Grey Fox's Retirement
On a familiar race track it is a silent night.
The race cars were packed in their haulers and the fans have gone home long ago.
Littered bench seats and chairs are dark in the moonlight.
It is still…
The race cars were packed in their haulers and the fans have gone home long ago.
Littered bench seats and chairs are dark in the moonlight.
It is still…
…except for the faint sounds of a man’s footsteps.
The Grey Fox walks alone in the moonlight.
He is proud and humbled by his accomplishments as he searches the empty paddock and pit lane.
The Grey Fox walks alone in the moonlight.
He is proud and humbled by his accomplishments as he searches the empty paddock and pit lane.
Suddenly the screaming wail of 10,000 rpm shriek in the night.
The Grey Fox looks toward the end of the pit lane and sees the flash of a red taillight.
Silent as his shadow, the Grey Fox quickens his pace and strides toward the light.
The Grey Fox looks toward the end of the pit lane and sees the flash of a red taillight.
Silent as his shadow, the Grey Fox quickens his pace and strides toward the light.
An Indycar sits revving in the moonlight.
The Grey Fox hops in and hits the accelerator roaring onto the track.
Once again the Grey Fox is alone, but he is doing what he does best.
Lap after lap.
Each just a little faster than the last one.
Left turn. Right turn. Punch it! Brake. Stop.
The Grey Fox hops in and hits the accelerator roaring onto the track.
Once again the Grey Fox is alone, but he is doing what he does best.
Lap after lap.
Each just a little faster than the last one.
Left turn. Right turn. Punch it! Brake. Stop.
The Grey Fox is on a part of the track he has never seen before.
All around him are giant video screens.
On each a still image.
One is an Indy 500 win.
Two others are championships.
Another is broken up into 17 smaller images, all of the Grey Fox holding a trophy.
The last video screen shows a montage of 30 faces.
The Grey Fox closes his eyes and sees the heat races. Pole positions. Fast laps. The wins.
He remembers each of the faces.
Friends. Rivals. Competitors. But never enemies.
All around him are giant video screens.
On each a still image.
One is an Indy 500 win.
Two others are championships.
Another is broken up into 17 smaller images, all of the Grey Fox holding a trophy.
The last video screen shows a montage of 30 faces.
The Grey Fox closes his eyes and sees the heat races. Pole positions. Fast laps. The wins.
He remembers each of the faces.
Friends. Rivals. Competitors. But never enemies.
But when he opens his eyes the screens are gone.
The track is still and the night is quiet.
The Grey Fox is still alone in the empty pit lane.
With one last look around the Grey Fox walks on down the pit lane and onto the track for one last lap.</o:p>
The track is still and the night is quiet.
The Grey Fox is still alone in the empty pit lane.
With one last look around the Grey Fox walks on down the pit lane and onto the track for one last lap.</o:p>
Little by little the night sky grows brighter and turns into sunrise.
The Grey Fox sees something in the final turn.
It is retirement.
The Grey Fox sees something in the final turn.
It is retirement.
On a familiar race track it is a bright sunny morning.
The track is still. No people are about except…
…Jim Iverson standing on the main straightaway.
Quietly smiling about past accomplishments, and future racing glories yet to come.
Quietly smiling about past accomplishments, and future racing glories yet to come.
Based and adapted from the book Fox’s Dream by Keizaburo Tejima, Philomel Books, 1987
From the pits...
Steve "The Wrench" Ratchett
