me and grass roots motorsporting just never seem to work out

When it come to me actualy participating in motorpsorts things just never seem to come together. Todays most recent dissapointment; I was suposed to be participating in the Pine Barrons Express TSD rally today,(possibly the last one ever), but I never even made it across the bridge into NJ. I was at first going to be navigator for my friend Dave in his Explorer, but he had a class that runs late on saterdays and couldn't get out in time to make the drive out to the site. So with two weeks notice that he couldn't do it ,he tells me to take the exploder, get annother navigator and have fun.

So I ask car buddy A if he wants to do it, he answers yes. Two days latter he tells me "the bride says no!". Next I ask car buddy B, he says absolulty yes! We even have a dry run using tulip route instructions from the Targa Newfoundland Rally. We did it siting in the car in the dark at the pace of that rally stage so that we could simulate going through that many instructions in a short time. It seemed like a very helpful training tool. So thursday he calls me and tells me he has been sick in bed all week and is having emergency (albeit minnor) surgury on friday! Well no PBX rally for me at this point.

Next I decide to go to the rally anyway to work as a volunteer, sounds simple what could go wrong? Well I will tell you what went wrong. I inadvertantly got locked out of my house this morning after running some early morning errands, and didn't get back in untill 1:00pm; rally start time! It was a two hour drive to the rally location. Maybe it was the wrong choice, but I decided to go to car buddy C's house to drink beer instead.

Due to family obligations, illness, work and bad luck I've missed every auto-x ,rally-x and hill climb in the Eastern PA area in last two years. The awsome pile of parts for my 200x challenge car hasen't been touched in months either :(

Maybe next year will be better... car buddy C has an old, but decent chrysler coupe that is BABE rally material, and his bride is a hard-core foodie, so if New Orleans is involved the answer is not just yes, but you better!

Miata?

Sorry dude, I couldn't resist.

Things happen for a reason, although it can be very hard to see it in the heat of the moment, even when the moment lasts two years. Don't give up, don't ever give up. You just need to find car buddy 'D' and make a pact.

Was the beer good at least? If it's any consolation Albert King knows your pain. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKY8KIt9kqc

EastCoastMojo wrote: Miata? Sorry dude, I couldn't resist.

would a miata have prevented me from getting locked out of the house

RXBeetle wrote: Was the beer good at least?

molson ice... neutral on the taste buds, but prompt with the buzz. good enough.

i haven't actively participated in an organized event as a driver since y2k.... life gets in the way quite often.. but 09 will be the year of my return, i have been reducing the pile of good parts by actually installing them(and increasing the pile o bad parts) if all goes well, ill have two cars ready by march (one $2008 car, one road rally set up car) and can start practicing again and get back into the groove.. I try and do a little bit at least once or twice a week on my precious few days off, but im starting to see some progress, and that motivates me to keep going.. not always easy to get off your rump and gert stuff done though, especially when working 60+ hours a week and high stress levels, but if anything, its good therapy....

I participated in 7 rallycrosses, 3 TSD rallys, and a couple solo events. I also chaired an event, and volunteered at another. I love being involved, it has literally changed my life.

HappyAndy wrote:

EastCoastMojo wrote: Miata? Sorry dude, I couldn't resist.

would a miata have prevented me from getting locked out of the house

Yes, if you keep a spare house key in the glove box.

HappyAndy wrote: Maybe next year will be better... car buddy C has an old, but decent chrysler coupe that is BABE rally material, and his bride is a hard-core foodie, so if New Orleans is involved the answer is not just yes, but you better!

By all means join us on BABE. Lots of Philly area teams to help you get ready keep you motivated.

I think the Philly contingent is just going to be huge this year. And last year the top 3 spots were all won by Philly teams so we have a fine tradition :)

I was really upset when the AE92's engine sprung an oil gusher one Friday when the autocross was on Saturday :( Took about 3 months to get the parts smuggled in...and the oil pan seal is dripping now.

And then I missed an offroad event because I couldn't get anyone to navigate :(