As I was chatting with some of the MM crew at VIR we got on the subject of burnout. Several of us have gotten to the point with the whole trackday, volunteering, racing, or autocrossing thing that we burn out. So much work and money put into it that you just end up stopping doing it altogether.
For me, I got burnt out after my Integra got stolen, I bought another partially prepped car, tried to get that out racing, only to find out there was a bunch of shit wrong with the car I had bought. That was the same time I had bought a bike and I just basically just starting doing exclusively bike stuff for awhile. Meantime I avoided dealing with that effed up car for years.
Looking back on it, had I not been so hasty to get another car maybe things would've been different. I think at the time I just didn't consider how much effort I had to put in things as a factor. After a certain point I just didn't feel like putting that much effort into it, not to mention the racing series I wanted to do was basically falling apart. Then there were the various trailer mishaps I had...
If I were to give anyone advice on how not to end up the same way, I'd say that you've gotta find a setup that doesn't take so much effort to participate that it sucks the fun out of it. Get something that's not going to need a ton of maintenance or fixing to get on track, isn't gonna break, and is easy to get to the track. Something that is not going to take all of your disposable income so that you're not stressing it.
I also have to wonder if maybe another way to avoid burnout is to simply have more balance in your life. Do other things that are fun so that the fixation on speed doesn't ruin your enjoyment.
Anyway, just some thoughts, I know some other people have ended up getting to the burnout point at one time or another, hoping you can share some thoughts.
2018 Ducati Panigale V4
Past: 2018 Honda Civic Type-R, 2015 Yamaha R1, 2009 BMW M3, 2013 Aprilia RSV4R, 2006 Honda Ridgeline, 2006 Porsche Cayman S, 2012 Ducati 1199, 2009 Subaru WRX, 2008 CBR1000RR, 2009 Kawasaki ZX-6R, 2000 Toyota Tundra, 2005 Honda CBR600RR, 1996 Acura Integra GS-R, 1996 Acura Integra GS-R, 1997 Honda Civic EX
http://www.aclr8.com
I get bored with pretty much anything super easy. I was bored with my STi before the motor even got finished. I think balance is a good idea, I also try not to take too many of my hobbies that seriously...it makes it easier to keep stress off of yourself. Stuff like racing, golf, etc....things you do for the enjoyment and to get away from the menial tasks of everyday life can be taken seriously but if you get too focused on it I think that's when you start to lose interest. As I have gotten *barely* better at golf I start to take it a lot more seriously (like not just going out and getting hammered and smashing carts into each other) but I definitely don't enjoy playing with people that are super competitive and talk a lot of trash. Me and my friends are heading up to WVA at the end of the month for a yearly golf trip / friendly tournament we created and that's about as serious as I can take golf...otherwise it just stresses me out.
Posting in the banalist of threads since 2004
2017 Mazda CX-5 GT AWD Premium
Past: 2016 GMC Canyon All Terrain Crew Cab / 2010 Jaguar XFR / 2012 Acura RDX AWD Tech / 2008 Cadillac CTS / 2007 Acura TL-S / 1966 5.0 HO Mustang Coupe
2001 Lexus IS300 / 2004 2.8L big turbo WRX STI / 2004 Subaru WRX / A couple of old trucks
G.Irish Wrote:I also have to wonder if maybe another way to avoid burnout is to simply have more balance in your life. Do other things that are fun so that the fixation on speed doesn't ruin your enjoyment.
I think this is the key for me. Although I am not as involved with motorsports as I like to be, I always manage to have fun. Obviously, lacking the cash flow to actually race, it's kind of depressing to go to the track some days. But I enjoy working on some dirt track cars and going to the occasional race. Plus I like to do photography at Summit point when NASA comes to race.
If speed is your life, you will get burned out. Thats why people hate work, it becomes mundane after a while.
2014 Tacoma TRD Sport Double cab
2017 Toyota iA/Mazda 2
I've been racing for 10 years and I can boil that all down to two things:
1) The less serious you take it, the more fun it is and the longer you'll want to do it.
2) You need to do it with people you enjoy being around and who enjoy it as much as you do.
'76 911S | '14 328xi | '17 GTI | In memoriam: '08 848, '85 944
"Here, at last, is the cure for texting while driving. The millions of deaths which occur every year due to the iPhone’s ability to stream the Kim K/Ray-J video in 4G could all be avoided, every last one of them, if the government issued everyone a Seventies 911 and made sure they always left the house five minutes later than they’d wanted to. It would help if it could be made to rain as well. Full attention on the road. Guaranteed." -Jack Baruth
Apoc Wrote:I've been racing for 10 years and I can boil that all down to two things:
1) The less serious you take it, the more fun it is and the longer you'll want to do it.
