Russ wrote: The public cares very little about what we do.
Can I tell you how utterly and completely wrong you are?
The fascination with land speed racing is widespread, but because it is not
widely covered and is extremely hard to spectate, the feedback to the racer
such as yourself is miniscule. Be not bereft.
>From where I operate, the feedback is much more direct and commonplace.
There is a sense of wonder from practically everyone with whom I speak about
this sport. Moreover, I solicit commentary and stir up interest with my
public appearances and presentations on land speed racing on behalf of the
SAE, schools, universities and speed equipment manufacturers.
In these shows I have no fewer than 80 images, sometimes 160, depicting
every facet of the sport, an armchair, microscopic view of the sport all
geared to entice folks to join in the fun. Sometimes I drag along my video
footage as well.
The last one, at Sacramento's Towe Auto Museum, included Katie
Cortez -Young, dad Keith and the shiny red modified roadster. Let me tell
all of you, those two folks are jewels that shine brightly as
representatives of the sport. I was told my no fewer than 10 people " gee,
they are so nice", or "Wow, the are so friendly and willing answer
questions" et al. I tell 'em that for the most part -- all LSR folks are
that way.
It is the same wherever I travel for a presentation and can find a LSR
vehicle nearby to display. While I have no hard numbers, nor will I ever try
to keep track, I now damn well that folks come to salt because of these
shows. Further, it hasn't got a thing to do with me -- it all you folks out
there racing, trying, showing up, busting knuckles, succeeding, failing,
having fun -- that makes them come. I am only the storyteller, the one who
shares the dreams of many, the hopes of hundreds extending an invitation to
all.
This doesn't even include the feedback I get from published articles, or the
astonishingly long life my book has enjoyed -- now in its fifth printing --
which I fully believe has been kept selling due to the interest among the
general public who are in many cases only NOW finding out that such a book
exists, that land speed racing is still being conducted annually and wonder
of wonders . . . that they can come out, with their friends and families,
and be part of the fun.
You knuckleheads are reason I have stopped covering every other form of
motorsports and have informed my editors that I no longer wish to perform
test drive evaluations -- it gets in the way of my covering the land speed
racing more in depth.
To that end the Goodguys Goodtimes Gazette has recently asked me to double
my column space during the three salt events and then produce a series of
human interest pieces on land speed racers over the winter months. The first
of these will be on Joe Law and his Grumpy Old Men. Another on Carl Heap.
Paula Murphy will slot in as well and then who knows who?
Ponce de Leon failed because he was in the wrong state. Land Speed Racing is
an elixir of youth, the doses of which are administered in direct proportion
to the level of involvement by the individual. Youthful exuberance for the
picking!
Speedy Regards,
"LandSpeed" Louise Ann Noeth
LandSpeed Productions
"Telling stories with words and pictures"
www.landspeedproductions.biz
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