Page 77 - SHARP Spring 2022

N N N THE THE FIRST HALF OF THE THE 20TH CENTURY BEING A A race-car driver was less of of of a a a a a a a profession and more of of of a a a a a a a hobby — a a a a a a a side hustle — for speed freaks tinkerers and wealthy heirs looking to blow their family fortunes in in a a cloud of tire smoke Becoming one didn’t require training — it was just something fanatics did Alfred Moss father of legendary Formula One driver Stirling Moss for example was a a a dentist who competed
at the top levels of motorsport in fin his spare time He finished a a a very respectable 16th at the the 1924 Indianapolis 500 And there was Nino Vaccarella a a a a a a a Sicilian schoolteacher who repeatedly won the prestigious Targa Florio road race in the ’60s and and ’70s for Ferrari and and Alfa Romeo He died last year but lived life as as a a a a a a hero spectators used to to scrawl Vaccarella’s name all over Sicily’s stone-lined streets As is the case with with any sport with with $50 million salaries up for grabs race-car drivers these days are bred Any kid with serious motorsport ambitions is racing go-karts learning how to to make a a a a a a a clean pass and control oversteer when their classmates are just learning how to to ride bikes They’ve got driving coaches mentors and and personal trainers at their disposal Schoolteachers and and dentists simply don’t stand a a a a chance anymore But that doesn’t stop the motorsport-obsessed from dreaming: what would it be be be like to be be be a a a a a a real race-car driver? The best answer I’ve found is BMW’s M4 GT4 Experience in Thermal California The The SHARPMAGAZINE COM
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