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+--- Thread: Thinking about getting out... (/showthread.php?tid=4457)
Thinking about getting out... - John - 07-07-2006
Well, as sad as it is for me to say this, I think I'm going to try and withdraw from the money pit that is "road racing". I've reached the point where I'm far from receiving the satisfaction that merits the amount of money and time I spend trying to get my car on track. It simply isn't worth it to me anymore, and I'd rather rid myself of the financial stress and "invest" my money doing other things that I enjoy in life, including saving some of my income for a change. So in a month, I'm going to sell my truck (at a loss - I know), trailer, and possibly the car.
J, who is depressed of the decision, but knows it is an essential one for my future mental well-being.
- Ginger - 07-07-2006
Are you so sure that you want to withdraw from motorsports altogether?
There are cheaper ways to get back on track than road racing that can be just as fun. A DE isn't a sprint race but there's always room to challenge yourself. Alternatively, you could move to the relatively very, very cheap two-wheel world that, I promise, would give you excitement for a long time to come.
We haven't seen you out much and that's no fun. But remember that there's good times to be had that don't involve driving. We're a club first and foremost and I've met some really good friends through this network. Even if you do retire from sticky tires and 93 octane I hope we'll see you sticking aruond MM.
- Mike - 07-07-2006
i feel ya... it isn't for everyone. i'm kind of taking this year lightly to see if i get back in to it, but since my car is paid for and worth very little i don't have to worry about it sitting around. have you considered getting something cheaper to track/insure/fill?
- Mike - 07-07-2006
asteele2 Wrote:A DE isn't a sprint race but there's always room to challenge yourself.
at a point it really does get repetitive and the learning curve becomes ridiculously expensive to keep up with. at the point i'm at, i would not be able to live my life (socially) as i do while still learning a lot at the track. i'd have to be pulling an rj and doing 10-15 weekends a year as i seem to recall him doing a year or two ago. everyone has different prerogatives...
- John - 07-07-2006
I simply need to re-evaluate my priorities. Having the car payments, property tax bills, expensive maintenance bills, getting cut off by the pump at $75, and the headache of a trailer grossly outweigh the adrenaline rush I get out of the sport. Additionally, I find myself stressed out on weekends I instruct since I'm desparately finding time for myself to relax (since it's a quasi-vacation), not to mention the long drives to and from the track that leave me exhausted the following week.
Yes, I've considered cheaper alternatives, but even those come with other downsides that I'm really not eager to accept. Not having the time, energy, or place to regularly work on the car myself is also a big downer.
I've been considering the two-wheel route, but nothing will likely manifest until after I move to San Diego in a few months. Having a bike has it's advantages, but I'd be limited in using it since I can't commute to work in a suit on a bike (I could, but I won't), and I really don't have that much of a deathwish to combat rush hour traffic on one.
Regardless, my passion will never die for the sport, I think I just need to remove myself from it for awhile until I'm in a more comfortable position.
- Mike - 07-07-2006
dude, if you're moving to cali you HAVE to get a bike. LANE SPLITTING!!!
- Ginger - 07-07-2006
I completely forgot about the San Diego thing. Yeah, you've pretty much got to get a bike. You can leave suits at work for several-days supply and change then out with a car when you need.
... and as far as traffic goes, well, I'm still here and all my extremities function
I think getting on track with a two wheeler in California would be awesome, especially in your shoes. It's exciting the way a car, at least in my experience, can never be. I know it's got RJ a little spoiled on the race kaa and I've lost interest in four wheelers all together.
Regardless, I can understand you decision to live a little more financially upright. And don't worry, we're coming out to bug you in SoCal.
- Andy - 07-07-2006
That's a damn shame, John. It seems like this happens a lot. The financial expense of trackdays/racing is pretty rediculous but at the same time, if you're in Cali, I can't imagine a better place to track. Maybe you should hold on to your Nissans until you get out there and reevaluate.
- G.Irish - 07-07-2006
Well in Cali you can take advantage of several cheaper and lower hassle options like karting, supermoto, and bikes. Heck you could do some desert riding every now and then and that'd be pretty cheap and fun. I'll hit you up when I need to start skating down to Baja to do some pre-running for the 1000...
- Sijray21 - 07-07-2006
John Wrote:I simply need to re-evaluate my priorities. Having the car payments, property tax bills, expensive maintenance bills, getting cut off by the pump at $75, and the headache of a trailer grossly outweigh the adrenaline rush I get out of the sport. Additionally, I find myself stressed out on weekends I instruct since I'm desparately finding time for myself to relax (since it's a quasi-vacation), not to mention the long drives to and from the track that leave me exhausted the following week.