2) You need to do it with people you enjoy being around and who enjoy it as much as you do.
3) Someone else stores, transports, and maintains your car
you left something out....
I know you're trying to be funny, but I'm glad you brought it up. Believe it or not, that has little impact. Two or three years ago I wanted to quit altogether, despite not having to do much of anything but arrive and drive. It just wasn't fun any more because I took the whole thing too seriously and did it only because I wanted to win. Once I realized it wasn't all about winning and learned to enjoy spending time with my dad, it became fun again... hence my two points.
'76 911S | '14 328xi | '17 GTI | In memoriam: '08 848, '85 944
"Here, at last, is the cure for texting while driving. The millions of deaths which occur every year due to the iPhone’s ability to stream the Kim K/Ray-J video in 4G could all be avoided, every last one of them, if the government issued everyone a Seventies 911 and made sure they always left the house five minutes later than they’d wanted to. It would help if it could be made to rain as well. Full attention on the road. Guaranteed." -Jack Baruth
G.Irish Wrote:Get something that's not going to need a ton of maintenance or fixing to get on track, isn't gonna break, and is easy to get to the track.
this is very valuable information. if you're at the track, it's because you enjoy driving. if i'm under the car every other session, i might as well be in my own garage. projects are cool, but you only have so many hours in a day.
all of the things mentioned in your post are the reasons why i wiiiissshh there were kart tracks here like there are on the west coast. i would love to just have a little kart that i could carry in a truck. they are such a thrill and so simple.
2010 Civic Si
2019 4Runner TRD Off-Road
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Past: 03 Xterra SE 4x4 | 05 Impreza 2.5RS | 99.5 A4 Quattro 1.8T | 01 Accord EX | 90 Maxima GXE | 96 Explorer XLT
Apoc Wrote:I know you're trying to be funny, but I'm glad you brought it up. Believe it or not, that has little impact. Two or three years ago I wanted to quit altogether, despite not having to do much of anything but arrive and drive. It just wasn't fun any more because I took the whole thing too seriously and did it only because I wanted to win. Once I realized it wasn't all about winning and learned to enjoy spending time with my dad, it became fun again... hence my two points.
It has impact. Trust me. You wanting to quit despite having that benefit doesnt mean that it doesnt make a difference.
(and Im just jealous)
A lot of guys pay the likes of RP, Meathead, King Rat, etc lots and lots and lots of money so they can just show up to the track and drive. I know that your situation wasnt exactly that easy but it does make a big difference when your hobby has a lot less overhead and work attached to it.
Your #2 point is dead on, and very important. Ive come to learn in my old age that whatever hobby/activity you participate in doesnt matter nearly as much as who you do it with.
#1 is a personal thing. some people only want to do something if they can be super competitive and take it seriously (see: RJ)
racing is SRS BSNS
(09-25-2019, 03:18 PM)V1GiLaNtE Wrote: I think you need to see a mental health professional.
I'm not saying it doesn't have an impact, I'm just saying it's not a cure all or the path to longevity.
Evan Wrote:#1 is a personal thing. some people only want to do something if they can be super competitive and take it seriously (see: RJ)
I think that's true, but the thread is about NOT burning out so I think RJ proves the point. If your only goal is to be super competitive and take it uberserious, you are going to burn out pretty quick (unless you're kicking a ton of people's ass for a long time).
'76 911S | '14 328xi | '17 GTI | In memoriam: '08 848, '85 944
"Here, at last, is the cure for texting while driving. The millions of deaths which occur every year due to the iPhone’s ability to stream the Kim K/Ray-J video in 4G could all be avoided, every last one of them, if the government issued everyone a Seventies 911 and made sure they always left the house five minutes later than they’d wanted to. It would help if it could be made to rain as well. Full attention on the road. Guaranteed." -Jack Baruth
The being super competitive about it wasn't what burned me out, it was the time/$$ required (mostly the former) to be competitive racing cars when I was doing everything on my own. The time sink of all of the prep/repair/transport/travel/racing is enormous if you want to race a full season. I think it would've gotten easier if I'd kept going, as it becomes less 'build' and more 'maintain' but it wouldn't have changed drastically. I didnt have any balance between cars/motorcycles and anything else.
If you have the means to do an arrive & drive deal of some sort, its a much more sustainable hobby (IMO) but then again there are plenty of people that do it on their own for a long time and have kids and have some sort of balance with the rest of their life, so maybe I was just doing it wrong.
(09-25-2019, 03:18 PM)V1GiLaNtE Wrote: I think you need to see a mental health professional.
.RJ Wrote:it was the time/$$ required (mostly the former) to be competitive
Like I said, if you didn't care about being competitive...
