Een boodschap

[joost]

Voor diegenen die het willen lezen

Message From The Former Editor
Thanks, All Of You

It's almost four weeks since I've been sitting in the hot seat at DSC HQ, and an explanation of my circumstances, over and above that already provided by Graham Goodwin, is long overdue.

To be honest, I've been putting this off, but have been prompted to finally put something in writing by the news item that appeared yesterday, from last weekend's ALMS event at Miller Motorsports Park. What a marvellous gesture by so many teams: to see my initials on so many cars really gave me a boost.

DSC has always had a special relationship with the ALMS. From Scott Atherton through all the staff and teams, the openness and friendliness of everyone has, for many years, provided a real fillip to the site's series coverage. I think I know who organized those stickers, and I'm a very grateful old editor.

Alas I'm a former editor now. I've been aware of a few signs of a problem over recent months, but things suddenly came to a head at the FIA GT event at Silverstone a month ago. I slept for much of the following week, saw my GP, was referred to a neurologist, and finally saw him last week. After that initial consultation, he was only prepared to say that I am "ataxic" - which really means there's a problem with my brain. I've got a brain scan coming up, which should pin-point the precise issue, but having seen my father with similar symptoms, I'm as sure as I can be that I've inherited what he had.

That means that my balance is very poor, my eyesight is getting worse (I haven't been able to read a number on a car flashing past a media centre for years anyway), my concentration and memory are poor, even my ability to type has declined very suddenly - and so I now feel as though I'm operating at about 60%. Stress accentuates the problems, so I've got no choice but to take the stress out of my life. I've spent the last three weeks pottering about here, doing odd jobs around the house (all those jobs that had to take a back seat to sports car racing), and recognizing that if I do too much, I pay for it the next day.

Basically, I've had to retire, considerably sooner than I would have chosen to, which will hopefully delay the onset of more pronounced symptoms of this thing I've got. I know what it leads to long-term, but you don't want to know the details!

Graham Goodwin has been working very hard to put systems in place so that you continue to receive the DSC service day by day: thanks to everyone who has stepped in. I'll miss being so involved in the best kind of racing: it's been my life for 12 years, and the last month has been tough - but worse things happen to other people. I'm fairly cheerful here - but missing being at the forefront of the news, and missing the regular contact with so many good people.

Thanks, DSC readers and contributors, for your friendship over the years - and thanks to all of you who have been participants in so much great racing over the years.

Malcolm Cracknell