Common Ground

by Tony Rickard on August 28th, 2010

It is curious how I, as an Englishman abroad, get instantly recognised as such without even wearing socks and trainers with shorts or uttering a single word. Many North Europeans share my pale complexion yet it is as if I am brandishing a St. George’s flag even though the last existing one on the planet was ceremoniously burnt even before Germany’s fourth goal crossed the line (or should I say hit the back of the net as merely crossing the line doesn’t cut it these days!)

Being from the West Country, I probably have a better chance understanding a foreign language than a Geordie after a few pints of Newcastle Brown so the concept that we could be viewed as alike seems odd. Indeed if you believe English folklore you would understand that Yorkshire men are tight, Southerners are softies and anyone from Norfolk is married to a sibling. That is before you factor in the multi cultural aspects of the modern day country.

Yet every Wednesday evening the English Club members join together with their array of accents and national origins with a common bond to sim race together. It isn’t a nationalist thing, in spite of what Jeremy Clarkson says we don’t all hate the French or believe all Americans are fat and stupid. We don’t necessarily agree with Capello that the Lampard “goal” really robbed us of chance to win the World Cup nor despise the Spanish for nicking all our fish. We even managed a mid season government election without a heated debate on politics, just a healthy dose of cynicism and intrigue into how the coalition might pan out.

We are just a bunch of guys enjoying online racing and each other’s company grouped together by the region they signed up with.

It is a friendly group and I don’t recall a crossed word or a controversial incident. Ask the Florida Club and they would say most the same (except the Spanish don’t nick their fish).

In the modern world geographical boundaries are broken down and some see clubs as rather meaningless, yet the European Union should do much the same but still the Spanish can spot an Englishman before he says “dos cervezas, por favor” in some odd accent!

In this multi-cultural global internet world you may be surprised at the common bond within your iRacing club. If you haven’t checked out your club forums, do so now!