View Poll Results: At tragic death or glorious retirement - what of the car number?

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  • Retrie the number(s)

    8 4.30%
  • Don't retire number(s)

    168 90.32%
  • Alternative to retiring number(s) - Please post your suggestion

    10 5.38%
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Thread: What to do with car numbers associated with Racer's death (or retirement)? The Poll.

  1. #211
    The Greatest Show on H²O kkoether's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by KevMcNJ View Post
    It all depends on where you grew up

    Yes it does!

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    Ex ARCA, ASA and local bullring crewdog. I remember when racing was really racing and the Talladega Express!!!

  2. #212
    Quote Originally Posted by lotuspoweredbyford View Post
    If you didn't know Greg, then you will never understand why there are those who want to retire #99.
    If you don't know Greg or if you've never seen him race! You may not want to retire his number, which like you Lotus, I can appreciate that. But there are clearly people in this thread that don't have a freaking clue about Greg that are trying to turn this into an argument that it isn't. Pathetic.

    Quote Originally Posted by lotuspoweredbyford View Post
    He was amazingly talented. This whole "he only won 5 races" stuff misses the point about why people want Greg's number retired.
    Like I said, clueless. Instead of arguing about him you would think they might take this opportunity to learn more about him.

    Quote Originally Posted by Jimmy Vasser
    "The thing I keep going back to is his passion. He had a passion for his friends and he had a passion for life. He was always smiling. The lesson to be learned is that he taught us to be passionate, to love and to not waste a single day of your life. Everybody knows he was one hell of a race car driver, and ten times a human being."
    Quote Originally Posted by Mario Andretti
    "I have nothing but praise for him. Quality individuals like that don't come along every day. He was a really classy young man. He had all the attributes that a champion race driver dreams about. He had the looks, he had the intellect and he was quick."
    Quote Originally Posted by Bobby Rahal
    "I think the thing that Greg left you with was a remembrance of his spirit. He was a little boy in a big boy's body. He was breathtaking on the race track - good, bad, or indifferent. If the car was good, bad, or just medium, there was never any doubt that it was going as fast as it could go and some of his passes were breathtaking."
    Quote Originally Posted by Paul Tracy
    "I remember his first race at Homestead. I fell out of the race early and he was coming through the field and making outside passes and I remember thinking this guy is crazy! But he was making these outside passes work and it was unbelievable to see. That was my first memory of him as a competitor. I thought, Man, this guy is going to be tough once he gets it all figured out."
    Quote Originally Posted by Jackie Stewart
    "We all recognized that he was someone who was eventually going to come to Formula One. I became aware of him when he raced in Formula Ford 2000 cars. I saw him race and was aware of his upward progress. When he did so well straight-away on Indy cars, there was a lot of speculation about him coming to Formula One. He was very ambitious and committed to what he was doing. I saw him as a serious player and it would have been good for For and for our team."
    Quote Originally Posted by Gil DeFerran
    "He definitely was one of the best guys I've ever seen driving a race car. He had such an ease with extreme situations."
    Quote Originally Posted by Lotus
    The problem is, the Greg Moore retired number "debate" always degenerates into the idiotic CART vs. IRL nonsense.
    Yes, unfortunately it does. Highlights the immaturity of the fanbase that currently exists. It would be nice to think that Greg could be what finally brings the fans together in this big giant mess and I am going to see to it that one day it eventually does. That would be the ultimate legacy he could leave.
    Last edited by gonzo; 05-06-2012 at 11:57 PM.
    "Try some of these before or after your statements if you are not presenting them as facts. Things like - "In my opinion", or "I think that", JHMO, IMHO, IMO, JMO... Your opinions are not (necessarily) fact. That would clear things up some." - Seadog 03/25/2010 11:40am So the above is JMO.

  3. #213
    Quote Originally Posted by KevMcNJ View Post
    Sooner or later another driver will die

    Do thet get a retired # too?
    No, why should they?

  4. #214
    Quote Originally Posted by BADGER View Post
    How's that for rationale Gonzo?
    Pretty weak is how it is.

  5. #215
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    I can't believe there are this many posts in this thread. I haven't and won't read all of them but I am 100% opposed to the retirement of any race car driver's number.
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  6. #216
    Quote Originally Posted by Ydawg View Post
    The guy *never* won a championship and his win total doesn't even break half-dozen
    and he ran for four seasons. Why are we having this debate?
    Because people like you insist on defining his career by his stats!

    Quote Originally Posted by Ydawg View Post
    He doesn't even make it into the same breath
    as the top 10 Indycar drivers of all time.
    Who says he needs to? An entire organization disagreed with you when they DID retire his number and created a trophy in his honor. Another organization disagreed with you entirely also when they inherited the trophy and maintain the tradition.

