This is for anyone thinking of taking the plunge into SCCA T1 racing:
There are two messages; one short one…do it! A second, a bit longer, but again, Do it!
Let me give you some background.
I am 42, married with a 13 year old daughter and a beagle. I am president of the family business and partners with my brother.
In the course of raising our daughter, I find myself giving her advice (she calls it preaching). One piece of advice that keeps on coming up is this: All my regrets in life are of what I did not do, rather than what I did do. This is a fancy way of saying “do the very best you can.” I, alas, did not learn this sage advice until later in life. I had opportunities that I did not act on: play college football, join the Marines, get better grades in school, etc. Not that I was a bad kid, just did not take advantage of some things when they came why way.
So, I keep on telling my daughter this to get her to try her hardest, to challenge herself. Well, I started listening to my own advice, and eventually taking it. I always wanted to get back into racing. I did NHRA Super Stock almost twenty years ago; went as far as 3 passes down the track for my Pro Stock license. But I gave it all up to run the family business. So now I am back!
How does this relate to you? If you want to go racing, but are hesitant, don’t be! It is absolutely the neatest thing you will ever do. Not disrespect to DEs, but until you have gone wheel to wheel in Corvettes, you have no idea how much fun driving can be. It is not the speed that is addicting; it is the competition and the camaraderie. While going 140 MPH inches from another car is certainly a thrill; you become “used” to it fairly fast. The thrill is in improving yourself; the fun is in the friendships you make. Testing yourself against some of the best amateur and not-so-amateur racers in the country is the part that qualifies as “challenging yourself.”
Is it expensive? An unqualified “yes” is the answer to that question. But you will spend a lot of money at DEs if you drive your car hard. Throw some more money into that budget and go racing. You will not regret it. I promise!
The passion and excitement I have for this racing cannot be measured fully through the written word. Call me sometime, see me at the track, let's talk about this. If you don't get excited about racing when you see a pack of Corvettes flying down the front straight at Summit Point or through Turn One at Mid Ohio, you have no pulse. It is 100 times better looking over steering wheel and through the windshield.
__________________
Kryderacing/Phoenix Performance/Hoosier/WRP Investments #40 SCCA T1 Dodge SRT10 Viper
Other cars: 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ/2002 Chevrolet 3500 Crew Cab Dualie/2005 Cadillac STS 4
This is for anyone thinking of taking the plunge into SCCA T1 racing:
There are two messages; one short one…do it! A second, a bit longer, but again, Do it!
Let me give you some background.
I am 42, married with a 13 year old daughter and a beagle. I am president of the family business and partners with my brother.
In the course of raising our daughter, I find myself giving her advice (she calls it preaching). One piece of advice that keeps on coming up is this: All my regrets in life are of what I did not do, rather than what I did do. This is a fancy way of saying “do the very best you can.” I, alas, did not learn this sage advice until later in life. I had opportunities that I did not act on: play college football, join the Marines, get better grades in school, etc. Not that I was a bad kid, just did not take advantage of some things when they came why way.
So, I keep on telling my daughter this to get her to try her hardest, to challenge herself. Well, I started listening to my own advice, and eventually taking it. I always wanted to get back into racing. I did NHRA Super Stock almost twenty years ago; went as far as 3 passes down the track for my Pro Stock license. But I gave it all up to run the family business. So now I am back!
How does this relate to you? If you want to go racing, but are hesitant, don’t be! It is absolutely the neatest thing you will ever do. Not disrespect to DEs, but until you have gone wheel to wheel in Corvettes, you have no idea how much fun driving can be. It is not the speed that is addicting; it is the competition and the camaraderie. While going 140 MPH inches from another car is certainly a thrill; you become “used” to it fairly fast. The thrill is in improving yourself; the fun is in the friendships you make. Testing yourself against some of the best amateur and not-so-amateur racers in the country is the part that qualifies as “challenging yourself.”
Is it expensive? An unqualified “yes” is the answer to that question. But you will spend a lot of money at DEs if you drive your car hard. Throw some more money into that budget and go racing. You will not regret it. I promise!
The passion and excitement I have for this racing cannot be measured fully through the written word. Call me sometime, see me at the track, let's talk about this. If you don't get excited about racing when you see a pack of Corvettes flying down the front straight at Summit Point or through Turn One at Mid Ohio, you have no pulse. It is 100 times better looking over steering wheel and through the windshield.
good point u got there David. racing is a habit, and its like being in a different world. and i love it!
