Pkeegs- Do you have a cousin/family member called Wayne?
Your style reminds me of someone with that name who used to post on here..
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Pkeegs- Do you have a cousin/family member called Wayne?
Your style reminds me of someone with that name who used to post on here..
This.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave B
To be fair to the kid though, he's asking for ways to get on track and off the roads so at least he's doing something to limit the danger to others. Thats a little more than the other second coming of Michael Schumacher 18 year olds are prepared to do.
Karting or autocross is probably the best way to start, except for turn up and drive karting events. Beating the local photocopier salesmen on their annual day out won't teach you anything about how good you are, you need to be up against people with previous racing experience.
Well, I am just about to reply to him :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Starter
Hello.Quote:
Originally Posted by pkeegs
Executive dysfunction. Thank god I reread that :DQuote:
Along with all that, I have certain neurological, psychological, and developmental issues that make traditional schooling nigh on impossible for me to complete. I often don't learn well in a classroom setting, and my ADHD, along with executive dysfunction,
How many people atually get paid for racing? Not that many, most just spend loads of money on it without ever getting any success.Quote:
make doing homework a task to dwarf the building of the Colosseum. So racing, besides being my passion, is one of my very few opportunities to have a successful career in a field that pays well when done well.
Yeah, every boy racer thinks he has the talent to beat the likes of Loeb. The reality is that most of those boyracers are just average. In fact, I could probably beat him in a rally car, but unfortunately I know well enough that there are guys out there who would destroy me in rally and I am not talking about guys like Loeb.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark
hahahaQuote:
Originally Posted by Dave B
If you open with such a post, be prepared to get replies that are not praise.Quote:
Originally Posted by pkeegs
You get one chance for life, you only have one life. Past mistakes will stay with you forever.Quote:
But don't judge me as a person based on stupid decisions I've made in the past.
You are 20 and you want to get into racing? Far too late and that is a fact really. No matter if we are talking about go-karting or rallying.Quote:
All of your points could have been proven in a more polite manner. I find it ironic that you say I'm "18 1/2 max", when I'm 20 and acting more mature than you.
Wow, a racist.Quote:
Originally Posted by janvanvurpa
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark
Mark gave you the best advice possible. Until you get on a closed track, you can't know how good of a driver, or even racer you are.Quote:
Originally Posted by pkeegs
While it's wrong, I'm not going to chastise you about driving like a bat out of hell on public roads... only because I did it myself at your age (and maybe when I was a bit older too :blackeye :) . I love cars. And I've been lucky enough to own some really fast cars. I'm also a great driver (just ask me, and I'll tell you so! ;) ). But you never know when you might meet some father of three on his way to work on that late night stretch of "empty" highway. You or he might drift into the other's lane and one or both of you wind up dead or disabled for life.
Maybe you're a faster, better driver than most... maybe not. But until you get yourself onto a closed circuit, you'll never really know. Plus, you can learn more once you take a class or two and get on track with other trained drivers. And here's a warning from another who thought that he knew more than he actually did: it's MUCH harder to unlearn bad habits than to learn good habits. So the sooner you take a few classes, the better off you'll be in the long run.
As for organizations, try NASA, as well as the SCCA. IMO, NASA is the more cost effective, if not fun option, unless you really do have an eye (and the funding) toward becoming a pro racer.
Oh yeah... the Alfa Disco Volante - sorry, but the Series 1 Jaguar E-type is the most beautiful car ever made (IMO). To each his own, but while the new Volante has some interesting lines, it looks somewhat "confused" in its styling, to my eyes. It's not ugly, but not in the same beauty contest with the XKE... again, in my opinion.
Good luck to you though. And welcome to the board.
True. But I was thinking that if he's tight on money (which he says that he is), it would be better to join NASA, and at least be on a closed circuit, than race on the highway.Quote:
Originally Posted by Starter
I was thinking the same. He even admitted openly that he sounded like a douche in his original post, and had openly admitted some of his actions weren't made using the most sound judgement. Cut the guy some slack and give some real advice, I'm sure most of us have done something stupid in our years driver, just many never admit it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Starter
Yep.Quote:
Originally Posted by Garry Walker
Keegs my boy, it’s time to face reality. At 20 years old, you’re far passed the point of entry into a successful income-generating motorsport career. Admit defeat and resign yourself, like many others here, to a future life on a well-worn couch watching videos of a Stratos screaming through the hills of southern France, with a bag of Cheetos by your side and a can of Budweiser resting precariously, but with proficiency that comes with many weekends of practice, on your ever-expanding belly.
