In my post about "Dream Careers" many listed something to do with cars and/or racing, So here is a little gauge to see if you are into cars or racing.
Your into Cars and Racing if ...
- You find that you need a new house because you've outgrown your garage and the neighbors are threatening violence if you park one more vehicle on the street or in the front yard.
- The requirements you give your real estate agent are (in order of importance): 1) 8 car climate controlled garage with an attached shop. 2) Outside parking for 6 cars, a motorhome, a crew cab dualie, a 28'enclosed trailer and a 34' 5th wheel. 3) 3 phase 220V outlets in the garage for your welder. 4) A grease pit. 5) Convenient to a hazardous waste disposal site. 6) Deaf neighbors. 7) Across the street from a paint and body shop. 8) Some sort of house with a working toilet and shower on the property somewhere -or- hookups for the motorhome
- You feel compelled on a road trip to beat your previous best time.
- Your garage holds more cars than your house has bedrooms
- You have enough spare parts to build another car.
- More than one racer supply house recognizes your voice and greets you by name when you call.
- You have car parts in your cubicle at work.
- Your Christmas list begins with another set of BFG R1s and Pauter rods and your 'significant other' knows what they are.
- Your first date involves asking her to crew for you.
- Your criteria for selecting a significant other include auto repair skills. Air tools optional.
- Your friends don't recognize you without a helmet and driver's suit.
- Your family remembers your hair color as "grease".
- You plan your wedding around the race schedule.
- You refer to the corner down the street from your house as "Turn One."
- You've found your lawnmower runs pretty good on 108 octane gas (but doesn't particularly care for alcohol).
- You would choose a rollbar over air conditioning if it were an option.
- You consider the redline a "conservative suggestion" and the rev limiter "a fun limiter"
- You've started looking for sponsors for your daily commute.
- After you tell your wife where you'd like to go on your vacation she answers: "Why... is there a race there?"
- When something falls off of your car, you wonder how much weight you just saved.
- You look in a state police car and see a picture of your car taped to the dash.
- You get pulled over for doing 155 in a 35 but the cops will let you go if "they can look under the hood."
- You remove the $2000 stereo system to save 6 lb. of weight.
- You get an anonymous phone call asking if you are interested in being in the Cannonball Run.
- Your car has more decals on it than most plumbing trucks.
- You have a 5-way harness instead of regular seat belt's.
- You have a parachute on the back of your mini-van, and you use it.
- You spend more on dry claening of your drivers suit than your clothes for work.
- On a two week vacation your back tires take up more space in your trunk than your luggage.
- You tell your mechanic your car is "loose or "tight" to discribe a handling problem.
- Your chair at work has been replaced with a racing seat... and 5-way harness
- Instead of numbers on your house you have "Pit Lane"
- You sign all documents with your name "and" car number.
- You don't tailgate, you "bump draft".
- You don't consider it speeding, you figure you are maintaning a safe operating distance with the car behind you. Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
Troy, I guess I fit most of those descriptions, I have 2 Cortez motorhomes parked in my drive along with a 64 Ford unibody pick up which doesn't have a drive line, an ol 72 Plymouth station wagon, my work vehicle AstroVan and of course my 64 Valiant which is kept in the garage. The Valiant is a street car which runs the quarter mile at the 11.30 bracket.
I have all of the vehicles registered, running and insured except for the unibody Ford. I love vehicles......
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
hahahaha troy....i wish... i live 1/2 mile for a roundy round track...can tell whats going on just by the sound. heheheheh. got 2 acres of ground and am trying to refinance, not to improve the kitchen...but to build a 30' x 40' shop with 14' to the eaves. then i can fill it with my step van, 75 volvo(antique preoject) and get me a real go fast maybe a 59 dodge ...or 66 grand prix...and blow the doors of joeys slo poke mopar....hehehehehehehehehhe
Posted by Dan (Member # 85) on :
Troy, most of the things you list are just on my wish list so far. I am looking for a new place and a large garage/warehouse is a priority.(officially for the business of course ) I have a 1970 340 that will be the heart of a street/strip car. I already have the hauler, a 76 GMC fwd motorhome/mobile office(30 over 455 olds, big cam, 3" exhaust). Top speed so far is only 96 mph, but at 26' long and almost 6 tons it does feel fast Joey, if I'm not mistaken, your Cortez has the same Olds drivetrain. For now I rely on my Polaris 800 Edge X to fill need for speed. It will dangle the skis and stretch your arms to 100 mph.
"If it does'nt have a motor, it's NOT a sport!"
Posted by Harris Kohen (Member # 2139) on :
Whats really sad about that list is that I have had or done some of those things. such as:
1.My desk chair was one of those fiberglass bucket seats from a race car.
2. I drive the NJ Turnpike where if you dont drive thinking your a safe distance from the car in front of you, your going to get run over by the one behind you.
3. The only piece of clothing I had dry cleaned more than once in a year was my driving suit.
4. In my Jeep I had 5 point harnesses and custom buckets.
5. I have used Cam2 racing fuel in my lawn mower and my generator, but the lawnmower couldnt handle the octane. Honda generator seemed to survive better.
6. and last but not least, I used to compete with my current Boss on who could get to the Poconos faster. average driver time would be 2:15, we had it down to 1:20 before we decided it was getting unsafe (100MPH+ at times on the PA pike)
I wouldnt give up any of those fun times I had for anything. It was all a part of growing up, though I refuse to grow up completely.
Posted by Robert Peach (Member # 2620) on :
Troy, Most of what you list applies here.Our shop actually has no engines in it for the first time in almost 20 years. The electric chainfall is still hanging on the ceiling though.We`ve done more engine swaps here between lettering jobs ,than a lot of corner garages. Right now the yard contains my 74 Corvette,35 Ford steel coupe project w/chopped top,Flamed Safari van w/Boyds,Flamed 02 Funmover mobile shop,and flamed Isuzu pickup. I`m in the middle of painting my new toy,a 55 Chevy Gasser fresh out of 30 year storage. Just like 2 Lane Blacktop, glass tilt nose, roll bar, no back seat ,383 stroker 4 speed. It is going to be flat black with a traditional flame job.Can`t wait to take it to cruise night. I`d say I fit the profile.
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