KNOWING IS NOT ENOUGH

[Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to this afternoon's racing program at Thompson Raceway. [Applause] I don't know just how to describe it, but it didn't handle just right. You know, it felt kind of sloppy in the turns. Well, I've got the adjuster just touching the fitment shaft, and there's no end float. Try the wheel from lock to lock. Let's be sure it's free. Hey, come on. Get with it. We got to set up this wheel. Don't get impatient. You can have it in a minute. You know, I think the whole trouble's right here. Just as a guess, I'd say we've got about 10,000 silver clearance. Dave, let's have those feeler gauges. >> Me? You got them in your kit? >> Oh, nuts. That's right. Then they're back at the garage. We'll see if you can borrow a set. >> Oh, set up by field. Just get the play out of it. >> Look, I hate to. I mean, without the proper tools, you might run the risk of it tying up after a few fast laps. >> Boy, you can do it in your sleep, and you know it. >> Are you driving in the stock Jaguar race? >> That's right. >> Okay, let's drop the hood. Huh? Rescue you fella. Step out for a moment. >> Look back. I've got a lot of work to do. They'll be calling us up any minute now. We're not ready. >> What car was ever really ready for a race? Come on. This will only take a minute. >> Maybe we should have a picture. But the whole team or nothing. Do you hear? That's us. Wild deuce for luck. >> Something like that. But there's no primadana in this show. We all work in the same plant. I wouldn't be worth a nickel out there if it weren't for these three jokers in the pit and in the garage every night of the week between races. Come on, you geniuses and look pretty. [Music] >> All right, that's one. >> Well, now come on. We haven't got all day. >> How much more time we got? >> I don't know. >> All right, steady. That does it. Thanks a lot, fellas. Okay, back to work. Say, compared to some of these other outfits, you guys in here in a sho string. That's right. Strictly poor relations. Not even an optional head or set of rear end gears. What we lack in equipment, we make up for in loving care and guts. Or maybe golf. You looked awfully good in practice. Not too bad. Drew number four position. Maybe if we get a few >> Please. Attention please. Entrance in the third race for production Jaguars will now take their starting positions on the course. >> All entrance in the Jaguar M and MC section event take starting positions, please. >> Hey, hurry up. That's us. Come on. Put her up. >> Oh, man. Give me another 5 minutes. Make it two. How about you, Mike? >> There's Johnny Porter in number 50. Harry Carter in car number 80. Tony Caruso in car 24. Tommy Kerr in car 58. Jimmy Woods in 122. Eddie Dresh in car number 60. >> Dog gone that photographer. Dave, hurry and see if you can borrow a set of agents. >> Look, a few minutes and we're out of the ring. Get it together. I'll be all right. Listen, it isn't right, Eddie. It just isn't right. >> Hey, wait a minute. Where's 44? Car number 44. Take your starting position, please. >> Eddie Fitzgerald in car 44. >> Let me go, you guys. You want me to be late for the party? Okay, but watch for it, Eddie. [Music] >> Just be patient, folks. Eddie's a little slow getting into position, but once he gets going, he's terrific. Bob Gman in car 41. Hey, side. >> Now the cars are just about ready. >> What's this? >> Say that looks like the lock nut from the steering gear adjustment screw. Well, that isn't good. What's that do to the handling? >> I don't know. Maybe nothing in a short race. Then again, I just don't know. >> Now the starter looks the field over. Everybody's in position. Engines are turning. And there goes the flag. The race is on. Come on. Let's see who's that leading in the first turn. >> It's car 44, Eddie Fitzgerald. What did I tell you about that boy? >> You think we should call him in? >> I don't think so. [Music] [Music] 1225. Hey, picked up 8 seconds on that lap. I still don't like the way we threw that wheel assembly together. It just isn't right. >> Now, quit worrying. If it was going to tie up, it' give plenty of warning. Eddie's no fool. [Music] [Music] The field is spread out all over the course now. In fact, some of the leaders have lapped some of the slower cars. Kenny Fitzgerald in 44 still hangs on to first position. Our [Music] car went off on the shoulder, but he's recovered. Who that was? Was car 44. >> Yeah, something's tying up. He can't handle it. Give him a board to come in. >> Car 44 is still having trouble, but he's still in first place. Question is, can he hold it till the end of the race? [Music] [Music] I [Music] Shut that thing off. >> Ambulance to the downhill curve. Ambulance to the downhill curve. Everybody, please stay off the course. Please stay off the course. The yellow flag is out and all cars will hold their positions. The yellow flag is out and this means that all cars will hold their positions. [Music] [Applause] What do you suppose they're doing? >> Why don't they tell us something? Maybe they don't know anything yet. >> You finally get through to Edith. >> She was spending the day at her mother's. She'll be in on the morning train. [Music] Well, can you think of anything we haven't covered? >> What else is there now? >> Yeah. >> Three times they have as much as invited us to get out. >> And we've got to show up at the plant in the morning. That's right. That brings up something. Who's going to tell JJ the story? I'm perfectly willing. I think we all should. >> That's right. Together. Well, let's go home, huh? [Music] I guess that covers the story, boss, up to now. Anyway, unless you guys got something more to add. the hospital. They