where were you 5 years ago...1 year ago...now

[Sijray21]

just wondering what everyone else was doing?

5 years ago...

I was waiting to hear from JMU, Northeastern, and ODU for my acceptance to their institution. I was still in high school and in the playoffs for my Varsity Baseball Team. We placed 2nd to Yorktown HS and I think we lost to McLean in our first regional playoff game. I had a girlfriend named Crystal and i was looking forward to Prom. Giggity, giggity. I was also planning a beach trip with my friends to the outer banks for Senior Beach Week. Forgot about the car: Driving my Honda Civic Si.

1 year ago...

I graduated from JMU after spending 3 incredible years there. Looking back at what i've accomplished and thinking about what i was looking forward to. This was the week where people went back to class for May Session and i was left sleeping, playing video games, vegging out in front of the TV, working on the car, drinking a LOT every night, and not caring a bit. This was the time where i was unemployed and loving it. I had plans to look for a job and didn't really start this until June. In the mean time i was also planning a cross-country trip. Still driving around the Honda Civic Si.

now...

i'm working at CSC and have been fully employed for about 10 months. I've been learning a lot about the consulting industry and i'm still questioning whether i want to remain here next year or leave sooner. I bought my first car (out right) - the '98 Acura Integra. Thinking i was going to track it, i bought the RS model. I shifted my track ideas to the VW, but have yet to accomplissh anything with it due to a lack of interest at the moment. I now have a 600rr and i love every minute i'm on it. I'm also trying to pay off my debts and save more instead of going out as much as i used to.

1 year from now...

i hope to have moved up in CSC or to have moved to another company, possibly a different industry. i hope to have all my loans paid off - including my motorcycle loan. I'd like to start to make my transition away from the DC area. I'd like to move to the San Francisco Bay area or the LA area. I hope to have the VW chassis ready and able to take to the track at my leisure. I'd also like to lean out a bit, i'm quite out of shape.

5 years from now...

I hope to have bought my first home. I hope to have the VW with a new engine, complete set-up for a track car/weekend toy, and i hope to have a new car and possibly a newer motorcycle (ducati model of some sort ). Maybe i'll meet a nice chick to spend some time with as well. The car/motorcycle will probably take a back-burner to the house. I also would like to explore possibility for earning an MBA. I also want 6-pack abs baby!

all that calls for motivation that i need to find...

[Mike]

5 years ago...

Had just finished Freshman year at JMU... Was dating Jessica, was driving a '91 Accord DX, spent most of my time playing Counterstrike, was working an internship at Road Runner.

1 year ago...

Was "working" at AOL. Most of my team was gone at this point and the remaining few of us were putting in maybe 3 hours a day. I was still dating Jessica, and was driving my Civic.

Now...

Working at Anystream, and loving it. Living in the MM Arlington house with G and BJ. Rarely talk to Jessica anymore... Hindsight is 20/20 as they say... Damn, she wasn't right for me. Civic is rarely driven, S2000 is daily, and I'm out of shape.

Year from now...

Assuming we get some new funding, still working at Anystream, not driving an S2000 (I'm thinking something with 4 doors, a turbo, and AWD... Subaru or Volvo methinks). Still living in the MM Arlington house, banging hot bitches, etc, etc. I'll be back in shape as well. Maybe I'll even figure out what I want to race. At the very least, I'll be instructing.

5 years from now...

I'll either be done with the car thing or I'll be racing. I will hopefully have been able to move to North Carolina or California. Both would take my friends moving down there or me meeting "the one" and moving with her. I'll be driving something really sweet every day, and maybe even owning a house. If I stick around here, I'd like to buy something close to the city.

[Kaan]

5 years ago....
i was in my "4th" year at JMU... Drove a 1983 Scirocco GTi... I was dating a girl named Kerry... bullshitting ALL day in classes, racing my remote controled cars, drinking, working as a campus cadet, figuring out thesis crap for my last year.

1 year ago....
doing the same stupid bullshit i am now... making less money though... driving the same busted pile CRX i have today... with the same pads and rotors living in hoodbridge... still looking to move to an area where my new motorcycle (when i get one) wont get stolen.

[.RJ]

I think the more interesting question is "where will you be in 1 year" ?

I will most likely stick with my current job - they've been pretty good, but who knows. I probably wont be in NoVa at some point next year, or at least be on my way out the door. I dont see selling the 'teg, the truck or the bike in the near future, I'm pretty happy with all 3 of them. Even if I move, I'd rather put the 'teg in storage than sell it.

