I think of racetracks as sterile places where things can’t go wrong. They’re like a foam pit for cars. Or laser tag. They’re the shallow end of the pool and in my HANS and helmet, I’m wearing water wings.
That’s a very stupid thought, as you all know. You’re probably already arming your clipboard with the notorious crash video of that Fox body Mustang trying to escape Earth’s gravitational pull, or some other video of a colossal mishap. In general, racetracks are designed so that the riskiest spots have as much give as possible. Strategically placed run-off, tire walls, gravel, fly paper, etc. There aren’t any buses or bicyclists to jump in your way, but there are plenty of ways to get into trouble all on your own.
But one thing I genuinely do not expect, ever, is wild life. Yeah I’ve seen that squirrel get killed by the Lambo, or that bird back flip away form an F1 car like Neo in The Matrix, but not, big animals. Not deer.
Deer are timid creatures. Maybe thousands of years ending up on spears, spit-roasts, and medieval tables has taught them something? Smile and walk as slow as you want, the simple sound of your shoe crunching an oak leaf will send them into a precautionary sprint a la Forest Gump. I don’t know how this one got it so wrong, and thought being surrounded by screaming metal robots was a good idea, but that gene certainly won’t be getting passed on.
