Time to "hang em up"

GSlaton · 01-23-2017, 08:59 PM

Its time for me to hang up as well. My son doesn't want me to race BUT as someone said its just something you can't get out of your system. I sold my Firebird about 10 years ago and thought I was done. I started looking at all the ads last year and wound up buying another Firebird. I thought I would just freshen it up and go racing, if it ran .60 under so be it, wrong. The car was much more of a mess than I originally thought and here I go again, throwing more money at it than I should. I hope to get it running in time for the first race of the year at Baton Rouge. The only thing that puts that in doubt is my lack of energy. I am 72 and the difference between now and 10 years ago is amazing and scary. I will get out there sometime this year and may not win a round but I will be out there with all my friends. I love this stuff and I am so looking forward to that first race.

Gary

Adger Smith · 01-24-2017, 06:29 AM

Gary Slaton I'm right there with you. After 10 years off to take care of family I'm going to try again. Hope to see you out, sometime this year.
Ed Wright You can't quit. I haven't had a chance to kick your butt in a race & you sure haven't had the chance to kick mine. Looking forward to one more go around. got a few more obligations at my shop and then use what energy is left to get out there..

Greg Hill · 01-24-2017, 07:51 AM

I sold my car a couple of years ago and haven't looked back. I have just as much fun hauling Andrew's car around and spending time with him. I can start drinking earlier and have no pressure at all. Get to see my friends and now only have one car to keep up.

stage1scott · 01-24-2017, 10:22 AM

Thats a shame-however, your health needs have to take priority. As Greg Hill said above, it is possible to participate otherwise-he has his son, but I remember when I met the late Buick great Dave Benisek, about 1994, he was still owning/building cars and had local talented racers drive for him. First Chris Lee drove his car, then he had a lengthy and a very successful collaboration with Bruce Kent through a couple of cars. Try to see a different way if you can, and you always have Classracer to help keep you in touch. Good luck!

Mark Yacavone · 01-24-2017, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Hill

I sold my car a couple of years ago and haven't looked back. I have just as much fun hauling Andrew's car around and spending time with him. I can start drinking earlier and have no pressure at all. Get to see my friends and now only have one car to keep up.

Works for me...so far

SStockDart · 01-24-2017, 05:03 PM

Thanks for the kind responses. Eddie Rezac, yes we have fond memories of racing at Flightland, Cornhusker, Marion, and Sioux City. My first NHRA race was 1965..51 years ago. A memory that sticks with me is a Class trophy race with Dan Fletcher. I was .005 and left second..

I think the most difficult part of quitting is saying "it is over". The rest will be easy.

I'll be around and I have plenty to keep me busy with 11 Grandkids. Who knows, I might become a moonshiner!!!!

Race safe everyone.

Ed Wright · 01-25-2017, 01:36 PM

I met Eddie Rezak, I think at Omaha, in the early '70s? Had a fast Chevelle. Very friendly, neat guy. And we thought racing was expensive then. LOL

01-23-2017, 08:59 PM	#1
GSlaton Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Bowie,Texas Posts: 66 Likes: 33 Liked 26 Times in 12 Posts	Re: Time to "hang em up" Its time for me to hang up as well. My son doesn't want me to race BUT as someone said its just something you can't get out of your system. I sold my Firebird about 10 years ago and thought I was done. I started looking at all the ads last year and wound up buying another Firebird. I thought I would just freshen it up and go racing, if it ran .60 under so be it, wrong. The car was much more of a mess than I originally thought and here I go again, throwing more money at it than I should. I hope to get it running in time for the first race of the year at Baton Rouge. The only thing that puts that in doubt is my lack of energy. I am 72 and the difference between now and 10 years ago is amazing and scary. I will get out there sometime this year and may not win a round but I will be out there with all my friends. I love this stuff and I am so looking forward to that first race. Gary

01-24-2017, 06:29 AM	#2
Adger Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texarkana Ark/TX Posts: 2,446 Likes: 575 Liked 880 Times in 311 Posts	Re: Time to "hang em up" Gary Slaton I'm right there with you. After 10 years off to take care of family I'm going to try again. Hope to see you out, sometime this year. Ed Wright You can't quit. I haven't had a chance to kick your butt in a race & you sure haven't had the chance to kick mine. Looking forward to one more go around. got a few more obligations at my shop and then use what energy is left to get out there.. __________________ Adger Smith (Former SS)

01-24-2017, 07:51 AM	#3
Greg Hill VIP Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Louisville , KY Posts: 1,995 Likes: 68 Liked 279 Times in 68 Posts	Re: Time to "hang em up" I sold my car a couple of years ago and haven't looked back. I have just as much fun hauling Andrew's car around and spending time with him. I can start drinking earlier and have no pressure at all. Get to see my friends and now only have one car to keep up. __________________ Greg Hill 4171 STK

01-24-2017, 10:22 AM	#4
stage1scott Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Cornville Posts: 406 Likes: 1,870 Liked 109 Times in 44 Posts	Re: Time to "hang em up" Thats a shame-however, your health needs have to take priority. As Greg Hill said above, it is possible to participate otherwise-he has his son, but I remember when I met the late Buick great Dave Benisek, about 1994, he was still owning/building cars and had local talented racers drive for him. First Chris Lee drove his car, then he had a lengthy and a very successful collaboration with Bruce Kent through a couple of cars. Try to see a different way if you can, and you always have Classracer to help keep you in touch. Good luck! __________________ Scott McIntyre-Cornville-retirement at last! 2015 Chevy SS. LS3/ 6 spd Stick-Wolf in sheeps clothing!

01-24-2017, 05:03 PM	#6
SStockDart VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Arizona, Texan forever Posts: 1,176 Likes: 879 Liked 574 Times in 212 Posts	Re: Time to "hang em up" Thanks for the kind responses. Eddie Rezac, yes we have fond memories of racing at Flightland, Cornhusker, Marion, and Sioux City. My first NHRA race was 1965..51 years ago. A memory that sticks with me is a Class trophy race with Dan Fletcher. I was .005 and left second.. I think the most difficult part of quitting is saying "it is over". The rest will be easy. I'll be around and I have plenty to keep me busy with 11 Grandkids. Who knows, I might become a moonshiner!!!! Race safe everyone. __________________ Gary Hansen - SS/FA 4911, B/SA 4911 Last edited by SStockDart; 01-25-2017 at 04:10 PM.

01-25-2017, 01:36 PM	#7
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: Time to "hang em up" I met Eddie Rezak, I think at Omaha, in the early '70s? Had a fast Chevelle. Very friendly, neat guy. And we thought racing was expensive then. LOL __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA