I have to (eat my words) lol regarding John Force

[NYLIBUD]

A few weeks back I wrote a posing that I think John Force should retire after he had some pretty bad crashes and explosions...Well yesterday,not only did he win the funny car race class.He is now the at 149 races won.He says he's going for 150.And when asked.about retirement,John said he will retire when HE feels that he has had enough.And said,Its my life,so it's my decision.He added that he is  having too much fun right now..Also his start next week at Sonoma will be his 750th start in his new Chevy Hot Rod.

.Good luck John.

Edited July 31, 2018 by NYLIBUD

[Renegade]

One of the reasons I'm a Force fan is he always speaks his mind. Drive on John.

[espo]

1 hour ago, NYLIBUD said:

A few weeks back I wrote a posing that I think John Force should retire after he had some pretty bad crashes and explosions...Well yesterday,not only did he win the funny car race class.He is now the at 149 races won.He says he's going for 150.And when asked.about retirement,John said he will retire when HE feels that he has had enough.And said,Its my life,so it's my decision.He added that he is  having too much fun right now..Also his start next week at Sonoma will be his 750th start in his new Chevy Hot Rod.

.Good luck John.

I remember your post and I also agreed with you for pretty much the same reasons. I think we both admire the man and appreciate his accomplishments. He's a grown man and I would not be unthinkable to see him win another Championship.  

[NYLIBUD]

20 minutes ago, espo said:

I remember your post and I also agreed with you for pretty much the same reasons. I think we both admire the man and appreciate his accomplishments. He's a grown man and I would not be unthinkable to see him win another Championship.  

Yup,,,,hopefully John will be able to pick his own day to leave/retire from  drag racing.Just be safe.He really wants that 150th.win.Again Good Luck 

[Jim N]

At my last job, there was a woman whose husband took up BASE jumping as a hobby.  One day he went on a jump and either his parachute did not open or it opened too late.  He fell to his death.  In one instance this guy's wife was a widow and his children no longer had a father in their lives.  It isn't necessarily the activity that the person insists on doing, but the people who are left behind when it all goes wrong.  It's those who are entirely too selfish that put their loved ones in these situations because they will not walk away.  They live for the adrenaline rush of that jump or that race and everything is awesomely awesome until it isn't.  Then the person's survivors have to pick up the pieces.

It is obvious John Force will drive until it's no longer any fun, he does not have a sponsor to pay the bills or he has the wreck he does not walk away from.  I hope it's one of the first two.

[vamach1]

It is very hard for people in many occupations to walk away.  Unless they have some other passion they would be bored to tears.  There is a time to say it's over before you are putting yourself and others in danger.  I hope he finds something to replace the thrills but if you ask me the years of the travel has got to wear him down.  If his daughters were not racing perhaps he would have retired by now.  Hopefully the Force will be with us a title longer and he can watch his legacy continue.

Edited August 1, 2018 by vamach1

[Badluck 13]

...We all can sit here and bench race all day about the fact should he or should he not retire but we are not the ones that is strapped in to this rollin' wheels of thunder and fire that shuts down in a blink of an eye,only he knows and it's apparent he knows he still has it in him and quite well at that and I say "Why not!" .....Young drivers have been in some serious explosions/crashes and unfortunate some didn't make it but John has always ended suited up and ready for the next pass.....As Ron said above Good luck John.....

[Oldcarfan27]

On 7/31/2018 at 11:42 AM, Jim N said:

It isn't necessarily the activity that the person insists on doing, but the people who are left behind when it all goes wrong.  It's those who are entirely too selfish that put their loved ones in these situations because they will not walk away. 

I guess that's what life insurance is for.

Not to be cold hearted, but usually the spouses know where their passions lie and are well aware of the risks when they marry them.

You can't say that what a career military, police officer or fire fighter does is selfish. What they do, they do because it's their calling. Their families know there's a great possibility that they may not come home - but they do it for the greater good of humanity.

For that matter, anyone of us could leave for work in the morning, and not come home that evening. Life has no guarantees, only God knows how many days each of us is to spend on this earth. We all should be so fortunate as to know what he has designed us to be and do while were here.

We need to enjoy and be thankful for each and everyday we are given, and to stop the petty bickering on things that won't matter in the long run. Only then can we live life to the fullest.

I remember hearing someone say - If God is in charge, you're indestructible until you've fulfilled what he put you here for. Then you go home.

Edited August 17, 2018 by Oldcarfan27

[High octane]

Well said Patrick.

[Jim N]

On 8/16/2018 at 10:43 PM, Oldcarfan27 said:

I guess that's what life insurance is for.

Not to be cold hearted, but usually the spouses know where their passions lie and are well aware of the risks when they marry them.

You can't say that what a career military, police officer or fire fighter does is selfish. What they do, they do because it's their calling. Their families know there's a great possibility that they may not come home - but they do it for the greater good of humanity.

For that matter, anyone of us could leave for work in the morning, and not come home that evening. Life has no guarantees, only God knows how many days each of us is to spend on this earth. We all should be so fortunate as to know what he has designed us to be and do while were here.

We need to enjoy and be thankful for each and everyday we are given, and to stop the petty bickering on things that won't matter in the long run. Only then can we live life to the fullest.

I remember hearing someone say - If God is in charge, you're indestructible until you've fulfilled what he put you here for. Then you go home.

Patrick, I am afraid we are going to have to agree to disagree on this one.

I understand the concept of mortality.  My father’s second wife passed away last year at the age of 68.  At the age of 55, she received her Alzheimer’s diagnosis. 

A good friend of ours will not see his 60^th birthday.  He was battling cancer and was having some success.  He then had a stroke last month.  He recovered enough that he was in rehab.  The other day, he had a second stroke.  The family has been told to contact hospice.

As far as life insurance, it is merely money in a savings account.  It does not replace the person who passed.

I believe very firmly that when a man has a family, he has responsibilities that extend beyond himself.  If he has a son, he is to raise him on how to be a man.  If he has a daughter, he is to raise her on how she should be expected to be treated by men.  The father should also instill his life experiences in his kids so they have the tools to participate and have some success when they become adults.  None of this happens if the father, such as in my previous post, participates and succumbs in a dangerous hobby.  This also applies if a person has a dangerous career.   If that person survives an encounter with death, then perhaps it is time to find a safer job in that career path, or it may be time to find a different career.

I am sure there will be some on this forum who will read that previous paragraph and make a snarky remark about all of the irresponsible parents.  They are correct, except that the number of responsible parents far out-number the irresponsible; otherwise, this society could not function.

You are correct, we are not guaranteed any time but the present.  The obituary pages of a newspaper remind of that every day, but I do not believe that does excuses a person who has responsibilities to a family to abdicate them for their selfish pursuits.

[Oldcarfan27]

Valid points, well taken.

And thank you for having a gracious response. An informative discussion is good and healthy when both sides can be heard!