14 Likes:bigq11, davidm, dirtbag, Dirtfan, Hurryinhoosier, JDONAMO, jim goerge, kcarm92, monkeyboy, R A K, Racer_dude35, sprint38racer, Tim Bookmiller, tirespinner
Back in Bob Kinser's day racing was perhaps a little more serious. They lacked the safety equipment we have today so a misplaced wheel or a poorly executed pass could and many times was fatal. Promoters were a little less likely to worry about law suits and their perception and the drivers did often hold court in the pits after the race and not too much was said about the outcome. Young drivers soon learned who they could bluff and who they should not. Yes they did have a thing called "Racer Etiquette ".
The first thing the driver learned was what was acceptable and what was not. Now days holding court in the pits will get you kicked out or banned from the track. A sad commentary of what things have progressed to.
I see 3 different types of drivers out there racing today in the past perhaps there were only two types.
1. The newest type driver usually is a young guy just starting out or moving up. He usually has the same last name as the owner, they are probably related? He usually has a tad more discretion over his on track actions depending on the temperment of his owner. He is a very likely candidate for a rough driving award.
2. This guy drives for someone else. He is responsible for a very large investment made by his owner. Most owners will not put up with a Cowboy long no matter how good he is. Owners don't like spending extra money because ther driver had a temper tantrum.
3. This driver both owns and drives his race car. Everything he owns is tied up in his rolling stock. He is generally the guy that shows up in an open trailer or a very small older enclosed one. He is probably going to be the one to be most careful and particular with his equipment. All of those BO Bo's come out of his pocket and is money he won't be able to spend somewhere else. This does not keep the good ones from being aggressive there are several drivers out there that fit this description>>But I don't see this type of driver from playing pay back on the race track.
4. A very good reference for the average fan to learn about driving etiquette can be found in either the QMA Rule book or USAC .25 Midget rule book. Kids racing in this class start learning these rules at age 5 and when learned at these early age are carried on through into adulthood because etiquette is ingrained into their being. And I have know some very very aggressive but clean racers that have come up through Quarter Midgets.
