This Season Has Been Kinda a Bust

[padam]

I’ll start by saying I had the season of my life last year, winning the UMTR Street Stick class points. I sort of had the intention to step back from racing after that, just because of how resource intensive it is in terms of time money and labor. But over the winter I got really excited about racing again and jumped back in with both feet.

One of the things I don’t like about racing is the effort required to be competitive, and have it washed away by weather or arbitrary decisions by tracks, or just bad luck.

Another is the lack of urgency or commitment among track management. So much time is spent waiting for nothing, next thing you know it’s the middle of the night or weather has rolled in and racing has to be cancelled, never to be rescheduled. I can only imagine how tough it is to run a racetrack, but if you’re going to do it, why not do it right?

My season started off rough, broken transmission and clutch troubles. I got way behind in the points early mostly because of my driving. A lot of breakouts and poor finish line decisions.

Middle of the season I started going some rounds. I had a runner up at Kuhnle in July, then did ok at Nation Trails the next week. Started to claw back some points.

The next race at Quaker I went out Friday the night before and had some good Test and Tune runs, and went a couple rounds in Modified. Cool, feeling good about Saturday.
Well it rained at night and the track cancelled the race at 7:30 am, clear skies at 8:15. They probably made the right choice because it rained again in the afternoon but I was pissed.

Ok looking forward to this weekend at Kuhnle. Well, for whatever reason Kuhnle decided to repave in the middle of the season. Race Cancelled.

Next race I have other commitments. 3 races after that and I think I’m basically mathematically eliminated after July 19.

I really consider Magnolia my home track. The didn’t open this season. It was supposed to open under new management in July. No they are shooting for some time in September. I really hope They do. If I could get some racing in there I think it would salvage my season.

Sorry for the long rant. I do consider myself blessed every day I get to go down the track.

 

[440 PHIXX]

You could have been golfing. Would probably have cost you more $’s.

 

[padam]

You could have been golfing. Would probably have cost you more $’s.

I’m thinking watching golf on tv is the smart move.

 

[Cranky]

I miss it then there were rumors that the 1/4 mile track in Baytown (Houston) was going to close. They actually stayed open for nearly a year longer but instead of selling to another operator, they flat out sold the place to a warehouse outfit that totally uprooted the whole thing. Got another track that's a bit further away but it's 1/8 mile and even though it's better than nothing, I still hate it.

 

[Fran Blacker]

Hard to keep your enthusiasm going when it's not going well.

 

[RemCharger]

Got another track that's a bit further away but it's 1/8 mile and even though it's better than nothing, I still hate it.

 

[Cranky]

Hard to keep your enthusiasm going when it's not going well.

I mainly went to the drag strip to have a good time. Wasn't a partier out there but didn't want to be working on the car the whole time at the track. The car's tune was what I call a 'fat' tune that way the car didn't change much if any during the day and into the evening. Everyone was trying to get the last ounce out of theirs and run on the ragged edge. If my car ran the same ET in a time trial as it did the last time out, I simply left it alone. Never engaged in the smack talk stuff either and the ones that tried it with me got no reaction except for me walking away. My smack talk was on the starting line starting with the burnout. Didn't break the rules but pushed them to the very edge and was the only time I wore a watch....the guys that were faster got hurt the worse. Loved bracket racing even though I didn't like it when it was in it's infancy. My enthusiasm was taking out the biggest mouth lol

 

[fullmetaljacket]

Tracks closing all around us like a plaque, no time to work on 'em even though technology has made it simpler somehow, tight wallets with a shaky economy on the horizon and potential high costs for parts because of shipping or manufacturing logistics are keeping cars at home in the garages or at local car shows at the very least.
The dwindling desolate back streets are quiet, but people don't need to be. Voice your passions.
This era of cars will not die, it's just a cycle.

 

[Runcharger]

I really respect you guys that stick with it for the reasons you listed. I started a few dedicated racecars and time commitments from work and family ended both before I fully sorted them out. In my mind either you're in 100% or you're not.