    Quote Originally Posted by Ydawg View Post
    He could have been a great driver.
    What is lost on you is that he was a great driver. You just never got to see it develop.

    Quote Originally Posted by Ydawg View Post
    But the bottom line is his career stats don't fit the bill for the pedestal that some people are putting him on. Come
    on folks ... get real.
    So career stats are the only thing that define a person in your view?

    Quote Originally Posted by Ydawg View Post
    I really don't understand why this keeps coming back up except some ex-champcar fans want to just stir up some crap. Let. it. go.
    Ya, cause that is what it is all about, simple Champ Car fans trying to stir up the pot. Clearly you do not understand if that is the conclusion you draw from all of this.

  7. #217
    So, let me see if this is right: No one can ever again run the number 99 in the Indianapolis 500 in honor of a guy who never raced in the Indianapolis 500?
    "Is that my *** that I smell burning?" ... Helmet Stogie from "Death spasms of the Mabuchi"

  8. #218
    Quote Originally Posted by BSJracing View Post
    This is it in a nutshell. Greg was a great guy and had the potential to be one of the greats, but really he won a half dozen events, nothing more
    Should be a testament to how incredibly gifted and special a driver he was when he can have this sort of affect on people having accomplished so little statistically don't you think?

  9. #219
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    Quote Originally Posted by Doc Austin View Post
    So, let me see if this is right: No one can ever again run the number 99 in the Indianapolis 500 in honor of a guy who never raced in the Indianapolis 500?

  10. #220
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    Quote Originally Posted by gonzo View Post
    No, why should they?

    Beacuse lots of people on Trackforum might have liked him and stuff
    Faster than a bullet from a gun
    He is faster than everyone
    Quicker than the blinking of an eye
    Like a flash you could miss him going by
    No one knows quite how he does it but it's true they say
    He's the master of going faster. -George Harrison

  11. #221
    Quote Originally Posted by gonzo View Post
    Should be a testament to how incredibly gifted and special a driver he was when he can have this sort of affect on people having accomplished so little statistically don't you think?
    Him being a nice guy and a good racer isn't a very good reason to retire a number.

  12. #222
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    Preface: I loved Greg Moore.

    Question: Why retire his number and not that of Bill Vukovich?

  13. #223
    I'm yet to hear a really compelling reason why his number should not be retired. All I have heard is the limited mob mentality that seems to monopolize this forum these days. Nobody retires numbers in racing, he never raced at Indy, his stats are crappy or my favorite thus far, we will run out of numbers. Ya, let's burn him at the stake everybody rah rah!!! Wow, real compelling case. This mob mentality is exemplified by those that feel the need to comment or contribute to this thread without even reading through it. Absolutely pathetic and telling of ones attitudes towards the sport. It's also above all else extremely discouraging!

    The reality is he didn't need Championships or Indy 500 victories to be recognized as an extraordinary competitor. The reality is his number was retired but that tradition was not carried over when the two series' merged.The reality is he was recognized as an extraordinary person when after the merge IndyCar maintained the tradition of honoring Greg's legacy by continuing to award the trophy of his name.

    I'd like to share with you, especially goldie who asked me, and who at least shows a willingness to learn something about the rich history of this sport regardless of his views on whether the number is worthy of retirement.

    From the book, Greg Moore: A Legacy Of Spirit

    What is it about an athlete that causes a country to revere him by the time he is 24 years old? What is it about an athlete that leads his colleagues - his competitors - to bask in his spirit, his humor, and his light even though they are more experienced, older, and perhaps more successful? What is it about an athlete whose death breaks a million hearts and brings a million tears?

    What is it about Greg Moore that caused so many to fall in love and so many to be devastated when he died?

    Greg's life was a celebration of youth, spirit, accomplishment, and charity. He was doing what he loved, with people he loved and respected. He was succeeding as an automobile racer and, even more, as a human being.

    He inspired everyone to act openly, positively, and with good humor. His easy grin and natural outgoing friendliness captured people's hearts and minds. When you met him felt he was a friend for life. He made people feel like he was one of them, whomever they were, whatever their position. If you got close enough to say hello, to catch his eye, you felt you knew him. And anyone who knew him well thought of him as a man beyond his years, unusually free of the emotional and personal conflicts of youth.

    Although he seemed settled and mature, Greg Moore still revealed a sense of adventure and wonder. His achievements as a driver were impressive and have assured him a place in the galaxy of greats. Yet his spirit of sincerity and goodwill is the abiding memory that will live on.

  14. #224
    Is Bat Boy KevMcNJ's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ambig88 View Post
    Him being a nice guy and a good racer isn't a very good reason to retire a number.
    Im sure Jovy Marcelo was a nice guy. He was Filipino so he was special in his own way too.

