I was asked to post the following....well worth the read

[Ken]

the Author has ask to remain anonymous....but rest assured they are someone we are all familiar with, and have reasons to do so....

__________________________________________________ __

Have we grown to become soft, fragile, in our personal lives and in society? I ask myself this question as reaction has unfolded since the tragedy on October 16th at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Sunday’s Indy Car event was anxiously anticipated for a great number of reasons and there were many storylines to be excited about. It was a juggernaut of a motorsports weekend with many major events taking place. The NASCAR race in Charlotte was an inconvenient distraction, the Korean GP a predictable exercise in technology, and Moto GP in Australia a razors edge two wheeled duel. What I most looked forward to, was the looming race in Vegas as thirty four drivers readied their carbon fiber chariots in preparation for battle on a speedway that had the capacity to provide an epic season finale.

It was an event that would challenge their courage. It was an event that unfortunately took tragedy to remind the world just how special and unique these drivers are.

Spartacus, Flamma, Emperor Commodus, Priscus, Verus, Emperor Titus. These were but a few of the many gladiators that battled gloriously entertaining audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire. These men were schooled fighters, they fought ferocious wild animals such as lions, and they battled treacherous warriors, degenerate barbarians and condemned criminals in violent confrontations. They exposed their souls and put their very lives on display for the sheer entertainment of others, garnering fame, winning money, prizes, acclaim and the adulation of their audience. These Roman Gladiators did this while putting nothing more than their trust in courage. Death happened regularly in these battles and it was a grave part of the sport. Honor was crucial to the gladiatorial games and the audience expected the loser to be valiant even in death.

Like the many drivers that lost their lives before him, there is no question Dan Wheldon died valiantly on Sunday afternoon. But we ourselves don’t treat these men with honor when we mourn them, when we cry for them, when we champion change. These men died doing exactly what we expected of them, they died entertaining us. They put their lives on the line while we sit in the comfort of our living rooms and in the stands. But now after this Sunday we cry. We reminisce and discuss how personable Dan was, how friendly he was, how infectious he was, how generous he was with the fans. These are not the traits of a warrior and it is insulting and disrespectful to ignore the magnificent feats he accomplished as such. Dan did not risk his life entertaining us to be remembered as a nice guy. We should celebrate him as one of the top combatants to have ever competed in a hundred year old event, the Indy 500, winning it twice and on the podium five times. A lion heart with 16 Indy Car wins and a series championship.

When I look at recent photos of Dan kissing the Borg Warner he won last May, or relive the horror of the Sunday afternoon crash I see one Dan. I see Dan the lion heart warrior. I do not mourn Dan. I mourn for his family, I mourn for his wife and two beautiful children but I honor Dan by celebrating the combatant and the warrior that he was as a proud and noble competitor.

Have we as Indy Car fans, as a society forgotten what these men do? Dan came to the speedway prepared to fight. A violent and dangerous game battled at speeds we cannot really truly comprehend. A gladiator who risked his life for fame, money, and acclaim, entertaining us and we adored him for it. Racing is a dangerous sport especially Indy Car. It is not for the weak or faint of heart. Tragedy hides at every turn. As fans we must respect that or we risk dishonoring those that risk their lives for our sheer entertainment.

Did Sunday prove to be that epic finale? Sunday proved that it takes tragedy to remind us how extraordinary these people are. If we can admit that is an impressively great accomplishment perhaps we are not as soft and as fragile as I originally questioned.

[kkoether]

[aaron5572]

let's honor Dan by making the series better, not by making it suck (slowing cars down)

[mclarke]

Sorry, but this is pretty badly written stuff with laughable attempts to equate open wheeled racing to Roman gladiatorial combat.

Dan Wheldon would have been tremendously embarrassed by the analogies and the clumsy annointment of him as a epic " sword and shield " hero.

He was a racer. And a great one.

[porscheman]

Aside from the genuine, I think, references to Dan Wheldon's character and the grief of his loved ones ... generally a very large load of "codswallop" Gladiators ... really? INDYCAR drivers are RACERS ... not gladiators! That's actually embarrassing ... little wonder that the author wished to remain "anonymus". I would too!



porscheman

[Max Revs]

the Author has ask to remain anonymous....but rest assured they are someone we are all familiar with, and have reasons to do so....

Huh? I'm really not with you on that. I believe there is a well-established tradition for TF members to state their opinions openly, with their member name attached right next to their statements. Why is there now a need to sidestep this tradition?

[porscheman]

Huh? I'm really not with you on that. I believe there is a well-established tradition for TF members to state their opinions openly, with their member name attached right next to their statements. Why is there now a need to sidestep this tradition?

Because the prose was infantile and blew?



porscheman

[Max Revs]

Because the prose was infantile and blew?



porscheman

Pretty much.

[greatindyracin!]

Someone must have an 8th grade creative writing assignment to do over the weekend.

[doitagain]

I see some of the criticism isn't quite up to eighth grade standards.

I thought it was a unique read, had some effort put into it, was sincere, and conveyed a worthwhile message. How many of our own posts here do that?

[lutesk]

Someone must have an 8th grade creative writing assignment to do over the weekend.

It'll get an F on lack of punctuation alone; never mind content.

[Z28]

Someone asked you to post that? you should have gotten a second opinion or consulted an editor to stop you. 9th grade

[4Wide]

I see some of the criticism isn't quite up to eighth grade standards.

I thought it was a unique read, had some effort put into it, was sincere, and conveyed a worthwhile message. How many of our own posts here do that?

