SPEED
is What They Need Gulf Coast Village residents Jim Baker and Frances Keogh crave adrenaline well into their 90s By Nick Fortuna
T
hroughout the coronavirus pandemic, Jim Baker could be found hugging the turns and putting the pedal to the metal at iconic racetracks the world over, all from the comfort of his home at Gulf Coast Village in Cape Coral. More than 170,000 auto racing fans have subscribed to the online racing simulation platform iRacing, and as his 94th birthday approaches in October, Baker just might be the oldest. But the competitive juices that made him a successful insurance executive, racecar driver, and sailboat racer still flow freely, and the need for speed endures.
20
It’s been that way ever since he was a farm kid in Tennessee, racing those little red wagons with his friends. Baker learned early on that by shifting his weight and leaning into turns while inside the wagon, he and the kid pulling it could gain an edge. Over the years, the mode of transportation may have changed, but Baker hasn’t. “I still love competition,” he said. “I do it because it’s a great outlet.” Baker isn’t the only Gulf Coast Village resident spicing up his golden years with the occasional adrenaline rush. Later in this piece, we’ll meet Frances Keogh, who
checked an item off her bucket list at age 92 when she rode on the back of a motorcycle for the first time. But right now, the green flag is out, and Baker is ready to race.
Realistic Racecar Cockpit Jim Baker sits in a racecar-style driver’s seat in the dining room of his one-bedroom apartment, with three high-definition monitors lined up at eye level to provide a 180-degree view from the cockpit. There’s a steering wheel, gas and brake pedals, a gear shifter, and speakers that boom with the sounds of a day at the races.
