Wife's view from the pits - by Lynda Makinson (September 2018)
Disclaimer: This is my view and opinion, not the view or opinion of Bruce Makinson or anyone else.
September 18, 2018
Hi Everybody,
Here’s a last race update for the season.
No, Bruce hasn’t been racing but we did go to MIR Saturday night to check it out and support some of our race friends. It was also a night of healing for us and others. I really did want to go for myself to see how or if I could handle seeing racing again. I must admit Bruce’s accident has me worried. Him being hit on the head by another car is something you don’t just forget about. But I also wanted to have Bruce get to be around the cars again, to see if he was sure about going back and I felt some of the drivers needed to see Bruce to make sure he was doing better. Well, I was right on all counts.
Bruce kept putting off going to the track, he didn’t really want to go unless he was racing (he kept saying) but I insisted. Well, he had a really good time and enjoyed talking to everyone. I think it rejuvenated his desire to race again, he picked up a new to us chassis and body last night, so he and Bobby will start working on his ride for next year. I also think Bruce was surprised at how many drivers and teams were so happy to see him. We would walk up to a trailer and their faces would light up and hands would be extending out so quickly to shake Bruce’s hand. There were people there that needed to know Bruce was OK. I think it’s on everyone’s mind “that could happen to me”. And yes, it could, you never know when a big one could hit, and you could be out for the season or worse. We stopped by to see Junior because we wanted to make sure he understood we did not feel it was his fault and that it was just a racin’ deal. Junior seemed very relieved that we dropped by to see him. We stopped by another team that had helped with the loading of the car and he talked about how he would use his racing contacts to find out how Bruce was doing (guess he doesn’t know about the website) and he also mentioned that Bob McCreadie has been asking about Bruce (the Makinson’s and McCreadie’s have a history together, nice to know Bob was thinking of Bruce, thanks Bob!). I wish I knew all the teams that helped out that night so we could have stopped by and said thank you, but Bobby had no idea who half the people were, and it was kind of a blur, but I hope you all know how we feel. I think Bruce was surprised on how many people cared. I feel it’s going to help him heal faster now. Thank you to our racing family! Also thank you to the Cook Team for feeding us, awesome as usual!
As for me, well, during a Heat race I saw a car’s right rear catch the back edge and my heart stopped. Luckily, he recovered and continued on, but I looked at Bruce and said that it scared the hell out of me. Then the Sportsman race had two bad wrecks where cars were flipping everywhere. Again, I told Bruce this isn’t making me feel better. The funny part is we had talked about leaving half way thru the Sportsman race because it was a 100-laps and it was getting late. But noooooo, Bruce was enjoying himself and wanted to stay and see how things were going to turn out. See, Bruce, sometimes you should listen to me!
It was in the second half that cars were wrecking on the front stretch. The first wreck, a car nicked an inside tire and went up the track in front of another that sent him (Junior…remember Junior!!) spinning on his tail up the catch fence right by the flag stand. I’m sure the flag man had a mess in his pants afterwards. And during that commotion another car was rolling along down the front stretch. Junior landed on top of a car and in the end, there were 3 wrecked cars.
Then on the race to the checkered, the leader got held up by a lap car (darn those lap cars, we’re lost a race or two because of them) and the second place car put a move on for the checkered, then the leader seemed to over steer and went into the other car which in the end made a car that was behind them roll across the finish line. Again, carnage! Eighteen out of 31 cars finished the 100-laps.
Luckily, everyone involved was OK. Shaken and maybe sore but OK. I just have to say, if you don’t think it can happen to you, well, I have to tell you it can! You may think you’re the best driver in the world and that you drive smart or you’re a champ, but you know, circumstances can put you in the wrong place at the wrong time and there you go, rolling down the track. As long as you come out of it unhurt all is good. But it’s a risk you are taking as a race car driver. In fact, in any sport, let it be football, figure skating or whatever, there’s always a risk that you can get injured. Bruce and I know the risks, he’s more accepting of it then I am but for all of you that haven’t been in a really bad wreck, I hope you’re not naive enough to think it will never happen to you. I hope it doesn’t but if you’re out there to win and being competitive, you’re putting yourself at risk.
As most of you know, one of my favourite sayings is “racing’s stupid!”. I don’t think anyone can change my mind on that, it’s one of the most heartbreaking sports and also the most exciting when you win. Funny thing is we talked to another wife/mother of a racer on our way out and she expressed herself very strongly and said, “I hate racing and I’ve always hated racing!”.
That being said, I’m still very proud of Bruce and all of you racers. Not everyone is crazy enough to get out there and there’s a bunch of couch racers that say they can do it but never do or when they do they come out of the car shaking. Racing isn't for everyone. I’m proud of my husband and what he has accomplished in his racing career with the funds we’ve had. Thank you to all of our sponsors and their support they’ve given us every year and during this tough year and next year 😉.
Well, that’s it for this year. The boys should be working on a car starting this week and Bruce will be back at it next season.
