Explaining F1--a new appreciation

My mother in law was visiting this weekend, and watching the start of the Brazilian GP she commented something like "Oh my, look how fast those cars are going!" She asked how many laps the race was, and I pointed out the lap counter at the top of the TV screen. She asked (I'm dead serious) "And does someone have to keep track of all that?" in a 'wouldn't want that guy's job' kind of way. When I explained electronic timing and scoring--a technology considered new only in a geological time frame--she was amazed. Now, consider she's lived in a virtual bubble her entire life. So, I started telling her about real-time telemetry and how the teams used to be able to make changes to the car's performance from their factories 1000s of miles away, the costs of development, the G-forces, etc. All of a sudden I started thinking to myself "Wow--this is a pretty cool sport!"

Now I'm looking forward to introducing my son to all the little ins and outs of the sport. He's off to a good start--at 3 1/2 he knows Ferrari, and he gets confused when he sees the logo on a non-red car! "But that's not a red car!" Can't wait to take him to the track!

 

Amen--I just don't get to play the role of the child any longer!