The most important thing about taking your kids racing is that your spending
time with them. They will remember that for the rest of their lives. You
don't have to cram your interests down their throats, just expose them to
different things in life. Who knows what that may spark to lead them into a
career, hobby, or whatever. One of the things my wife and I have always
tried to do is raise well rounded kids with different interests who can
carry on a conversation on almost anything. This involves dance, piano,
baseball, karate, and yes - racing. While safety is a concern, I don't
think they are too young to start - at any age. Our oldest daughter made
her first trip to the Chimney Rock Hill Climb (not gone) at age 5 months.
Now our 2 year old enjoys racing maybe even more than the older two. As we
recently pulled into the paddock at Road Atlanta she exclaimed - "Daddy,
it's racing time"!
Treasure the time you spend with your kids and spend as much time as you can
with them. If you don't spend time with them, someone else will - by your
choice or not. The time you spend with them when they are young will
usually translate into more time they spend with you when they are older.
And who knows, they may just find an enjoyable hobby to spend with dear old
Dad!
Eric Swanger
-----Original Message-----
From: WSpohn4@aol.com <WSpohn4@aol.com>
To: john.r.hildebrand@us.pwcglobal.com <john.r.hildebrand@us.pwcglobal.com>;
vintage-race@autox.team.net <vintage-race@autox.team.net>
Date: Wednesday, April 04, 2001 4:35 PM
Subject: Re: Girls in racing
>In a message dated 04/04/01 11:04:52 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
>john.r.hildebrand@us.pwcglobal.com writes:
>
>
>> I think Fred Yeakel (sp?), who has a Cheetah, was at a vintage race at
>> Laguna last year with his daughter. Or at least I think it was his
>> daughter. The interesting part is that Fred was wrenching and his
daughter
>>
>
>That's the rotter (and the Corvette) that gave me one of my best races in
my
>MGA Twincam at Portland years ago, before he bought the Cheetah. I was
>slightly faster in terms of times, but of course couldn't get by him under
>braking without going over or through him. Every lap at the hairpin in
front
>of the stands, I'd be inches from his rear, waiting for him to make a
mistake
>(he didn't), and then he'd point for me to pass, no doubt chortling into
his
>Nomex, as he planted his right foot and motored off.
>
>Hell of a nice guy, and I'm glad to hear his daughter has kept up the
>tradition. Maybe if I ever get my MGA back on the track, I'll get a crack
at
>her. Only problem is that in my experience, the lady driver's are, if
>anything, more even and reliable drivers than the men, perhaps being less
>taken to bouts of red fog after being passed. Which would mean that SHE
>wouldn't likely let me by either. Damn it!
>
>Bill Spohn
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