So That's Why I Never Became a Professional Race Car Drive

I firmly believe that mechanics make terrible race drivers.

A winning driver will destroy the car to win. A mechanic will try to save it.

Same goes for pilots.

kb58 said:

This thread reminds me of how misguided teachers and parents tell kids, "You can grow up to be anything you want." Really, like if I like basketball, I can become an NBA star. Or President, or fireman, or racecar driver, etc.

Life's a bitch, kids. Not everyone's going to grow up to be 7-ft+, and if you do the math regarding how many kids are born in a year (~1M), versus how many NBA players are acquired, will, there you go.

My favorite is about becoming president. It's pretty easy math: one president every four years, and in that time, 4.2 million kids are born. So there are the odds, but I guess you could spin it as "well someone's going to win."

Okay, I get it, it's to be upbeat and positive about what kids can do, to not dash their dreams, but it's also so close to dishonesty, it's amazing how it's encouraged to continue. But I guess as long as there's Santa, kid's dreams pass for reality.

Oddly, I'm not encouraged to talk to the grandkids very often.

Yeah, I really wish people would be more honest more with kids. 

"You can be anything you want" -> "You can do incredible things IF you are flexible, hardworking, good at getting connections and learn how to take advantage of opportunities. Also you need some luck."

I wanted to race cars when I was a little kid. No connection to sports car racing in my family, but my dad was an equine artist. 

When I was 19, I went into the harness racing business. After a few years I got my license and did a little driving, but only 30 races in total. One win, six seconds, three thirds.
 

Not bad, considering I never got to drive any really fast horses. I worked on 50 tracks in ten states and two provinces, and was fortunate to get to work with some really good horses. 
 

I left the track after 12 years to start college. Now I work on cats and dogs. 

I finally started autocross at age 62. I'm 65, and have competed in about 60 local events. While I wish I had started sooner, I'm making the best of it. 

1976. Darius Hanover, at Ben White Raceway in Orlando (now closed). One of the few items to survive a house fire.

1980, Lime Time, in the winner's circle after setting the Aged Stallion track record at Vernon Downs in Vernon, NY. 

Last month. I'll keep at it until they take my keys away. 

I'll be 66 at my first Challenge.

In reply to Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) :

That's incredible. Do you ever go back to the equine stuff now that you're older?

In reply to DaewooOfDeath :

No, that's another lifetime ago. And racing cars is safer.

Warning: public school teacher opinion.

Disclaimer: opinion not representative of the school system.

I tell kids a few things:

"Ask adults what they want to be when we grow up, we're all still looking."

"The school system teaches you to find your passion and get a job doing that.  May I counter that instead you find a job that amuses you and pays the bills, and get a hobby that is your passion.  Making your passion a job turns your passion into work,  then it becomes "just work," and you'll hate it. You need something else to keep you getting up every day" (also, look at all the old folks who work work work and when they retire they die because they have no purpose anymore).

"Don't be so focused on your goals that you miss the opportunities that come your way."

"Make yourself employable - you have no idea what you're going to be doing 20 years from now, and how the skills you develop right now are going to benefit you."

"The best part of highschool is getting out."

In reply to SkinnyG (Forum Supporter) :

Sounds like you find the self esteem cliche inspirational stuff as frustrating as I do. (Former public school teacher.)

Becoming a professional anything 99 percent of the time sucks the fun out of what ever you are a professional of. As such racing for me was always a hobby that was time to have fun with friends.  Going pro would have ruined that. 

I look at the talent of the pros and think some of them must be genetically engineered. I always, and I mean five year old always loved cars and planes.  When I became a private pilot and bought a cheap airplane I could have seen myself doing nothing but flying, but never thought to be a professional pilot because that looked boring.  I had a small banner towing business and hated it.  Life changes and I stopped flying.

I discovered autocross at an older age and fell in love with it.  I sometimes think If I could drive for a living I'd be happy, but I'm talking "transporter" stuff without the muscles and drama.

I think in looking back I wish I had just known and planned for more.  It's what I am telling my kids about choosing a career.  Look at what you want to do with your hobbies and budget accordingly.

I would truly buy a barn and live in a trailer next to it, just to have more time and money for cars.  My wife is more than indulgent about my hobby (we just picked up a challenge car and the basement and garage have tires in storage), but she draws the line at my trailer idea.

I'm content finding rally cross, hill climbs, auto cross and track days.  I just wish I'd do more. I don't kid myself about how hard the pros work.  I just want to find more time to get behind a wheel.

I'm stuck around 14 mentally. Not sure I'll ever progress past that