the time has come for me to retire from driving race cars
the time has come for me to retire from driving race cars
Alrighty Kidz, the time has come for me to retire from driving race cars. I have sold the Nissan 350Z Spec Z race car to Team Pelle who will continue to campaign the car in NASA as a Spec Z, and will undoubtedly be very successful with it.
Why you ask? It is time to move on and focus on my evolving business career that will be changing dramatically as I move to the next phase of my working life. However I will continue to be involved in racing for sure, and will continue as the NASA-SE Spec Z Director. Frankly I would LOVE to move into a Sales/Marketing role in the Auto Industry/Motorsports in the next couple of years…so Yeah…I will be involved in Racing
Why you ask? It is time to move on and focus on my evolving business career that will be changing dramatically as I move to the next phase of my working life. However I will continue to be involved in racing for sure, and will continue as the NASA-SE Spec Z Director. Frankly I would LOVE to move into a Sales/Marketing role in the Auto Industry/Motorsports in the next couple of years…so Yeah…I will be involved in Racing
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 8,629
Likes: 1,394
From: Aurora, Colorado
As one racer to another, I applaud your clear thinking in making this decision. Racing is such an addictive sport that to give it up takes serious and determined intent. Beyond the need to commit more time to your next career, where there any other factors in deciding to retire?
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Sorry to see you go, John. It was great meeting you last year... hope we meet again! Are you going to keep doing the Chump/Lemons thing or are you done driving completely?
Thanks for all the help you've given me with getting my SpecZ car ready too. (Should finally go in for the cage in the next week or two!)
Thanks for all the help you've given me with getting my SpecZ car ready too. (Should finally go in for the cage in the next week or two!)
Well, you mean beside the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ 
My age is the kicker...I will be 60 in a couple of months, and just can't run 100% WFO for a full Sprint Race. So I have to measure the use of my engery and basically am driving about 90-95% of WFO now...still fun but not WFO anymore.
And "old-itis" as my Granddaughter calls it, is making it extremly difficult to swap out a a WaveTrac during a race weekend for example...or even do a standard rotor/pads/tires swap at the end of the race day. I am in decent shape for a 60 yr old dude...but not Sprint Racing in July in the South good enough shape.
And these most of these dudes are FAST...and young 
I am a one-man-Team at home and the Track...and this is HARD WORK for sure, with very brief times of glory.
So, I will do "arrive and drive" Enduros and ChumpCar and HPDE events when I get the urge. I also have been offered a sweet deal to drive my old car anytime - anywhere...
And did I mention that when you are BS'ing with a guy at the track about selling your car at the end of the season, and he offers to immediately wire you the asking $$$$ price, I took it and recommend everyone else do the same. As you Racers know...everytime you go on track, it may be the last time for that vehicle! Doesn't have to be your fault..Shiate happens on the race track and you just have to suck it up when the enevitable happens!
I will admint that watching LeMans this year, and the carnage we had at the last NASA event made me think long and hard about continuing to drive...so I got serious about selling the car...and within 24 hours it was sold...lucky me for sure!!!
My age is the kicker...I will be 60 in a couple of months, and just can't run 100% WFO for a full Sprint Race. So I have to measure the use of my engery and basically am driving about 90-95% of WFO now...still fun but not WFO anymore.
And "old-itis" as my Granddaughter calls it, is making it extremly difficult to swap out a a WaveTrac during a race weekend for example...or even do a standard rotor/pads/tires swap at the end of the race day. I am in decent shape for a 60 yr old dude...but not Sprint Racing in July in the South good enough shape.
And these most of these dudes are FAST...and young I am a one-man-Team at home and the Track...and this is HARD WORK for sure, with very brief times of glory.So, I will do "arrive and drive" Enduros and ChumpCar and HPDE events when I get the urge. I also have been offered a sweet deal to drive my old car anytime - anywhere...
And did I mention that when you are BS'ing with a guy at the track about selling your car at the end of the season, and he offers to immediately wire you the asking $$$$ price, I took it and recommend everyone else do the same. As you Racers know...everytime you go on track, it may be the last time for that vehicle! Doesn't have to be your fault..Shiate happens on the race track and you just have to suck it up when the enevitable happens!
I will admint that watching LeMans this year, and the carnage we had at the last NASA event made me think long and hard about continuing to drive...so I got serious about selling the car...and within 24 hours it was sold...lucky me for sure!!!
As one racer to another, I applaud your clear thinking in making this decision. Racing is such an addictive sport that to give it up takes serious and determined intent. Beyond the need to commit more time to your next career, where there any other factors in deciding to retire?
Your car with you in it will be missed on track; I was hoping to run fender-y-fender with you at Nats sometime.
I take your advice seriously though, "I aspire to retire before I expire". I told my fiance that, and she said I have a "few" more years left in me. Oh my!
I take your advice seriously though, "I aspire to retire before I expire". I told my fiance that, and she said I have a "few" more years left in me. Oh my!
I plan to work in some fashion for the next 3-5 years..then screw-it I am going to the beach and drink beer 7x24x365
And there is an outside chance I may try to rent my car back for the Nationals...a very outside chance...alot of things must come together that make this happen...but it is on my Bucket List!
And there is an outside chance I may try to rent my car back for the Nationals...a very outside chance...alot of things must come together that make this happen...but it is on my Bucket List!
Last edited by laze1; Jul 10, 2013 at 09:19 AM.
I plan to work in some fashion for the next 3-5 years..then screw-it I am going to the beach and drink beer 7x24x365
And there is an outside chance I may try to rent my car back for the Nationals...a very outside chance...alot of things must come together that make this happen...but it is on my Bucket List!
And there is an outside chance I may try to rent my car back for the Nationals...a very outside chance...alot of things must come together that make this happen...but it is on my Bucket List!
Also if you do want to rent it we need to figure out logistics because I can only bring two cars out. I'm trying to figure out how we can squeeze three cars in the rig. We may need to pull bumpers and crash bars.
Anyway we appreciate the opportunity to own the car and be able to carry on the torch.
Thanks,
Jay
hey Guys, the Car and trailer are gone...but all my Driver attire is available. PM me if you need a Suit. Helmet, gloves, shoes, underwear, etc
10.5 shoes
Medium Gloves
Size 60 Euro Alpinestars suite (really nice)
Large - 7 3/4 Helmets
Battery powered transponder.
Misc other stuff.
10.5 shoes
Medium Gloves
Size 60 Euro Alpinestars suite (really nice)
Large - 7 3/4 Helmets
Battery powered transponder.
Misc other stuff.
hey Guys, the Car and trailer are gone...but all my Driver attire is available. PM me if you need a Suit. Helmet, gloves, shoes, underwear, etc
10.5 shoes
Medium Gloves
Size 60 Euro Alpinestars suite (really nice)
Large - 7 3/4 Helmets
Battery powered transponder.
Misc other stuff.
10.5 shoes
Medium Gloves
Size 60 Euro Alpinestars suite (really nice)
Large - 7 3/4 Helmets
Battery powered transponder.
Misc other stuff.