It’s not quite the adrenalin rush to which you’re currently accustomed, but it does grow to be an amenable way to spend a Sunday afternoon following of course the usual chores of mowing the lawn and mending the swing set in the backyard in an effort to alleviate the growing irritation from the missus of consuming copious amounts of Polysporin on the kids’ ubiquitous contusions caused by your dodgy erection of the playset to begin with.
Chin up keegs, hang up the keys to the Asian pocket-rocket with the fart can and trade in for the minivan! you’ve much to look forward to!
I always wondered where Wade91 went...
If you are as great as you think you are, and your budget is tight, I could recommend motorcycle racing, specifically Forgotten Era, or the Classic Club we have in the UK, Im sure there will be an equivalent where you are.
Bikes like the old TZR250 still have competitive classes, and the bikes are available, numerous and cheap. By cheap, I mean that you could buy a good used one, and prepare it yourself for the track and still have change from £2k. Leathers, helmet etc is going to be another £1.5k. Entries to club race meetings will be from about £150 per meeting, depending on where it is, then you have travel to tracks, accommodation while you are there, fuel to get you from home to the tracks, tyres, servicing and other tinkering.
The trouble is, that even with a budget, racing is a way of life, paying for all this, and holding down a job to pay for it all is tough. Forget about relationships, or doing anything else. Add in to all this the fact that you are doing something which has a good chance of causing you significant injury, and you have to weigh up whether you are cut out to do it at all.
Wow... so, I've been replying to everyone individually until now, but there's no way I can reply to all this. Thanks so much for all the info and tips, guys, and for giving me a break on my bad start. I really, really appreciate it.
So I'll try to address as many of these replies as I can. Here goes...
Koz: Yeah, that possibility's been considered by my psychiatrists. I definitely have some Aspergian traits, and I have an uncle who has it. If I have it, it's mild; the reason it comes through so much is because of its combination with my bipolar disorder, which also interferes with the development and implementation of social skills. However, I'm rarely able to look anyone in the eye for more than a couple of seconds, so I'm pretty much positive that I have it, even though my 'rents disagree. In person, I've learned to either stare right next to the person's head, at their nose, or off into space with a look of deep contemplation, lol. The only "person" I can readily look into the eyes of is my dog, and weirdly enough, I'm the only person he locks eyes with also (except for strangers viewed as threats). Most would view that as being a challenge for dominance, but he listens to me more than he listens to anyone else in the family, and he always follows me around. It's almost like HE's autistic, if dogs can be so, ahah. I also get along very well with people who are diagnosed autistic, and they feel comfortable around me. So I believe you're correct.
Dave: (a) Thanks for acknowledging my acknowledging of my own good fortune... if that made any sense.
(b) The IQ thing was more specifically directed at John, as he seemed to be making (indirect) offhand remarks about my intelligence and, thus, my ability to comprehend the possible consequences of my own actions. He also used the word "exceptional" in a general sense to describe the way he perceived me as seeing myself, so I felt that it may be appropriate to go ahead and show that I do have some exceptional qualities, though they're few and far-between.
(c) I actually do have some psychological reasons for my behavior. I'm severely bipolar with psychotic features (luckily not in a violent fashion; the "psychotic features" label is due to my first manic episode, in which I hallucinated and was slightly delusional. I still managed to keep some sort of grip on reality, however, and got myself to the help I needed. I no longer have the hallucinations, nor do I have the delusions), and I also have moderate to severe ADHD. As I mentioned earlier, I also have a high potential for Asperger's/autism in general. So, psychologically, I'm not built for this world; at least not the way it is.
(d) Yeah, I know. That's one of the main reasons I want to get off the roads. I live in a town that's filled to the brim with old people, and they always go wide on their turns, sometimes to the point that they take half the opposite lane. Either that, or they cut in too much, again with the same result.
And as for the bit about everyone else having competed in motorsport--I understand your frustrations. Who knows, I might act hostile towards someone on a violinist forum saying that they could learn the violin quickly, had a knack for music, and wanted to be a professional. There's a certain value to newbies, in whatever fields, being challenged verbally/mentally by people established in those same fields. It filters out the people who will just clog up the system; the ones who don't really want to fully commit, but who will still sign up for things, requiring resources and time and effort to be put out for them with, essentially, a promise of no return at all.
Thank you for laying your thoughts out for me like that; it was extremely helpful.
