Never Stop Driving #127: Full Commitment
Happy New Year! Have you seen the dirt bikes and wild desert buggies currently racing across Saudi Arabia? The Dakar Rally, which runs January 3-17, is like the Baja 1000 times ten, a grueling suffer fest for man and machine. America’s presence in the event has slowly grown and this year there are several U.S. entrants, including Sara Price.
Ford is competing in the top class with four custom-built mid-engine machines called the Raptor T1+ that we documented in this article. My god, they look like fun and thanks to a Coyote V-8 they sound ferocious. You can follow the Dakar action on YouTube and there are plenty of clips on Instagram. Early in the event, nine-time World Rally champ Sébastien Loeb hit one seemingly minor bump wrong and it sent his car tumbling. He was forced to retire. Ford driver Carlos Sainz, another former rally driver and father of F1 driver Carlos Sainz, Jr., rolled his Raptor and was also out early.
I admire rally drivers not only for their car control but the incredible confidence they possess to drive insanely fast through often slippery tree-lined roads. That’s what separates the greats from everyone else. NASCAR drivers Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell put on a similar driving demonstration during an indoor dirt-track race last weekend in Tulsa, Oklahoma. As the two dueled to the finish, Larson drove his micro sprint car on the treacherous outside line, riding precariously along the wall to rapidly close the distance between himself and Bell. Insane. Bell won by inches.
I’m familiar with the track because it also hosts the Chili Bowl. I raced there three years ago and the outside line is a minefield of thick lumpy clay that often trips cars into flipping. To avoid that outcome, drivers like Larson pitch their cars to the outside line with nothing less than full commitment, something I most definitely lacked. Here’s a guide to watch the 2025 Chili Bowl, which kicks off next week.
Before I sign off, some highlights from Hagerty Media’s busy past few weeks:
- Toyota recently released an all-new Land Cruiser. Jason Cammisa and crew filmed the new off-roader for a full review and revealed historical details even this Land Cruiser fan didn’t know.
- There’s also a new Shelby Cobra! The latest model is a modern interpretation of the original that tries to sand off the rough edges but not kill the character. Does it succeed? Henry Catchpole investigates.
- If you need proof that younger folks also love cars, check out the latest Barn Find Hunter. Tom Cotter visits a restoration shop founded by recent McPherson College graduate Philip Reinhardt and gives an update on a 1962 Jaguar E-Type powered by a Corvette 427 V-8.
- Helio Castroneves, four-time Indy 500 winner and honoree at the upcoming Amelia Island Concours, is racing in the Daytona 500.
- Cruise like a mobster in this full-size Caddy that’s for sale on Hagerty Marketplace.
Have a great weekend!
Larry
P.S.: Your feedback and comments are welcome.
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Drivers without full commitment are not ‘racers’ – they are at worst pretenders and at best participants. I once pitted for a co-worker at a local oval track. At work and other social situations, he was the epitome of politeness, deference, good humor, and kind actions. I thought he would finish dead last in every race. But once strapped into that seat, he changed into a focused, determined, fearless, and wired-to-win demon who, despite having one of the weakest cars out there, always fought hard and never let up. I saw him pass much better cars with less-committed drivers on the last lap many times, sometimes just to get from last to next-to-last place!
I’m often in awe of the Hagerty writing crew for their commitment in fielding article after article, and forever striving to provide great content on the magazine pages and this site. It can’t be easy to face the ‘blank page’ several times a week and continue to give us fresh information and entertainment, issue after issue. I can’t be the only reader out there who eagerly signs in each day to see if some new stories drop. Your staff continues to show full commitment to we readers, Larry, as they push themselves to the front of the field time and time again.
Very kind words, thank you, DUB!
As an amateur racer, I’d suggest there’s a fluidity between racer and participant. The best are able to turn it on reliably/regularly, and even get into flow state—a level of concentration and clarity where they are completely in tune with the moment (Sam Smith and Ross Bentley had a great It’s Not The Car podcast about this a few weeks back). For others, it ebbs and flows—I’ve had moments of in-the-zone/success that lasted for a race or even a string of races over a year or more, and then I’ve had incidents on track mess with my head profoundly enough that I effectively became just a participant. This happens to “real”/pro racers, too, but when they’re off the difference isn’t quite so dramatic. This is a fascinating topic to me and I love exploring it on personal and academic levels.
I can’t argue with the premise that one can experience the fluidity you suggest, and that even the best are subject to “off days”. And the lack of skill or money crippling even good drivers (that is mentioned below) is also very valid. But ebbing in concentration or having a shortage of talent isn’t the same as becoming uncommitted. One can still be fully committed and still experience the other things that can hold them back.
I agree that it’s an interesting topic, and it certainly doesn’t just apply to racing situations.
A friend of mine was in the Neon series years ago. He was one of the top drivers and even had a shot at the championship going into the last race but was crashed out by a hacker that was way in over their head.
Too often many racers have a seat due to money vs skill.
The truth is you can be fully committed and do all you can do but the fact is some people just lack the skill.
I would love to paint but no matter how much I practice I can’t draw a straight line with a ruler.
This is why so many people crash when leaving a cars and coffee as they can afford the car but they have no skill to deal with it. Some can learn but many never get the skill to the leverl racing takes.
Dale Earnhardt is a good example. If he was in a good car he would win. If he was in a bad car that may be a 15th place car he was still in the top 5 as he could carry the car in ways other drivers would crash. I have seen him in cars so loose he was sideways and still make the pass. He has good vision and feel for the car. That is something few have.
I have a friend we joke and named him AJ Jimmy. Why because he never drove a stock car and took a car the owner could not qualify. He got it qualified and won his first race. He also went drag racing in an old Grand Prix. He went out and want the whole event. He since has tried many different forms but due the line at sprint cars the first time he high sided the car. He said it was too expensive to make a simple mistake.
Knowing your limits is the mark of a real pro.
The trick is to find your limit and stick to it for the good of all around you and the people you are racing. Your mistake can affect others is some harsh ways.
There is a book on this topic, Rich, Guys, Fast Guys and Idiots.
NBC Sports is airing a daily recap of the Dakar Rally every day at 8pm EST on Peacock.
Good one, really enjoyed! Drive on!
I need to point out the link to two of the points you covered: A South African is currently leading the Dakar Rally with a Toyota HiLux built and configured in South Africa and the AC Cobra is produced by Superformance in South Africa.
Since we are only a small cog in the Automative wheel, we are proud to boast about our achievements whenever we get the opportunity.
Isn’t there a South African guy who is a pretty BIG cog in the American Automotive Wheel? Runs a little firm called Tesla, I believe.