An interesting read

[racerdad2]

https://www.hagerty.com/media/opinio...ng-enthusiasm/

[RussMcB]

Yes, I thought that was interesting, too.

I certainly recognized many of those characteristics in myself.

To others wanting to know what they are clicking before they click it, the article talks about how older people/racers often throw a wet blanket over the enthusiasm under young car people. That's not a great description but close enough. It's worth reading especially if you are, say, over 40.

[EricP]

Funny... I read that last week and almost posted it. I’m 47. I have to say it is a good article to generate thought but I don’t agree with several parts of it. At least, that what is suggested is as intense or common as suggested.

[GreginCanada]

I think the only thing I am guilty of when talking with the younger car guys at work is advising them to get their real estate situation under control before getting in too deep with non daily driver cars. The garage space situation is key in my mind to having any sort of interest in non mainstream daily drivers. And around here [ Vancouver B.C. , Canada } its a absurdly expensive problem to solve. Either to buy a car friendly place or even to rent. A much harder nut to crack than any aspect of the cars themselves.

[E1pix]

I found this to be both a tough and inconclusive read. I get what he was trying to say but for me it mostly went unsaid.

But the gist, I guess, is it’s up to us older guys to interest the younguns as best as we can. I actually — dooming and glooming though with my full candor — think “we” waited too long. Liquid assets are barely so for most and even those who have/had them weren’t welcome enough in “our” sport. Either enthusiasts are in or out, and once out they’re gone forever.

Shame on any of us who made it so. To quote Pink Floyd, “Is there anybody out there?” (who is listening?)

[dalz]

I thought it was stupid.

A lot of what he describes is just universal douche behavior. And what kind of car enthusiast rolls over and wants young guys to live with eco-neutered vehicles? But my real inquiry is--how successful can you be at instilling passion in someone who doesn't have it? We can wax nostalgic at all our automotive pursuits and tell youngsters to do the same, but...?

For example, my 17yo nephew has tagged along to my races, been to RA for pro races, and has listened to my laundry list of thrilling anecdotes. He likes cars, would like a Type-R someday. But I don't see him involved in motorsport. From the various shades of white and green he turned after a few stints on the RA customer karts, he realizes that this racing thing Uncle's into is tougher than it looks.

If kids like it, they like it. No amount of support or curmudgery will change it, much. Louis Armstrong's iconic quote of "If you have to ask, you'll never know." is more profound than thought.

P.S. Throw in the indoctrination from media and educational entities about how cars are evil, wasteful, polluting, dangerous things that we can't get rid of soon enough, and you have a lot of detoxifying to do.

[provamo]

it will all soon (twenty years) be electrick

[bob darcey]

...and "Vintage" will be anything with internal combustion.

[Jnovak]

it will all soon (twenty years) be electrick

Not worried! I did my first race 63 years ago!

[TimH]

People still race horses.

[billtebbutt]

Its always been difficult for me to understand how a kid with a parent who races cars, isn't consumed by their parent's sport. Until of course I had kids.....

My two teenage daughters are lovely. While biased, I think they are intelligent, hard-working, honest kids (15 and 17). And they will gladly crew for a weekend anytime, bringing a friend along - but its more about the friend/sleepover/trackfood thing than it is about the racing.

About 5 years ago they were keen to go kart racing, and we have an amazing facility/league 30 minutes from here - I can't believe having this opportunity when I was there age. So early in the spring we sign up, pay the season registration, do the lessons, etc. About 3 hours in, they get fitted into carts and are led around the track. All good so far.

We go out the next weekend for their first heat races. My eldest, approaching the hairpin at the end of the straight, mixes up the gas for the brake and flings the kart off the track. WAAAY off the track. She got "air". Flew through two movable barriers, then through an old snowdrift, landing in a large shallow puddle. She couldn't have got further off the track if she had tried, and she did it with aplomb. It was so bad, it was good. I was proud of her, in a strange way. They carried the kart out, and she got back to dicing in the tail end of the crowd. The hairpin incident was the only notable thing she did in that session.

The younger one (an artist) started 10th and quickly moved to third - she finished sixth and actually could have won that race if not for a spin. But i watched her, with no instruction from me, figure out how to twitch the cart sideways at the hairpin, how to make the live axle work for her. Hmmm, I'm thinking, this kid gets it. She could do this. I am excited at the prospect.....

After the race, over a hot dog and a pop, we're talking. And its really clear to me, even though unsaid at that time, that they don't want to do this. We try to get out for another weekend, but logistics don't seem to work. Eventually they come to me and say that "...they know I really want them to be racers, but they don't want to do it". Huge let down for me, but I realized, as an earlier poster said, that I can't create the enthusiasm for them, not matter how hard I try. Even if they have the ability, they need to want to hone that ability, to exercise the demons so to speak.

Fast forward to today. The younger one has been out in the garage with me, working on the race cars a bit. She's wondering if its too late to get into racing (!). We're discussing the restoration of the Lola 540 and prepping it as an autocross car, which she seems keenly interested in. Maybe......... just maybe

best
bt

[E1pix]

Perhaps a motivator to follow, and also a nice girl:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?sto...&__tn__=%2C%3B

[racerdad2]

I, too, tried to instill my son with my passion to race for two reasons. 1. Don't race on the public highways & and backroads like Dad did. 2. Race on the track. We started karts when he was 6 & I was 51. I started winning in our first season. My son had a far steeper learning curve. We both had some very serious shunts over the years. Karting is a contact sport. When he turned 14 I told him it was time for him to work on his own kart. Arrive & Drive was over. Dad still pays for everything. However, you wrench on your kart and I wrench on mine. Well, that wasn't nearly as much fun...

When I bought my Reynard and got my SCCA license, my son's 1 year older friend was there at the age of 15 getting his license in a Spec Miata. My son said, "Dad ! I want to race a Miata !" So... I bought one for us to build together... That didn't "motivate" him. He had no interest in building a race car. I still have the Miata as a fun weekend driver with the wife and track days... no cage, S.M suspension, fat tires & a big wing on the trunk lid for giggles.

Next, I bought a '79 Scirocco for the two of us to prep for his SCCA license. The engine crapped out half way through the 3 day class. Finished up in a rented SRF. My son did really well, was quick and had good situational awareness. Passed without issue.

Our first race weekend was arrive and drive for both of us in SRF2 & 3. I got the 3... My son got crashed off course with a lap to go by an FC who tried to pass him on the inside as he was coming off the apex. The FC launched him into the air as it went under his front left. Landed up against the outside wall... Not a good first race experience for him. I haven't been able to get him back to racing since...

He does instruct on track days, teen schools & EVOCs at our local track. I've given him two complete karts with everything needed to go racing again.

Will he ? I have my doubts. There is a whole lot more wrenching than racing when you're on your own. Ya gotta love the sport and all the work far more than the "Arrive & Drive" racers.

And... Cheap racing is expensive in Time & Money and just goes up from there...