Surviving to Drive by Guenther Steiner

Author:Guenther Steiner [Steiner, Guenther]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-07-25T00:00:00+00:00

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I’ve just realized that I have spent ages writing down two rallying stories for this book that actually has no foking rallying in it! Now who’s the idiot? Jeezoz.

Monday, 6 June 2022 – Steiner Ranch, North Carolina, USA

11 a.m.

I went out earlier and I was stopped by somebody who, after getting a selfie, asked me what it was like being famous. I think I replied that it was OK, but it actually got me thinking. It’s something I’ve never been asked or have even thought about before. So, what is it like being famous? Well, it can get pretty crazy sometimes. When I arrived at the airport to fly back to Charlotte from the Monaco Grand Prix a couple of weeks ago, a woman asked me for a selfie. ‘No problem,’ I said. I then realized that she was wearing a T-shirt with my foking face on it. ‘Jeezoz Christ,’ I said to her, ‘You need help!’ It’s not the first time that’s happened. In fact, the last time was actually at Charlotte Airport. My daughter was with me and once again I was approached by somebody for a selfie who was wearing a T-shirt with my face on it. My daughter was totally horrified and I could tell what was going through her head. Why on earth would somebody want to have a T-shirt with him on it?

I’m not actually sure how Greta feels about her dad being famous because we never really talk about it. I’ve wanted to find out sometimes but I always think that as soon as I mention it she’ll think I’m being pretentious. The only thing that used to confuse her sometimes was when people started saying hello to me. Before it all happened the only people who said hello were people who knew me, whereas after Drive to Survive lots of people started doing it. She just takes it all in her stride, I think. It all happened very gradually, so over the years we’ve got used it. I’m a superstar now. Get over it!

I’m not even sure how I feel about being famous, to be honest. Before Drive to Survive started I would turn up at a Grand Prix and hardly anybody would say anything to me. Apart from, ‘Who’s that weird-looking shit over there? Surely he cannot be in Formula 1?’ Now when I turn up it can take me half an hour to get to the paddock. Not everybody’s pleased to see me but if the people who are want to chat and have a selfie, that’s fine. The only time it becomes a problem is when I have somebody like Gene with me. I can’t keep him waiting while I pose for selfies so if he’s there I whisper, ‘I’m with the foking boss!’ and walk on.

The people who have the most fun with it are the drivers and the mechanics. The mechanics are always taking the piss out of me. Sometimes when the grid walk takes place they’ll push me out of the garage on to the grid like some kind of freak show.

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