I'm not a regular here and most of you don't know me but would like to pose a question without divulging too much information about myself online and of course not expecting anyone else too.

I've been doing this motorsport hobby since I was 15; my twenties are behind me by a few years. I started off just modifying cars, started taking it to the local drag strip and began winning a handful of bracket racing drag trophies.

From there, I started doing HPDEs, open track events, etc. I been doing this for about 5 years now and run mostly in group 4 (NASA) or any advance group for other associations.

So to get to the point... the desire to take it to the next level is there but not there at the same time. The reason why you ask? Marriage, kids and everything that comes with it is right around the corner... don't get me wrong, I am definitely looking forward to it and there is nothing that will ever take precedence over that. My trouble lies in the fact that I can't find myself wanting to spend $$$ on the track car anymore and it's saddening because that's a chapter that has brought me great friends and experiences.

So my question to you guys in this forum is this (just to get some thoughts and feedback):
(Pick One and your reason why)

A. Tracking is a money pit and it's a great move to retire
B. Stay young at heart and continue doing it reasonably
C. Take it to the next level (i'm practically ready to get tested for my license...does norcal honda challenge need more people in H4??)
D. I'm over-analyzing and should just do whatever comes naturally

Appreciate the feedback and discussion.

 

Just do it you only live once the kids and wife can wait lol just bring them along you can do both I am married too but do it responsible and at your pace. And most importantly buy a used turn key honda race car for like $5000 or so trust me this willl be your best and wises decision both time and money and time is money and money is time. You get the point and good luck and see you at the track.

Check out my website its new and I plan to make it better with people like you in mind.

Charles
www.pmgarage.com

Answer B

 

Never give up something you enjoy!

Dont marry a woman who wont support you and your hobbies.
You might as well fall on a sharp knife 20 times and be done with it.

If i ever hear my wife say " you and that race car" Im kicking her to the curb!

Racing is in my blood and i love it .. I wont give it up.

Go have fun.. remember if she isnt supportive find another who will be.

My answer is B strong B.

 

I love it Honda Tech Marriage and Life advice LOL I can fix your credit card debt too I loving it HT has it all. dont let your wife read what you said i just got punched.

Except a electrical forum
Inside joke dirty19

 

I choose B. You shouldn't have a problem making a few races a year in my opinion.

 

Do it as long as you enjoy it and can afford it. Because there are various ways to keep the costs down, the affording it part can usually be worked out. So as long as you enjoy it, keep doing it. You can work it into the other parts of your life, the same way you work out all the various parts of your life, with occasional trade-offs. There's no reason you can't continue the track driving. Unless you're no longer enjoying it.

 

Option B. Go racing. There is no other option. If you don't, you'll always wonder.

 

Every good woman should support her man 110%
If she doesnt.. she really shouldnt be your lady.
You got punched because you showed her.You Big Dummy!
Some things are meant to be a mans thing only.

 

You sound like you just need a little break. Taking a 6 month hiatus from a) driving/tracking your car, b) working on your car, and c) spending money on your car... will make you do one of two things:

You will either miss tracking/racing enough that you can't wait to get back in the saddle and into action... or you will realize that there are other things/interests that you want to focus your time and money on, and it may be time to close this chapter of your life.

And if you do decide to "stop" racing, no one ever said it had to be forever. I take it you are in your late 20s. Maybe when you are 40 or so, you will have the drive/time/finances to pick it up again. Either way, good luck. I know from experience that having a SO that supports this hobby is very important to continuing to enjoy it

 

I say D. over-analyzing and should just do whatever comes naturally

when you first get married, things change a little... when you frist have a kid... life is twisted all sorts of directions you didn't even know where there.
When you have the time and energy go racing. You'll know where the priorities are at the time.
Heck worst case, I know a lot of people that have taken time off of racing to have a family, after a while they get the urge again and get back into it. Most of them take the wife/kids to the track and make a day out of it.
Life isn't a one or the other type of thing, compromise is the key. (ie racing takes over life, ok for single guy, not ok for married with kids unless kids are older and live on their own)

 

I think you are over-analyzing aswell.

Give the competive side of things a brake. But still track and small events. Raise your children and travel with the family.

Then in the future once you have paved the road for the sucess of your Jrs . Back to racing !.

 

How about being an HPDE instructor? It's not quite the "next level" that you were probably thinking, but maybe instructing could challenge you in some way and at least keep you in the sport/hobby.

 

This is what I was actually thinking about too... if I take a break, i'll find out if I really do want to continue or not. The scary part is that I don't think I will come back, so I don't think I will take that route. I definitely agree with most of you that a few events a year isn't a huge money pit and giving up a past time is not the way to go unless priorities take over...

I've thought about being an instructor as well too or time trials. It's always seemed like fun to me. We'll i've got a Laguna event coming up in less than a month, so for now i'm just going to go have some fun.

The one thing that always brings me back (as i'm sure it does for most of us) is the smell of brakes, tires, gasoline and hearing cars scream by on the track... (gives me the itch just thinking about it)

Happy tracking all!!

 

wow. dr phil??

lol. great advice.

i choose L. as in jamesL. loL.

 

i rode bmx for around 6 years. was my life. travelled everywhere to ride. everything was based around riding. and i mean everything as in the gf would drive me to x place y hours away and we would spend the weekend in that city/state. i hardly ride ever but yet still have my bike for whenever i get that spark to ride. which is squirrelly as **** now. dennis mccoy like. lol.

 

Something to think about, too. A properly maintained race car can sit in a garage under a tarp for quite a bit of time without deteriorating. I got to run my rookie season, and then due to a career move, had to put the car in storage for over 2 years. When the dust settled, I was able to pull it out of storage, do some very minor freshening up, and got right back into the ring. Not sure about NASA, but SCCA Regional rules only require you to attend 2 events a year to maintain your license. That can be taken care of with 1 double regional.

It's a balance. Racing is my life, and I can't imagine ever giving it up, but I realize it's not the only thing in my life. Yeah, I wish I was a pro, and got paid to drive, but I also realize I'd have to give up alot of other things I like doing as well, so I balance it all out. We can give you suggestions based on our situations, but ultimately, it's a question only you can answer.

 

Go with B, man! I'm getting married too and she supports my racing itch! Just don't do it too often or else you will get bored with it and broke too!

 

Well, thanks for all the replies guys. At least for this year, it looks like "B" will be the plan. When it really comes down to it, it is also about the times you spend with buddies at the race tracks that makes it something even harder to give up.

 

Great decision! I can tell you from experience that you would regret not continuing your racing/open track driving. A few years back I made the decision to sell my H4 CRX before I even got a chance to get things going with it. Why you ask? Because the woman I was with at the time didn't like the idea. I ended up growing some *****, got out of that relationship and found a woman who wants me to continue doing a hobby I love. There are times it has taken it's toll on us financially, but she knows how much happier I am when I get a chance to be on the track.

Just remember to plan things out based on what you guys can reasonably afford and you should be fine.

Best of luck and keep us posted on how things go!
-J

 

this is a good one