MrJan: It's not that it's a "secret line"; I see other people drive it sometimes when I watch races. It works for them. The problem that I can foresee with it is that it's probably dangerous, and possibly not allowed as such--I'm talking about going into a corner at a higher speed than normal, and more towards the inside, slamming on the brakes perfectly at threshold, ending up with your front end right next to the left side of another racer's rear; when everyone's slowed down with just a little breathing room between actual speed and maximum cornering speed, you speed up to your max speed in that area, forcing yourself next to the other racer; they'll brake, then you'll pop out of the corner at a higher speed than the guy you just passed, giving you the opportunity to cut in front of him (or her) and hold your position. It's not all about acting like you have the biggest cojones, but it helps. Also, I've never driven a stick, but I've used a clutch system on some machine somewhere--I forget what it was. I understand how it's supposed to work and, to a certain degree, how it's supposed to feel. I'd probably stall my first time or driving a stick, but beyond that, I'd probably get the hang of it extremely quickly. I'm good at converting a feeling from the clutch lever or pedal in my hand or foot into a visual of how the flywheel is being engaged.
Zico: Nope... Just curious, should I be worried about these similarities?
Malbec: Thanks for the credit, though I'm not sure I should get any; I think it should be standard for even people like me to try to drive safely.
And yeah, I've decided to try karting; I'm going to contact LIKE (Long Island Karting Association) after posting this. It's in my plans to specifically make sure I'm not put against people who are there as a casual hobby or for an occasional jaunt. I want to either be on that track alone, getting seat time, or be on that track with seasoned racers, comparing my own skills, techniques, etc. to theirs.
Starter: I know you weren't talking to me, but yeah, that happens everywhere. It's a shame. I've caught myself doing it at least once. It's easy to get carried away on the Internet, when you have words to use but not faces to tell you when to STFU.
BTW, thanks for the support. I appreciate it.
Garry: Yay! Replies are awesome.
Hahahahaha, fair enough, I may phrase that differently, even though executive dysfunction is what it's called.
I knowww. I'm going to have to make myself into a, well, exceptional racer, then, though that word may be viewed as controversial in this thread.
I was prepared for somewhat peeved replies, but some people were just plain mean. Not even simply rude, but they seemed to actively be trying to make my day worse.
Yeah... I already have a few past mistakes that I'm not proud of, but once those mistakes have been made, the person's attitude about those mistakes should be taken into account when replying.
This is the first opportunity I've ever had to even possibly go into racing; my parents wouldn't let me when I was younger. So now that I have the potential to get in, I'm trying to do so.
In regards to the racism: I know, right? I would have pointed that out if John decided to return.
Jag: Yeah, I'll check out NASA. The problem that I've had, though, with entry level autocross, and other types of competition that require cars rather than karts, is that I don't have access to a car that I'm allowed to use for that purpose. So I'm stuck either with karting, or with buying a car (there's one I can get for $200, but I don't even have $200 right now) and figuring out a way to pay for insurance, normal daily driving, racing, and maybe even the occasional creature comfort/date.
As far as driving technique goes; this may sound pompous--in fact, it will, so I apologize--but in life in general, I've so far been very adept at creating my own effective techniques for things. I understand that in driving, that can be dangerous, but I will only allow it to be dangerous to myself. I will not drive in such a way that I lose control of the vehicle. I will cautiously test the limits of any vehicle that's new to me, so I know what it can handle and how it will react to my actions. The danger to me would come from bad positioning in the vehicle, an incorrect grip on the wheel, and the like. If necessary, I can also teach myself to drive differently while racing, but as it is now, I'm willing to accept the risks that may come from bad technique.
Regarding the cars, I would have agreed with you until I saw the Disco. Once I saw it, I was a convert. The original E-Type is the only car that rivals it in my mind.
Starter and Jag, regarding NASA safety: I'm with you guys on that one. I'd rather do SCCA, because, you know, I want to survive and everything, but I'd be willing to sacrifice some safety for racing (I mean, of course, but beyond the dangers of SCCA).
Airshifter: I think that's my main issue here--admitting things without being asked. I'm bad at knowing what to filter out in a conversation. And thanks for the support.
Shmenke: Maybe it's far beyond the typical age of outset, but hell, I'm gonna try anyway. I've wanted it ever since I was little, and if I'd been allowed, I would have been racing since about 7 or 8. I may have to use a minivan at some point in my life, but I'll make sure it always has enough room for a kart in the back ;)
Kneeslider: Again, it's that money. =/ I would probably love motorcycle racing, but as long as I'm living in my parents' house (there's literally no cheap housing near where I am), there's no way I'm even gonna be allowed to touch a motorcycle. I'm prepared for the way of life, if I can find a job and a low-cost apartment, though I'm not willing to set relationships aside. I'd just have to find someone who'd put up with all the time spent tinkering and anticipating and actually racing and doing all that. I'd wait somewhere around five years to find someone who would, but if nobody came along, I probably would drop racing. I need human contact as much as the rumble of an engine.