Edit: If I move to CA, I wont be racing cars... maybe buy a shifter kart or just do bike track days. Too much hassle and would rather live near the beach with a small garage.

[Evan]

damn.

5 years ago I had just finished senior year and done the graudation thing (but i stuck around for a summer session to get a kines credit i needed). and coincidentally just heard from Booz that they didnt have any work for me so the offer I accepted back in october was no good anymore. 5 years ago the bubble was quickly deflating. I was driving a cherokee and planning my WRX purchase. Had been dating Allison for about a year

1 year ago I was working for Sapient doing Enterprise app development for intel clients up near Ft. Meade. Tracking my miata and instructing at HPDEs (a lot), which was still stock, and planning my SM build. Hadnt sold the WRX yet, but I wasnt driving it much. Still dating Allison, getting full court pressure on the M word.

Now Im working for Booz Allen (ironic!) just took the job a month ago. My miata is fully built, Im racing SM and doing pretty well. Planning my race schedule (SO much more expensive than instructing) and Im shopping for townhouses where I can have a garage to wrench (fuck nova real estate prices). Driving a Titan (rarely except to tow) I just bought a trailer, and have 2 street miatas that get driven to work depending on which is running better. No longer with Allison, been seeing a different girl for about 4 months.

[Mike]

updated mine with now, 1 year from now, and 5 years from now.

[white_2kgt]

5 yrs ago,

Was in Junior Year at JMU and working the Hovercraft w/ Pete, and getting into LOTS of other trouble probably. Driving the piss out of an 89 Mustang GT. Working on a CS major and drinking a lot, just started dating Christina a few months prior.

1 yr ago,

Living in the house I'm in now, with Christina, married for over a year. Working at Lockheed, just finished swapping the blown up engine out of the GT, getting ready to goto Summit Point Shenandoah circuit for the first time with Carguys and painting a splitter in Pete's garage that I end up destroying a few months later at VIR

Now,

Still in the same house, still with Christina and Lockheed. Race car is ready and I'm prepping to goto Watkins Glen. Pretty standard stuff.

[Sijray21]

updated mine with now, 1 year from now, and 5 years from now.

mine too

[JustinG]

5 yrs ago....

Junior year in high school, playin Varsity baseball and basketball, workin at a shotgun range, started gov school, got my Talon ESi, wrecked it, got my Eclipse. Started dating Casey, almost got killed by my ex-g/f cause my new g/f was skinnier than her. Toured JMU and UVA.

1 yr ago....

Sophomore year here at JMU. Living by myself in Squire hill, but decided to live with 2 of my friends for junior year still in Squire. Switched from an Atheletic Training major to a Business Management major. With the hope and dreams of having my own shop. Still with Casey. The Eclipse got a few upgrades :twisted:, I was working at a local country store makin shit money for alotta manual labor.

Now....

Going into my senior year:?. Taking May and June classes. Working on my Business Management Degree. Still With Casey, who by the way gotta job with Ameriprise and will be making 6 figures by year 3 , so ive decided to drop outta school and become a slacker, j/k. Trying to sell the Eclipse (TAKING OFFERS), looking for a newer used car, something AWD and 4 doors but i plan on keepin it in my current family 8) Looking for a summer job, Home Depot or Circuit City, the shitty mall here in the burg.

1 yr from now...

Hopefully Graduated, back at home looking for a job. Possibly Engaged to Casey, shes a keeper. Hopefully pimpin ze new moto. Looking for an apartment near Richmond since thats where Casey's job is.

5 yrs from now....

Hopefully Graduated. Living with Casey probably married. Hopefully I will have enough capital to have started up my shop. Have my own house. Get another dog. Practice making babies. Live off my wife. Get a truck. Saved enough money to buy $8 a gallon gas.

[Goodspeed]

5 years ago.....
Moved to Brussels, Belgium, dad worked politics at the US mission to NATO, lived there for three years, loved it, REALLY got into cars and other obsessions I still have today

1 year ago....
Finished living in Singapore for 1 year with a friend of mine and his family, graduated HS. Moved out of the house at 16, hated the school I was going to so my parents and I decided to move me a few thousand miles away. Best place I've lived in yet, absolutely incredible.

Now....
Finished my first year of college, thinking about switching majors but can't decide, so I might just stick with good ol' IR cause its easy for me, i'm interested in it, and i'm good at it. Just seems boring sometimes. Playing Xbox all day, might work for USAID in water resource management for a summer job.

