24 Irrelevant Questions: Steve Taft

As one of the senior members both by age and experience, Steve has been a big part of the team, and serves as a combination of data specialist and right-hand man to engineer Lars Giersing. When we say right-hand, we really mean left, however, as Steve takes endless grief for the fact his left eye is the only one that works. When he's not miscalculating fuel mileage at all of our races, Steve is the team's second Hollywood big-shot, not only frequenting parties as a Jack Nicholson impersonator (no joke), and appearing in such "indie" (in other words, unknown) films as "Smooth Operator" and other irrelevant movies from the '90's.

Steve is so proud of his film work, he references it constantly as you'll see. For more information on "Smooth Operator," check out this link that really tell you nothing.

As the team continues its pre-season preparation for next January's 51st Running of The Rolex 24 at Daytona, here's our next installment of getting to know one of our team members, if you consider this "getting to know."

1. YOU OFTEN GET HIRED TO PLAY A JACK NICHOLSON IMPERSONATOR FOR EVENTS. WHICH MOVIE OF HIS IS MOST FORGETTABLE?
I always thought “The Crossing Guard” was just a bit too dark even for Jack. Oh, did I ever tell you about Smooth Operator?

2. DO YOU THINK THE SHINING IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD CONSIDER PLAYING ON LOOP AT THE TRACK?
It would probably keep folks awake for the 24 but, have I ever told you about Smooth Operator?

3. MARRY-BOP-KILL. KATHY BATES, HELEN HUNT, OR KAREN ALLEN?
Thoughts of Kathy Bates in that Hot Tub keep me awake at night! Give me Helen Hunt. Even better, Did I ever tell you about Nurse Brenda in Smooth Operator?

4. DO YOU THINK JACK NICHOLSON WAS THE BEST IN THE BATMAN FRANCHISE TO PLAY THE JOKER?
Perhaps, but did I ever tell you about Dr. Geico in Smooth Operator?

5. WHY DOES TODAY'S BATMAN HAVE SUCH A WEIRD VOICE?
TIght Shorts.

6. WHAT BATMAN VEHICLE WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO DRIVE?
The Batcicle

7. YOU ACTUALLY BUILT YOUR CAREER IN THE COMPUTER INDUSTRY. ARE YOU TOO OLD NOW TO KEEP UP WITH COMPUTER TRENDS?
Actually, I prefer the abacus.

8. DID YOU EVER FATHOM THE IDEA OF 'A TABLET' BACK WHEN YOU WERE WORKING ON COMPUTERS IN THE 1930's?
Didn’t the Egyptians invent that 3,000 years ago?

9. YOU'RE ONE OF THE SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE TEAM. WITH YOUR DISTINGUISHING GOOD LOOKS, PEOPLE OFTEN THINK YOU'RE THE OWNER OF THE TEAM. DO YOU USE THIS AS LEVERAGE AGAINST JOHN POTTER?
Not JP, I leverage it with the young ladies..

10. YOU HAVE ONLY ONE WORKING EYE, WHO HAS MADE THE MOST AWFUL JOKE ABOUT IT? ?
Typically it’s John Potter but, these guys are lightweights compared to my Fellow Firefighters back in the 70’s. I won’t share their nickname for me.

11. ARE THERE ADVANTAGES TO THIS?
I usually hand it to the other guy just as the bar brawl breaks out. That gives me enough time to get the first shot in.

12. YOU'RE IN A SEMI-STATE OF RETIREMENT, AND REFER TO YOUR WORK WITH MAGNUS AS YOUR FUN TIME. WHAT PARTS OF RACING ARE LESS THAN FUN?
Watching the engine blow up when there’s less than 15 minutes left in the Daytona 24..

14. WHO ENJOYS HIS POST-RACE WINE MORE, YOU, LARS GIERSING OR JOHN BEDELL?
Buy us a case and we’ll find out.

15. WHO WHINES MORE: ANDY LALLY, JOHN BEDELL, OR ANY OF THE FRENCH-CANADIANS?
Ha, I wasn’t born yesterday!!!

16. WHICH CITY THAT WE VISIT HAS THE BEST WINE?
They all do as we bring our own, but Monterey rates pretty high.

17. EVERYONE WAS ABLE TO KISS THE BRICKS THIS YEAR. IN YOUR AGE WERE YOU ABLE TO GET BACK UP?
Don’t be a wise guy, I can still get it up.

18. WHICH IS THE SECOND THING TO GO WITH AGE (we know the first)?
What did you say?

19. WHY CAN WE NEVER THINK OF A 19th QUESTION?
The answer is in Smooth Operator.

20. YOU SPEND MORE TIME WITH LARS GIERSING THAN ANYONE. DO YOU PICK UP DANISH BY OSMOSIS?
Nah, I always pick up my Danish with my hands.

21. YOU SPEND MORE TIME WITH LARS GIERSING THAN ANYONE. DO YOU GET TYPSY BY OSMOSIS?
Nope, I get tipsy by turning around too fast.

22 YOU SPEND MORE TIME WITH LARS GIERSING THAN ANYONE. DO YOU GET SURLY BY OSMOSIS?
Hey, don’t be a wise guy, did you watch Smooth Operator yet???

23. YOU FLY OUT OF ATLANTA, WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE TO TAKE A SUBWAY FROM TERMINAL TO TERMINAL. WHAT'S THE WORST TIME OF YEAR FOR THE SMELL OF IT?
What time of the year doesn’t it reek?

24. WILL THE 2013 ROLEX GT CHAMPIONSHIP COME DOWN TO FUEL MILEAGE?
The answer is revealed in the closing minutes of Smooth Operator I think.