Decisions,Decisions ?

Posted By: 73roadbird

Decisions,Decisions ? - 10/30/10 07:25 PM

Well I'm trying to decide whether or not to build a new motor and trans. for my dart. Haven't raced for about 3 years now. Two years ago I sold the motor and trans. to a friend of mine for his street car, and I just started a new job about 5 weeks ago, not sure how long that will last with the state of the economy. Just not sure whether to go forward or just put the car up for sale and move onto other things I guess with the increasing costs of racing and getting to the track is a factor. Most of the guys I used to go with have sold their cars or are to busy these days. At 49 I just don't know if it's worth it anymore, I guess I'm getting tired. Don't get me wrong I go now and then to spectate and enjoy it, and when I'm there I say to myself man I have to get back out there, but then as time goes on I lose interest. Anyone else go through this? I do have a street car I could run at times, but not sure I would want to run it much as it's a numbers matching car, so what would you guys do? any opinions would be helpfull and may sway me to make a decision whether to sell out and move on.

Posted By: WILD BILL

Re: Decisions,Decisions ? - 10/30/10 07:33 PM

You only live once.

I say get out there and enjoy it.

Posted By: 73roadbird

Re: Decisions,Decisions ? - 10/30/10 07:57 PM

Yea, I agree on the only live once comment. I guess as I think back over the years I had some good times with friends at the races and after the races, it just seems as though with the goofy world and the economy the way it is, kind of appears as thought the good times are over and may not return, kind of depressing. I think one minute I'm going to sell it then just today my son and I went out and opened up the trailer to put the hood back on it, been off since I pulled the motor, then as I stood there and stared at it I told my son, just don't think I can sell it, man I'm confused.

Posted By: dragram440

Re: Decisions,Decisions ? - 10/30/10 08:11 PM

Dont sell it unless you have to. You will regret it and they arent getting any easier to find.

Posted By: topside

Re: Decisions,Decisions ? - 10/30/10 08:12 PM

Maybe instead of a big financial commitment to a new engine & trans, find some inexpensive used stuff, plug it in, and get back to the track. Kinda depends on whether the fun for you is in competing, or chasing an ET/MPH goal.
My own car has turned into more of an engineering/tuning hobby, and for the competition deal I want to build or buy a slower car that doesn't require as much work. For that matter, I've actually taken rental cars to the track and had a great time.

Posted By: WILD BILL

Re: Decisions,Decisions ? - 10/30/10 08:13 PM

Quote:

kind of appears as thought the good times are over and may not return, kind of depressing.

Times are what you make them

Does your son have any interest in racing?

Maybe just go out with the 2 of you and have a ball

What part of PA are you in?

Are you close enough to come to any of the CCE races regularly?

Always good people to hang with

Posted By: CHAPPER

Re: Decisions,Decisions ? - 10/30/10 08:22 PM

Been there/done that. I just started racing again after a 10-12 year retirement. I had raced off and on since 1968. Sold my car, trailer,etc in '05. I thought I was getting too old and was busy with my business. Times change, and I have put together another car to play with. I think I enjoy it more now than I did years ago. This time, I can go as often or as seldom as I want. No self pressure to go often and race hard and be PO if you don't do good. Now I just go and enjoy myself and what happens just happens.

Posted By: 73roadbird

Re: Decisions,Decisions ? - 10/30/10 08:38 PM

Thanks guys for all the comments, Ran for points for several years and then started a business so the racing took a back seat. Ran the car may be 10 times over the last few years, then the economy affected my business so I closed up and sold some things, all were paid for, and still have the car setting with 12 passes on the new slicks. Son not interested in racing, and my wife used to go but not interested in going and setting at the track, to hot during the summer and the noise ect. so if I would press on I'll be going myself. If I decide on another motor ect. it will be a mild one and with the intent of racing once and a while no ponts. May head to Maplegrove next week for the racer flea market with or without the car and parts. I figure I have a week to think about it some more.

