Step one is mental: logic is for plotting the course only, it has no real role in the selection of the objective.

Step two is mental: what do you want to do and why do you want to do it?

I grew up with a Dad who raced sports cars and was reasonably good at it. As a little kid I bored quickly with watching from the stands and mostly liked to play while my Dad was racing. At about the age I might have become more interested, he retired from racing

I've mentioned before that his retirement followed a final year of racing without his heart being in it after having barely survived a 100+ tumble/roll the year before in his Duetto. I remembered that his last car was an Ochre colored Alfa GTV and that's about it. I'd had people tell me about that last year that he wasn't the same driver, but recently I've learned a little more.

After writing off the Duetto, he and my friend Bill immediately started preparing the GTV for the next year. They built it as a Trans Am under 2.5 litre car and got it done pretty quickly. Among the few races my Dad ran were that years (70')Trans Am's at Kent Washington and Riverside California. Bill tells me that their results were poor, and that they were little guys in a field with plenty of money. Our friend Denny who was running in the Trans Am too in the big cars told me the other day that at Kent my Dad asked him during practice to drive the Alfa and see what he thought. Denny went straight out and was two seconds faster. In the past they were always within a few tenths in the same car with my Dad usually being the faster. They both knew what was up at that point.

Bill has told me that the times were changing and that they were both ready to move on in their lives. It's kind of funny that my Dad had been opposed to the SCCA's requirement of Roll Bars in the late 50's, that one saved his life in 69', and that he quit while driving a car that was much safer the next year. He told my Mom that his family was more important to him than racing.

So, what's this got to do with planning a racing season? Well, you gotta have a target. It's not like I have to live his life all over again, but his benchmarks mean alot to me. To be as good a man, to be as good a racer - shouldn't seem so silly. I get the same excitement now on a race morning as I got 20 years ago before heading out for the night motocross races. It just happens that I love the same things, and it means that much more that we're both reasonably good at it. He always promised me that he'd teach me how to drive a race car, but he died before we had a chance. I think I cry every time I race - sometimes before, sometimes after, sometimes both.

So in 2003 I have to run 3 SCCA Nationals and then I can apply for a Dual (National/Pro) license. I can do that by the end of June. The goal of that effort is to be able to enter the Speed TC races at Sears Point in July and Laguna Seca in September. I want to run each track before the TC races - so that means a trip to SP in June or early July, and a trip to Laguna in August.

This plan requires a few changes to the car at modest expense, and I needed to buy a HANS anyway.

It's going to take every spare dollar I can scrounge to execute this plan, and if anything goes wrong in the dollar supply chain the plan becomes compromised.

Why not take another year to line up the resources, take another year to continue working on other parts of the whole racing infrastructure and enterprise. Because life is short and you should reach as far as your arm will stretch is about all I can think of. That would be something like "Don't Lift" applied to life more broadly depicted.

But then what? 2003 having passed. Modest success, financial survival......but as expected Roger Penske DIDN'T call......and neither did Peter Cunningham. Sure Scott Zellner still takes my calls, but he's still looking for an order. Nothing changes. So it all has to be done for one reason only: Love of the sport and the people that love it too.

Money was made to be spent. Racing is one of the finest mechanisms for the disposal of money. My plan for 2003 isn't about winning, it's about being, looking, and finding.

Scott, who is "at risk" mentally perhaps....financially definitely.......


[Modified by RR98ITR, 11:51 AM 10/29/2002]

 

I'm planning on getting a HANS or ISAAC device next year. It's not worth the risk to be w/o one. Yeah, the cost sucks, but my head is worth it.

Most of the time...

Warren

 

p.s. I think racers single handedly keep this economy rolling.

When is Visa going to start sponsoring me?!

Warren

 

The rewards are worth the risks.

The look on Blake Fullers face after he got out of his car this past Sunday was second to none.

The smile was still affixed when he was pulling out about 3-4 hours later. I am sure the bills will still be with him after the new year.... but daym what a feeling.

Will
-who would....

 

So true....

 

Scott...you only have one life, do what you want, and enjoy it.

Austin
p.s. I would be more than willing to help when you're down in the area...

 

Here is what we have to look forward to:

Your next sponsor

Warren


[Modified by Warren, 5:10 PM 10/29/2002]

 

Hey Scott,

This may or may not be on topic, but having grown up through a similar situation as you described, I was touched by your post. My father was involved in many forms racing both before I was born and as I was growing up. From Formula Atlantics before I was born to autocrossing in my teens, there were boxes of trophies scattered about the basement. What were my thoughts growing up? Going with him to an autocross (philly region at plymouth meeting) meant I could go to the mall and look for the latest video game. Not really his intent for me coming along with him... I did a couple ride alongs at age 13-14 but just didn't get the spark. I've always wondered how different things could have been.

Once I had my drivers license I did develop an interest in cars and performance driving. Still I only discussed cars and driving with my father though I'm sure he would have been thrilled if I went with him to an autocross. This was about 10 years ago... Only in March of 2001 did I attend my first autocross (14 months after my father passed away from cancer) and later that year did my first HPDE. It was a sad yet exciting year for me. I was filled with mixed emotions of finding the outlet I had needed for so long but not being able to share them with my father who had loved all forms of motorsports for as long as I can remember. I drove with his old helmet almost my entire novice year (Until I was informed that it wasn't snell comliant anymore), and felt that he was with me the whole time. Even though outdated and replaced with my new helmet, His head gear made the trek with me to Topeka this year for my first National Championships.

I'm not sure where I was going with this or maybe you just inspired me to share a bit about my past. I feel some regret that I didn't spend more time with him doing something we both love/loved, especially in the last few years of his life. I guess immaturity and binge drinking seemed more important to me at the time. Funny how priorities change over time. Needless to say I know he's proud of me and is with me every time I strap in the car.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. Maybe some of you know where I'm coming from with this.

 

Once again a well written post. Your goals for 2003, focus, plans seem well thought out. In other posts, you have hinted that this is the way you were heading. I say you should pursue your dreams. It is what seperates us from lesser life forms & gives us hope. Following ones dreams, while still being responsible & grounded, shows a depth of maturity. Just remember what you said in the last part of your post. "Love of the sport and the people that love it too." If your dreams become more work than love, maybe it will be time to refocus or change goals. If we aren't having fun, it just ain't worth it.

 

It's certainly worthwhile (and about as logical as can be expected of people like us) to set a goal or goals, and do everything you can, financially and otherwise, to attain them. I just encourage you to not get overly frustrated should you not meet those goals...or should you meet them in a way that you don't like.

I went into ECHC 2002 thinking I could win. Well...not so much. I got out-raced, out-spent, and out-everythinged pretty much all year. It got frustrating to the point that I almost hung it all up. But I persisted, and spent, and spent...and came away knowing I'd done "due dilligence."

I guess what I'm trying to say is this. At the end of the day, if you don't quite get to your goals, it wasn't for lack of effort. Knowing that you did your best can ease the pain of disappointment, and provide motivation for the next goal.

--Karl, who knows you can get it done...