The diverse forms of motorsport attract different types of people, and while F1 drivers are fit young men around which the cockpit of the car is built and get millions in sponsorships, the further you go down, the further away that seems… Sure, money may be tighter, and the crowds less aristocratic, but one still expects at least a modicum of respect from the drivers, both for one another, their chosen discipline and the aforementioned spectators.
We mention this because this Friday, a man was arrested after competing in a banger race (destruction derby on dirt oval) while under the influence of alcohol. The event took place around the Watsonville Ocean Speedway, in San Jose, California. According to reports, t said driver, 64 year-old Leslie Charles Hunter, was driving erratically, slowing down other drivers, and pushing them off the track.
There’s not a great deal of information on the matter, but the Santa Cruz Sentinel reports that a local police officer, Jacob Gonzales, “found Hunter in the pit area of the venue after the race,” before arresting him “on suspicion of driving under the influence and driving with a blood alcohol content level higher than 0.08 percent.”
This reminds us of the early days of racing, when the aristocrats were in the drive’s seat, and because of their aristocratic ways, a sip of hard (and probably exclusive) drink was customary before a race. However, back then it only seemed to add to the already high level of bravery, instead of impairing the ability to drive…
By Andrei Nedelea
Story References: Jalopnik
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