Simply from the physical & mental perspectives, how many more years do you think you could continue to participate in motorsports? Disregarding financial & "unforeseen circumstances", naturally.

I've been out of it for a long time, but am looking at myself and thinking...
- I'm 62 and probably in as good or better condition than most people I know my age; losing about 30 lbs since 2019 has helped
- My two older brothers are 72 & 74; the younger of them is still active outdoors, but the other has experienced some significant health issues the last couple of years which have slowed him down
- I did one of those life expectancy calculators and it said 91, supposedly 6 or 7 years above the average

Looking at the above and considering my on again/ off again involvement in motorsports (motocross and drag racing) goes back 40+ years, I'm thinking I've got (at least?) 10 more years to do this at some level.

So, I'm curious what others think about this for themselves. Thanks

I’m 76 and in pretty good shape. I’m thinkin, maybe a couple more years. But I’ve been sayin that for a couple years😂😂

I have a friend that is 80+, just trailered to Florida , ran a bracket race, and did pretty good with the new engine he just built/machined. He was happy the car was doing giant wheelies, and running 5.60's. He is definitely one of the ones I think of. He lives in Pa. Sometimes I won't go to my track 20 min away cause it might rain. I'm 48.

I was seriously considering hanging it up at 65. I started a new job this month and I no longer work crazy hours and weekends. It will probably extend my racing career a bunch.

I've got a buddy who survived cancer for the 2nd time 2 years ago at 72. He still races and does fairly well. I've raced with him for 40 years already.

I just look at it week by week, if it is over 90 degrees during the day, I stay home. I don't have an RV so I don't travel anymore either. It's still fun to compete, despite the hassle of loading and unloading everything by myself. I made it out to 12 races last year, one quarter final and one semi, not much to speak of but still fun.
One thing I have done proactively is to sell off all the parts I had, I kept only a spare transmission. Doing the same with junk in my house, don't want to leave a mess behind for my kids to deal with.

I will be 68 in April , I have friends that are still out there bracket racing almost every weekend and they are in their mid 70s. I had my worst year last season breakage wise in almost 40 years of racing including two motors with problems ( luckily only one was serious ). I was asking myself if its worth it? I have arthritis and it takes me longer to work on the car but I still do it for my love of the sport and the long time friendships I have made racing. Seeing that Win light come on and winning a few bucks is an awesome feeling!!! We have fun every time we go even if we don't do well. I enjoy traveling out of state a few times a year to race as well as taking my D150 to Carlisle to show and race even if getting back up the hill where the trucks park there takes me a little longer! I still get excited knowing racing season is coming in a few months despite having a lot of work to do to get ready. The last few years I have really gotten into index racing my car and myself are pretty good at it, unfortunately my local / home track doesn't offer it so I have to travel if I want to index race.. one track two hours away and the other three vs my home track I/2 an hour. Every year I say I am not going to run bracket points and give up my reserved pit parking space at my home track and only travel to index races, every year I end up doing both .. this year probably won't be any different. I purchased a new tow vehicle last year so towing is more comfortable and easy. As I said I am 67 now and still going strong ( however slower ) Whens the first test and tune ? I know the first index race is April !st... lets go !!!

If you want to see just how good a shape you are go to a four day big money race. At 65 years old, fat, and out of shape you have to learn the game and pray you have a motorhome. Usually you get one time trial early in The weekend so take lots of notes on wind and weather. Engine warmups start at between 7-8am and racing usually goes till 4am the next day. Usually I win first round so with buy-backs you probably have 4-5 hours till your next round (if you did win). For use old timers that’s nap time. Second round still a nice break then all heck breaks lose. Bad oil down, nap. Lol. When your day ends you still hear racing into the late hours and at 7am go again for two more days. Then you have the privilege to load up and drive home. I love it but it’s not easy.

I have been done since 2013 when I had the brain bleed. I kept the car in hopes of someone stepping up to drive it more often. That has not happened so we more than likely will sell it this coming spring.

I just turned 82 and I hate that I let my family convince me to quit racing at 80. I know I could still race safely altho my reaction time is probably slower but that's what that delay box adjustment is for. My recommendation is to race as long as you feel safe but when there's any question hang it up!!

I"m not really a racer but I expect to be mostly out of the business by the time I'm 70. I might still help at the track or with tuning but I don't think I'll be wrenching or building parts on a daily basis after that.

I’ll turn 69 in May. I planned on racing 6-10 times per year in retirement, but health, as has been stated, can derail you. For me, barring any serious health issues, I’m planning on racing until I can’t. I lost 10 years of something I REALLY enjoy. I really need to loose weight and get into better cardio shape. The steering wheel doesn’t turn anymore!

National events four days, and if it rains, you stay until it's done. And you need to get there the day before. Points meets three unless it's a double. Road trips may be two races back to back in two different locations. And it's get beat and the weekend's over. That's about all I did for years. Working to getting back to it. Been bored since I got stupid and parked my junk. Staying involved with other folks is not good enough. Actually makes it worse.

We were at the Norwalk IHRA National when BB owned it all, after racing at 42 the weekend before. 1000 cars. Stands packed. Rained Friday and the big show got started late. Jet cars and fireworks at 2:30AM. Then the party started. Not much sleep that weekend. Those were the days.

Someone once asked Jim Dunn how much money it took to run a fuel car. His answer was "all of it".

So, how many more years? All of them.

i'm close to 70, and i haven't had anything running in years due to health issues, so when i FINALLY get something running, i plan on at least airport drag racing until i croak.

I friend of mine at work was up at Don Garlits Museum a couple weeks ago and got a person tour of the museum from Don. He was telling my friend that he's still working on his electric dragster and is hoping to set the EV dragster national record next year. I think he said the record is a little over 200MPH in the 1/4. Don's 89.

I loved racing from age 25 to 39, then I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, I had to quit racing because my left side does not work correctly anymore. It sucks not being able to race, I still go and watch sometimes but it is not the same.

I’m 67. Still very competitive. Still having fun. Still in good health. No reason to quit.
Doug

I'm seeing a lot of positive role models with the geriatric drag racers here.

Out of curiosity I had to check:
- Warren Johnson raced NHRA Pro Stock until he was 70 (won his last National at 66)
- 'Dyno' Don Nicholson was still rowing gears in NHRA Pro Stock Truck at 71.

Like Mr. Incredible said... "Yeah, I got time."

Big BIG difference between racing’s National Events and racing a big money weekend. 4 races plus gamblers races with steady racing not sitting around watching the big guys race and qualify. If you have never raced one try it sometime because although very tiring they are ran beyond professional.

Down side of 72, I’ll find out this summer. I’m a one man game, building, install, upkeep and driving

Yep, I hear you. Same here. Loading up at the end of the day was tiring 20 years ago. lol