Indiana Open Wheel - View Single Post

Jerry Shaw (Offline)
#25 6/30/11 6:40 PM

Originally Posted by deannalynn:
When I was 18, I worked for Stefan Johannsen's go cart track. I was also going to Lincoln Technical Institute to learn how to use a torque wrench. I cut off my hair and dressed like a guy, but that still wasn't good enough to keep somebody we all know from telling me I should just go work at Babes. That was the final straw. I knew I'd never be one of the boys and my skin just wasn't thick enough to hang in there and try to make a career out of something that had been a part of my life since I was born. After that, I took the first ride out of town. So did he. 15 years later, thought I'd try again.... not as a wrench turner this time, but as a writer. He's gone now, but the old attitudes are not. I had to take this journey to realize that. Thank you to everyone who has helped me on this third attempt to find a spot at the races that I'm not afraid to sit in. I would probably be happy watching at home from my computer but there's no app that makes my computer rain dirt or feel the sound of multiple 410s hitting your chest. Thanks again everyone who tried to help me. You're not all ********. If there is ever a place for me, you know where to find me.

But, there's the great thing about this type of racing crowd. You don't have to try to be someone or something else. If you're there (or here) for the right reasons (you love racing), just be yourself and you'll make friends. But, if you show up with an agenda (i.e. have an axe to grind with someone you knew or worked with in racing) or require to be the center of attention, people are going to be leery of you. There are hundreds of people who are friends because of IOW. None of them are exactly alike. Some as different as night and day. But they all love sprint and midget racing.

Jerry

A man is about as big as the things that make him angry.

Winston Churchill

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