Race Memories

This afternoon I was reading a note from Coyne Racing and started thinking about some of the cool (for me) experiences I've had. In no particular order:

I wrote CART once and complained about the threat to remove Cleveland from the schedule. I receive a note back from none other than U.E. "Pat" Patrick. He's from Jackson (MI), was a team owner and wrote me a very gracious letter.

I spent a few years going to the races in Detroit. Most years I'd buy pit passes. I've met many drivers, but remember shaking the hands of Jimmy Vasser and Dan Gurney. Jimmy was in his championship year and Dan, well he's a racing legend, I was beside myself.

I once shared a plane with Ivan Stewart, legend of off-road racing. I didn't see him until we were getting bags. I didn't bug him, but nobody else seemed to know who he was.

I was in Toronto when they filmed part of that horrible horrible picture Driven. It was good to see CART get the exposure, but the editing? Palm trees in Detroit? I think someone needed to review things a little closer.

My favorite memory? When I passed the current (at the time) F1 and CART champion Nigel Mansell. No really! We left the race and he happened to pass us on the way . . . somewhere in his rental car. I had to pass him back!