  15. #225
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    Quote Originally Posted by gonzo View Post
    Ya, let's burn him at the stake everybody rah rah!!!
    Youre disgusting.

    Back on ignore you go

  16. #226
    Quote Originally Posted by ambig88 View Post
    Him being a nice guy and a good racer isn't a very good reason to retire a number.
    What would be a good reason then?

  17. #227
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    Why isn't AJ Foyt's number retired?

  18. #228
    Quote Originally Posted by Doc Austin View Post
    So, let me see if this is right: No one can ever again run the number 99 in the Indianapolis 500 in honor of a guy who never raced in the Indianapolis 500?
    It isn't about the Indy 500 Doc, it is about IndyCar racing and what more fitting a place to restrict the use of the number than the birthplace of IndyCar racing!

  19. #229
    Quote Originally Posted by gonzo View Post
    I'm yet to hear a really compelling reason why his number should not be retired.
    You haven't presented a compelling reason as to why his number should be retired. You're the one making the case and petitioning for it. It's your job to make the case. Not the other way around.

    All I have heard is the limited mob mentality that seems to monopolize this forum these days. Nobody retires numbers in racing, he never raced at Indy, his stats are crappy or my favorite thus far, we will run out of numbers.
    What mob? No one i ganging up on him, putting him down, insulting him. Do you honestly think Greg Moore would like you using him and his memory as a way to insult other people? Do you think Greg would want to see people arguing over having his number retired, and do you think Greg would really care? Damn man, celebrate his life and stop using it to push your own damned agenda!

    The only arguments put forth for retiring his number was that he was a great competitor, a great friend, he has a trophy and CART/Champ Car retired his number. I'm sure he was a great friend, and I agree that he was a great competitor and I'm glad he does have a trophy. But there were a lot of things carried over from the merger and some things not. A merger doesn't mean you have to retain everything from the two entities. The cars were dropped, IndyCar's/IRL's records generally supersede CART's/Champ Car's record, the management from CART/Champ Car wasn't retained. A lot of things were dropped, and this was one of them. You disagree. Fine. Many of us apparently disagree with you. That doesn't make us horrible people, as much as you're trying to portray it as.


    Ya, let's burn him at the stake everybody rah rah!!!
    You are sick. Please go away.

    Wow, real compelling case. This mob mentality is exemplified by those that feel the need to comment or contribute to this thread without even reading through it. Absolutely pathetic and telling of ones attitudes towards the sport. It's also above all else extremely discouraging!
    What about YOUR attitude? You're utter and total lack of respect towards other people's opinions. Your continuing perpetuation of this asinine argument. Your apparent pigheadedness in arguing simply to argue, as if you enjoy reading what you type. It's a tiring act, and I don't know why or how the moderators have allowed it to continue when most other people would have seen the ban hammer by now!

    The reality is he didn't need Championships or Indy 500 victories to be recognized as an extraordinary competitor. The reality is his number was retired but that tradition was not carried over when the two series' merged.The reality is he was recognized as an extraordinary person when after the merge IndyCar maintained the tradition of honoring Greg's legacy by continuing to award the trophy of his name.
    The reality is Greg wasn't the only one who was an extraordinary competitor. The reality is many other competitors who have perished at Indy and in the series have never had their numbers retired, a tradition that has been going on for over 100 years! A tradition that supersedes that of CART, USAC, IRL, Champ Car or whatever name you want to assign to the lead open wheel racing series in America! The reality is that IndyCar could have ended the trophy that is in his name but they chose not to! Would you have rather seen the trophy discontinued?

  20. #230
    Quote Originally Posted by gonzo View Post
    what would be a good reason then?
    THERE IS NONE! How much clearer can I or anyone else be?

  21. #231
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    Quote Originally Posted by gonzo View Post
    Pretty weak is how it is.
    What is weak is you never bothered to address my other comments. What about the fact that some drivers might want to honor his memory and keep it alive by using his number. I think that honors the memory of Greg a lot more than having a number not used and end up forgotten. Just because you think it should be retired, doesn't make it so. Also, very good drivers who die in racing cars tend to have their greatness exaggerated with what they could have accomplished. Greg was damn good, clearly one of the best of his time, but an all time great, we'll never know just like we don't know if Gilles would have become an all time great.

  22. #232
    Quote Originally Posted by ambig88 View Post
    You haven't presented a compelling reason as to why his number should be retired. You're the one making the case and petitioning for it. It's your job to make the case. Not the other way around.
    Sure I have, you apparently don't read.

    Quote Originally Posted by ambig88 View Post
    as if you enjoy reading what you type.
    Actually I enjoy reading what other people type. I know its a novel concept but it's why I come here, to enjoy sharing discussions about IndyCar.