1 year from now...
Hopefully still in school, Hopefully ready to move off campus. Parents are moving to Paris, France after this summer, so I hope to tear up some country roads and head to the Nurburgring, maybe in a 300 dollar a day rented Ferrari....maybe

5 years from now...
Hopefully graduated, have some sort of a job in the corporate sector, tooling around in a...well you know what it is, a turbo catfish. The only car i'm 110% positive I know I'll own

[Feersty]

Great thread, Jay. I know I have no idea what anyone is doing, cause a MMer like once every three months. :roll:

5 years ago...

May 2001, I had just graduated high school and had already decided on JMU. I was already working the Human Resources Command doing office work. The work environment was great, and I got along with everyone. People very friendly. I was driving a 1996 Oldsmobile Ciera SL. What was racing?

1 year ago...

May 2005, I had just graduated college and was unemployed waiting patiently for my study abroad trip to Germany. I wanted to sell my motorcycle and that eventually happened. I was intend on working at Aberdeen, MD, but the pay wasn't good and I would have to file my own taxes and find a place to live.

now...

May 2006, Working at ECC and been here for about 7 and a half months. My coworkers seem to talk behind my back and have been actively sending resumes. The pay is low, only 5 days of vacation a year, and 5 days of sick a year. Just don't like it right now. Going on two dates this weekend with two different girls. Past few weekends I have stayed in and washed the car and watched MotoGP. I have been running alot recently as well, along with the pushups, situps. Jay I am thinking about joining WSC if you want someone to lift with! I am going to Pittsburgh beginning of June to see cousins and buy fireworks on the way there.

1 year from now...

May 2007, Hopefully car paid off, Making 40,000-$45,000 dating someone and enjoying life. Planning a trip to Italy for Summer 2007.

5 years from now......

May 2011, Living in a house and having a nice car and bike. Making $70,000-$75,000 and living somewhere south of here. Traveling a lot and getting it on in exotic places. Married? Kids?

[ScottyB]

5 years ago....

just finished one of the best years of my life, as a freshman at JMU. grades were decent enough, but i was mostly caught up in the amazing people i met and the freedoms i had now that i was in college. i was rooming with one of my good friends Chris who is actually getting married on Saturday. my old '90 maxima was at home and i was desperate for some kind of summer work. i ended up working on the estate of my dad's boss who is also an old college friend of his...the job sucked, but taking care of his M5 and Z8 were a-ok with me! i had recently found out about, and joined MM and was working my way out of ricer hell and into the world of track days and racing.

1 year ago.....

not surprisingly, doing the same shit as my freshman year but loving it a million times more since i was living in sunchase with my best friends Jay, Ryan, and Pat. i was doing artwork to build up my portfolio and keep my grades good enough to graduate but looking back, every day was a freaking vacation. wake up late, do a class or two, gorge on qdoba while listening to trance/playing video games and go driving/read/watch car stuff before hitting the sack at like 4 am....and of course, no classes on friday. i was active as ever in MM and driving an '01 accord which i autocrossed occasionally. i was planning out wedding stuff for July, when Jen would officially be my wife, while simultaneously trying desperately to find a job in either the carolinas or georgia. i did not know where Jen and i would be but we were just happy to be graduating and on our own.

now....

living in a nice, small apt. in east atlanta. its amazing how far life has taken us from our little corner of roanoke, va. Jen is in grad school at emory u. and i'm a designer at a residential design firm. the accord got replaced by my audi and we have Jen's explorer. i miss my friends and family worse than you can imagine but i know we're only here temporarily. money isn't super tight but i can't afford to track my car right now, which is a dream i've been working towards for like 3 years now. Jen and i are always working on some crazy project, so it feels like i never have time to just be a goof like i was in college.

1 year from now....

hopefully in a line of work that fits my skillset better. most likely nothing much will be different. we're saving up as fast as we can for a house so we can get out of this rental b.s. but i doubt we'll be in a house that quickly. maybe if i'm lucky i'll have the equipment to do an hpde.

5 years from now....

out of atlanta and back in VA...close to family and friends again. Jen will either be teaching or working in the research industry, i'll be in product design, but i'd love auto design, illustration or architectural model making. making enough money to be happy and secure is really my only desire. the audi will be a track ho, and hopefully our house will have a garage so i can start tearing into a new project. maybe we'll have a dog or two. thats pretty much it!

[Ryan T]

5 years ago:
I had just finished up my sophmore year of high school. I had been dating Maggie since february and I was driving a 1987 Toyota Supra black on black, auto, non turbo. My dad died in April of 2001 so a good portion of that year and summer is a blur to me. In august of 2001 I bought a 1997 SS Camaro. We sold our farm, because it became too much to deal with, and moved into a subdivision.