No one is going to say being competitive isn't a shit ton of work and/or money. If you care about it and you aren't getting the fulfillment of kicking the asses of 20 car fields, you burn out. The bottom line is if you turn it into a rat rice, whether it be DE or racing... or whether you do your own shit or someone else does... you're going to get sick of it.
Even then, it still has to be about who you do it with rather than the what you're doing.
'76 911S | '14 328xi | '17 GTI | In memoriam: '08 848, '85 944
"Here, at last, is the cure for texting while driving. The millions of deaths which occur every year due to the iPhone’s ability to stream the Kim K/Ray-J video in 4G could all be avoided, every last one of them, if the government issued everyone a Seventies 911 and made sure they always left the house five minutes later than they’d wanted to. It would help if it could be made to rain as well. Full attention on the road. Guaranteed." -Jack Baruth
If you dont care about being competitive superfastawesomewinhondachallenge, then yes, its a much more sustainable deal.
I never felt burnt out doing events as an instructor, especially with a street car. I had to change the oil and front brakes a few times a year, and that was it once I got the car set up/sorted out. I think Evan & I did 15 or 16 weekends one year and it was a blast. My normal prep for the weekend involved putting gas in it and loading a toolbox, jack, camp chairs and cooler into the hatch. I do miss those days a little - or maybe I just miss the ITR  Race weekend prep started a week before the event, and kept on going until tues after.
(09-25-2019, 03:18 PM)V1GiLaNtE Wrote: I think you need to see a mental health professional.
.RJ Wrote:plenty of people that do it on their own for a long time and have kids and have some sort of balance with the rest of their life, so maybe I was just doing it wrong.
i think these people are what you call "loaded". i can't see any other way they make that work.
2010 Civic Si
2019 4Runner TRD Off-Road
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Past: 03 Xterra SE 4x4 | 05 Impreza 2.5RS | 99.5 A4 Quattro 1.8T | 01 Accord EX | 90 Maxima GXE | 96 Explorer XLT
G.Irish Wrote:If I were to give anyone advice on how not to end up the same way, I'd say that you've gotta find a setup that doesn't take so much effort to participate that it sucks the fun out of it. Get something that's not going to need a ton of maintenance or fixing to get on track, isn't gonna break, and is easy to get to the track. Something that is not going to take all of your disposable income so that you're not stressing it.
I realized this past weekend that I need to separate my car/hot rodding hobby from my driving hobby or I won't enjoy either.
Current: 1985 LS1 Corvette | 2014 328i Wagon F31
Former: 2010 Ford Edge | 1999 Integra GS
I have a little bit of a rub near lock but if you are turned to lock on a track there are other problems already...
Im very close to getting there and just went through my schedule and took out a bunch of events for this year. I spent a bunch of money this past winter prepping my car and the money is what got me thinking. After totalling receipts it was really depressing and I was thinking of what I could do with that money. Do I regret it? No, but it still puts a damper on it, combine that with time deprivation and you get burnout.
I also decided a few weeks back to put everything on hold. I was planning on doing a cage during May and possibly go racing, but id rather just take my time. Its a real job to tune suspension and gather data acquisition with tire temps/pressures/timing/video feedback...plus have fun at the track with friends of which I get very little. Maybe racing next year..maybe just another year of TT. I think if I went racing alone id burn myself out. Some people can do it, I just dont think I can with how competitive my nature is. Being competitive is good as it forces you to be attentive and sharpens your focus, but it can also burn you out if you enter too much too quickly.
2020 Ford Raptor
2009 Z06
1986.5 Porsche 928S
D_Eclipse9916 Wrote:. After totalling receipts it was really depressing and I was thinking of what I could do with that money.
That is the reason I have never totalled everything together......
Scott Wrote:D_Eclipse9916 Wrote:. After totalling receipts it was really depressing and I was thinking of what I could do with that money.
That is the reason I have never totalled everything together...... I remember when James from Bimmerworld added up all the receipts from the first World Challenge car they built and it came out deep into the 6 digits *sticker shock*  hock:
2018 Ducati Panigale V4
Past: 2018 Honda Civic Type-R, 2015 Yamaha R1, 2009 BMW M3, 2013 Aprilia RSV4R, 2006 Honda Ridgeline, 2006 Porsche Cayman S, 2012 Ducati 1199, 2009 Subaru WRX, 2008 CBR1000RR, 2009 Kawasaki ZX-6R, 2000 Toyota Tundra, 2005 Honda CBR600RR, 1996 Acura Integra GS-R, 1996 Acura Integra GS-R, 1997 Honda Civic EX
http://www.aclr8.com
Everyone should give up. Come iRacing with me. :thumbup:
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a van is a good guy with a van
Id rather get beat up by guys with driver licenses than prepubescent children.
2020 Ford Raptor
2009 Z06
1986.5 Porsche 928S
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