Am I nuts??

L

leadfoot4

Champion
I attended the ROC modified race at Spencer Speedway, this past Friday, 8/4/23. (God bless my understanding wife, as it WAS our wedding anniversary). During driver introductions, I thought they said a driver was 12 years old, but with all the noise, I was sure I heard wrong. The following morning, I was surfing the net, checking out the results, and recognized the name of the driver that was mentioned the previous evening, so I did a search.

Unbelievably, the name of the driver, Paulie Hartwig III, showed up as some "child prodigy", who is indeed 12 years old!!! Am I delusional, or is a 12 year old, IN A MODIFIED, now the "new normal"???
 
raceannouncer

raceannouncer

Moderator
Happy Anniversary (!)

If you google his name, he has a "hero card" with a 602 mod on it. Actual on-track pics show lesser racing series...
 
L

leadfoot4

Champion
Mike, thanks for the good wishes! With respect to Paulie Hartwig, however, I have to disagree with you. The "results" posted by the ROC organization, regarding the race Friday at Spencer's, had Paulie in a full tilt modified, qualifying in the top 10, @ 19.024 seconds, finishing 2nd in the first heat, and 10th in the feature.

(when I was Paulie's age, I had a 2.5 HP "yard go-kart", from Sears....)
 
DPackman_PR

DPackman_PR

Champion
The kid is smooth behind the wheel. You don't just luck into being top 5 in RoC Modified points (currently sitting 4th behind Zeiner, Ely, and Scherer). 5 Top 10 finishes in 7 starts on the tour.
 
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L

leadfoot4

Champion
Dakota, with all due respect, the way I see it, Paulie can "smooth behind the wheel", as you put it, but there are times when the mental side of the game takes maturity.....a level of maturity that a 12 year old has yet to develop. No disrespect to him, but he's still a CHILD. Unless his father drives him to the track, he can't get there by himself, as he's too young to possess a legal drivers license. There's a reason why states put age requirements on drivers licenses, with natural maturity is a big part of that reason.

Secondly, there's something else to consider, something that I sincerely hope never happens. Let Paulie get involved in an on track wreck, one where somebody gets injured. How long do you think it will take, before some "ambulance chasing lawyer" get involved, and there'll be lawsuits galore filed, because a child, without a drivers license, was on the track, in a 600HP race car.

Like I said, I hope it never happens, but consider that a track, a sanctioning body, the driver himself, as well as his family could find themselves in "deep tapioca", as the old saying goes.
 
DPackman_PR

DPackman_PR

Champion
leadfoot4 said:
Dakota, with all due respect, the way I see it, Paulie can "smooth behind the wheel", as you put it, but there are times when the mental side of the game takes maturity.....a level of maturity that a 12 year old has yet to develop. No disrespect to him, but he's still a CHILD. Unless his father drives him to the track, he can't get there by himself, as he's too young to possess a legal drivers license. There's a reason why states put age requirements on drivers licenses, with natural maturity is a big part of that reason.

Secondly, there's something else to consider, something that I sincerely hope never happens. Let Paulie get involved in an on track wreck, one where somebody gets injured. How long do you think it will take, before some "ambulance chasing lawyer" get involved, and there'll be lawsuits galore filed, because a child, without a drivers license, was on the track, in a 600HP race car.

Like I said, I hope it never happens, but consider that a track, a sanctioning body, the driver himself, as well as his family could find themselves in "deep tapioca", as the old saying goes.
Click to expand...
I would say the age aspect is a little overblown and a slippery slope, kids racing go karts at 5-whenever can't get to the track without the assistance of their parents due to not having a drivers license (I know this seems like a silly statement, but when talking hard stance policies, this could likely be a situation that gets pulled under the "age-restrictive umbrella").

All I will say regarding Paulie is that yes, the kid has been been on a fast track through the ranks and has won at every level until now (but even then I would say being consistent and continuously finishing races in the top 10 at the highest level of regional racing would be a win given it's his rookie season). The people surrounding him seem to have communicated well to Paulie the pre-requisites (maturity, procedure, etc.) needed at this level, and he's answered the call, otherwise I think they would have kept him at the 602 level another year or two. Is it pushing the limits on various historical concerns? Absolutely. Outside looking in, it looks like they are mitigating all of those concerns just fine.
 
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raceannouncer

raceannouncer

Moderator
As usual, I don't have a dog in this fight. But I do believe, and I can understand (and respect) the opposing opinions while sitting atop the fence. I appreciate the logic of both sides and agree with some of the opinions expressed by each. But, the litigious nature of current our society cannot be completely dismissed, either. There is much credence to KT's "blah, blah, blah" argument in today's world since most people have forgotten or deliberately ignored the concept of "nunya" in these times. The ability to express oneself is one of the many freedoms we enjoy in this country and as such, MUST be protected!
 
K

kt

Champion
Paulie Harwig III......Finished p3 in the Maynard Troyer Classic at Spencer Speedway.....Currently sits p3 in ROC Modified points standings... Age: 12
 
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