1 year ago:
Had just finished up my sophmore year at JMU and was back in Abingdon working for a LCSW and a Psychologist. Had purchased the supra the fall before and loved it. Was still happily dating Maggie.

Now:
Just finished up my junior year at JMU and am back in abingdon. Doing a lot of projects for mom (pressure washed the house and decks, staining deck, repaiting deck, removing countertops so the new ones can go in, laying hard wood floor in her room and upstairs), doing a little work for the psychologist and going to start back at kroger part time after I finish some of these projects around the house. Still driving the Supra, still happily dating Maggie, 5 years on valentines day.

Future:

[Hunter]

5 years ago today I was in the process of winning the district title for robinson lacrosse... go rams! We went on to win the regional and state titles as well, so it was a pretty good season. That's really all I cared about during my senior year in high school, senioritis ruled my life. I was dating a girl named jen that I'm pretty sure none of you ever met and was selling my MR2 turbo (good move dumbass).


1 year ago I had just finished my senior thesis and was taking nothing but math classes during may and the next fall semester in order to finish a math minor. I was dating shelley who some of you did meet and was drinking pretty much every night during may session despite taking a rather difficult differential equations and linear algebra course. I got an A in the course so it all works out.


Now I'm kind of in limbo, I finished the research for both grants I was working under for JMU within the last few weeks and only have a few more things to do over at dynamic aviation in bridgewater before I'm done until the fall when i start grad school.


1 year from now, hopefully dartmouth has not yet figured out I like to drink and probably will try to crash the formula sae car that they have. Speaking of it, I'll probably be doing alot of work on that car and taking it to the compition they have in detroit around this time every year.


5 years from now... I hope to still have all my limbs and not be homeless, besides that I have no idea.

[Maengelito]

i realized i never read/replied to this thread. its pretty interesting...

5 years ago:
i was finishing up my junior year at JMU and it was the beginning of MM. before that, like many of you, i was a ricer (and still am at heart). i had just bought an integra earlier in the year and all sorts of aspirations of turboing/car showing etc. i drank a lot in forest hills (some of the OGs knew our parties back then) and we played beer pong almost nightly. kicking multiple kegs every night wasn't out of the ordinary.

1 year ago:
i've been working for the DoD for almost 3 years. i had just gone to singapore, japan and hawaii all through work. i also just got my instructor certification through NASA. i was selling the integra, had owned the STi for 2 years, just bought the 240 and was looking at possibly buying a miata. i was still drinking, but not nearly at the same pace as i was at jmu

now:
still working for the DoD. i havent done much as far as the track goes as i've really concentrated on knocking out some of my debt. been seeing the same girl for a few months now and things are goin alright.

1 year from now:
will probably still be working for the DoD, maybe start on my master's degree if work will pay for it. if things go alright, i might move in with my gf (she's got a garage) and hopefully be instructing a helluva lot more than i am currently

5 years from now:
hopefully not working for the DoD, but we'll see. maybe married, shit i dunno. maybe dabble in some club racing but the current track i'm on has me goin the career instructor route. things can change quick though.

for you youngin's, if there's one thing i've learned though its that things dont always go according to plan. the transition from high school to college may have been drastic, but the transition from college to the real world is 100000x more eye opening. i have no idea what lies ahead but i hope its as interesting as the past 10 yrs of my life

[John]

Hunter, I never realized you went to Robinson... PM sent...

5 years ago:
Graduated from GMU w/ BS in Econ, minor in International / Comparative Politics. At the time, the job market was piss poor and finding a real job was difficult for college grads, even though I had spent nearly 1.5 years interning on the Hill and at a international public policy think tank. Oh well - so I continued to work in restaurants and dumped a large portion of my income on my Honda, tasty beverages, and going out. I also spent a lot of time reminiscing about my time abroad in Prague from the year prior and began my application process to the Foreign Service to become an "embassy rat."

1 year go:
Left a small company working up for the OSD Comptroller after spending over 3 years working at State Dept. Took a two week vacation to Austria, Slovakia, Serbia, and Montenegro - why? Because it's there and I love the Slavic lands and the Balkans. Started with my current company for a Navy financial consulting / audit preparation contract. Had the 350Z for over 2.5 years at this point and had been instructing with various organizations for about 9 months. Teetering on the edge about converting the car to a T2 car, but decided to hold off. Daily driver was a WRX, which saw its fair share of abuse commuting from Sterling to DC...