won't or can't tell us whether to be back at work in a couple of weeks or months or even >> Well, they just don't know. >> Well, I know it's rough for all of you boys. >> I don't know much about racing, but it seems to me there ought to be some way. >> Sure, there's a way. Get the yellow flag out first. >> The yellow flag? >> Well, Mike means the caution flag. It's like this. As soon as there's an accident, right away they break out the yellow flag. That means slow down, maintain position, and watch your step. So, just get out the yellow flag 10 seconds before the accident, and there never be any. It's that simple. Fly the yellow flag before the accident. That's very interesting. Look, boss, Mike was just trying to say that that's all right. I think Mike said quite a mouthful. That's the best description I've heard of what we're trying to do. I've got something here I want to show you. It hasn't been announced yet, but we've started a campaign to do exactly what Mike suggests. >> You mean here at the plant? >> Yes, but not our plant alone. In fact, every plant in town. In fact, communitywide. Because it applies to everyone in the community, no matter what his job. As I say, I don't know anything about racing, but on the job, no matter what it may be. We usually know ahead of time the right thing to do to avoid an accident. But merely knowing is not enough. We need to do the right thing. Trouble comes when something else up here is just a little stronger than our knowledge. For just a second or two, maybe. Then we don't practice what we know, and bang, it's too late. We're trying to pin down just what it is that makes us black out the safety awareness we already have. We're going to try calling them imps. The states of mind or whatever they are that get in there and take over just for that vital second or two. See this imp? Impatience that makes you too much in a hurry to practice your safety knowledge. And this imp, he's impulsive. makes you act without knowing where you land. Improvising. Using the tool at hand instead of the one designed for the job. Impunity. Assuming you can get away with it, even when you know the odds say you can't. Call them imps or whatever you please. They surely work against us. Every one of us became accident bait the day we were born. And we wouldn't have gotten this far unless we learned to take care of ourselves. You don't give crossing a street a lot of thought, but you do it right. It's been a habit ever since they first let you do it alone. It's pretty hard to make a case for lack of knowing as a reason for getting into an accident. No, it's the moments when there's something in your mind that's stronger than than what you know, stronger than your own habits of self-p protection. That's what we're trying to get rid of. >> Well, that makes sense. Maybe they'll help. >> Sounds good. Well, we'll see. It's a shame they wouldn't work in racing. But how are you going to know? >> I knew. >> Oh, I knew in my heart that I shortcuted that wheel job. I never should have let the car start. And if Eddie dies, my impatience killed him as sure as I'm standing here. Well, I don't know, but it seems to me that you have so many chances for accidents out there, you can never cover all the possibilities. That car should have been mechanically perfect. It wasn't, and it's my fault. >> Now, take it easy, Mike. >> It wasn't his fault, anyway, chief. Remember that lock nut you picked up? Could be I overlooked that when I didn't give the steering gear a proper check. Then I guessed it wouldn't tie up and I guessed it would give a warning if it did start to go sour. I was gambling on a guy's life and I was wrong. Look, you're worried, sure, but don't go around proving that you wrecked the guy. You don't know you left out a part of the steering gear, and you're just guessing about that wheel. At least wait until you get the car in and have a chance to check it and find out what happened. and I'll make you a little bet right now that you'll find out that neither one of you was at. >> Hey, Sigh. >> Oh, hi Dave. Anything from the hospital yet? >> No, only that he's still unconscious. They've had to give him transfusions. Mike and I are going to drive over after work to get blood. >> Wait a lot for me. I'll see if I can round up some of the other guys. >> Good enough. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Applause] [Music] Heat. [Music] [Applause] Say, Mike, remember what you said to Hansen about breaking out the yellow flag just before an accident? >> Yeah. >> Well, believe it or not, I got the yellow flag today just in time to save my life. >> You what? How? Where? A >> little while after I talked to you guys about coming here tonight. >> Well, what happened? >> Well, I was out in the yard walking around a string of cars. Then I saw an opening between two of them and uh looked like a shortcut. >> Uh-oh. Wait a minute. I took a good look down the track, saw the switch engine pulling away. So, apparently, it's perfectly safe to take the shortcut. Well, that figured. Like a jerk, I headed for the opening. One step and I give you my word. Just at that instant, the yellow flag appears between those two cars. And just as just as plain as day, I hear the sound of that stuck record after the crash. Da da da da da da da da da da da da da. Remember? Remember, boy, I'll never forget. Then what happened? Well, it was like a dream. Suddenly, I see what might have happened acted out right in front of my eyes. I see me walking between those two cars and that funny slow motion walk you have in dreams. I see the train bearing down on me and me trapped. But you said you could see the engine pulling away from the string of cars. >> Yeah, but what I