My journey from DE student all the way to racing seemed to be the logical path. I'll explain the "seemed" part of that statement in the following paragraphs
I started my DE career and was immediately hooked. I had no idea such a thing existed where you could take your car to a race track (like the pro racers do) and legally participate in such a dopamine and adrenaline rush.
I quickly moved from student to Red solo within a year and was told constantly by every instructor and peer that I should really try racing with the skillset I had. The problem is I had no idea what the skillset was. The analogy (and pardon the faux NASCAR one) I would offer is I drove like Cole Trickle from Days of Thunder. I was quick, but I had no idea why or how I could be fast. So, I began trying to find out exactly what it was.
Being the pragmatic thinker in the way I approach a situation, I started creeping baby step after baby step to find out exactly what the car does with various inputs. Then when I fully felt I understand the physics of a car I started to take the car into situations that were abnormal (i.e., offline, bailout, braking too soon/late, throttle too soon/late, etc, etc, etc). I wanted to be able to fully understand so that EVERYTHING on track became 100% unconscious.
After heading to the slippery slope of making the car "better" with suspension, brakes, etc., I realized the envelope edge became smaller and smaller with the margin for error almost nill. This created a style of driving in me where my respect for speed and the danger that comes with it is one that is very healthy. Meaning what exactly? I do NOT take risks outside my ability for fear of wadding up a 6-figure car. This (taking risks outside your ability level) is the one thing I see in new solo drivers all the time as well as advanced students. Their brain seems to think they can do something that their true ability will not allow.
Scroll forward from the transition from DE to racing. I actually regret this more than anything but feel it is a learning experience that will benefit others.
When I decided to go racing I sold my GT3 to buy a purpose built race car. I decided that I wanted to buy a car based on class rather than a car I really want. I found a class that routinely had some of the largest participation. I bought the car that fit in that class and one that somebody else had prepped.
My first race weekend was a little overwhelming. I had no idea how much talent and fast drivers there were. My first practice session was baptism by fire. I had no idea that practice was more intense that the most intense red session a DE could throw at you. Now I'm hooked.
Won a race and did very well in the others that first race weekend. Next race was the 6 hour haul to Road Atlanta for my next race weekend. Once again, did very well and won both in the rain and the dry.
Then I had several months before the VIR race to sit down and plot a course where I wanted to go in my racing career. That was the downfall. I started thinking about all the money I was spending on racing and worse yet, what I could have done with all that money. I was never putting my family finances in jeopardy but that money spent was quite the reality check. Over the next year of building a race car, dealing with a race shop that seemed to always over promise and under deliver, spending money that you just can't get back and I made the decision to stop racing. When you ask yourself what all that money got for you, if you truly listen to your gut, you realize that got you very little. Don't get me wrong, the rush of racing WTW is amazing and nothing in DE will get you that feeling. But what are we racing for? Bragging rights on Rennlist? Seriously? I already proved myself and my ability. I know I have a high level of ability. I know I am well respected by my peers on track. When you realize that you do not need to be at the top of the time sheets to garner that respect, your life will be much more stress free.
I truly love instructing and decided that I was going to get back into DE's once again. I had no idea how much I missed DE's until I went back. I have a new outlook on DE's. Going to a DE is almost like going on vacation where racing is like going to work. The stress level at the DE is almost non existent. The money spent is just a fraction of a race weekend. I have learned how to give point-by's
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I now drive my weekend car (996 Turbo) at track days. It is virtually stock in every way. I run 3 point belts! I don't feel the need to push it to the limit and I will NEVER mod it like my past cars. That is a refreshing feeling. And the best part? I have just as much fun in a virtually stock Turbo that I did in a very well sorted GT3. The moral to that story is that you don't have to dump tons of $$$ into your car to have the same level of fun.
At the end of the day, I now enjoy track weekends more than I thought was possibly and the cost compared to my race habit has flushed my bank account in the black
Sorry for the long winded reply but the journey was one that I hope somebody can get value from.