911Königin

You have the fever too?

THANKS

LuigiVampa

+1

If I ever let myself think about the money I have spent on racing I realize I must be out of my mind.

But when I look back on my life's events - the things that really mattered - going to the track ranks up near the top of the list. Sure the family stuff, like the birth of my daughter, ranks firmly at the top of the list. That can't be replaced.

But going to the track, and racing, opened up a whole new world. I can get really spiritual about how it has affected me. Diving into turn one at Daytona with a car right next to you - it doesn't get more real than that! You learn something about yourself in those situation.

Friends and people I have met through going to the track? Some of the finest people around.

No, I won't regret any of it. So get your license and get out there. If racing doesn't make you happy I would be at a loss to tell what could.

ProCoach

You are not alone! Great post.

Gary R.

If you were to tell me in 2005 when I got my first 911 and started DE'ng that my best friend list 12 years later would be 90% comprised of people I would meet at the track I would have laughed at you... pretty amazing actually, after 50 years of friends and family a whole new world opened up.

dennis macchio

A plug here for professional racing schools......there really isn't a club school that compares, although schools will cover the basics. Just not enough time and proper format to accomplish a whole lot in the club environment.........Pro schools(and of course I think ours is the best) are incredibly detailed and comprehensive, and provide the best foundation for racing.....and continuing the learning process. Feel free to call at any time, and I will share the pros and cons of the various options.....Dennis at Bertil Roos.....

GPA951s

Racing being what its, for people like us and all the good experiences we have at the track with people and cars, make you wonder why some people like celebrities do the things they do, A few of them have it figured out.. Unfortunately work gets in the way of my car habit.. If I were a celeb, Id be at the track all the time...Paul Newman understood .:-)

Coochas

I hear ya Gary. It's like half of my friends are track junkies/Rennlist and the other half are at the methadone clinic.

sbelles

or that half my wardrobe would be shirts and jackets from track events. I counted 15 from the Glen alone a while back. Of course I started five years before you did.

RickyBobby

You're the best Coochas Dave! Too much to say here except...#psychopharmacologyrules

caymannyc

Curious how some of you with families manage to "race" so often? More than money, it was the entire weekends away that was the end of my career, could no longer justify dragging family to spend all weekend at the track with absolutely nothing to do but see a lot of waiting around by the paddock just so I could have my 30 minuets of fun.

Gary R.

No wonder you stopped, you have the rare ability of sucking the fun right out of a room with the way you think!

GPA951s

What about all the other fun stiff that goes with it, I.E. Hiking up the falls at Watkins Glen state park?(Where else can you walk under a waterfall? ) Going to montour falls Near WGI and having an ice cream, Going Go-cart racing afterwards and getting kicked out because There was too much "rubbin"? Having Dinner overlooking the lake.. Man, I wouldn't trade those moments for the world... There is Way more to racing than just racing.. or De's...

sbelles

My kids would love to come to the track more often but my wife doesn't see the allure so they get to go once a year or so. Since the kids have school on Fridays, taking them with me wouldn't work most of the time anyway. Somehow they manage without me for a whole weekend.

LuigiVampa

While driving in the race is obviously the highlight of the weekend I generally am busy until my head hits the pillow each night.

In between races I bike around the paddock talking to friends, watching races, getting stuff prepped for my car, talking with the mechanics, etc.

Between racing and DE, which I still do, I am generally on track about 40 days a year. Its a juggling act with the family and money! But I make sure that I do things for my family which is for them so it is a trade-off. My family also comes to a few of my local races as well so they feel involved and meet some of my "track friends".

If you are bored in between races I really don't know what to say. I'm excited driving to the airport to go racing, and I go to bed with a smile on my face, regardless of the outcome, when I get home several days later. Perhaps other sports beckoned for you.

caymannyc

Don't get me wrong, I LOVED going to the track, spending time at the paddock. Just not sure about the little ones As you mention, there's a lot for us to do at the track, whether it's talking with mechanics, working on the car, talking to other drivers, etc., and to be good at the sport you need to be doing those things, but then I'm not sure how interested kids will be when you're having technical discussions about car setup.


Just wanted to hear how some of you (if you have young toddler kids) managed to balance both as I'm trying to figure it out for myself. As you know, it's not just the track days/racing weekends that consume our time. We also have our iRacing, cars and coffees on weekends, working on the car, etc. Maybe if posted in the wrong thread I apologize, didn't mean to hijack.