September 01/08

I often have conversations with family and friends who say, “How’s the search going for a sponsor, it sure would be great to see you drive again.” I have yet to hear anyone say “Gee Bobby, it sure would be swell to see you as a team owner or crew chief.” I’m known as a driver and a darn good one but the time has come when I might consider other options. I have always had a quiet desire to try my hand as a crew chief. I think this comes from my admiration for the guys I have worked with over the years. I have always had a genuine bond with whoever was looking after me and running the show ‘outside’ of the cockpit. Oh sure, as a shallow, self-centered driver I took most of the credit for our success but deep down I knew that without the dedication of the guys behind the scenes I was just another racer. Maybe even a leaker!

I have had some of the best crew chiefs and handlers in the business look after me. Vince Vanni was the first and the toughest. He taught me how to win. I had so much confidence sitting in the car knowing that no matter what happened ‘outside’, Vince would handle it. Confidence makes you a good driver. Although not as physically intimidating as Vince, NHRA World Champions Ken Veney and Art Gallant gave me self-assurance of their experience. When I drove for John Rossitter he gave me the confidence of knowing I had more horsepower than just about anyone else. And Dave Ryan was my man through four years with the Jet Funny Car. Dave was so conscientious when it came to safety. He thoroughly prepared and inspected the car while I was signing autographs and being ‘Bogus’. Dave made me feel comfortable in knowing that if I came through the top end on fire or got airborne and crashed, he would look after me and I tested him on both counts. All of these guys could get into your head and say the positive things that a driver needs to hear. I have been very fortunate and would hope that I could duplicate their high standards.

I was recently approached by a respectable sportsman racer who has a deal in the works to go Top Fuel racing. He was thinking of leasing a team and wondered if I would mentor him. I was both honoured and receptive to the idea. As talks progressed, Gloria and I decided to put the funding in place to purchase a team ourselves. This way I would have control over the complete operation including a show car program. I am totally ready to step back and let someone else be the ‘front-person’. I use the politically correct term ‘person’ because we are also talking to a successful tractor pulling team with a female driver who is thinking along the same lines. Since I am mentally and physically in pretty good shape, it will be tough to step back, but marketing demographics show that my ‘selling power’ is limited. Ok, so you’re not all buying that excuse. So now, ladies and gentlemen, is the darker side of the story. Although many of you want to see me drive again and I assure myself that I can, the fact of the matter is that I have been having the odd ‘senior moment’. There, I said it. Ole Bogus is getting long in the tooth! These ‘senior moments’ create the need for some self evaluation and reflection on one’s ability. A month ago Gloria and I were driving down the highway to a family reunion. Something in the field caught my eye and as I turned my head to look, my right foot came off the gas, slightly slowing the car. I quickly realized what had happened and let loose with a light barrage of cursing. Gloria, understanding what had just happened, tried to console me by saying, “It’s ok Bob, I have the occasional ‘senior moment’ myself, don’t you just hate it.” Now listen folks, I don’t drive for miles and miles with the left turn signal flashing but quite frankly these small omens make you stop and think a little bit more about the future. I am not comfortable with the thought of getting old. Oh crap! I am old! Ok, let’s make fun of someone else. My friend Steve Brown recently had a ‘senior moment’. He and his friend Lucy had tickets for the NHRA Summit Racing Nationals. Steve didn’t look too closely at his tickets nor did he ‘get the memo’ that the race had been moved from Columbus to Norwalk. Oh yea! They saw more of Ohio that weekend than was intended. Steve and Lucy own the Benjamin-Moore paint centre in Niagara Falls, Ontario. They’re great folks, stop in and say hi.

Sadly, we lost another Nitro Funny Car racer and the NHRA went into their over-the-top grieving mode. After asking all media and internet websites to remove any video that was out there showing Scott Kalitta’s crash, the NHRA announcing crew incessantly talked about it for hours and hours. With the exception of Mike Dunn, it does not appear that any other members of the broadcast team have much of a clue as to what makes a race car driver. This was evident when pit announcer Gary Gerould stuck his microphone in a nitro racers face and asked, “How will you be able to carry on after this tragedy?” What a dumb question to ask a motorsports driver and I won’t insult the readers of this column by explaining why. The old TNN broadcast crew of Steve Evans, Brock Yates and Dave McClelland would have known the proper questions and responses for such a situation. I really miss those guys. The 1000’ track is also an overreaction but is a reflection of the world we live in. It is a tough deal when any Mom or Dad has to bury their kids. It should be treated with respect and not a display for the TV audience on who can show the most sorrow. Robert Hight’s solo pass in the first round was first class. Gloria and I both had the Kleenex out for that one. Sorry for your loss Connie.

Take care of each other. Be nice to old people.

Bogus