Driven is an excellent racing movie…

Driven is an excellent racing movie… if you ignore the physics and practicality of all the racing scenes. This is a hill I will die on. Also, yes, I have several of the songs from its soundtrack saved to my “Liked” playlist. Anyways.

I’ve been feeling like mid-movie Jimmy Bly lately. While this is by no means my “rookie season” as a photographer in pro sportscar racing, it is the first time I’ve done a full season of both IMSA & SRO together. More importantly, it’s the first full season since I overhauled my operations after crashing and burning out in 2024.

I wouldn’t trade my role for anything and love every day at the track, but if you’re not prepared for the crash after you leave and the effect that motorsports has on your personal life, it will end you quickly. I will meekly and humbly against my nature admit that I am proud of the way the season is going so far and the way that I’m managing myself. For that, I am so grateful for the mentorship I’ve had over the years and the support of the people I work for. But still, somedays, it feel like I’m not driving anymore…

“You’re closing in behind me
Well I’ve got headlights in my eyes,
Don’t you get too close to me
Can’t you see that we’ll collide,
and end up casualties
there’s just no room

So leave me on my own,
Run me down and race away from here
I’ve got nowhere to go to,
I don’t think I can get back on my feet,

It came right out of nowhere
Eyes wide and terrified,
I can’t put my brakes on,
And I can’t swerve to save your life
cause then I’ll lose control,
and I can’t choose
I’m not driving anymore
I can’t keep up with you

Get me out of harm’s way,
Can’t you see I’m paralyzed,
I wanna fade out gracefully,
but you keep keeping me alive
to face another day,
can’t you see I’m through

I’m unfit for consumption
I don’t know how to play my part,
I swear I’m all alone in this thing,
a blind man driving in my car,
into oblivion
let it come soon.
I’m not driving anymore,
I can’t keep up with you.”

-R. Dougan, 1995