing gum stuck to the spokes. An easy world record, that one. But who would
(as a polite person might say) "give a flying flock" about someone doing that to a bicycle?
I believe that a more MEANINGFUL record should be more impressive. For example, a record that is set by adhering to
strict rules that are generally accepted by people knowledgeable in that field (such as other land speed racers) as being reasonable and fair . . . while still challenging. Yes, it's more challenging to go 600+ mph, compared to only 100 mph.
And we all know by now that one of the challenging things is having the money available. But as speeds increase, so does
the technical difficulty, even with a lot of money.
I've been impressed with everyone who ever broke the Absolute Land Speed Record. And I'm not talking about only the
driver(s). It's the designers and builders -- and the rest of the crew -- that more impressed me. And if they got the record in a surprisingly short period of time, then I'm even more impressed.
I'm not so impressed by a "made-up" record not recognized by a generally-well-known sanctioning organization. And
even if a beer brewery thinks it's great, that "glory" won't do much good for a dead person, even if admired for their effort(s),
dedication, and courage.
I've never gone faster -- on the ground -- than 400 mph in a motor vehicle, but I'm alive to talk about stuff like this, and that fact is important to me and to others. Being extra-careful with safety, as far as I've been concerned (for many decades), is a better idea than rushing into serious danger.