I hope everyone has a safe rest of season (if you’re participating in some of those final races of the season) and have a safe and warm winter.
Take care and thank you,
Lynda
Here’s a last race update for the season.
No, Bruce hasn’t been racing but we did go to MIR Saturday night to check it out and support some of our race friends. It was also a night of healing for us and others. I really did want to go for myself to see how or if I could handle seeing racing again. I must admit Bruce’s accident has me worried. Him being hit on the head by another car is something you don’t just forget about. But I also wanted to have Bruce get to be around the cars again, to see if he was sure about going back and I felt some of the drivers needed to see Bruce to make sure he was doing better. Well, I was right on all counts.
Bruce kept putting off going to the track, he didn’t really want to go unless he was racing (he kept saying) but I insisted. Well, he had a really good time and enjoyed talking to everyone. I think it rejuvenated his desire to race again, he picked up a new to us chassis and body last night, so he and Bobby will start working on his ride for next year. I also think Bruce was surprised at how many drivers and teams were so happy to see him. We would walk up to a trailer and their faces would light up and hands would be extending out so quickly to shake Bruce’s hand. There were people there that needed to know Bruce was OK. I think it’s on everyone’s mind “that could happen to me”. And yes, it could, you never know when a big one could hit, and you could be out for the season or worse. We stopped by to see Junior because we wanted to make sure he understood we did not feel it was his fault and that it was just a racin’ deal. Junior seemed very relieved that we dropped by to see him. We stopped by another team that had helped with the loading of the car and he talked about how he would use his racing contacts to find out how Bruce was doing (guess he doesn’t know about the website) and he also mentioned that Bob McCreadie has been asking about Bruce (the Makinson’s and McCreadie’s have a history together, nice to know Bob was thinking of Bruce, thanks Bob!). I wish I knew all the teams that helped out that night so we could have stopped by and said thank you, but Bobby had no idea who half the people were, and it was kind of a blur, but I hope you all know how we feel. I think Bruce was surprised on how many people cared. I feel it’s going to help him heal faster now. Thank you to our racing family! Also thank you to the Cook Team for feeding us, awesome as usual!
As for me, well, during a Heat race I saw a car’s right rear catch the back edge and my heart stopped. Luckily, he recovered and continued on, but I looked at Bruce and said that it scared the hell out of me. Then the Sportsman race had two bad wrecks where cars were flipping everywhere. Again, I told Bruce this isn’t making me feel better. The funny part is we had talked about leaving half way thru the Sportsman race because it was a 100-laps and it was getting late. But noooooo, Bruce was enjoying himself and wanted to stay and see how things were going to turn out. See, Bruce, sometimes you should listen to me!
It was in the second half that cars were wrecking on the front stretch. The first wreck, a car nicked an inside tire and went up the track in front of another that sent him (Junior…remember Junior!!) spinning on his tail up the catch fence right by the flag stand. I’m sure the flag man had a mess in his pants afterwards. And during that commotion another car was rolling along down the front stretch. Junior landed on top of a car and in the end, there were 3 wrecked cars.
Then on the race to the checkered, the leader got held up by a lap car (darn those lap cars, we’re lost a race or two because of them) and the second place car put a move on for the checkered, then the leader seemed to over steer and went into the other car which in the end made a car that was behind them roll across the finish line. Again, carnage! Eighteen out of 31 cars finished the 100-laps.
Luckily, everyone involved was OK. Shaken and maybe sore but OK. I just have to say, if you don’t think it can happen to you, well, I have to tell you it can! You may think you’re the best driver in the world and that you drive smart or you’re a champ, but you know, circumstances can put you in the wrong place at the wrong time and there you go, rolling down the track. As long as you come out of it unhurt all is good. But it’s a risk you are taking as a race car driver. In fact, in any sport, let it be football, figure skating or whatever, there’s always a risk that you can get injured. Bruce and I know the risks, he’s more accepting of it then I am but for all of you that haven’t been in a really bad wreck, I hope you’re not naive enough to think it will never happen to you. I hope it doesn’t but if you’re out there to win and being competitive, you’re putting yourself at risk.
As most of you know, one of my favourite sayings is “racing’s stupid!”. I don’t think anyone can change my mind on that, it’s one of the most heartbreaking sports and also the most exciting when you win. Funny thing is we talked to another wife/mother of a racer on our way out and she expressed herself very strongly and said, “I hate racing and I’ve always hated racing!”.
That being said, I’m still very proud of Bruce and all of you racers. Not everyone is crazy enough to get out there and there’s a bunch of couch racers that say they can do it but never do or when they do they come out of the car shaking. Racing isn't for everyone. I’m proud of my husband and what he has accomplished in his racing career with the funds we’ve had. Thank you to all of our sponsors and their support they’ve given us every year and during this tough year and next year 😉.
Well, that’s it for this year. The boys should be working on a car starting this week and Bruce will be back at it next season.
I hope everyone has a safe rest of season (if you’re participating in some of those final races of the season) and have a safe and warm winter.
Take care and thank you,
Lynda
