Most of
us here are race fans. No matter the genre we enjoy the competition,
technology, and advancements that come from head to head confrontation
with our adversaries. Much can be made of how the experience of being a
racer, as opposed to sitting in the stands can change you, mentally and
otherwise. In the larger picture, once you put that needle in your arm,
you never look at things quite the same way again.

In the
history of our country, we’ve actually come alive a couple times
because of races. Not auto races, but really national efforts to
advance or protect ourselves have triggered something deep within our
collective consciousness to get off our asses, get out on the “track”
and emerge victorious. Problem is, these races have all been based on
tactile, mechanical, “real” things, and we live in a world where
everyday, there are less and less people involved in a world which
revolves around such stuff.

In the
early 1960’s the US was mired in a steep recession. Jobs were
disappearing, confidence was on the wane, and it appeared to many
people that America was entering a dark era of uncertainty. Obviously,
several things in combination helped to bring us out of that time, but
one was an audacious race to the moon against Russia. The Russians,
seen as the superior power in the confrontation fired their first shot
with Sputnik in 1957. The event shocked the United Stated to attention
and the government devoted any necessary resources to NASA to get the
job done in beating the Russians to the moon. The side effect was a
national obsession with science, engineering, technology, and
patriotism. The brightest minds in the country were all working and
pulling in the same direction. The entire country was the pit crew for
a field of drivers the likes of which the world had never known.

Fast
forward twenty years and again, the country is at a cross roads.
National confidence has shrunk, and we’re nervously looking across the
pond at the Russians with a tinge of fear again. Enter a president who
senses a nation that needs a kick in the ass and pat on the back
letting them know that they can build and do whatever they put their
minds to. Calling on the capabilities of the nation’s defense industry,
the government proposes several massive and wildly impossible sounding
defense measures in an attempt to show the Russians who’s the boss one
more time. It is during this time period, with the country is again
pulling towards a common goal of being able to defend itself and not
allow their common enemy to intimidate them, that the economy springs
back to life and the psyche of the USA comes back. As television
commentators often say about athletes, we got our swagger back.

Well,
here we are again. We need a race. Something between space and nuclear
weapons would be nice, but we need something. With two of our biggest
industrial companies now being essentially owned by the government and
joblessness being something that is now a concern to people who have
never even considered it before in our lives, it’s time to pull this
thing together and give us that much needed kick in the ass again.

But
what’s the race? Who can we beat at video games? Who can we out IT? Who
can we beat at trading the most imaginary money every day? There’s got
to be something, and historically we’ve done a good job of finding out
whatever the hell that is and latching on to it to our advantage, but
I’m completely stumped now.

I’ve got my tools ready and a full fuel can to use…just give me a car to wrench on.