Best Enjoyed Presently
Think of it this way…
There are probably plenty of distractions in your life already. Don’t let this be one. If you’ve got somewhere you’re supposed to be, go be there (that includes being in the moment). When you’re itching to get away from that tedious to-do, don’t come here.
Not because CAMBER is so profound, but because it’s meant to be enjoyed. Take your time, pick an article. Don’t skip around. I won’t go so far as to tell you to forgo your coffee or La Croix while you read, but consider it a chance to pare down a few streams of thought and focus. If you like reading or thinking about motorsport, let yourself commit to that. We’re here to have a conversation with you.
Now, regarding distraction, I think part of what I’ve most enjoyed about watching racing in-person is the immediacy. I’ve been to soccer matches and football games and basketball games - never hockey though, which is probably a mark against me, being Minnesotan - and all of these games are amenable to frequent phone checks and disruption but certain loud, and annoying spectators. Some might disagree, that’s their purview. I don’t think I will be able to defend this assertion too rigorously but hear me out. Racing is intensely mindful to behold.
Probably it’s mindful to race too but, other than a few mediocre laps on Gran Turismo, I doubt I’ll have much to say about getting behind the wheel of a race car. Watching, though, is something special. First of all, there’s the noise. It’s damn loud when one of those cars is flying past you, let alone twenty. There’s often a helicopter flying overhead the whole time. Anticipation of the next drive by keeps the silence between laps from turning into a lull. There’s less shouting and armchair quarterbacking and more communication occurring when you can catch the conversation around you.
Where I’ve spent time racing, there’s also a peripatetic element, strolling the course between tree stands to watch the proceedings from a certain rise or corner. A person can get lost in thought, close to people, but not too close. I suppose this is all very track-specific…
There’s also a tactile element in being exposed to the elements without a stadium overhead: sun beating down, rain soaking one’s pants, those little ridges on metal bleachers, or the way most wooden benches knuckle into your vertebrae. One’s feet do get tired.
Of course, I’m skipping over the accessory experiences of snacking, chatting, drinking, and generally gawking at all the other things going on. I realize these could be construed as distractions but I’m saying they are adjuncts to the overall event of watching a race. They keep one firmly grounded in the whole state of mind. It’s just like that, okay?
Watching motorsport on TV has been a little different for me. In years past, I’ve enjoyed pouring my coffee, turning on the Grand Prix, and splitting my attention between two screens. It’s kind of a sanctioned zone-out in my mind. I’m getting more religious about not doing this. When I get antsy, I try to stretch or take the dog out. Of course, none of this intended to preach or imply any great stakes during the Red Bull era in which F1 fans now find themselves. No, it’s not that at all. But it is the case that I want to enjoy one direction of focus and generate a feeling of wellbeing in the enjoyment.
Anyway, I guess what I’m saying is, get out and see a race this year. I know I will. I’m also saying that you can read our content however you like, but understand that there’s a little label on all of it that says “Best enjoyed presently.”
