Originally Posted by RKDinOKC
(Post 9767062)
Went to lunch with my Bro Thurs. Told him the story of my adrenaline hobbies and that I needed to find a new one. He didn't understand or have any suggestions.
Had stress/blood pressure problems and was on BP meds. Kind of stumbled into building and flying R/C airplanes. The concentration of flying them gave me an adrenaline rush and cleared my stress. So much so that doc had to take me off the meds because they were making my BP too low.
Then moved to a new house with a two car garage and decided could get another Porsche. Had a 914 earlier as my DD and sold it because parking outside was starting to show. With garage parking could get another Porsche. Had a mini-van to haul planes and bro with wheel chair.
Liked 928's, put the mini van up for sale and started looking. The hatch back would let me carry both planes or bro and chair. And at the time was driving back and forth to Dallas to visit friends. Would be a lot more fun than a mini van.
Had several misadventures 928 shopping. Then the mini van sold and needed something to drive. Saw there were a lot of 944s on the market cheap. Could get one to drive and sell it quick when I found a 928. Looked at all the 944s for sale that Saturday and ended up with a 88 944 Turbo S. Was sold the first time accelerated driving away from the lot before I even shifted to 3rd. It worked great toting planes and even fit Mom and Bro with wheelchair.
In the glove box of the 944TS was a road and track special feature on the 944 Turbo S. It was touted as an autocross killer. Checked around, the local PCA had an autocross once a month. Went to my first autocross. Only thing I remember really is the instructor telling me I didn't have to go thru the center of the cones, and him turning my windshield wipers off for me a couple of times per lap. At the end of the day I had gotten 2nd...from last, But they all told me I was the winner because you could see my big grin despite having a full face helmet on.
This important thing was the huge adrenaline rush I got. More than flying R/C because I was in the car. I was hooked. And it was a good thing because the R/C flying field was shut down to put a highway thru. The few other local flying fields just sucked for on reason or another.
Ended up selling off all my R/C stuff. The local hobby shop gave me their mini van to fill with all of my planes, radios, etc and gave me $1000. Invested that in the 944 Turbo S. Most all the upgrades were suspension mods to make it handle better while "in the zone."
Went from 2nd slowest to often setting FTD. For me it wasn't really about getting FTD, it was about driving the car as fast as I could, 4 wheel drifting thru the corners putting me "In the zone."
Tried all sorts of driving events. Other Autocross events and High speed touring track events. The SCCA you spent from 8am to 6pm and only got 4 runs in. Just not enough driving.
The Corvette club autocross was similar to the PCA one, but they were much too competitive and their courses were too open to really get into the zone concentration wise. They also quit talking to me when they discovered I was setting faster lap times than they did.
Went to a few track days at the local circuit. It was fun, ended up a couple of time racing around with the fastest ones on the track. But is was so different. The speeds were much faster, but the time you spend in the corners is longer so the required reaction times just aren't there. More often than not you get stuck behind someone that keeps you from driving fast enough to be in the zone and they hog up the track not letting you pass (safely) and the track stewards get upset with you if you drive around them without them motioning for you to pass.
Went thru sevral cars. The 944 TruboS, a 928 GT, a BoxsterS, another 944 TurboS, and finally the 928 GTS. The all drove a little different, but was able to balance the suspension well enough they could be drivin in the zone. With the newer faster Porsche Models I wasn't getting FTD nearly as much, but like I said, it was about driving "in the zone" 4 wheel drifting the corners.
Then I stepped on that freakin nail. Despite all my efforts not being able to heel and toe killed being able to drive in the zone with a 5 speed. Have driven automatics and it's just not there. And can't afford anything with PDK to even try.
Tried R/C copters and quad copters. And the concentration is there, but with my age and eyesight just can't keep up with the repairs of those tiny plastic parts to keep them flying.
So...still looking for another hobby. And no Dog Training, as satisfying as it is, just doesn't take the concentration or provide much of an adrenaline rush.
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