I may be a bit odd but I have a routine I want when I go racing. I get fairly stressed out if I am going and driving my own car. I don't want to talk to anyone or discuss anything the morning of the race when I drive to the track. I like to go alone. Why that is I don't know. I get lots of offers for help race day and I appreciate that although some help during the build would be a lot more valuable. After several emotional contortions I have finally come to the place where I have no trouble saying "No I want to drive down alone." It wasn't always easy for me to do that but as the window of racing opportunity gets smaller I have gotten to the point where I can. I have had some weird experiences too. One fellow and a good friend would drive an hour ro go racing with me but every time but one he came it would rain. One time he came and we set out for a Saturday race at Shannonville. The sun was shining when we climbed in the truck and headed for the track. We even commented on how we wouldn't get rained out today. We just made the turn into the Shannonville track off HWy2 and it turned dark and rained so hard I couldn't see out the window. I told him right there , "That's it you are not coming racing with me again." This was about the 6th time. Now I know it wasn't his fault but the added stress seems to be something I didn't need. Another old pal would come here and go with me pitching in at every point to help BUT would talk politics and complain about life in general the whole time. He being of UK decent and me being German blood (both sides) the clash of cold logical thinking verses free ranging abstract whatever did not set well and by the time I got the track I wished I hadn't come. A couple of times I almost lost my breakfast. Now I just refuse to have anyone with me as hard as it is to do because it seems to be what I need. Once I am at the track, have the car unloaded with my stuff all ready and have run the car through its warm up cycle I am fine. I don't want to sit and argue but I do then enjoy sitting there shooting the breeze and meeting folks as I wait for the track warms up. I don't run till I can hear the tires screech which is a sure sign the old airport tarmac has come around. Anyone else like that or am I alone in this. It could be because in younger years I always raced alone, driving from Picton to Ceders Drag Strip in PQ or down to Mohawk both in the old days and later years. My wife in later years used to go but she somehow knew not to say a word. Even on a long haul she understood and I have heard her say to others, "Don't tease the bear this morning." If I had a hired shoe or a partner/driver it was a whole different deal and I enjoyed the company but when I am wheeling for some reason I need to be quiet.
don
-- Edited by Don on Friday 19th of September 2014 07:23:26 PM
-- Edited by Don on Friday 19th of September 2014 07:24:47 PM
-- Edited by Don on Friday 19th of September 2014 07:25:32 PM
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SR Dragster because old people need to have fun too!
I sometimes go with two other guys when I go to Cayuga or st Thomas , and the both of them any little squeak rattle , gear tire noise etc , they both will do a double take , bend forward , act like they hear a ticking bomb in the glove box , cant you here that ??. the rear end is making a noise . have you checked etc etc , which gets my wife worried or upset , . for pete,s sakes my tow vehicle has 310 k,s on it , perfectly safe , any tow vehicle will make some noises under load .
another guy I go to track with goes out of his way to out loud , be ignorant to his girl friend slash wife slash live in , right in front of people . I,m so sick of hearing it . this year I,m telling him no more . your not going to track with me .
I have a pretty lazy attitude towards my drag car , its safe an all that good stuff , but if it quits , not running right times etc . I just drive it an have fun any ways , If its not running right , I trailer it an go bother other people in the pits . one guy I know , man , his car spins on a gear change an he,s ready to smash it with a hammer back in the pits
usually I go by myself also . and the thing where if you go with another guy an they say " Ok we will follow you "
Man as soon as I hear that line . I don,t even wanna go any more
and the guys that want to invent a new route to Cayuga , Ummmm ???. lets see qew south , get off at twenty , turn right , go to 3 , turn right , turn left on kohler road , turn left into track . that's it , Oh can we go a more scenic route . LIke WTF ???. who wants to be running down 2 lane back roads towing a car on trailer , sorry I,m sticking to the highway , you go any way you want ... Well .... Ok .... we,ll just follow you then . @#! F %^$*(& . Man I hate that line
Another dude I been to Cayuga with has a 12 valve 2500 series dodge truck , my 01 grand Cherokee can go from barrie to track an back to fuel stop in Cayuga with about 3/8,s tank left , so I fuel up there , my fuel tank holds about 80 bucks worth from near empty , the 12 valve holds 135 bucks worth of fuel . every single time he makes appoint of oh you gotta get fuel . I,VE got HALF tank left , YOU need to get a diesel to tow with .
an its like fer phuc sakes idiot your phucin fuel tank is twice the size of mine of course you can go further .
Holy Crap this post hit a nerve ha ha .
Rant off ..77.
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I,m as cool as Milner , but axeually a bit more like Beckwith
Oh You have it too dont you. Exactly! Got me grinning now. From here on in till in the morning I leave am afraid to answer the phone. In fact I have decided I wont.
don
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SR Dragster because old people need to have fun too!
last time at Cayuga , some clowns with pro mods or what ever , on a test n tune day blew up on both lanes of track , shut the whole thing right down . So I get blanket from back of jeep , a bottle of water , and set down under one of those lil tree,s on the road side side of the pits , a bit shade , nice breeze . the people I was with were like " what are you doing ?????" well the tracks gonna be closed for half an hour .... I,m gonna have a nap ... took off my shoes an crashed right there . come get me when the tracks open . I think I slept for a bit more then half an hour ha ha . got up , felt great , an dude was still freaking cause his sbc wasn,t running right . I tell ya I am so glad I missed that half hour of b s
hmmmm , that reminds me ... next trip to track , take a pillow , lots better then a rolled up jacket ..77.
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I,m as cool as Milner , but axeually a bit more like Beckwith
i like to have someone with me to help with the hood/deck lid etc. and for the company. i get plenty of offers, but when race day arrives, everybody's busy !!!!! @#$@#$
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don't walk in like you own the place..........walk in like you hold the mortgage.
We usually all pit together so help is always there.
I am just finishing my morning coffee then its off the garage to finish up and hook up the trailer. Will head out sometime between 10 and 10.30
don
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SR Dragster because old people need to have fun too!
Not sure if its just because I'm getting older, but more and more everyday I love working in my garage alone. Going to swap meets is another thing, its better by myself or maybe one guy. I find when your with a group of people your stopping and waiting, I end up walking back more then I walk forward. LOL! As far as the track, I think if I raced my car I would want somebody that was calm hanging with me, I'm sure I'd be a lot like Don. Maybe Doug would be good to go with, just need to bring him that fluffy pillow! HRD
Your not alone Don. When I used to race my car I did everything alone. I had lots of offers for help but always declined. I just preferred to load the trailer, strap down the car, unload and even drive to the track alone. My wife and some friends would usually come but they left home way after I was gone. Once I was at the track and have made a few passes I was more relaxed. I don't know why I prefer to be alone but I do. Even when I'm working on the car in the garage I prefer to be alone, it's relaxing. Swap meets too.
Great posts guys, interesting reading. When i ran Cayuga MANY years ago , always went by myself, just prefered it that way. Now when i think back on it, i would have been in trouble if i broke, as i drove it there.
