I Racing, Road Trips, and More

     After accounting for the weather, my best guess is that I have only missed two nights of racing so far in 2020. So why does it seem like so much more? Probably because I have spent way too much time obsessing about what I will likely miss going forward. Being retired definitely has its advantages when it comes to racing, but not if you are in the middle of an open ended quarantine.                 During this downtime, I have found myself spending way too much time chasing fact, fiction, and conjecture on the internet while also confirming a couple of things about my love of the sport. One, I do not have much interest in televised replays of previously staged events. For me, television just cannot satisfactorily recreate the thrill of being at the track. This is no doubt why I have yet to spend dollar one on pay per view, and have only a middling interest in NASCAR racing. Although I may have a change of heart if the quarantine stretches into mid summer! Second, I find myself with even less interest in the I racing craze. But then my generation did not grow up with video games, so there is that.  
       The various racing forums that I follow has given a voice to something I have been thinking about since the Covid-19 shutdowns began, and that is when any of us would be willing to attend a race, and how far we might go if and when the opportunity arises. More than ever, the " local tracks " will need our support when racing resumes, and I expect a jam packed schedule within a few hours drive that will happily make the late start a distant memory. With that said, the thought of traveling hours away should the season kick off sooner several states away from my northeast Missouri home base definitely would receive strong consideration.
Of course this is all conjecture at this point, and until things change, I am holding out hope for local racing by the time the calendar turns to May. Keep in mind many events have already been canceled or rescheduled, so check track schedules before you head out.
       One positive to come out of this mess is that when racing resumes, we will likely see car counts much higher than in recent seasons. Most competitors already had their cars ready to go before the virus hit, and while some may be out of action until their finances recover, I think we will likely see full fields of cars more often than not. And while we hope for financial health for drivers and their families, we must also remember that many track owners and promoters are also suffering, so let's not judge their attempts at recovery too harshly.
      Race fans in the Quad Cities received sad news on Wednesday with the passing of long time racer/promoter Bob Toland, and current racer Keith Blum. Please remember their families in their time of sorrow.
      Everyone please stay safe and follow the rules, and let's get back to racing!