couldn't see was the other engine coming in off the Y. Then those cars really did come together. >> And hell, if it hadn't been for that yellow flag. Well, wow. You think I would have given Eddie the same kind of a break instead of what I did? I should have made him wait until I could have given that gear a real check. >> You'll figure the steering loosened up and that's what made him lose control. >> What else can I figure if I left out the lock nut? >> No, I'll tell you what happened. That right front wheel did. The retaining nut worked loose and the wheel went sour. >> What makes you think so? I forgot to replace the cotter key after you adjusted the assembly. >> How do you know? >> This morning I was bundling up my laundry, going through the pockets of my cover as I ran across this out of that front wheel. >> Nuts. That doesn't prove anything. You replaced it with a new key. That's all. >> Well, if I did, I'd remember it, wouldn't I? All day long, I've been trying to, and all I can come up with is get the car on the starting line. Well, between us, we really swed it up for the guy. He never had a chance. >> It might have been something entirely different, darling. >> With three of us goofing off like that, what could have happened to us? Or was it what Red was saying? >> A Red Hansen at the plant. Something he said about how things take over in your mind even when you know better. That it's not enough just to know. [Music] [Music] Helen, >> what? >> Mike, Mike might, you frighten me. >> Sweetheart, you know better than that. Other than what? >> Than that? >> What are you trying to do? Break your neck? Why do you think we have a step ladder? [Music] Boss, I tell you, it was out of this world. I saw that yellow flag and then what might have happened to Helen just as if it had happened. It was just like living through a nightmare. That's what I'm talking about. That's what we've got to get across to people. Helen knew better. Just knowing was not enough. On the other hand, you saw what could happen and did something about it. Here [Music] we go. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Now I know just what you went through. I have the padlock in my hand thinking, "Oh, nuts. I'll just be a minute. I don't have to lock out the switch." Then I see that yellow flag just as plain notes of music over and over again and again. >> I know. Then you see yourself >> just slow motion movie. I watch me like I was somebody else walking over and opening up the board. Then another guy comes along. He closes the switch and boom, I'm sailing through the air. And I think, well, that isn't me. >> Yeah, but it could have been. >> Yeah, could have been. Might tell you what happened to him. >> You mean about saving Helen from breaking her neck in the kitchen? >> Uh-huh. >> Yeah. Do you suppose we're going to keep on getting these warnings? >> I don't know. I hope so. At least till we learn how to use our heads, >> you know. It's funny. >> Well, what's funny about it? >> Not to me, really funny. Anything but the three of us goof off, smash up the best friend we've got, and ever since it's as if he has been giving us the yellow flag in time. >> Yeah, I thought about that, too. Come on, put your Gavin. Got to meet Mike out in the parking lot. >> What do they say at the hospital? Is Eddie out of the woods or is this just another one of >> I don't know. You know as much about as I do. Mike got the word that said Eddie's conscious. Wants to see us. We can stay for half an hour. Come on. Get with it. I [Music] >> born lucky, weren't you? >> Yeah. Hi guys. >> Hi Eddie. >> Hi fella. >> Feeling kind of rocky. >> They told me you'd been coming around. >> Eddie, >> all the boys at the plant have been asking for you. >> Listen, Eddie, there's something I want to tell you. >> Oh, wait a minute. Eddie, >> hold on a second, guys. Something's been on my mind. The car. I'm sorry. I smashed it up. I knew better. Mike, remember you said watch that one wheel? Well, I did. It was okay all the way. >> Take it easy, boy. We don't have to talk about that now. >> I want to tell you on the backstretch, I misjudged a curve. got off on the shoulder. Must have hit something. Shimmyed like crazy from then on. Should have come in, but I was out in front. Figured I could hold it to the finish. Push my luck too far. Crazy thing to do. Busting up the car. >> Fine. Now it's your fault. That's great. >> Sorry. I had to tell you. Oh, >> you don't understand, Eddie. Up to now, each of us has been blaming himself for the accident. Now you're cutting it. >> Well, at least the four jacks still stick together. What do we do? Draw straws to see who takes the wrap. >> Oh, wait a minute. What about Red Hansen's imps? >> Reds what? >> Part of a new safety program. Little characters that take charge of a guy's thinking. Blackout is safety awareness. How do they figure here? You need a blueprint. Well, that business of me with a cotter key that I was in too much of a hurry to remember. That's me. Impatience. >> Well, I guess that tags me, too. The way I buttoned up that steering gear without a thorough check. Or maybe you'd call it impulsiveness. How about me? Setting that wheel without gauges just by feel improvising. >> How about me? Plain stupid, I guess. >> Oh, no. impunity. You figured it couldn't happen to you. Stretching your luck with all the odds against you. We all knew better than to do what we did. But knowing's not enough. >> Okay. But I guess I got some luck left. They tell me I'll be driving again next year. >> Sure you will. >> Well, we better go now. See you, boy. See you tomorrow, huh, Eddie? >> Take care, Eddie. Yeah. >> So on guys, [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music]