'When we started the "Racing History Minute" segment, I wanted an unique "tag line" to add to each post. I came up with "Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future" which I assume is original, although with all the reading I do, I could have retained that from some great writer of the past.
Yesterday, someone I hike with asked me what I meant by that phrase. While I answered the question for him, the thought stayed on my mind for the evening, even while watching the Nationwide race on the circuit's oldest superspeedway. Perhaps it was watching that race that inspired me to write this short piece this morning.
By "Honor the past" I want to convey to the new fans that there is a history to this sport that goes back further than 1979, further than NASCAR, and before WWII. The men and women who build this sport, though many are not remembered today for their contributions, deserve to be honored by those of us who are stock car racing fans. Many names are not known to many fans, some not easily recalled by those of us who have been around the sport a long time, but all gave so much of themselves, some even their lives, to build the sport from the backwood stills making moonshine to the sport it is today.
Beware of those who seek to capitalize on a contrived history of the sport with their books, videos and internet sites. Many of those are presented by folks with either no history at all around the sport, or only the history of watching by television and maybe attending a handful of races over the years. Just be careful what you read, watch, and from where you obtain the information.
Groups such as The Augusta International Raceway Preservation Society, The Historic Speedway Group, Memory Lane Museum, and The North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame accurately present a "liveable, touchable" history of the sport. The group known as Our Racing Heroes is now making an effort to recognize and honor the early pioneers who may otherwise be overlooked.
I will not attempt to start naming those who should be "honored" for their contributions, but just look over this web site and you will find many of those names. Indeed, almost every name contained in the historic pictures, videos and writings here deserve the honor of recognition for their contributions.
Tour the site, look at the pictures, read the articles. You will then, at least, have an idea why I use the word "honor".I will cover the remainder of my "tag" line in later posts.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future
--
What a change! It's been awhile since I've checked in and I'm quite surprised. It may take me awhile to figure it our but first look it's really great.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
