Are race car drivers just big softies at heart?
It’s Valentine’s Day today, and you can forgive yourself for wondering if the racing world is conducive to love at first site, chivalrous undertakings and romance in general…
Meh, not so much. Let’s just say racers aren’t the most romantic of fellas.
A former professor of sports psychology with whom I used to work once told me, backed up by various serious psychological evaluations, that male drivers constantly seek the attention of the fairer sex.
They like to win for the guts and the glory, sure, but they’re also out to impress the ladies. It’s a kind of animal reflex, to want to prove that you’re the strongest of the pack.
Some drivers are indeed known as notorious ladies men. 1976 Formula 1 world champion James Hunt comes to mind. Hunt was a formidable opponent on the track, but the guy liked to party – and rack up the conquests.
A lot of racers have taken a page out of his book, despite the ever-present threat of the media and paparazzi as well as Facebook and Twitter. And though the latter two have undoubtedly cooled the ardour of some, the racing world is still chock-full of incorrigible womanizers.
Thankfully, it’s not all wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am. There are a few fairy tale romances out there too.
An example? Well, there’s the story of IndyCar driver Alexandre Tagliani, who snatched the pole position at the last Indy 500.
Tagliani usually went through girlfriends rather quickly. But at the Surfers Paradise IndyCar race in Australia, “Tag” fell head over hills for the charming girl the organizers had hired to look pretty by his side during his public appearances.
He can back from Australia a different man. The woman was top Australian model Bronté, and the couple was wed in 2003. Contrary to all expectations, they’re still married today and still very much in love.
And they’re obviously not the only happy couple in the entire auto racing industry. Mercifully! A few come immediately to mind, such as Sébastien Loeb and Séverinne, Damon Hill and Georgia, Jimmie Johnson and Chandra, Dario Franchitti and actress Ashley Judd.
So there you have it! Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!
It’s Valentine’s Day today, and you can forgive yourself for wondering if the racing world is conducive to love at first site, chivalrous undertakings and romance in general…
Meh, not so much. Let’s just say racers aren’t the most romantic of fellas.
A former professor of sports psychology with whom I used to work once told me, backed up by various serious psychological evaluations, that male drivers constantly seek the attention of the fairer sex.
They like to win for the guts and the glory, sure, but they’re also out to impress the ladies. It’s a kind of animal reflex, to want to prove that you’re the strongest of the pack.
Some drivers are indeed known as notorious ladies men. 1976 Formula 1 world champion James Hunt comes to mind. Hunt was a formidable opponent on the track, but the guy liked to party – and rack up the conquests.
A lot of racers have taken a page out of his book, despite the ever-present threat of the media and paparazzi as well as Facebook and Twitter. And though the latter two have undoubtedly cooled the ardour of some, the racing world is still chock-full of incorrigible womanizers.
Thankfully, it’s not all wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am. There are a few fairy tale romances out there too.
An example? Well, there’s the story of IndyCar driver Alexandre Tagliani, who snatched the pole position at the last Indy 500.
Tagliani usually went through girlfriends rather quickly. But at the Surfers Paradise IndyCar race in Australia, “Tag” fell head over hills for the charming girl the organizers had hired to look pretty by his side during his public appearances.
He can back from Australia a different man. The woman was top Australian model Bronté, and the couple was wed in 2003. Contrary to all expectations, they’re still married today and still very much in love.
And they’re obviously not the only happy couple in the entire auto racing industry. Mercifully! A few come immediately to mind, such as Sébastien Loeb and Séverinne, Damon Hill and Georgia, Jimmie Johnson and Chandra, Dario Franchitti and actress Ashley Judd.
So there you have it! Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!
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| Photo: NASCAR |