This is my favourite subject in racing. I think it is what elevates motor racing above a mere 'sport'. It is like a life simulator, just way harder. It's more unfair, more brutal, more immoral and full of ugliness. That's why I think racers are a 'cut above', because they seek it out - like proper classical heroes.
If they could really understand that, maybe they'd relish it even more.... but alas!!
Sort of reminds me of a story about a father brought his twin sons into a room where toys, neatly stored in plastic bags, lined the walls on shelves. The father said to both sons, "You can have any one thing that you want in this room." One twin was thrilled and he clapped his hands and grinned in anticipation of his eventual choice. The 2nd twin had a very sad look on his face and his eyes began to well up with tears. So the father took the second twin to another room where there was nothing but a huge pile of s*#t in the middle of the room. The father asked his son, "Would you like to have what's in this room instead?" The second twin's face smiled broadly. He answered affirmatively while wringing his hands in anticipation. "But why would you want to play in a pile of s*#t?" his father asked. "Because I'll bet there's something of real value, that I'll have to work to uncover and its hidden under that pile of s*#t!"
Pros at the highest level in any sport, have an incredible ability to recover from mistakes. While once playing in a ProAm golf event, I played with Graham McDowell. I learned that professional golfers also occasionally hit bad shots way off of the fairway into the woods or into a penalty area...and it never seems to faze them. The pros seem to usually hit their next shot perfectly and will often par the hole. And if the pro doesn't end up with par and records a bogie on his scorecard, the odds are huge that he will birdie the next hole.
Thanks for the story about your incredibly disappointing and painful Indy experience Ross. And thanks for your insights into dealing with disappointment and failure and moving on. I love your comment “the deep-down-inside burning desire to learn and improve, and ability to get over things that go wrong.” We have to allow ourselves to feel the disappointment, it's real, but then there's "almost" always opportunity to learn and improve and that seems to help us move on. Maybe racers are stupidly optimistic, how cool!
How true - great observation, just ask Lewis Hamilton! I never gave Penske's "losses" a thought, either, until your article, but once you win you are hooked.
Thèse are invaluable observations, Ross. I believe you are correct, though some may be ultra competitive without having attitude. Think Gretzky for example. Nevertheless, intensity can lead to externalizing facts… and I plan to share your thoughts with the cautionary statement along with it. There’s enough extremism around us presently without providing excuses for people… my $0.02.
A week ago at NOLA running a Rush for the first time, at this track for the first time, a racing group/format/program for the first time and working on getting off my provisional license I had a bundle of issues, oil pressure switch, shift linkage, GPU, and blown shock. Being there and in that car was a major step for me so I just worked though it. Qualified 18th and by the end of the weekend finished 6th by improvement, perseverance and not driving beyond my abilities so I didn't attract any more/unnecessary "stuff." Like many things in life you cannot finish or succeed if you don't keep going.
By the way met a friend of yours, JD of Catalyst fame. Heck of a guy, love his product and he thinks highly of you, as do I.
This tracking cars, ChampCar enduros, and now lightweight sprint races is an amazing blessing to come to me so late in life. I feel I have so much catching up to do to be truly competitive. Your nuggets of wisdom are the doses I can take and much appreciated in my journey.
This is my favourite subject in racing. I think it is what elevates motor racing above a mere 'sport'. It is like a life simulator, just way harder. It's more unfair, more brutal, more immoral and full of ugliness. That's why I think racers are a 'cut above', because they seek it out - like proper classical heroes.
If they could really understand that, maybe they'd relish it even more.... but alas!!
Sort of reminds me of a story about a father brought his twin sons into a room where toys, neatly stored in plastic bags, lined the walls on shelves. The father said to both sons, "You can have any one thing that you want in this room." One twin was thrilled and he clapped his hands and grinned in anticipation of his eventual choice. The 2nd twin had a very sad look on his face and his eyes began to well up with tears. So the father took the second twin to another room where there was nothing but a huge pile of s*#t in the middle of the room. The father asked his son, "Would you like to have what's in this room instead?" The second twin's face smiled broadly. He answered affirmatively while wringing his hands in anticipation. "But why would you want to play in a pile of s*#t?" his father asked. "Because I'll bet there's something of real value, that I'll have to work to uncover and its hidden under that pile of s*#t!"
Pros at the highest level in any sport, have an incredible ability to recover from mistakes. While once playing in a ProAm golf event, I played with Graham McDowell. I learned that professional golfers also occasionally hit bad shots way off of the fairway into the woods or into a penalty area...and it never seems to faze them. The pros seem to usually hit their next shot perfectly and will often par the hole. And if the pro doesn't end up with par and records a bogie on his scorecard, the odds are huge that he will birdie the next hole.
Recovery is everything!
What you focus on grows . . .
“Racers have to be stupidly optimistic, to the point of being really good at putting the s*#t that happens behind them. “
Thank you! This addressed my current conundrum perfectly.
Joel
Thanks for the story about your incredibly disappointing and painful Indy experience Ross. And thanks for your insights into dealing with disappointment and failure and moving on. I love your comment “the deep-down-inside burning desire to learn and improve, and ability to get over things that go wrong.” We have to allow ourselves to feel the disappointment, it's real, but then there's "almost" always opportunity to learn and improve and that seems to help us move on. Maybe racers are stupidly optimistic, how cool!
How true - great observation, just ask Lewis Hamilton! I never gave Penske's "losses" a thought, either, until your article, but once you win you are hooked.
Thèse are invaluable observations, Ross. I believe you are correct, though some may be ultra competitive without having attitude. Think Gretzky for example. Nevertheless, intensity can lead to externalizing facts… and I plan to share your thoughts with the cautionary statement along with it. There’s enough extremism around us presently without providing excuses for people… my $0.02.
A week ago at NOLA running a Rush for the first time, at this track for the first time, a racing group/format/program for the first time and working on getting off my provisional license I had a bundle of issues, oil pressure switch, shift linkage, GPU, and blown shock. Being there and in that car was a major step for me so I just worked though it. Qualified 18th and by the end of the weekend finished 6th by improvement, perseverance and not driving beyond my abilities so I didn't attract any more/unnecessary "stuff." Like many things in life you cannot finish or succeed if you don't keep going.
By the way met a friend of yours, JD of Catalyst fame. Heck of a guy, love his product and he thinks highly of you, as do I.
This tracking cars, ChampCar enduros, and now lightweight sprint races is an amazing blessing to come to me so late in life. I feel I have so much catching up to do to be truly competitive. Your nuggets of wisdom are the doses I can take and much appreciated in my journey.