Racing Is For The Young As Well As The Old
|
I bid
you welcome gentle readers, and of course that welcome also extends to our
assigned reader of all things related to NASCAR, wherever this day might find
you. As you know, I try hard to make all of my articles interactive between any
or all of you and me. Today’s tale results from a dialogue with a reader
following a recent column. As is my wont, I got just a bit long-winded and
another reader suggested that my answer would make a great column. After some
thought, I decided perhaps she was right, so here, with some slight
modifications, is that comment.
Let’s
do just a bit of set-up here. I have not contacted the gentleman that made the
original comment, so I won’t copy over his words to this missive. The gist of
it was that he had been speaking with a young girl that in the course of
conversation told him that she thought she would enjoy going to a live race,
but found the races on TV to be boring. Well, with FOX at the helm right now,
it’s hard to argue with that, but the gentleman seemed ready to abandon hope
that we of the older generation might ever impart our love of racing to the
“kids” of today. Remember, to me anyone under 50 is a kid. It’s all in the
perspective. Here then is my comment, edited just a bit to eliminate any
unnecessary aside…
Ah yes,
we have indeed discussed this until we've long since worn the "new"
from the finish, and of course you are right. Kids of my generation (I know you
are a bit younger, but not that much) were quite happy to walk home from
school, change clothes and hit the outside running, because there were things
to be done and games to be played… Things like climbing trees or running foot
races in the nearby park. Games such as Kick the Can, Hopscotch, Hide and Seek,
many versions of tag, Red Rover and of course, baseball and football, not
necessarily in season. In the winter, we built snow forts, had snowball wars or
took either sleds or ice skates to that same park for obvious purposes. The
park had a hill and a pond. Life didn't get better than we knew it.
As we
got a bit of age on us and became teenagers, the attention turned to those
awesome new machines that Detroit was pumping out by the thousands and hundreds
of thousands since the "War" was no longer ruling the day. It was the
most natural thing in the world for an active generation, such as we were, to
immediately want to see how fast the machines would go. Getting a driver's
license was our rite of passage. We could get behind the wheel and feel we
ruled the world... or at least maybe a straight stretch of road where we could
put two beside each other and declare a winner by who crossed the finish line
first.
We
loved our cars almost as much, and sometimes maybe more, than our eventual life
mates. When we were young, the automobile ruled the day. Racing was just a
product of our general way of life.
Today's
kids have no such upbringing. They don't go out and play as we did. Playing, to
them, is done on a computer or a game box of some ilk that cost their parents
probably more than did our first cars. That is their world, wrapped up inside a
machine of varying size, from computer, to laptop, to “pad”, to X-box, to
phone. The screen size doesn't matter. All fun, all communication, in fact
almost all contact with the outside world is done on a keyboard. Conversation
is almost obsolete. They hold a phone in their hands, but do not call anyone.
They text.
I have
a young friend with whom this difference has been discussed thoroughly. He does
not find racing boring at 28 years of age. He lives, eats and breathes racing.
In fact, he has just recently been hired and is in training to be ... a NASCAR
official. God bless him and all like him, but yes, we both realize he is
perhaps the exception that proves the rule. Still, I learn a lot from writing
for and conversing with the young folks. I love youth, and remember mine quite
fondly.
We have
to remember, our grandparents lived when a buggy whip had a daily use and most
folks had a butter churn. Many had an ice-box, not a refrigerator, and not only
did they not have television, but movies made no sound and the wonder of the
day was called a Victrola... a contraption that spun large fragile discs and
when a needle was applied, scratchy music came forth to thrill a generation of
folks that saw that as technology at its best… the harnessing of sound.
It's
the nature of man on earth that change is truly the only constant. The
important thing is that we keep an open line through conversation or even
texting if it must be, with that younger generation. The only way they can
understand what we feel is if we tell them. You cannot pass on our history to
them if you don't allow them their part of the conversation, and listen to what
they have to say. I couldn't explain that well enough to some, so now I talk
with them here at Race Fans Forever, and on Twitter. It’s quite a
symbiotic relationship I think. I don’t talk down to them for being young and
they don’t point and laugh at me for being old. I think it’s called
“r-e-s-p-e-c-t.”
That
same young friend I mentioned told me something not long ago that made it all
worth it. He said something like, "So many older folks just complain about
things not being like they used to be and sound so bitter and disapproving when
they do. When you complain, or don't like something that's being done, I can
hear the love of racing in every word you speak or write. It's that love that
makes all the difference."
My
friend, I'll take that accolade and cherish it to my grave because I think you
know that I do love racing and always have. I know you do as well my friend.
Next time you talk with that young girl, or one like her that sees racing as
boring, stop and take the time to tell her what we see in it and why it is not
boring if one looks for and sees those things. Don't just walk away shaking
your head at the difference. Love them for the difference and teach them.
Thanks
for the comments. You always wind me up like an old alarm clock. Anytime you
want a platform to talk to and with them about racing, we can always use new
writers. Think about it.
Gentle
readers, just before our Classic Country Closeout, I’d like to say two things:
First,
please don’t miss the new column by a gal I hope will become a regular here on
the pages of Race Fans Forever. Her name is Vivian Simons and she has submitted
a few “guest articles” this year. Please
read her offering and make her feel at home. I think you’ll love her as I
do!
Next,
this is what’s known to those of the Christian faith as “Holy Week”, the week
preceding Easter, the day we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from
the dead.
I take
this opportunity to wish each of my gentle readers of a Christian denomination
a Happy and Blessed Easter, and to all gentle readers of the Jewish faith,
Shalom and Happy Passover. Time now for music!
This
week, in honor of the upcoming religious holiday, we’ll be visiting a side of
Classic Country where we have not ventured before. Country Gospel music is
probably the oldest of Country and Blue Grass genres and where it all began.
First up we have the undisputed King of Classic Country, the late, great Hank
Williams, doing a song that he wrote and sang, and has always been one of my
very favorite Hank songs… “I Saw the Light.”
Next,
another of my very favorites, both song and singer, this is Tennessee Ernie
Ford singing for us “The Old Rugged Cross.” Please enjoy!
This
has to be the most beautiful version of one of the most beautiful sacred songs
ever written. Here is the incomparable voice of Jim Reeves offering his
rendition of “Precious Memories.”
Our
next song is one offered for a friend. This Andy Griffith (Not as Andy Taylor)
singing a very old and dear song, “The Church in the Wildwood.” The
song was featured on an episode of “The Andy Griffith Show” where Andy sang it
in concert with Don Knotts, but this one includes the
whole song.
Last up
is the song I hope they will play for me as I go to my final resting place. It
is perhaps the most beautiful song ever written, by the man I feel could sing
any song and it would be the best version ever. This is Red Foley singing the
song he is best known for, “Peace in the Valley.”
Be well
gentle readers, and remember to keep smiling. It looks so good on you!
~PattyKay