Rob, as you know, Mark Alderson and Rich were good friends. After Mark got his single-engine Cessna, he frequently offered to take me for a flight. I recall one of those times when he offered, and I gave my customary, "Thanks, but no thanks". He then offered to get Rich to fly it with me as the passenger. I again declined, remarking, "Hell, Mark, he is braver than you and your bravery scares the poop out of me".
Yes, I know I'm not "right" -- I did eventually take a flight with Mark, during which we "turned three laps" at Putnamville. That evening, at IRP for a race, I mentioned this flight to another driver. He quickly told me that I had to be just plain $%#*@ nuts to have flown with Mark :rolling: