07-03-00 POST:
From: Wm S. Thompson "...inspection showed failure of 2 bolts that hold the
spindle to the steering arm." "The Red Rat Bastard's days are over...better
to end this way rather than rusting away in someone's back yard. I'm
thankful I had no serious injuries and no one else was hurt."
07-04-00 POST: brian@uunet.ca ( Brian Evans) "Bad news all round then. Sorry
about writing off the RRB ( Thompson's car) FWIW, Don Sobering lunched a
GT-3 Midget there about 10 years ago, and Mike Jennings punched the wall
there in his Bug-Eye. Mosport is not a forgiving track...."
07-04-00 POST:
From: Billd13@aol.com. To: wsthompson@thicko.com "If his fingers weren't
hurt, maybe we should consider an alternate nickname for the
Flounder..."Lucky Fuck II"
MY RESPONSE:
It's too bad whenever there is a serious incident in motorsports...and
especially for the future of vintage racing. Luckily, Wm Thompson's injury
wasn't life threatening. But it sure seems like his accident at Mosport
might have been caused by careless maintenance or... just none at all!
As to "Mosport is an unforgiving track" That is an easy excuse. A track
isn't really "unforgiving"..it's usually the driver and his lack of
understanding of what he's driving that makes it appear that way.
I am bothered by the last few days' posts ...especially from Team
Thicko...which suggests that there is some kind of fraternal dialect and
dialogue among the Spidget group.....one that treats serious shunts almost as
a laughable joke.
We all can talk trash, spit on the ground, drink beer, and piss it out the
same way...but this forum isn't for that purpose...at least not from my
"vintage" perspective. If you want to continue this bs...why not do it
between yourselves?
Someone recently asked me why valuable vintage and historic cars don't appear
on the grid anymore? Why would I want to put my Arnolt-Bristol ( 142
made....less than 60 have survived) onto the same grid as Thompson's
Sprite...knowing what I know today? It's a no brainer!
So...like many other vintage racers, I too support the new VDCA's philosophy
for promoting a more diverse grid of preserved race cars and...while
recreating the vintage spirit of a bygone era....one which welcomes and
appreciates the original Arnolt-Bs and A-H Sprites as well.
Vintage racing is and has to remain distinctive. It's too fragile to treat
casually like the above referenced posts. Vintage racing is a matter of
....style. Don't most of you agree?
Lee Raskin
Brooklandville, MD
Arnolt-B and 356er
|