Some of the most legendary racing ever took place on public roads and now is the perfect time to revive the tradition.
You miss racing too, right? And reading this on the retrospheric platform at ViaRETRO I think you realize that the case is on the historic racing scene – the Goodwoods, Classic Le Mans, Spa Six Hours, Oldtimer Grand Prix and Silverstone Classics type of thing, you know. I know I sure do miss the historic racing, and as one great event after another was cancelled this year my yearning just got worse. Sure, a few events were indeed carried out, but then according to very hard restrictions mostly without spectators. Now that’s a novelty! I sure applaud that some venues did their best and saw some racing at all, but without spectators it just didn’t seem right. Some tried switching to an online format, streaming more or less professional production from the races, but the atmosphere never quite came through, quite possibly because there wasn’t much of it on the empty tracks.
Above photos are from my visit to Goodwood Revival in 2015, a fine vintage – look at all the happy people too.
Meanwhile back in the inhabitated areas of our countries governments advised people to stay at home and as they were finding that really difficult to control at some times and places, curfews were issued in order to keep the public off the streets, leaving entire cities almost empty for people and even almost trafficless as general activity levels were low too.
Knowing your racing history will make you aware that this exact combination poses a unique opportunity that would even solve two problems at once: We could have real racing within live spectating distance and we would motivate the public to indeed stay indoors at home, in safety. Simply by using the empty streets right before our very eyes, just as in the old days.
Seriously, I think it would work a treat, and to make it more authentic I think we should start with some historic racing. It could be everything from Formula 500, 1000 cc Juniors and other formulae to Sportscars, touring cars and racing sports cars – preferably of the kind without aerodynamic aids to keep speeds down and drama up. Throw in a rally style tarmac special stage for some real sideways powersliding too and we’d have a happy cocktail over the day. To make it digestable for the greenish I’d even suggest some E-racing at the end of the day, where I’d cook dinner instead and enjoy my steak in silence while I’d think back on that happy moment where this bright idea materialized.
Sometimes the simple solutions are really the best. Which is why contemporary Formula One should not be part of the deal.
You’re welcome to use the idea and thank me later.
