So there I was, sitting at the engine distributor, waiting to pick up two already sold and paid for B16's ……

Oh, they're out of them?? And it will be a few weeks before they come in, and oh, by the way, the price is also raised $200 for the wholesale price ……. oops.

So I call both the guys that got them, and tell them that I am really sorry and the place is screwing me over. At that moment, I officially became out of the engine business …….. I am going to send the money back to one guy, and the other one ……….. is getting my B16A and tranny sitting in my garage.

Why?? Because I am over $2,000 behind on student loan payments, and a decent source of additional income just disappeared …….

So what does this mean?? After long soul searching on the drive home in D.C. Beltway traffic for two hours, I have come to a decision. That's it ……. I'm out of the Import industry for good. The boards distract me too much from my job, and my performance has slacked, buying parts and modding has almost totally destroyed my marriage, and I have so much debt that is taking forever to get rid of. So this is a fond farewell for a few years.

Thanks to all who have helped over the years to get my "knowledge" to where it is, and all the guys I raced with for making it a fun and challenging time.

Good luck to all, and keep modding and racing, responsibly and with control ……. if you let it get out of control, it can fukk up your life ……. and there are a lot more important things than cars in this world.

 

A decision I have been contemplating for awhile now. I guess I'll wait until my rex is done and then sell it and use the money towards a down payment on a house. Good luck

 

last time for chits and giggles. good luck man

 

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

HB SQUAD LOOSES A MEMBER! Well Rick you know whats best for you so i wont try and give you the please dont do it man speech. Come back soon and dont be a stranger mang, drop by mariofest in june/july , keep working on the hb too mang. And dont worry youll be back, they always come back.

 

I really understand what you just said,
I think it's a responsible descision, you seem to be very consciensious about your marriage and job, and that good.
For me Import modding is a week end things now, I was really too much in it and my performances at school drop like hell, so now i read on a bit before sleeping the week and the weekend I can post some a bit but still my girls, work and school pass in front of my background activity. Ho You know i will never be a excluded member of the import scene but for now I keep it slow!!
good luck man, I strongly encourage your acting!!!
comme back when you want a little distraction!!!
see ya soon

 

..I know where you're comin from as well...after my last car got stolen, I was gonna get another car..but, why? I've got a shitload of debt that the insurance money helped out with, I'll probably just be going through the same thing again in another few months, and I'd just be in more debt after I start modding that car....sometimes you just gotta take the responsible way out, no matter how painful good luck

 

Rick, you know what you have to do. Hopefully we can still hear from you in the near future. Hope to still hear from you on the boards. Good luck.

 

Sometimes you just need to take a step back and focus on your life. This is a great hobby but an expensive one, im hoping to finish my car and the be done with it. Just sit back and enjoy it,ive spent waaaay more than i ever expected and even more than i originally had intended to spend. Its a great hobby but i simply cant afford it, im just looking to finishing my project and be done or a while.

 

Take care, Rick. Do what's best for you.

Hope to see you around on the boards every now and then

 

At most times, stories like these become inspiring.

Why?

Because many that I know including myself know his story and can apply it

to our own situations and yet deny it most of the time.

Good luck with everything, I truly mean it too.

 

WOW!
Gotta give you props man!
Take Care and hopefully, once you're debt is behind you you can start another project and DO IT AGAIN!!!

 

damn that's sad but real. I know where your coming from. I think everyone here has doubts about there future in import racing. I respect the fact that your making a big descion to stop. fixing up your car is rally adictive and speed is a danger that you'll always want more, some people don't realize it until their like $10k in debt just for fixing up their ride.
Hope that then you get all your finance cleared up you'll return to what your passion is: racing. Till next time good luck.

 

That sucks, hope that you are able to takew care of any debt you have, and maybe soon you will be able to get back into the inport world. Until then I wish you the best of luck.
Dave

 

dont be a stranger.. come back and visit.

good luck with everything.

 

wow...

 

Wow...I think you are 110% right bro. I actually know exactly what you are going through. I got into cars just after I met my long term girlfriend. Just recently we split up after nearly 3.5 years of being together. We were engaged to be married, but that didn't exactly work out. Imports and cars in general have changed my outlook on life. I have DEFFINETLY been distracted with the boards at work...and I KNOW I have been slipping. My g/f left me...and now all I have is my stock 2000 Si and my new 1990 DX with B16...*woo hoo*

I have had a lot of fun and done a lot of cool stuff but I am starting to think that this reeeeeeally isnt worth it anymore. I think I need to TONE it down a little and concentrate on the finer things in life. My life is jumped all over the place because of this fascination with cars...but...I think I need to bring it down as well.

-ryan

 

man.... rick im really sorry to hear that they dicked u over. deffinately get ur **** straight before doing anything... im sure ull be baxk one day but stop in now and again to say wuts up man and deff stop at mario fest. we need u to get into D&B hehe hope to see u there and that gold std good luck man if u do get back into auto x and come up to NJ let me know

 

As with anything in life, BALANCE is the key. It's tough with peer pressure too. Everyone talking in your ear, "This is make your car faster", "What are you doing to your car this year?", etc. I learned to block them out, set goals for the car, NOT use credit for car parts and when things get crappy, go for a ride in the car and think about the other things that are really the most important parts of your life anyway. Good luck and hope to see you back, Overkll
P.S. This is what makes this board the best I've ever been on, advice when it's needed, but most of all SUPPORT of others when its needed

 

Thanks for all the kind words guys ......

Just to clear things up a little ...... it wasn't the cars and parts that got me in trouble. I got into cars with tons of debt from 5 years of racing bicycles. There was a point where I owned 7 bikes, with the average one costing around $3,000 ..... I worked in a bike shop which was like putting an addict into a drug store .....

Between that, my $36,000 in student loans (which is now over $45,000 with interest since I put them into forebearnace for 3 years - maximum allowed), and the first car I modded - which I learned how to plan ahead from since I threw a lot of money away on bum parts and bad ideas- I came into my marriage on the wrong foot. My wife has been tolerant and very patient, but we have been going to counseling for almost a year now, and it is time to be a man, and really face up and fix my past, so that there will be a strong future. I want my 2 yr old son to have every opportunity to succeed, and I want to be out of debt so that that can happen.

It is the right thing to do .....

 

Dude, I really have to thank you for posting this. You really helped open my eyes and see just how shitty my life has become because of my obsession. Im without a job and without a g/f. I lost both because of my car.

Was it worth it? No.

I was just hired by DFS (Dell Financial Services), and now frankly I could go a long way there, so I think its time to suck things up and put what is important first. I still want to play with cars, but I deffinetly can't do what I wanted (B18b turbo EG)...I think I will STILL get the EG and swap in the B18b just for reliability purposes. Just make the car look nice and drive it. No need for turbo...

Thanks again dude.

-ryan

 

Another one Bites the Dust...and another one's gone, and another one's gone....Peace...remember have a couple before you drive.

 

sounds like we are in the same situation. except i dont have the debt, but if it makes you feel any better it is still the same wether you owe money or not. i am still working on finding the "balance" between son, wife, job, and cars. i think they go in that order too. good luck and if there is anything we can do dont be to proud to ask for help. life is short enjoy your son to the fullest. peace

 

Easy problem to fix get a job working for honda or in the suto buisness

 

just wanted to say that i've got a lot of respect for what you're doing. a real man is one who puts his wife and family before his own needs. i truely hope your wife will appreciate your decision for what it is, and that the two of you will have a long life together.

 

Much respect from me for doing what you feel is right
for you and your family.
island_son