[Deschodt]

Not really ranting, just wondering if others are in the same boat and options you may have found - organizations, alternatives...

I used to be a track junkie... I'd go literally to every event on offer... I recently got invited to an event by my brother in law, thought it'd be fun to get back in after a 3yr break due to no competitive car, looked at the requirements, and frankly could not be bothered...

I think over the past 10 years things started happening progressively:

- I got kids, got older, and the associated sleep and parental issues did not help with getting up at 4 AM to driving 2-3 hours before dawn to get there for a 7AM inspection (!!!)... Or being gone all week end sticking my wife with 2 feverish children for ear infection #57...

- I got better at driving but that meant promotion to the fast groups where, if you do not run a GT3, you drive your mirrors all day to let them by - which is not as much fun as I used to have... I was also strongly asked to become an instructor and I frankly hated that (kudos to you instructors, you got big attachments, being in a fast car with a terrible student is not for me), then felt slightly traitorous dropping out of that...

- no recognized competence level from one group to another - after moving states, if I were to go with groups other than PCA or even other regions, it looks like I'd have to run through the ladder again... meh. Don't get me wrong, I *know* you can always learn from an instructor, but sometimes, once you've proven competent enough to not endanger anyone, you just want some chill track time on your own... In my current scenario (bro-law invite) I'd have to start from scratch with a new group - it's OK, I get it, but it's not exactly dragging me out of bed either.

- It got more expensive, and w/more requirements too - I used to do my own inspections, then it became inspections at the dealer or agreed upon shop, proof of recent blake fluid, this and that....Understandable, but annoying when you maintain your own car... Hell even my car got more expensive (my fault). Back in the day I could toss a 911SC around, and it was reasonably competitive after a diet and an oil cooler, but only a $15K loss absolute worst case... Now not being a road block in a fast group requires serious investment, and when I think of taking the 991 (base, I still can't afford a GT3) I'm thinking I might need track insurance just due to value...more $$$ to the already $$$ fees.

Got me wondeering about alternatives... At the very least it would be nice if there was a group set up a little differently, like accepting we checked our car and tightened the lugnuts, aren't running 5y old brake fluid, like responsible adults.. Also mostly dropping that early deadline, where you need to show up at the crack of dawn but you don't even run until 9:30AM (or whatever depending on run group)..We don't all live next to a track. I understand that it's very unlikely for insurance and other reasons, but I've lost the willpower to put myself thru that...

I set up a nice rig on the XboxOne with chair, pedals - with clutch, wheel and shifter (though I gave up on the shifter) and I'm having fun... It's not the same adrenalin rush at all but it's ready to rumble in 2 minutes.

I recently tried the Porsche experience in LA...I love the model. No prep, no dawn, good food, but it's way more $ and not near my house either...

I think I'm gonna go for Go-Karting instead (go ahead talk me out of it), I recently discovered a nice go-kart track 20 min from my house and those (mostly) kids haul ass... Show up way after sunrise, rent, do a few sessions, 20 min later I'm soaking my sore old bones in a hot tub.... Think that's doable for about the price of a DE ?