- Thread starter
- #381
captdistraction
GrumpyRacer
This I can definitely relate to as we discussed on FB. I'm at the point where why go through all the trouble and costs of prepping the car, borrowing a trailer, getting said trailer, loading it, unloading at the track, buying fuel, paying fees, etc just to break in the first session and spend the rest of the day wrenching and then packing it up and reversing the process. It almost makes more sense just to spectate, which costs nothing, and have the same amount of fun hanging out with everyone.
That's at least how I'll do the next event or so, maybe crew for one of the other guys. I barely had enough scratch to make it to the event as is, so unfortunately the cost of repairs is just going to set me back further financially. Our NASA ST schedule has AMP in April which is a no go for me (sound restriction means I'd have to work on the exhaust AND still rush to prep the car and wallet), and then in May is the last race before the break at Autoclub Speedway in Socal; which even if I repair in time I don't think I want to haul out to LA at the end of May. That would be a lot of effort driving in the heat, costs, and risk of the next thing blowing up in my face. So the next event would be October for the West Nationals which I won't qualify to participate in as I only have two provisional stamps. So we'll see about November for the next scheduled race.
I know its a downer but so far I've registered and appeared for 6 race events and finished 2. Meaning that out of this small sample set I'm able to run just 33% of the time without a catastrophic event. I'm truly hoping the luck is something I can change with preparation.
Everyone says to spend $6k on this trans, $9k on this trailer, etc, etc. However for me that's not within reach given my household income and desires for reasonable debt management without a long investment of time. So I'm hoping to meet in the middle of those mindsets somewhat and use this time to get spending under control, pay down some debt, get a permanent trailer (the person who loans me a trailer is such a great friend in that regard and would loan it to me every single event, but I can't keep asking him), and use the time to go over the car with a fine tooth comb and try to limit my exposure to risk.
I'm going to start that process today by parting a lot of the car out to make room for changes: Tires, wheels, brakes, some suspension, all my spares, surviving drive train parts, etc. to make room to change to exactly what the other racers are doing with their competitive cars. It means being on the sidelines, but I'm used to that and if I get to the point where I decide this isn't for me, at least the car will be prepped in such a manner that it would be a confident asset to put in someone else's hands. Certainly appreciate all the support, I'd have given up ages ago otherwise.
I had hoped to eliminate any doubt about how competitive I can be in this car, but so far I've done the opposite. Hopefully can regroup through the rest of 2017 and hit it hard in 2018.
edit: grammar corrections. Frustration adds lots of unnecessary commas.
That's at least how I'll do the next event or so, maybe crew for one of the other guys. I barely had enough scratch to make it to the event as is, so unfortunately the cost of repairs is just going to set me back further financially. Our NASA ST schedule has AMP in April which is a no go for me (sound restriction means I'd have to work on the exhaust AND still rush to prep the car and wallet), and then in May is the last race before the break at Autoclub Speedway in Socal; which even if I repair in time I don't think I want to haul out to LA at the end of May. That would be a lot of effort driving in the heat, costs, and risk of the next thing blowing up in my face. So the next event would be October for the West Nationals which I won't qualify to participate in as I only have two provisional stamps. So we'll see about November for the next scheduled race.
I know its a downer but so far I've registered and appeared for 6 race events and finished 2. Meaning that out of this small sample set I'm able to run just 33% of the time without a catastrophic event. I'm truly hoping the luck is something I can change with preparation.
Everyone says to spend $6k on this trans, $9k on this trailer, etc, etc. However for me that's not within reach given my household income and desires for reasonable debt management without a long investment of time. So I'm hoping to meet in the middle of those mindsets somewhat and use this time to get spending under control, pay down some debt, get a permanent trailer (the person who loans me a trailer is such a great friend in that regard and would loan it to me every single event, but I can't keep asking him), and use the time to go over the car with a fine tooth comb and try to limit my exposure to risk.
I'm going to start that process today by parting a lot of the car out to make room for changes: Tires, wheels, brakes, some suspension, all my spares, surviving drive train parts, etc. to make room to change to exactly what the other racers are doing with their competitive cars. It means being on the sidelines, but I'm used to that and if I get to the point where I decide this isn't for me, at least the car will be prepped in such a manner that it would be a confident asset to put in someone else's hands. Certainly appreciate all the support, I'd have given up ages ago otherwise.
I had hoped to eliminate any doubt about how competitive I can be in this car, but so far I've done the opposite. Hopefully can regroup through the rest of 2017 and hit it hard in 2018.
edit: grammar corrections. Frustration adds lots of unnecessary commas.
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