Posted By: 73roadbird

Re: Decisions,Decisions ? - 10/30/10 08:39 PM

I'm located in South Central Pa. near the Md/Pa state line.

Posted By: 340B5

Re: Decisions,Decisions ? - 10/30/10 09:04 PM

I know that feeling. At age 52, I've only been doing the dragstrip only thing for a few years, and have been thinking about getting a street car. Restorable bodies are hard to find and getting expensive, but running a drag car isn't cheap either and that takes some of the fun out of it. It's real hard to find the balance between saving for retirement, kid's college and having some fun too.

you only live once, but I don't want to eat dogfood when I retire.

My advice would be to run a street car occasionally to "get your fix", and it could double as back-up transportation when your other vehicles are down for repairs.

Posted By: RUNCHARGER

Re: Decisions,Decisions ? - 10/30/10 10:15 PM

I sold my last racecar in 1990 and was going to build another one "some day". I've had a few false starts and doubt I'll ever get it done now. What stops me is the cost of racing, the entry fee, enclosed trailer, fuel for the car and the truck, updating the belts etc. It's a lot of money to make a few runs on a weekend. Way cheaper to say go dirt biking or quading and there is way less upkeep and way more seat time.

Sheldon

Posted By: 73roadbird

Re: Decisions,Decisions ? - 10/30/10 10:52 PM

Yea, I sit down and figure the costs as well, as you said fuel for the car, truck, gate fees,belts, food, either there at the track or you take from home, still adds up. I like the races, but things arn't what they used to be. I have a street car that I almost have finished, needs a few small things, and have thought about selling the race car then putting some of the money in a nice smallblock for the street car and run it once in a while. I don't want to race the original motor or trans. because it's numbers matching. Now it takes a small fortune just to get to the track. I have other interests as well, motorcycles, hunting, which all cost money, but at this point I think the wow factor in me building another motor doesn't excite me as much, heck I hope I'm not getting old yet.

Posted By: Crizila

Re: Decisions,Decisions ? - 10/30/10 10:58 PM

I stepped out of the racing scene for over 30 years due to many different things. Finally retired about 8 years ago and again had the time to get back in to what I really enjoyed. My suggestion - Make a plan and go for it and remember, although happiness is a low ET, it only applies when you stay within your financial means.

Posted By: 73roadbird

Re: Decisions,Decisions ? - 10/30/10 11:28 PM

Some good points. 30 years wow that's quite a span of time. When I first built my car I worked alot of overtime, before I opened my own business. When the local economy went down and my business suffered for about 2 years and just decided I had enough of the long hrs. The race car still sat. Back then I had some time and not much money, as everything I made went back into the business, now I work for someone else I have the time and some money, just not sure I want to get back into it. Years ago it was fun, but now it seems to take so much. May be that's why some of my friends no longer are into it, may be it's taking me longer to realize it, don't know, but for now the car will set patiently waiting in the trailer awaiting my decision. I may take my street car out before the season closes up here and make a few passes and see how I feel, if the interst comes back then the motor may happen over the next few months, we'll see

Posted By: roadhazard

Re: Decisions,Decisions ? - 10/31/10 12:28 AM

Quote:

but for now the car will set patiently waiting in the trailer awaiting my decision.

It don't cost you anything for it to sit there for a while. Many times that I wished not selling a car that I liked.

If no rush to decide these cars will rebound in value IMO

Mild motor on the cheap to have a running vehicle and play with it when you feel like and would also be worth more.

