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Dear Mr. Cox:
I need to suggest a correction….. in your statement that included “…..we’ll likely be THE entertainment…..” I might respectfully request the removal of the word “likely.”
Thank You for your considerations.
I couldn’t agree more with Jon.
Our best to all karters….. and to Stacey, his family, and his family of employees.
Anthony:
This is the best thing I’ve read here since August 15. Very nicely worded, very well done!
Turn the negative into a positive. For honor and for everyone. Strength in numbers, all sharing the same passion, and each other.
Food for thought, not debate.
Sounds like a great event….. nice to “hear” all the smiles.
Ian, glad you got to put on your race face again.
Butler, yours in an even finer post. Hopefully we can all learn from your experience.
Using any comparison of motocross and karting since the ’60s, in any era, only one has seen huge growth…. and the other deserves it.
Cris:
That’s fantastic, and a step forward. I hope these standards can bridge to other clubs as well.
Racers have enough to study at the track already. A standardized set of guidelines would be far easier for everyone to absorb, and to follow.
Mike:
Thanks, and I’m sorry to hear about your Father. I thoroughly respect his service and your way of remembering him.
My suggestion would certainly have to be approved by the families involved. Everyone handles these things differently, and some welcome the honor of remembrance. Totally the families’ call, though, and they might well decide based on what their lost family member would want. Just an idea on my part, and one way to turn something bad into something good.
Ron, you are right on the money! I’ve waited for someone else to broach this topic, someone you all know, so I could paraphrase thought I’ve privately shared with a few karters already.
Most of you don’t know me…. so as a qualifier to my opinions below….. I’ve been involved with racing on a variety of levels since 1963, and karting since 1976. I’ve competed in hundreds of kart races, have driven hundreds of thousands of miles chasing photographs I need to buy bread, have summited nearly two hundred alpine mountains, and have trekked over 10,000 miles through remote wilderness. I have witnessed loss of life in all these pursuits, and thought endlessly to avoid those situations. In essence, I have lived a life full of risk, and beyond some rib injuries in karting have avoided injury in all these endeavors. Lucky, Yes — but not entirely. Risk can be mitigated through preparation, logical thought, and calculated assumption of worst-case scenarios — i.e., assuming the worst in every second of every moment. Mountaineers know this, because they wouldn’t survive without it.
Here’s five things I suggest to best honor those we’ve lost, and those we still have:
1 — Join forces to address all safety issues and procedures, and design and publish safety guidelines that are consistent in every event, regardless of circuit, management, club officiation, track employees, or other factors unique to each event. This is not to imply any safety shortcomings exist, but rather to think ahead and mitigate hazard.2 — Form a “Colorado Karting Council,” or “Colorado Kart Drivers Association,” wherein drivers, and any willing parties, from all areas of Colorado and beyond, put their heads together and enforce the aforementioned safety standards that all track owners and clubs must abide by, through intensive study of every circuit for potential points of danger. This could be accomplished with a group “walk-around” at each track each Autumn, so track owners would have time to effect upgrades, and then again each Spring — and any other time necessary. This group would then have the power to intervene on the spot at any event, and create recommendations to make each track as safe as possible. Every major motor racing series has this, and for good reason. Sir Jackie Stewart started the trend in the early ’70s — so even Formula One took a quarter century to do this. Niki Lauda gave away the 1976 World Championship over valid safety concerns.
3 — The track owners must come together for the good of everyone. They provide our playgrounds, and are role models for the kids. My guess is that plenty of karting parents have already had to explain to their kids that they must respect their on-track competitors, get along with them, be fair each and every time, etc. This must be a hard sell to a child who sees that the track owner adults can’t do this, yet they’re being expected to do what adults seemingly cannot.
4 — Hold a “Taybor-Vito Memorial Race” — at a circuit determined through a coin toss — wherein every possible Colorado karter turns out, with entry fee proceeds (or a portion at least), raffles, sales of donated items — including non-karting items, et al, to raise as much money as possible for the Duncan family — and/or for #5 below. Invite all media possible. This could be an annual event.
5 — Form a “Colorado Karting Foundation” that raises money for injured karters, etc. Or at the very least forms a prepared group to act quickly should any tragedy arise. Let’s face it, no matter what we do, racing will still be potentially dangerous.
Some of these things will requite implementation beyond what I can offer. But what I can offer is artwork, copy writing, design, and much more. I’m an idea guy. Together, we likely have all the resources we need to accomplish these tasks, but it won’t be easy. We ourselves are in recovery mode in many areas since my wife became disabled, and so I am limited somewhat in my time.
One thing I do know first-hand is that the best response to any recovery — and moving forward — is helping others dealing with similar pain…. together. Turn tragedy into goodwill, for the betterment of us all, as racers and as people, and for the sport we love. We can’t possibly expect the track owners to think of everything, that’s up to the racers. They are only one, we are hundreds.
I can think of no better ways to honor little Taybor Duncan, Rich Vito, and every karter young and old who competes beneath our flags.
Thank You, and Happy Racing.
Elevation changes look good. Otherwise, a classic Tilke layout lacking sex appeal.
Whoever designed Spa, like 60 years ago, gets my vote for best layout ever. Road Atlanta, Road America, and the Glen are great US tracks, too.
Regardless, we’ll be there! Can’t wait, and it finally sounds like it’s actually going to happen.
Thinking ahead…..
If anyone wants to do something similar to help the family, like we all did for Rich, count me in.
