On the Right Track
A NASCAR BLOG BY Jeff Gluck
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Lessons from the road
Aug
8
ON THE ROAD BETWEEN COOPERSTOWN AND WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – Michael McDowell wanted to make a point.
Riding in the passenger seat on a return trip from an appearance at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, the NASCAR rookie suddenly lunged toward the driver's side of the car.
Toyota public relations representative Tom O’Connor was at the wheel and had no time to react as McDowell quickly flipped on the hazard blinkers, shifted the car into neutral, then turned off the engine and put it back into drive.
He did this with the car traveling at 50 mph and no other vehicles in sight.
O’Connor was confused and couldn’t figure out how to get power back into the car. Turning the keys had no effect, and the car would only coast.
It turned out the secret was to put the car back into neutral, turn it on again and then shift into drive.
McDowell was quick to remind O'Connor and a passenger that the 20 seconds O’Connor took to diagnose the problem isn’t a luxury that race car drivers have.
“If something goes wrong in the race car and you take that long to figure it out, you either just went a lap down or you’re picking your teeth off the wall,” McDowell said.
Point taken.
Riding in the passenger seat on a return trip from an appearance at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, the NASCAR rookie suddenly lunged toward the driver's side of the car.
Toyota public relations representative Tom O’Connor was at the wheel and had no time to react as McDowell quickly flipped on the hazard blinkers, shifted the car into neutral, then turned off the engine and put it back into drive.
He did this with the car traveling at 50 mph and no other vehicles in sight.
O’Connor was confused and couldn’t figure out how to get power back into the car. Turning the keys had no effect, and the car would only coast.
It turned out the secret was to put the car back into neutral, turn it on again and then shift into drive.
McDowell was quick to remind O'Connor and a passenger that the 20 seconds O’Connor took to diagnose the problem isn’t a luxury that race car drivers have.
“If something goes wrong in the race car and you take that long to figure it out, you either just went a lap down or you’re picking your teeth off the wall,” McDowell said.
Point taken.
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Comments
5 responses to "Lessons from the road"
Worm Dirt said:
Aug 8, 2008 at 9:10 PMBwaaaaah ha ha ha!!!! Let me guess.....when McDowell was done with his top gun daredevil posturing, he turned to you in the backseat, Jeff, and said with an intense expression....... "That's right Ice-Man....I'm dangerous!" Bwaaah ha ha ha haaaaaaaah!!! Sorry..... but that's a bit dorky brother. By the way, did you and Ghost-rider beat Mcdowell and Maverick at the all-dudes shirtless volleyball game you guys were driving to?
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» Confirm Abuse ReportWorm Dirt said:
Aug 8, 2008 at 9:14 PMBwaaaaaaah ha ha ha ha heeeeeeeeeeeee! Oh man, seriously? Bwaaaah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha cough cough choke cough ha ha ha haaaaaaaaaaaaaah. uh hum. Sorry.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportdel brown said:
Aug 8, 2008 at 10:45 PMI suppose this could be considered further proof that marketing folks are basically dense. Why else would they keep churning out ads designed to appeal to idiots?
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» Confirm Abuse Report4da88 said:
Aug 11, 2008 at 4:19 PMCorrect me if I am wrong, but when you turn a car off do you not lose your power steering and brakes? Not a very bright move. Point taken? Just what was he trying to prove? That he should be driving instead of Tom? Or maybe excusing accidents he has had on the track? Or explaining what happens when you accidentally hit the kill switch...???
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» Confirm Abuse Report4da88 said:
Aug 13, 2008 at 12:44 PMOr a lesson on how to lose your ride.
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