I hear ya on the small business owner thing

Greg

Posted By: 383man

Re: Decisions,Decisions ? - 10/31/10 12:42 AM

I am 54 and I love muscle cars and drag racing. I have my 63 Sport Fury that is a street/strip car that I really have alot of fun with. Its not the fastest but fast enough to have fun when I go to the track and I have fun just driving to local cruises and car shows also. I had to sit out about 15 years as my kids grew up but I never lost interest and love it so much I plan to build a new eng this winter. Ron

Posted By: 73roadbird

Re: Decisions,Decisions ? - 10/31/10 01:01 AM

I was with a chevy friend of mine a few weeks ago and he hasn't had his car out much this year may be three times, so the other week he decides to get the car out. Gets there and techs in, goes to the lanes and the first pass he has a fuel pump issue and the car sort of lays down through the entire run and ended up getting towed back to the trl. so we pushed the car back on the trl. and headed home. He was sort of disappointed as was I. Fuel to get there,race fuel and 50.00 gate fee and one slow pass. We talked about it on the way home and he sort of thinks the same way I have been lately. all the work, time, and money and one pass. He is about 2 years younger than me. Costs so much these days when you have to watch your budget and not sure what the future holds. Glad to hear that some on here are still making passes at my age or older than me. I guess it keeps ya young at heart. I know when I was turning wrenches every day I lost interest in cars, and I thought now since I don't do it for a living anymore the spark would come back, but not yet, so I guess I'll wait it out some more.

Posted By: Super Scamp

Re: Decisions,Decisions ? - 10/31/10 02:12 AM

Most of the racers we go racing with are older. I'm 46 and my Father 66 just got back into racing after a 25 year vacation.

He was at a race that I was running in and caught the (In THE BLOOD BUG) I was born into Drag Racing. If I can't afford to race the car sits.

Thier is a 440/Trans for sale on RJunk for 3500 get it and put it in and go racing.

Posted By: camastomcat

Re: Decisions,Decisions ? - 10/31/10 03:17 AM

I'm 54 and having alot of fun. I have 2 dragsters, both with 572 B1's. Sometimes I get tired of it, but it keeps me sober and focused. Everybody has their limits though. It's not much fun to do when you don't have any money or time.

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Attached picture 6276663-dragster2(800x600).jpg

Posted By: Crizila

Re: Decisions,Decisions ? - 10/31/10 04:27 AM

I'll be 66 in a few weeks. I'm very happy just running in the 11's at around 115. At that level, I don't break much stuff ( translates - I'm not spending big $ and up & down on the creeper every weekend ). I do all my own engine, trans, diff builds cause nothing has to be so exotic that I have to send it to a "specialist ". Running my dial-in is uaually no problem. If I can cut a good light, I can be competative in pro at any track. I'm having fun for little dollars.

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Posted By: RUNCHARGER

Re: Decisions,Decisions ? - 10/31/10 04:29 AM

I know my street car is pretty fast and I have all the stuff laying around to make it Very fast. Yet I don't even take it to the track. I think once you've raced an actual race car it's hard to go and make laps in something not as serious for some reason.

Sheldon

Posted By: 73roadbird

Re: Decisions,Decisions ? - 10/31/10 02:31 PM

I may just use the street car for racing once in a while vs. building or buying another motor for the race car, being it's a race only car. I don't have a problem going slower than before, but with the street car I would get more seat time be able to enjoy it more so I'm leaning more in that direction. A guy I raced with before sold h

Posted By: Crizila

Re: Decisions,Decisions ? - 10/31/10 02:47 PM

Quote:

I may just use the street car for racing once in a while vs. building or buying another motor for the race car, being it's a race only car. I don't have a problem going slower than before, but with the street car I would get more seat time be able to enjoy it more so I'm leaning more in that direction. A guy I raced with before sold h

Solution; have two identical cars. The street version is my wifes, so I do have to ask permission before I can drive it

Posted By: smokinwoody

Re: Decisions,Decisions ? - 10/31/10 02:59 PM

be happy with what you have..

Posted By: 73roadbird

Re: Decisions,Decisions ? - 10/31/10 03:14 PM

May go that route with the street car. Having some computor issues today. My last reply got sent out before finishing. Good racing friend sold his race car a few years ago and built a nice consistant street car and does race it and runs it on the street to. He said he got tired of the belt issues every two years and the jacket stuff and everything else that goes with it. I'm going to talk to him this week to get filled some more on the duel purpse car thing. I'm leaning toward that now instead of doing the race car.