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C.A.R.B.Banquet Losers

                                             C.A.R.B. Banquet Reminds Me

         The 55^th C.A.R.B. banquet with around eight hundred people present was truly a gala affair with all the pomp and circumstance that the winning drivers, owners, and sponsors deserve. Each one given their moment in the spotlight with fan and foe giving kudos’ for their accomplishment in the past year. With pride showing on their faces each recipient made their way from table to stage to receive their trophy and the applause of the crowd. Have a picture taken, maybe an interview then return to their table and a round of hand shakes and some hugs from friends and a kiss from the wife. History will record them as the best at this time in the book that tells about racing.

In a sport that is really a hobby because few, if any, make a living off of it. These events define where a person fits into the scheme of things, his or her position in the racing community. Champion of course on top, and on down the count to last place. In a society where we are so competitive having a place is very important. We want to know where we are.

At a track that has four classes and averages eighty cars or so, half or more of the field is below average. If you are out of the top five, you are still considered off the pace.

Work done during the week for a last place team is no different than for a first place team. Many hours of checking equipment, loose bolts and nuts, cracks in the frame, body damage, and rechecking adjustments. Everything has to be gone over every week. No job can be left undone for the peace of mind for the driver as he or she takes to the track on race night. The last thing they want to think about is whether the car is ready.

For every winner, there are twenty teams that are losers. As they say, no one remembers second place. After watching the winners receive their do, I say hats off to the guy’s behind them in the points. They tried just as hard with a tremendous amount of effort, they just came up short this time. The awards single out the drivers, but any of them will tell you they could not do their jobs if the crew didn’t have the car ready. As witnessed at the banquet, so many people are involved with and around race teams. All the way down to the guy or gal who scrapes mud off the car to the sponsor with the money.

Each has his or her degree of involvement on a team. Regardless, all are winners or losers with the car and driver and deserve a job well done for the past season.

Sometimes in life we have losses that last hours, days, weeks or years. It is not the losing that hurts us the most. It is all the energy and effort we put forth and the struggle we fight inside when we don’t reach our goal. We think that if we don’t achieve all of our goals we have failed. Life does not allow us to accomplish all our goals.

Congratulations to all the folks who tried and came up a little short. Remember what you did wrong, learn, correct mistakes and don’t be afraid to try again, again and again.

Reader Comments

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Dec 05, 2007 07:05:08 AM by Kick 79

Good job Dad. All the guys on the track are winners, if we didnt have them, racing wouldnt be much fun. Some teams try just as hard as the other guy. There are drivers i know that would love just to win 1 feature.

Dec 19, 2007 05:53:38 PM by 79TO07STILLAFAN

VERY VERY WELL SAID