Sociology question in association with face and car thread

Tool Pants, you are a little too young to be wearing dark socks with shorts...don't ya think?

[djomlas]

well nowdays pcars are getting alittle more cheaper than what they were when they jsut came out, and new models came out driving prices of 'older' models down.
the problem is that younger people as soon as u tell them porsche they thing 90 thousand and dont even bother looking in clasifieds for them, and in general older people have more money than broke highschool kids

[JackG]

Our local PCA is has a spread of ages... but probably 70% are over 40. As far as skill level goes, it's the older guys that have dedicated race cars, and aggressively pursue racing. No autocross for them... they do club road races at Robling Road (Savannah, GA), Charlotte Motor Speedway, Daytona, etc. 130+ mph on the straights racing. These old guys can teach you a thing or three.

When you young guys see an older guy, all you see is the snow on the roof. Believe me, there's still a fire burning in the fireplace for most of them/us.

I'm 45, and I used to think that was old. Now I'm thinking 65 or so is getting old...

[Tool Pants]

Got shoes....

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by JackG

Our local PCA is has a spread of ages... but probably 70% are over 40. As far as skill level goes, it's the older guys that have dedicated race cars, and aggressively pursue racing. No autocross for them... they do club road races at Robling Road (Savannah, GA), Charlotte Motor Speedway, Daytona, etc. 130+ mph on the straights racing. These old guys can teach you a thing or three.

When you young guys see an older guy, all you see is the snow on the roof. Believe me, there's still a fire burning in the fireplace for most of them/us.

I'm 45, and I used to think that was old. Now I'm thinking 65 or so is getting old...

Hi,

That's really true. But, you don't have to be older (peak earning years) to be actively involved in racing.

I started in my '20s, co-owned and championed a Formula Ford with a buddy. We alternated driving race to race. Cost us $6k each to get in (car, spares, trailer) and about $3k/yr. each in entry fees, consumables, misc.

But, you can go even less expensively than that. You can get a Formula VEE car for under $6k complete w/ annual costs as low as $3k. Steriodal VW Flat-4 - 130MPH in the straights, and plenty fast for those cars. You can even Auto-X them, I do mine. Vintage races, open class, SCCA Club, etc.

And, age doesn't limit you, only your own skill. Here's a shot of me in my last race this past Sept., in the lead in my Protoform P3 FV ($6500 New, that's less than the cost of some of the mods discussed here, but as low as $3k for a used one). I got held up by traffic and the Silver car behind me got past on the outside on the last lap so I had to settle for 2nd, that's racing...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[djomlas]

damn Jim, is ther anyting out there that you dont race?

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by djomlas

damn Jim, is ther anyting out there that you dont race?

Hi,

Yea, there are lots of racing that wouldn't really interest me. But, I admit a passion for open wheel racing of pretty much all types, including Karting.

FV is maybe the greatest thrill/$. I've twice been able to run Champ and IRL Cars at Indy (the Indy Racing Experience, and an '89 Dallara of Newman-Haas - test chassis limited to 180MPH), and while you feel the increased power and speed, the thrill factor isn't significantly greater.

I've owned my FV since '91 and average about 8-10 events a year + a few Auto-Xs. Tires last 2-3 seasons and I've never had to rebuild the engine, though I might next year. If you really want to do it, FV is a great way to go...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[Adam]

The boxster is the poor man's Porsche which doesn't mean it's cheap, but it's open to a larger demographic. My parents are "vette" people and wanted me to get a corvette. I like the corvette, but domestic cars just aren't my bag for several reasons. I got the car as a college graduation present and I'm not ashamed to say it. I am greatful for things I have at the mere age of 26. I aquired the boxster 3 yrs ago and I wouldn't have picked any other car looking back.

[z12358]

MNBoxster:
"Here's a shot of me in my last race this past Sept., in the lead in my Protoform P3 FV ($6500 New, that's less than the cost of some of the mods discussed here, but as low as $3k for a used one). I got held up by traffic and the Silver car behind me got past on the outside on the last lap so I had to settle for 2nd, that's racing..."

Jim, that looks awfully like the Uphill before the Back Straight at Limerock ( http://www.limerock.com/trackinfo_maps.htm ) which, incidentally, is the only track I've ever driven. This past Sept, too.

Z.

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by z12358

MNBoxster:
"Here's a shot of me in my last race this past Sept., in the lead in my Protoform P3 FV ($6500 New, that's less than the cost of some of the mods discussed here, but as low as $3k for a used one). I got held up by traffic and the Silver car behind me got past on the outside on the last lap so I had to settle for 2nd, that's racing..."

Jim, that looks awfully like the Uphill before the Back Straight at Limerock ( http://www.limerock.com/trackinfo_maps.htm ) which, incidentally, is the only track I've ever driven. This past Sept, too.

Z.

Hi,

Yep! Good Eye! That's exactly where it is. I went out there w/ an old friend who also races FV. He has a complete rig which can haul 3 cars. It was a Charity vintage event (notice the Super VEE, Formula Fords and Spec racers in the background) for Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang camp for terminally ill children.

I love this track, several good off-camber turns. My favorite next to Road America in WI where I also annually attend their vintage race, partnering with the same guy. We camped on the infield for the 2 nights. My best Lap time was 1:11.7. How quick was your Boxster? I wonder how they compare.

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99