Imagine the excitement for two motor racing fans successful enough in their careers—in engineering and medicine--that they can each afford to buy an historic race car.  Not just any car, but open-wheel cars that have competed in the professional ranks, possibly as far back as when the enthusiasts were young men watching those very cars be driven by the greats of the sport.  Then imagine them, instead of polishing their cars lovingly in garages, taking them out to a mythic American track – the former U.S. Grand Prix circuit at Watkins Glen, NY – not only for a spin around all 11 turns (including the challenging “boot” section) but also competing against other drivers doing the same thing –roaring down the track at more than twice the speed allowed in their daily commutes.  If you can imagine this excitement, or the drama of watching such races unfold, then you’ve caught a glimpse at what drives two such amateur racers to go full-throttle at the
thrilling sport of historic motor racing.

This essay will tell a tale of two such men “racing history”—one American, the other European—still both working fulltime at demanding jobs but also active on the historic racing circuit.   From one-on-one interviews, track-side observations, and lap time sheets, their tales include the reasons why they race, how they think their occupations feed their competitive edge, what they have to say about risk, and how they did at the 2011 U.S. Vintage Grand Prix – competing against each other.