Will you still be racing at age 75?

[Russ Myers]

Hell, I'm not really near my 70's, and I'm already an obstical.

Russ

[RacerBill]

65 and still kickin'. Long as I can breath, I hope to be out there racing. BTW, our 6th great grandchild was born in April!! Hope to see two generations of Stevens' on the track at the same time. Three generations woudl be way cool. Let's see, my granddaughter Autumn get her license this month...........

[dave parker]

I regularly race with several "older" racers. A small sample of names:
Randy Canfield 80 five time national champion, 13 second places at the Runoffs. I have proudly finished second to Randy on several occasions.
Jim Harrison 70something still quick.
Bob Shelton 76 and still doing it fast.

I don't think age matters. Situational awareness and being able to work with traffic is the key. If you have those two things lets race!

cheers
dave parker

[uturner]

I want I can live to 75, let alone race. Then it is a win-win!

[CRallo]

There is a lil saying I came up with a while ago and often say, "I'll always be driving something somewhere..." I've got another 50 years to make it to 75, but if I'm alive, I'll be standing by what I've always said!

[Monkeywrench]

Not much of an IT racer, but I lurk on the classifieds on here.

This driver is 77yo in the same car he had the pole and led the 65 DP ARRC race until the overdrive failed (beating Group 44). Healso raced a 289 Cobra in 69 and 70 and finished 2nd in the Runoffs. Then he left for IMSA Baby Grand / RS in the 70s. He still does all his own engine building / car prep.

Watkins Glen:
http://youtu.be/qH5UweSaS3o

After the first lap, ff to about 7:25 and start watching from there. Fast lap is around a 2:19/2:20 on 5.5" wide bias-ply vintage tires.

NJMP Thunderbolt
http://youtu.be/ft29PVCVneU
Fast lap is a 1:37.4 (skip to 4:34 for a fast lap) . This was before the FIA curbing and the track was rubbered in, so it should be able to go faster.

He and Bob Leitzinger (71yo) in a L18 powered 510 battled it out nose to tail while lapping 20 cars in a 6 lap race during last year's SVRA Watkins Glen event.

Also, Buzz Marcus is in his 70s
http://youtu.be/yugusUO3-4k

http://www.tr4-racing.de/pic/buzz/buzzmann.html

[boywonder]

Wow, you guys are all really old...

[RacerBill]

Wow, you guys are all really old...

Thanks - Ryan!!!!

[Z3_GoCar]

I was flagging at Tom Eddleman's last race. He was 94 and had traded his sprite for a Miata without a hard top for his last race. Two weeks later he passed in his sleep

[callard]

I'm 64 and have been racing continuously for 34 years. My fuzzy range plan is to hang up my helmet when I'm 75. Maybe then I'll start saving for my retirement.

[ajmr2]

Just turned 60 in January so I guess I'm one of the younger older guys. I've been racing in the SCCA since I started what is now called my "bucket list" 21 years ago. I look forward to several family reunions every season with all the friends, misfits and racing buddies I've gotten to know over the years. Hell, I don't know what many of them do for a living 'cuz it's mostly about cars, family and friends. I've also found that volunteering with the club is a blast, and again, it's about the people.
As long as I'm having fun and I feel I'm not putting myself or anyone else in danger, and I can still afford to do it, I will continue racing. All else melts away once I climb in the car and it's still cheaper than therapy.
AJ

[callard]

it's still cheaper than therapy.
AJ

Doubt it.

[erlrich]

and it's still cheaper than therapy.
AJ

Only if you drive a Toyota When's the last time you changed the plugs in that car...199?

...and damn, I didn't realize you were THAT old!!! I guess I'm going to have to start calling you sir now...

[Mseiler]

I just got my RR license in Feb and will be only 58 in July. Luckily my son and I went to the same RR school. He's 30 and his son will be 8 soon. It would be the best to do an enduro with the 3 of us sharing the drive. 75 isn't that far off...that means my wife will be...

[uh60_fixer]

I think that's awesome! I was at Willow Springs Raceway a couple weeks back and there was an 84 year old guy racing an open wheel car on the paved oval there. I hope I make it to 84 so I can do that!

It'd be an honor to race with someone that old.

[ajmr2]

It'd be an honor to race with someone that old.

We prefer the term "experienced."

[mikelawson]

Well I don't think so that I live till 75 but if I live I say yes to Racing in every age

[Lael Cleland]

I will race till I die, then race some more for free up there.... they have Hoosire trees & its always 65...... the Ice never melts in the cool shit coolers, tires never go away...

[Gary L]

they have Hoosire trees & its always 65...... the Ice never melts in the cool shit coolers, tires never go away...

And the fuel cells refill automatically, eh?

OT - Is Lake MAM full yet?

[Hoof Hearted]

My father raced again this May at Brainerd International Raceway... ...I had welded the diff and the poor guy had to deal with the new "Armstrong steering". His goal is to race his old Formula 5000 1969 Surtees TS-5 at the Kohler Historic races at Road America next year.



Here is the beautifully restored car with Sir John Surtees on the left and the current owner Mark Harmer on the right. The car was originally campaigned as a factory Surtees Team car with David Hobbs at the wheel. My father flogged this car in the mid 70's, not knowing its history... ...selling it and "retiring" from racing.