Agreed.

[Joeremi]

I'm specifically as sad as I am about Dan's passing because of how nice a guy he was. That quality is much more important than his skills as a race car driver.

[GrandPrix]

This thread has sure sunk to a new level of brutality. Chill out, it is his opinion and feelings. What has happen to politeness a decency? If you don't like the thread, close it and move on.

[trow]

“There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.” - Ernest Hemingway

[Fro]

Aside from the genuine, I think, references to Dan Wheldon's character and the grief of his loved ones ... generally a very large load of "codswallop" Gladiators ... really? INDYCAR drivers are RACERS ... not gladiators! That's actually embarrassing ... little wonder that the author wished to remain "anonymus". I would too!

I would argue that IndyCar drivers are the direct descendents of the Greek and Roman Chariot racers, who raced on oval tracks.

[BADGER]

I see some of the criticism isn't quite up to eighth grade standards.

I thought it was a unique read, had some effort put into it, was sincere, and conveyed a worthwhile message. How many of our own posts here do that?

At least those criticizing have their own name attached to the comments. I disagree with most of his comments beyond grieving for Dan's friends and family. The author has the right to his or her opinion, but should be willing to stand by it.

[Ken]

Huh? I'm really not with you on that. I believe there is a well-established tradition for TF members to state their opinions openly, with their member name attached right next to their statements. Why is there now a need to sidestep this tradition?

Don't 99% of the members here post anonymously?

[Ken]

At least those criticizing have their own name attached to the comments. I disagree with most of his comments beyond grieving for Dan's friends and family. The author has the right to his or her opinion, but should be willing to stand by it.

Who is badger?

[Max Revs]

Don't 99% of the members here post anonymously?

Of course.

I am referring to the method of posting the words and opinions of others under your member name, with a "he wants to remain anonymous" caveat. That would be no different than me posting wild claims and unsupporting opinions, but adding "someone else asked me to say this for them, but I didn't say it". Sound pretty goofy, right?

[porscheman]

I would argue that IndyCar drivers are the direct descendents of the Greek and Roman Chariot racers, who raced on oval tracks.

Yes, I'm sure THAT would explain all the Brazilians ...



porscheman

[CARTer]

Hi. My name is Stuart Carter. I live in Zionsville Indiana and I disagree with the violent analogy drawn by this essay. Drivers can surely be seen as daredevils, but I don't see that they try to slay anyone.

For what its worth, I will always think of Dan Wheldon as proof that nice guys can finish first.

[debris on the track]

Dan didnt die valiantly, he just died. I dont think he cares to be remembered in any particular fashion.

[greatindyracin!]

Hi. My name is Stuart Carter. I live in Zionsville Indiana and I disagree with the violent analogy drawn by this essay. Drivers can surely be seen as daredevils, but I don't see that they try to slay anyone.

For what its worth, I will always think of Dan Wheldon as proof that nice guys can finish first.

Dan didnt die valiantly, he just died. I dont think he cares to be remembered in any particular fashion.

Yup. I just posted in another forum about the "he died doing what he loved" line of thought and not agreeing with it. What you've said makes sense...to me at least.

[uncommonsense52]

This isn't some character on X-Box that just died. It isn't someone in the history books. This was a man, in an active world, with an active family. A three-dimensional person.

What's your day job? Is it the thing that most defines you? I imagine, even if I were a celebrated racecar hero, I personally wouldn't see myself as a racer. I'd see myself as a father, or a mother, or a son or daughter, a brother or sister. A friend. Your job, no matter how much you are driven to it, is still just your job when put it in perspective. Or at least it is, and would be, for me.

The way we came to know Dan was because he was a racecar driver. But that's not all we knew about him. Volunteering to ignore part of who he was to forgo grief is a disservice to his memory.

[3-wide]

This thread has sure sunk to a new level of brutality. Chill out, it is his opinion and feelings. What has happen to politeness a decency? If you don't like the thread, close it and move on.

I agree. Ken presented this as a gift to this forum. There is absolutely no need to tell him how bad you think it is. Like any gift you receive and are not too thrilled by, be gracious enough to acknowledge the spirit in which it was given and move on.

[jughead]

I'm specifically as sad as I am about Dan's passing because of how nice a guy he was. That quality is much more important than his skills as a race car driver.

Well said. While I respect the author's opinion and attempt at nobility I believe our culture respects those who fight hard AND maintain a modicum of decency to fellow human beings. Dan definitely was a valiant race car driver and put his life on the line every time he strapped in, but I don't think his death was "valiant". It was tragic, made even more painful to most of us because of the excellent person he appeared to be. We are also saddened beyond words for his family because we know they lost a GREAT husband, father, son, and brother. I would never compare his person/ethics to those of gladiators or barbarians. There is no comparison. To put him on that level would be tantamount to approving of bringing back the fights to the death in the coliseum. No, Dan was far above that level of "nobility." To cry over the loss of a loved one in fact DOES honor them. The author said that Dan died "entertaining us." I believe I could make a safe wager in saying that, in spite of some of the royal fusses we have here on TS about every issue under the sun EVERYONE would agree that we neither want nor expect the entertainment value of racing to be punctuated by death. That would be barbaric. Dan wasn't a barbarian and neither are the 33 other drivers who were there to entertain us Sunday. RIP Dan Wheldon. I cried when you died.

[railroad]

Whew! Tough room!

[jughead]

Whew! Tough room!