| Author |
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Blake
| | Posted on Sunday, September 20, 2009 - 12:11 am: | 
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Well, and the idiots who stand five feet from desert racing trucks passing by at 100+ MPH. Yeah, I disparaged them too. Idiots. |
M1combat
| | Posted on Monday, September 21, 2009 - 08:17 pm: |
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I certainly wasn't saying I am fast on a motorcycle . I am fairly quick in a Baja racer though. In our last race we ran a 29.4 mile lap (four laps) and I was second fastest for the day by 16 seconds. That organization mashes three or four "SCORE" classes together so I was racing against cars that were over 800lbs lighter with both a wheel base and width advantage.
I know you're not disparaging the racers Blake. I get it. I understand your point. The problem is that if SOMEONE didn't make a few bucks off of racing then it wouldn't happen. It didn't used to be that way (and I still very much prefer the look of a race car without sponsorship stickers) but now it is. |
Redbuelljunkie
| | Posted on Monday, September 21, 2009 - 11:27 pm: |
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What is more fulfilling and gratifying in life, spending a weekend getting to know new friends in Daytona Beach, FL; or pushing the limit of a motorcycle on a wickedly dangerous hazard strewn racing course?
I enjoy motorcycle racing, but in the scheme of things it is a pretty shallow endeavor, just for fun, a game for grownups. It's contrived competition.
Real life, real competition for knowledge and human connection is where one should take risks for true fulfillment in life.
I'm sure some philosopher has said it a lot better than I have.
I just think that it is disrespectful to jeopardize our gift of life in trivial pursuits.
Just to clarify, I don't put professional athletes in the same category as thrill-seekers. They are pushing the human experience to the very limits of what is possible and thus demonstrating our God-given capacity for achievement, and I appreciate them. They also typically don't put their lives in significant jeopardy.
Help me with my confusion here, because what I'm reading in the above statement is that you believe it is less gratifying to compete at the IOM TT than to hang out at Daytona; that the lifelong dreams of many talented riders for over a century is just a shallow, contrived game entered solely for recreation; there's no competition, knowledge gained, or real fulfillment for competitors at the IOM TT, and due to it's triviality they disrespect life by racing there; and the big one: real road racers are not professional athletes, just thrill-seekers because they do not push human experience to any limits, or demonstrate any god-given capacity for achievement- because all of this runs contrary to putting yourself in personal jeopardy?
Based upon your statements above, in my confusion it appears that you are disparaging real road racers choice to compete at the IOM TT. I personally think, and I'm sure many others would agree, that IOM TT racing is more gratifying and fulfilling than weekends with friends at Daytona; that real road racing is the most serious, and therefore the most respected, form of moto sport; that real road racing is the pinnacle of competition and encompasses the pursuit of knowledge, human connection, and life fulfillment; and that real road racers are incredibly professional athletes who push human experience limits farther than most athletes, and demonstrate god-given capacity for achievement while accepting considerable personal risk.
If supporting the promoters of real road racing allows these athletes to continue to exercise their freedom, utilize their god-given talents, push the human envelope, and fulfill their lifelong dreams in their chosen arena, then sign me up!
I just don't believe the arguments you have put forth restrict themselves to the "money-makers", Blake. It really seems as if you think these individuals have no respect for life, and it's your duty to stop them. I know you keep saying that's not the case, but it's a definite undercurrent in what I'm reading. Just my opinion. |
Slaughter
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 - 10:34 am: |
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Cabbage wrestling, mud wrestling, burnout competitions - manly men wearing buttless chaps among manly men.
or
Road Racing...
Hmmm, let me think on this a minute here. |
Blake
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 - 10:55 am: |
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RBJ,
My personal view of whether or not I would participate in the race and of how I view the decision of others to do so is an entirely separate issue.
I am a libertarian in my views. Freedom to do as one desires as long as others are not put in jeopardy is one of my most strongly held values. I abhor the nanny state mentality.
However, exploitation of risk takers by others for profit is quite another issue and you know my views.
Please don't question my word. Doing so is very insulting and disrespectful. If you want to discuss issues, fine. If you would rather discuss me, I'm not much interested. Maybe you can find others who are more interested in that and start a new topic of your own. |
Redbuelljunkie
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 - 11:39 am: |
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Thank you Blake, you just answered my questions. It's clear now that I was not confused and therefore time to move on. |
Blake
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 - 01:16 pm: |
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It's clear to me that you are indeed very confused if you think my personal views of risk taking have anything to do with my opposition to promotion for profit of the racing at IOM. |
Blake
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 - 01:18 pm: |
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Steve,
LOL. I mean watching racing at Daytona while hanging out with friends. I guess I should have said "Laguna Seca".
But more importantly, why are you having to think on the scenario you outlined? Does Sunny know? |
Slaughter
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 - 05:10 pm: |
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Uh oh... (I'm in trouble now) |
Backcountryme
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 - 06:32 pm: |
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Blake I have one question. Don't all promoters of motorcycle racing make money on the risks of others? Last time I checked the trap speeds at Daytona (the race you were at) were well over 170mph. Falling at that speed is sure to cause injury if not death. The promoter of that race put it on to make money. I have had more than one friend killed racing Midgets and Sprint cars over the years. Those races were also a for profit venture for the promoter. By your logic you should not attend any racing because of its gross lack of respect for human life. All racing has its inherent danger. That is why we wear helmets when we do it. Not to put you down or anything, but by your logic we should all just curl up with a good book and never watch another race because it is dangerous. |
Blake
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 - 12:16 am: |
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Please compare the casualty rates since 1990 for motorcycle racing at Daytona versus the IOM.
See any difference in the levels of risk? |
Blake
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 - 12:21 am: |
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IOM Motorcycle Racing Death Toll.
Daytona Motorcycle Racing Death Toll = ?
(Message edited by Blake on September 23, 2009) |
Blake
| | Posted on Monday, March 31, 2014 - 08:55 am: |
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The toll now stands at 125 dead over the past 30 years. How many must die before common sense safety measures are taken? |
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