Yes, I've considered cheaper alternatives, but even those come with other downsides that I'm really not eager to accept. Not having the time, energy, or place to regularly work on the car myself is also a big downer.
i feel very similar to almost every single point you have made
John Wrote:I've been considering the two-wheel route, but nothing will likely manifest until after I move to San Diego in a few months. Having a bike has it's advantages, but I'd be limited in using it since I can't commute to work in a suit on a bike (I could, but I won't), and I really don't have that much of a deathwish to combat rush hour traffic on one.
Regardless, my passion will never die for the sport, I think I just need to remove myself from it for awhile until I'm in a more comfortable position.
california is an awesome place to own a bike since you're allowed to lane split and cut your commute time by a significant margin in their terrible traffic. Good luck rethinking your priorities. You're a very level-headed individual and it seems you have hit a pit (of sorts). I don't have a doubt that you'll find a path that you'll be very happy with.
- WRXtranceformed - 07-07-2006
Embrace the PIT !!!!
- Apoc - 07-07-2006
Don't confuse DE and instructing with actually racing. Call me an elitest racer or whatever but there's a big difference between wheel to wheel racing and going around in a circle over and over again to try and learn the line or teach it to someone else. Once you learn the line you need to move on to actually going as fast as possible off it (aka racing). Either do that or get out altogether after a few years IMO.
P.S. - Building a car is a much bigger money pit than buying. You don't want to know what I paid for my car but you can go racing for $10k plus $5k/year.
- WRXtranceformed - 07-07-2006
Apoc Wrote:P.S. - Building a car is a much bigger money pit than racing?. You don't want to know what I paid for my car but you can go racing for $10k plus $5k/year.+1
You don't even KNOW! :lol:
- Ginger - 07-07-2006
G.Irish Wrote:I'll hit you up when I need to start skating down to Baja to do some pre-running for the 1000...
And the plot thickens....
- John - 07-07-2006
Apoc Wrote:Don't confuse DE and instructing with actually racing. Call me an elitest racer or whatever but there's a big difference between wheel to wheel racing and going around in a circle over and over again to try and learn the line or teach it to someone else. Once you learn the line you need to move on to actually going as fast as possible off it (aka racing). Either do that or get out altogether after a few years IMO.
P.S. - Building a car is a much bigger money pit than buying. You don't want to know what I paid for my car but you can go racing for $10k plus $5k/year.
My times at many tracks are at the very front of the pack for T2 (1:24s at Summit and 2:13s at VIR Full) - and converting my car to T2 spec would be less than $3K at this point (redoing the cage, a little safety equipment, and a few other minor things). Even if I chose another series, I'd still have to fork out a considerable investment, although I'd save on consumables. I also don't have the luxury of time or money to maintain a racecar, afford the expenses of getting it to and from the track, and trying to manage having a daily driver as well.
Given that I'm repeating myself here, I think I've pretty much answered my own dilemma.
- Ginger - 07-07-2006
John Wrote:Given that I'm repeating myself here, I think I've pretty much answered my own dilemma.
I think what we're really tying to say, rather than change you mind is
You've lost that lovin' feelin'
Whoa that lovin' feeling
- Apoc - 07-07-2006
feg
- Mike - 07-07-2006
Apoc Wrote:Don't confuse DE and instructing with actually racing. Call me an elitest racer or whatever but there's a big difference between wheel to wheel racing and going around in a circle over and over again to try and learn the line or teach it to someone else. Once you learn the line you need to move on to actually going as fast as possible off it (aka racing). Either do that or get out altogether after a few years IMO.
P.S. - Building a car is a much bigger money pit than buying. You don't want to know what I paid for my car but you can go racing for $10k plus $5k/year.
it is also a different story when the maintenance, storage, and transport of your race car is already taken care of.
- Sijray21 - 07-07-2006
John Wrote:Given that I'm repeating myself here, I think I've pretty much answered my own dilemma.
i also think you know what you want, you're not looking for advice :wink:
i think we can all understand where you're coming from. You're priorities are changing.
i think if you're happy with honing skills on the street and possibly on-track again, i think a bike would be a fantastic idea. Just my opinion.
- Apoc - 07-07-2006
Mike Wrote:it is also a different story when the maintenance, storage, and transport of your race car is already taken care of.
It's easy to go to that and I'm certainly not surprised you did... but the example of the costs of racing are irrespective of my situation. There are many guys in our series that race on a paper-thin shoestring budget and have families on top of that. Anyone who is single and makes $60k+ a year can't really say they don't have the time or the money. Priorities change, yes... but the purpose of my post was merely to point out that if you're not getting what you once were, move up, not out.