I’ve been thinking fondly of old times. A decade ago people were making the 3 hour commute from Edmonton to Calgary, just to SPECTATE at auto-x events. These events happened most frequently on week nights, and I went to all that did because it was better than coming home from work and watching TV. Weekend events suck. If I’m not working, I’d way rather be productive around the house, recovering from the night prior, or doing something with my family. A full day is an exponentially greater commitment than an evening.
That commitment is evident in the competitors as well. There are trailers, and constant trips south of the border, Evolution schools and tall talking, freaks of driving who think that noobs want to hear about “backsiding”. For the average guy who just wants a place to turn the wheel in anger, it takes the fun out of it. A decade ago there must have been ten guys in their teens who attended regularly… When I go to events now, I’m still one of the youngest.
Not that I’m criticizing anybody, or anything. Current events are very well run and have bred some very successful drivers. Weekend events are the basis of auto-x from one side of the continent to the other. Even if we did want to run short weeknight events again, there is no longer a venue that could accommodate that.
Ultimately, I’m realizing that I’m really not that interested in auto-x. I probably never have been. A new season has begun. Multiple people are encouraging me to attend. I’m doubtful that I will.
My fondest memories are definitely not Race City but still the weekend events at Westerner.
At the event in Red Deer on the small lot last weekend, there were some 45ish drivers and I could not believe the number of first timers…literal first timers, not rookies. Also, a few old timers showed like Arlyn and Chris Andrews and friends…no more VWs they brought a modified 911, BMW X1, and Lotus Elise. Sucks to work 6 days a week but I hope your wrong about attracting people…Just saying.
Maybe it is my work schedule… when I look back on those Red Deer events now, I just remember coming how tired and dreading going to work the next day. It never stopped me at the time though…
Like you have… I probably need to get the family involved.
Researching my film, I have come across all manner of motor sport participant. Of all, I would say I was most annoyed by the autocrosser, though not in the same manner as you – I could forgive the “tall talking, freaks of driving who think that noobs want to hear about “backsiding””. At least their enthusiasm has an expertise to draw on, the jacket probably means they have won an important event or two.
Also, if they have been doing it for long, then they probably know who I am…
But those with just SOME experience? The guys who think I’m there purely as a videographer with NO motor sport experience of my own? They were the ones who were poking fun at me and rubbing in my face how they so totally autocross and I don’t. They were the ones pointing out that I came in a shitty car.
Though they weren’t exactly mean, the underlying assumption with their every jab and ribbing disguised as friendly banter (which i didn’t instigate because I don’t know these people… they were new, like I said), was that I came in a shitty car, a 4 door 3spd auto Corolla, and that I am probably in awe of their motherfuckingdrivingskillz!!! ..what with me filming them and all.
I have yet to observe this behaviour elsewhere. Every other practitioner of other disciplines have been kind to me; which BLOWS my mind because, these guys are new to the sport, aren’t that fast, and I’m fairly sure they’re slow anyway…
And maybe that’s just it. “A Little Learning is a dangerous thing” it’s been said.
Family is certainly a game changer; not much more I can say about that.
I do wonder about a changing car culture being responsible for a lot of what you are seeing? When I was younger, the average teenager could afford some clapped out beater, with whatever cheap tweaks he could manage on his/her meager salary. Today, I see teens driving *very* expensive cars; I wonder if this responsible for a change from racing to polishing 🙂
Probably a valid point! Along the same lines, I heard a stat about how kids are waiting much longer to get their licenses now. It claimed the reason for such was Facebook, Facetime, Twitter etc… i.e. kids don’t need to leave the house to interact with friends anymore.
Yep. That’s what the intellectuals say. That’s also what sports racer and formula atlantic chassis builder, Tom Johnston, formerly of Regina, now of West Vancouver, said in my interview of him last week.
It’s quite a paradigm shift, one that my documentary “Of Cars and Cowboys: The story of Alberta’s Motor Sport Heritage” will deal with. It’ll be a smart film, visually striking, and a unique take on a sport’s link to provincial identity. No where else, not any one of the stick and ball sports, can you draw parallels between society and a pastime.
I know my niece who is now 18 didn’t get her license til she was past 17 and since then has still only driven probably a handful of times. No interest whatsoever. It certainly drives me nuts that the current teen and pre-teen social lives do seem revolve more around the internet then the real world.
Interesting you should mentioned the cars and their value Murray. I have also noticed that since I started in like 1997…there are waaaaay more really nice and expensive cars out when you show up to an autocross than back then. I mean, the nicest couple of cars at most events back then that I remember was a 20 year old 911 and a 10 year old Toyota MR2 😐
Bam! Found it:
http://www.economist.com/node/21563280