__________________
MTI stage 2 heads, X1 cam, LG headers, 90mm LSX intake, B&B bullets exhaust system, vararam, air bridge, hurst shifter, Exedy twin disk clutch, tuned by MTI
best E.T 11.78@119 (cam only)
Yep, nothing compares to racing. I've raced for a few years, but at this point its been 2 whole years since my last race. I think about it every day. The only reason I'm not racing right now is that my job and home situation doesn't support it. No wife, no kids, not even a pet. I did take advantage of the opportunity before though, spent a lot of money and time on it, and don't regret any of it. Like I said, I think about it everyday, and look forward to the next time I can actually race rather than just doing DE.
When I raced before, I did it with a lot of help from my father and used his garage. Part of the time I was racing I was still trying to finish college and living off of money I had saved while working full time. Now I work and live in an area where I can't even think about affording a garage, tow rig, etc. I could still do it if I go back home every weekend and spend all my time there wrenching in the garage. Which might still happen, just have to see how things go.
It would be great to race in T1 with a vette, but if that is too much money to risk as a race car (I know for many it is) then try one of the cheaper classes like spec miata. It might seem like it would be boring with such a low powered car, but it isn't. Not in the slightest. I've raced Spec Miatas, GT Pintos, Factory Five Cobras, high powered Camaros and Firebirds, and they're all a blast when you're racing.
David: AGAIN, sound judgement and worthwhile points to ponder!
Best of Luck in '05!!
__________________ PowerPro01 sez "STAY TUNED"................ GarettO's the SigGod! "NOTHING Matters...until you CARE..." Bob Gibson If RACING was EASY, they'd call it WINNING ! Anonymous
David,
Well said. Your thoughts closely echo mine. The experiences I've had in the last two years racing and the friends I have made will both last a lifetime.
I look forward to building more at Memphis in March.
The experiences I've had in the last two years racing and the friends I have made will both last a lifetime.
Exactly my point, Brad. I don't want to be on my death bed (hopefully) several years from now wishing I had done certain things. Racing is one of them.
president of the family business and partners with my brother.
Dave I took a small snip of the post. You have something many don't. Your own busness which means flexible hrs. and hopefully extra $$$$$$$$. The second is you have family to cover your business when you are racing or prepping for it and traveling. Your right I raced boats for 15 years and it is great. Friends, competition, and travel all made it great. If you can do it try it.
I talked to David on the phone for a bit last week-he is a VERY driven guy, in business AND on the track! He has discovered that life is SHORT, and if there's something out there you have always wanted to do-go for it.
I race with David & Brad., and David couldn't be more right.I am 49 yrs old & I started by doing track days like most guys 4 years ago and was satisfied until at one event they let us pass in the corners. This one guy and I got into a heated battle and passed each other about 20 times during the seesion. We got out of the cars after the session just falling down laughing. I simply could
not believe the difference of true racing vs track day. I went out and got my license a few months later and went racing. sold my street car and bought a race car. Almost every racer will tell you that if they are in a race and there is nobody around you it is incredibly boring..."almost like doing a track day" Now don't get me wrong track days are fun,fun, fun. But for that next level of "FUN" try racing. It's easier to get into then you think...I'm sure any of us who race would be glad to help steer you in the right direction. As NIKE would say>>>>Just Do It!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will tell you this...you will not believe the suprise on your face when some guy muscles past you in a corner. I remember my first time at Road Atlanta thinking "Hey...I didn't give you a point by"
I'd like to add one thing...don't get in too much of a hurry to race. If you're still doing DE, learning and having fun while you're doing it, then I think you're better to stick with that for a while longer. Obviously, you don't want to jump into racing before having a good handle on car control. Racing adds that next challenge, racecraft. Plus, if you jump straight into racing (like I did a few years back), then DE will seem boring in comparison.
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I went out and got my license a few months later and went racing. sold my street car and bought a race car. Almost every racer will tell you that if they are in a race and there is nobody around you it is incredibly boring..."almost like doing a track day" Now don't get me wrong track days are fun,fun, fun. 
But for that next level of "FUN" try racing. It's easier to get into then you think...I'm sure any of us who race would be glad to help steer you in the right direction. As NIKE would say>>>>Just Do It!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Hey...I didn't give you a point by"
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