Memories, etc.
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Note: My articles are based solely on my thoughts, observations and sometimes experiences. Normally I do not offer statistics, although at times I may reference what different broadcasters, among others, have said or alluded to.
Most of our regular readers and fans seem to be older and a lot of us are retired. We have a lot in common and converse very well with one another on the site and also through email at times. Some of us do use Twitter and meet there to talk, while others may visit with one another on Facebook. At any rate, we do talk with one another.
I have discovered that as one gets older, one tends to start remembering things they have not thought of in years. In my case, those memories seem to take up a lot of my free time. I remember some older friends I had for over thirty years. They were twenty years older than I was at the time. In fact, I thought of them as substitute parents since my own parents were about 3000 miles away. As they got older, I noticed they both seemed to talk about the past a lot. She would talk about friends and relatives she grew up with but had not seen in decades. I often wondered why this was happening more and more. I lost those dear friends about 20 years ago, but I still find myself talking to them at times and wishing they were here to answer and tell me more about their past. Time has passed, and now I find myself doing the same things.
I think the Holidays bring our memories back and we relive many things with an assortment of many friends or acquaintances, or with people we never met and wish we had. Such is the case with some of our favorite race drivers.
I remember my older brother driving the car in the woods as if he were on a road course, running as fast as the old car would go and eventually turning over because he went around a tree too fast. I remember him walking home and telling Daddy. He is gone now, but I would like to ask him why he did that since I didn’t ask at the time.
I remember going to the first 24 Hours of Daytona Race. I remember camping in the infield and sitting by a campfire. I remember the excitement and how tiring it was. I would like to ask the drivers how they stayed awake and how well they could see. I would also like to ask them if they enjoyed themselves and if they were tired.
I remember going to my first Daytona 500. I remember the smells and the noise and all the excitement of the fans. I would like to ask Fireball Roberts why he was no longer driving a Pontiac.
I remember going to another Daytona 500 race and cheering for Cale Yarborough because I loved the way his car sounded. I would like to ask him what made it sound so different.
I remember waiting and waiting for Dale Earnhardt to win the Daytona 500. When he finally did win, I would have liked to have asked him if he “really knew” what it meant to fans like me because we had been waiting right along with him for that most magnificent win.
I remember the first few years, and still even until today, without Dale and how much I missed him. So many times, in my mind, I have asked him why, “why did you leave us so soon?” I remember… I remember…
I remember many, many times I have asked Tony Stewart (in my mind) why he had to be such a jerk. Usually, this was (and still is) followed by “But I love you anyway.”
I remember going through a phase where I thought NASCAR was the greatest. Somewhere between then and now, I have slowly lost faith in NASCAR and the way they are now running the sport. Many times, in my mind I hear Mike Helton saying, “It is what it is.” I always keep asking why and even today, I still would like to ask NASCAR “Why?”
My favorite memories are of watching my Don race stock cars at several local short tracks. I remember him winning races and I remember him winning championships. I still talk with him about those times and still ask him many questions about his racing years.
I could go on and on with memories and imagined memories, but I would really like to hear some of your memories. Please share with us.
Thank you for reading and commenting here. Your thoughts, ideas on the subject and opinions are very welcome. I remind you to keep them clean and no bashing, please. You may also email comments to me.