Re: It is very difficult to just walk away
 

Goinbroke, if it wasn't for racing and cars in general my father and I would have never had a relationship. Just help him as much as possible and team up together as it makes this deal a whole lot easier on everyone and their pocket book. My first two years running with no helping hands was a handful and dejecting when things went wrong and needed to be repaired. It was me, myself and I in the garage working long nights like 99.99999% of us on this site.


So if anyone in the Mass, CT or New Hampshire area needs a helping hand with their car/racing or anything else related this year just let me know.


Thanks
Manny

Re: It is very difficult to just walk away
 

Chuck,
A lot of us, myself included, share your pain. When someone decides to quit or take a break the reasons are not new. We have heard them all before and those reasons are not insignificant.
Quitting racing is just like realizing you must divorce a spouse you truly love but cannot live with anymore.
Life goes on and there is life beyond racing. I just wish the transition was easier.
Good luck

Bill Ringer
5750 SS/FA

Re: It is very difficult to just walk away
 

I have gone to one bracket race in the last 2 years, hopefully that is going to change this year. But I aint sellin my junk. My wife and kids can figure that out when I am gone.

Re: It is very difficult to just walk away
 

Chuck, remember the day when there would be probably 2 dozen legal stock eliminator cars that would show on Sunday at Columbus. I am of the opinion that with a major market the size of Columbus that it could still support a weekly or at least monthly show of stock and superstock. Should have to tow to Ky or Tenn. I think that NItro Joe and the boys from eastern Ohio have the idea, could just use more of that type of show. Why don't you and some of the locals there organize a show. You can still have a good sshow and control how it is run. You and Baker Buick and baker Ford from Neark and the Deans could put something together. Can't see how NHRA really would care what you guys do. Would sure beat a "fire sale" and giving your stuff away. If you really want to get out, your better to give it away and call it a chariable write off for taxes. But, with the time and money that you have invested you really don't want to do that, do you?

Re: It is very difficult to just walk away
 

Here's a quick update, Last night I picked up a junior dragster for the 10 year old.

Gerry and John, this might effect my ability to tech s/ss this year, sorry! LOL!
(unless I bring the kid and let him race at the same time?)

Mamma was really pissed when I got home but is kinda letting it slide right now.
The kids don't know about it though, it's at a friends place.

Once he's hooked....hehehe

Re: It is very difficult to just walk away
 

Chuck, after reading your post, in some ways it sounds just like myself. and Myron, Yes, NHRA could care less about what we do but IHRA is the same way. Now that being said, guys like Chuck and myself, that have raced all our lives, working long hard hours on our jobs and going racing, just didn't put back the funds we need now aday, just to pay bills and put food on the table.
Now you younger guys that are now coming up in the racing world, don't see our problems, but one day you will be at that point in your life, and i can pass on some good advice, don't let the racecar control your lives. Some of you are more fortunate than us older guys, your funds are better than ours . Yes i will be quitting very, very soon, and will miss the many friends we have made over the years, NHRA miss us, hell no, i never heard from a single one of them when i lost my car in Gainesville and almost lost my life. When chuck and i started racing at the local tracks, it was a lot of fun, plus gas was a quarter a gal also. This economy now, makes it hard to go up and down the roads at $3.00 a gal fuel, $12.00 a gal race fuel. Take that along with health issues, you better have a big nest saved up
Good luck to all you guys that can still go on.

Re: It is very difficult to just walk away
 

Truer words have never been spoken. Your health is the most important thing you can have. More so than the money. If you have a nice nest egg it can quickly turn into a very small nest egg with the rising cost of drag racing or trying to keep up with those who are better off. You will be missed by your friends the most and the fans who have kept up with drag racing in one way or the other thru the years.