The 2011 Grand Prix of Miami

Few words can describe auto racing as the word “sincerity” can.

In an age dominated by pretension and falsity, when words have been gutted and emptied of all meaning in order to be manipulated by the blind passions and destructive whim of those who like to call themselves “post-modernists,” and who address our time as “post-modernism,” unfortunately, there now remain few areas of life where one can still witness sincerity at work.

However, not all is bleak news coming from the depths of fake and dishonest quarters.

If “post-modern” moral hipsters are going to relish their time in the limelight by imagining that they have re-invented the wheel of human meaning and purpose by deconstructing language, then someone must remind them about that timeless human source of inspiration and sincerity called human action and behavior.

Before there was language, human reality was already busy ruthlessly slamming us around like small vessels in a raging sea.  

“Post-Modernists” can benefit immensely from revisiting Aesop’s Fables. It has always been true in human life that actions speak louder than words. No one can deny the stand-alone power of reality.

Now, I am not an auto racing writer. Far from it.

But I am an auto racing aficionado, that is, one of those dinosaurs that actually do things they love and appreciate the intrinsic value of things, events, human values, and people. This is how I approach auto racing, mowing the lawn, or the joy of antique cars…or anything else I do.

The 2011 Grand Prix of Miami was a wonderful event.

Before the race my wife, children, and I were allowed to visit the paddock and pit road. We were given ample time to see both, the Daytona Prototype and GT cars up close. The children took pictures with drivers Scott Pruett and Alex Gurney.

Also, we were delighted when a Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series official brought us over to Mark Blundell’s #23 car and spent about twenty minutes showing us the inside of that marvelous machine, in great detail.

Afterwards, I told him that I find Grand Am racing very accessible. From past experiences, I can say that all of their racing venues that I have witnessed have been very family friendly events.

And, what a wonderful day it was for racing. The temperature was in the mid 70s, with a strong breeze from the north.

The # 99 Gainsco car piloted by Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty started the race in the pole position. The Gurney/Fogarty team battled hard, but after a while, fell back to second place, as they were passed by Pruett/Rojas. The Homestead-Miami Speedway is known for chewing up car tires like Godzilla likes ripping out telephone and electric cables.

Of course, the race was as intense as anyone expected. There were many lead changes, including some very competitive and animated driving during the last twenty minutes or so of the race.

Eventually, victory went to Pruett/Rojas, a team that is trying to repeat as champions this season.

Moving about through several areas of the race course, I experienced the beauty and competitive nature of this kind of auto racing in earnest.

What can be more real than people putting themselves in harm’s way, yet doing so with tremendous professionalism, pride, and sincerity?