    Quote Originally Posted by ambig88 View Post
    It's a tiring act,
    What? Trying to engage fellow fans in a discussion? If it is so tiring then don't read or interact with me. It's a pretty simple solution. My feelings won't be hurt. I'd actually feel better seeing the masochism stop.

  23. #233
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    Gonzo, I'm not in favor of retiring anyone's number in any major league sport for whatever reason. Although I'll always think of AJ Foyt with the number 14, he doesn't have exclusive rights to it no matter how great he was. There's better ways to honor athletes in my opinion. Ernest

  24. #234
    Quote Originally Posted by BADGER View Post
    What is weak is you never bothered to address my other comments.
    Which ones? You mean the one where you said you now hope his number is never retired in some tantrum against those that have elevated him to some status you disagree with? That comment? Or did you mean the one where you were pissed off that his family sued. I didn't think either of those comments were worth a response.

    Quote Originally Posted by BADGER View Post
    What about the fact that some drivers might want to honor his memory and keep it alive by using his number. I think that honors the memory of Greg a lot more than having a number not used and end up forgotten.
    Ohh, some new rationale! Fair enough, but you didn't share that comment before.

    Quote Originally Posted by BADGER View Post
    Just because you think it should be retired, doesn't make it so.
    Are you so sure I think his number should be retired? I don't remember saying anywhere in this thread that his number should be retired. Can you show me where I have said that?

    Like I said, mob mentality!

    Quote Originally Posted by BADGER View Post
    Also, very good drivers who die in racing cars tend to have their greatness exaggerated with what they could have accomplished. Greg was damn good, clearly one of the best of his time, but an all time great, we'll never know just like we don't know if Gilles would have become an all time great.
    You clearly recognize him as "one of the best of his time", your words not mine, and the best of his time included such legends as Michael Andretti, Al Unser Jr., Alex Zanardi, Gil DeFerran, Bobby Rahal, Dario Franchitti, and Paul Tracy. So your statement is rather contradictory of itself. Unless you agree that you yourself are exaggerating his greatness by claiming he is "clearly one of the best of his time".

  25. #235
    Quote Originally Posted by Ernest Miller View Post
    There's better ways to honor athletes in my opinion. Ernest
    Like what?

  26. #236
    Quote Originally Posted by ambig88 View Post
    THERE IS NONE! How much clearer can I or anyone else be?
    You're crystal! End of discussion with you I guess.

  27. #237
    Quote Originally Posted by gonzo View Post
    Sure I have, you apparently don't read.
    I do read. Why is it you get to say our arguments aren't compelling, yet you get to assert that your own arguments are compelling?

    Actually I enjoy reading what other people type. I know its a novel concept but it's why I come here, to enjoy sharing discussions about IndyCar.
    You don't act it. We type something, then you tell us how wrong we are.

    What? Trying to engage fellow fans in a discussion? If it is so tiring then don't read or interact with me. It's a pretty simple solution. My feelings won't be hurt. I'd actually feel better seeing the masochism stop.
    No. I guess I have to re-quote myself as you missed it all the first time:

    What about YOUR attitude? You're utter and total lack of respect towards other people's opinions. Your continuing perpetuation of this asinine argument. Your apparent pigheadedness in arguing simply to argue, as if you enjoy reading what you type. It's a tiring act, and I don't know why or how the moderators have allowed it to continue when most other people would have seen the ban hammer by now!
    And in particular in this thread:

    Do you honestly think Greg Moore would like you using him and his memory as a way to insult other people? Do you think Greg would want to see people arguing over having his number retired, and do you think Greg would really care? Damn man, celebrate his life and stop using it to push your own damned agenda!
    Do Greg a favor and stop this argument. There is literally no point in it. It's not our hearts you have to win over. All you're doing is just being disrespectful to Greg, his family and the family and memory of the numerous other driver's who have died in IndyCar.

  28. #238
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    This thread will go no as long as people keep responding.

    Fact. The number 99 will live on.

  29. #239
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    I liked Greg Moore. It's a shame he never got to race at Indy, and tragic that he was gone so soon.

    I'm not in favor of the #99 being retired in his honor in this case though. However I would feel differently about the #14 being retired for obvious reasons. That being that the #14 belonging to AJ did far more for much longer in the sport than Greg. Just my opinion.
    My first Indy 500 was 1973, haven't missed one since 1981. To date I have attended 35 Indy 500's, and probably 100 or so other IndyCar races (CART & IRL).

  30. #240
    Quote Originally Posted by gonzo View Post
    You're crystal! End of discussion with you I guess.
    How 'bout end of discussion with everybody? You say there has been no compelling reason not to retire his number but I have yet to hear a compelling reason to elevate him above the dozens of other drivers who have died and retire HIS number.
    "Promote what you love instead of bashing what you hate."

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