Now:
Back to civiliation - living in Arlington and happy with life, although now living with the lady friend. Work for the same company and lead for a Naval Command financial team of 7 people at the moment (was up to 11 before I had to loan out some brainpower for strategy work) - also doing some strategy consulting and proposal work on the side as well. I'm getting to the point where I'm not sure what I'm going to do next. I could go into management pretty easily, but I still think I want the flexibility to move around a bit, which is easier to do as a "senior" consultant. Still driving the 350Z, but now towing it to the track with a Titan. It's hard to believe that this summer I will have had the car for 4 years, but I definitely relished the time I've had with it. Unfortunately, it doesn't see much street action. This summer it will be getting a new set of dampers (TC Kline), T2 springs, and perhaps a 6 pt. Racing license is around the corner, but I'm still undecided as to what I'll drive.

1 year from now:
TBD. I still have the itch to go overseas, but something big may happen with the company, so I'm hesitant to jump ship just yet. I have another potential offer in San Diego that I may be exploring in more detail while I'm out there next week. Still will have the Titan, and probably the Z as well unless I sell it. I may try and take a two week vacation to New Zealand.

5 years from now:
Time to settle down and get comfortable with management. By this time I'll be 32, and I will be content with family concept...

[bassmangrammy]

2 days less 5 years ago, I got my drivers licence... and an 86 Pontiac 6000SE. I was struggling through high school, teaching snowboarding lessons, and working at a guitar shop. I didn't have much involvement with motorsports, but I was beginning to hit the GFCP.

1 year ago... I was finishing up my freshman year at JMU. I had been working with Mid Atlantic for about 9 months. I had been to the track for the first time (13-hour at VIR). A year ago, I sold my Acura CL and purchased my 528i5... my first manual car. I was starting as treasurer for the club, and I had discovered my one source of joy in life... motorsport... but more importantly, the friendships and sense of family found in the motorsport community.

Currently, I'm working for myself. (and loving every moment of life) I'm preparing the launch of a new online learning program, continuing web site dev work, and trying to start a web-based software company. Userphase. I've now had my Merc for 9-months. I've learned how to get my hands dirty... and fix my car because it needs major help. I've changed the Mass Air meter, installed tie-rods, steering bushing, front wheel bearings (with help on the previous 3), installed a new sensor in the bottom part of the transmission housing (and by installed, I mean watched Kenny install this one), installed a new break set, 3 oil changes, and pulled engine codes probably 12 or 14 times. So, I've gotten my hands a little dirty on this car. And made the Dean's list this semester.

A year from now, I'll be a rising senior at JMU. If all goes as planned, I'll have a different car... most likely a 996 911 (or M5 or CLK55 or the list is long). I'll be awaiting my final year at JMU and then I'm entering the work force to trade stocks or something like that.

5 years from now, I'll hopefully have made my first couple million and I'll be somewhere in Europe selling stocks and bonds from a remote location. Maybe while I'm in Milan studying Quantitative Econ. Who knows. But I will have a 360, a 911, and a dog. I probably will still be single and enjoying life. Assuming, I haven't, at that point, found the right italiano supermodel. Nah... that will never happen.

[Feersty]

Nothing wrong in dreaming big Aaron

[Jewels]

5 years ago:
I had just finished my first year at the community college back home. I was working at the hospital in winchester and had since I was 16. My friends were all coming home from their first years away at college. The summer was a haze, and when I say haze I mean haze. It was a crazy time, I had no goals cause it was summer time, and hell I was at a community college to boot.

1 Year ago:
I was planning a wedding. A wedding that thanks to my mom and mother in law was becoming bigger and bigger. Rex and I were planning our first vacation together, and in august bought our first car together, even its my car. I was looking for a job but working at Sheetz in the meantime.

Now:
Tomorrow we move to Manassas. Rex graduated on a sunday and that monday he had two job offers waiting for him. Its been a little hectic trying to move in a little over 2 weeks, but we're almost there. Hopefully I will find a job soon.

1 year from now:
I hope to have an equally as good job as my husband. And we should be house hunting, we dont' really want to rent any longer than we have to. The BMW should be finished and visiting the track as often as us.

5 years from now:
Definately a house, and hopefully something a little better for me. I mean I love my focus but in 5 years, she's not gonna be the beautiful car she is today HA! I'm sure Rex has a few ideas for projects for him.

[Gs dewd]

I would post but the past 5yrs have been the worst for me. Thankfully this past year has started turning around and things are getting better.