Former racers (or anyone who has engaged in competitive avocation). Have you lost...
 

...interest as a spectator in endeavors you've previously been a competitor? For example I have raced motorcycles (RR, motoX, flatrack) and cars (RR, asphalt and dirt ovals) until fairly recently. Yet when I'm not an actual participant, either as a driver or crew member, I've lost virtually all interest in attending events as a spectator. Having previously been a competitor gives me a better appreciation of someone else's talent (or lack of talent), but I get bored rather quickly.

I don't think its egocentric jealously, but I lose interest quickly as a mere spectator. Before I actually did some of it I was a rabid fan/spectator. Not any more. Anyone else experience the same thing?

Lot's of things that once animated me no longer interest me very much.

I think that's a quite natural part of the process of growing and aging.

I agree. I think it's the "been there, done that" stage.

I see it in hifi. Musical artists tend to buy cheap crappy systems. A big $ hifi just doesn't give them the same high that they get/feel on stage. It is a very pale imitation of the real thing.

Ian

+1

I was no rock star but the feeling I got when onstage and everything "clicked" cannot be replaced or duplicated.



One of the best memories for me is when we played our hometown concert venue.

We were doing the soundcheck and it was my turn. When I heard my drumkit through the most powerful system we had used at that point it blew me away.




Yeah, we rocked that night!!! It was probably the best show we ever did. Everything sounded great and we performed flawlessly.

I used to race motorcycles, 1/2 mile flat track, TT, Short Track, Indoor Short track and even Mile Oval. There just aren't many races like that anymore around here.
I still think Mile Oval Motorcycles are the most thrilling races I know of.

Grew up at the trackhttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1264962651.jpg

This pic is from the late 60's of our camper, I found it by fluke looking for stock car pics from Riverside Raceway in California.

I raced karts for 5-6 years. I miss it. I do not watch races any longer on tv. just not in me to sit and watch it any longer.

I would love to strap on my helmet and crawl back in!

I raced open wheel cars, Fords & Atlantic's for about 10 years and moved on with life and really have no desire to get back into it even though I still have the F. Ford but I still like to watch open wheel , WRC and touring cars , even check out Nascar at the road courses, all on the tube, the only event that I go to now is the historic races, and if you've never been then you have to check it out, just wish I lived closer to a bigger venue.

Other than pictures and broken bones about the only thing I have left from racing days is this Ken Maley Steel shoe. I had it resurfaced once it got to thin from sliding on the dirt.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1264964858.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1264964877.jpg

I can echo Dueller feelings exactly.
From the age of 10 or 11, I had a huge interest in motorcycles. I lived a very short distance from Dundrod (any m/c road racing aficionado should know the name). Had my 1st solo ride at about 13/14. I had trials bikes, moto crossers, old road bikes stripped down to ride on waste ground, etc, etc ... I rode, legally, from the age of 17 untill somewher around 29/80.
I competed on short circuits, and on the road circuits (TZ 250 Yamaha) for 6 years. In short, everything I did took a back seat to motorcycles.
I stopped racing when I was 28. I'm now 52, and have been to 2 races since!
It's just not the same when you're merely a spectator.

Being at Daytona a couple years ago was wierd.

After being a driver, even though I race a lowly 944 on local tracks, it was strange to be just a spectator in the crowd.

I raced a Porsche in club racing for 10 years, I just simply got burned out.
I cannot watch my buddies race, it's kinda like watching someone F'ing your wife.:D

Dottore nailed it...

(edit) Lots of fun memories, but no real urge to keep doing what I once was crazy about.

So it's not just me. I always tell people I don't make a very good spectator. Just isn't the same fire inside I once had.

Adrenaline junkies we are.
 

I agree. That, and possibly, the lack of adrenaline.

In my 40's I was a raging lunatic on a windsurfer.

8 foot board, 3.0 sail in 35MPH wind gusts, on the open ocean in swells so big you would loose site of land for what seemed like an eternity. Major air lift off of the lip.

There was a handfull of us experienced enough to make it in and out alive. You developed a huge bond with those out there with you. Survival sailing.

It doesn't even interest me anymore.

I spent this weekend at the Sno*Drift Rally with a friend who is a 3-time national rally champion (early 1980's). He hasn't rallied in years but is as big a gearhead as anyone you'd ever meet. We were standing in the snow in freezing temps day & night watching the stages just like everybody else. Despite his resume, there was no pretense and no attitude. Just out there enjoying every minute of it, even the low-budget backmarkers.

Can't do the "sit and watch" spectator thing. I think I'm just too mentally involved or flat out too hyperactive...

So I volunteer to help. There's always something that someone needs help with. It lets me watch and still be close to the action.

That said, I'm still racing mountain bikes and I really don't give a whoop-de-doo that I'm slow. The view from the back of the pack is OUTSTANDING!!! :D

angela

Our friend from Lotus Land nailed it. Things that were my obsession at 35 or 40 are no longer on the radar at 50. Life is great, but I miss having that passion for any one activity.

after participating in a lot of different venues dezert racing bikes buggies trucks, my 280-z and my 911, going to scads more races than i can remember from midgits to winged gawd damits, to stock cars to indy cars to formula cars to boat races and on and on......................



at 52 i am having more fun than a barrel of MINKEES(monkees) taking photographs of all the above STOOPID POO! and then some.


a very close friend of mine with about the same racing resume in his past life and damn near the same NIKONOS camera and i have more fun taking pictures than we ever had owning driving wrenching wrecking crashing crying and being broke all the time being a "racer".


the next time i get back on the track will be to shake down my new 911 engine and put some miles on it before i take it back on the highway.


sitting at home watching a wreck on the TV is juan thing. standing in a corner with a camera catching it on film is a whole different aspect that really makes ya think when its up close and personnal and ya can play it over and over in color on your computer screen.


i cant put it more bluntly..............racing is dangerous,racing is expensive, racing is NOT always fun! and it IS A GIANT PITA for yourself and those around you. but ya dont realize that until ya step back and observe from the other side of the street.


its called WIZ-DUMB lil grasshoppers. and its ONLY gained from experience. it cant be read/bought/borrowed.................it can only be learned from TIME involved.

Your outlook on life changes. When I was racing loved it, nothing like it and would not give it up for anything.

Looking back, it would have been cheaper to light my cigars with $100 bills. Now there are other things more important in life and I use the funds in a wiser manner.

Still competitive? Its still a good idea not to challenge me... you will lose. I may be an old fart but the fires in the boiler are still there.