|
The Flying Pylon Story
By Paul Woods
The name "Flying Pylon" came to me in a dream. Well, not a dream exactly, but in that middle-of-the-night, oh-my-god-I-have-an-idea state of excited but limited consciousness.
I had been thinking about starting a small web services business and was really struggling with a name. What would be unique? What would not only be unique but also somehow connected to me or something I enjoyed?
So I started thinking about things I enjoyed. It didn't take long to start thinking about racing. Somehow I had developed this love for racing and had been fortunate enough to participate in SCCA Solo II autocross events with a very good friend of mine in California. Our race team was called "InfoTech Racing" and while we didn't exactly tear up the track, we sure had a heck of a lot of fun, and those memories are still very special to me.
Autocross events are timed events that emphasize driver skill. The SCCA web site describes Solo II autocross like this:
Solo II events are driving skill contests that emphasize the driver's ability and the car's handling characteristics. This is accomplished by driving a course that is designated by traffic cones (pylons) on a low hazard location, such as a parking lot or inactive airstrip. While speeds are no greater than those normally encountered in legal highway driving, the combination of concentration and car feedback creates an adrenaline pumping experience. It is like being in a movie chase scene, only you are holding onto the steering wheel instead of a box of popcorn!
So in other words, the objective is to GO FAST and DON'T HIT ANY PYLONS! (Pay special attention to the DON'T HIT ANY PYLONS part)
Back to the story, during my thought process I remembered how the SCCA's San Francisco Region would send a monthly newspaper to its members called "The Wheel". Then I remembered how excited I was when I saw that a picture of me was on the front cover! Wow, I couldn't believe it! I was now officially "Mr. Cool Dude Racecar Driver"!
There I was, basking in my own glory, enjoying every moment of my new-found fame. I couldn't stop looking at that picture! I mean, there I was, on the cover and everything!
So imagine my horror when, upon further inspection, I discovered THIS:
Oh crap! Like they couldn't have cropped that out? How could they do this? Mr. Cool Dude Racecar Driver had suddenly become Joe Shmoe Racer Wanna-be, and was undoubtedly providing every member of the SCCA San Francisco Region with a nice little chuckle! How could they put this on the front page!?
Well, it wasn't long before I was able to chuckle about it myself. And as I laid in bed, in the middle of the night, trying to come up with a name for my business, I thought about how it would have been a great picture too... if it weren't for that FLYING PYLON.
The rest, as they say, is history.
|
