The Passion is not gone

I never get sick of car shows. In the summer I often go to 3 or more every week. I also organize a weekly car show in the summer. 22 shows for that alone! Also usually try to attend one "road trip" regional/national show like those hosted by NSRA or Good Guys each summer.

I love to watch vintage racing at Road America. Spring summer, fall. Inspired me to try to attend a few BMW club-sponsored driver ed events for something a little more exciting than track touring during other events.

I love drag racing. Trying to coax my '67 Pontiac GTO into the 11's. Ran low 12's out of the box this year. Maybe with some tuning this summer will get me there...

We have an informal goup of car guys that get together every week all winter to bench race and plan the summer adventures.

 

There's nothing better than a lazy spring day turning a wrench and getting a little greasy.

Hoping to expand my collection over time, but for now - I'm happy with my E-Type and vintage Honda motorcycle...

 

I spent the afternoon in the garage pulling the clutch slave cylinder out of my Mondial. It's been too many years since I've had such an enjoyable and relaxing day.

 

. besides, Sal will shake you back to your senses if your passion wanes.

 

I've been going weekly to the local Cars and Coffee(previously Crystal Cove) for about 7 or 8 years straight every Saturday AM and missing only the odd weekend here and there. Still look forward to it every week.

 

My interest in exotic cars could easily be rekindled....if I was filthy rich. My portfolio is not doing that well right now. Any pointers????

 

What is endurance racing?

 

I think it is a competition of how long your car can go at top speed before your wallet runs out of money.
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Well said (or typed). Our cars and coffee events weekly are a time I look forward to the minute after I leave. The passion for cars and everything evolving around them allows me to take my mind off the daily grind. couldnt live without it!!

 

No it isn't.... but the ability to participate is. Please always try to remember that.
Thanks for the tip.

 

Based on my how much I enjoy the new Velocity Network programing, my passion is still alive, but always kept in check, by other passions (kids, wife, family, etc).

 

Like me!

 

My passion has evolved -- but it's just as strong as it was when I was 20.

 

My passion is tempered by the fuel price here in the UK. I spend more time polishing the F430 than driving it. What happens when the fuel runs out? Will we be as enthusiastic about electric vehicles?

 

I just wish I was able to enjoy my cars more, both in terms of my time and climate.

Sad to see them sitting for six months of the year, and then try to cram events - shows, cruise nights, open track events, etc. into another six month window.

 

To refine your quote, it isn't the ability to participate which is impacted by the almighty dollar, but the extent to which you can participate....my passion began with an old Porsche 914/6 which I bought for $1,700. It was real fun for for me back then when I had little dough, but it is all relative. Life is what you make of it. Excuses keep you from fulfilling life's passions.

 

+ a million.

My car guy friends are a very wide variety of interesting people. From my enthusiast perspective it's really not difficult to separate those who got the car bug in their blood vs. those don't.

One of my favorite cars I've owned is a cheap, low mileage 1987 BMW E28 in totally original condition. The smile on my face when the mood is right is just so priceless I have no words for it. Yesterday in the middle of the night I was enjoying it on a new piece of empty road with bright city lights around me and relaxing music in the background. I felt I was alive.

It's also a big deal for me to connect emotionally with a car, and that has absolutely nothing to do with the price tag (or performance). I feel nothing for a several hundred thousand dollar Bentley Continental GT. But I would have the best day of my life in a 60's Fiat 500 that costs as much as the Bentley's month old depreciation hit.

I would go as far as saying that if petrol supply ran out and I could only have one very last tank of fuel in any car I wanted, I would chose a basic Caterham 7 instead of a Veyron any day (not because it would last more, but because the Caterham is what I connect with and that's not the case with the Veyron)...

Also, it's very important to me to enjoy today stick shift + non-hybrid petrol cars while we still can. I waited almost a decade for Honda to release the NSX successor. It's now confirmed to have hybrid drivetrain and that's all very good. But it also means that it's most likely going to have dual clutch transmission only, and thus I think the value of the original NSX just began going up... (Another car I am very fond of, very image free car that's just honest fun, pure and simple)

I hope to travel to Germany for the Nürburgring 24H once again this year to watch the modified P4/5 C., and I will come in my BMW E28 and visit the BMW factory for the first time as well. Can't wait.

I hope the passion never dies out, I wish to stay a car guy forever.

 

I'm in my 50s and I still get excited even by the sight of Ferrari I see on the road,any Ferrari,even Mondial or 348.
I am like a little kid with a new toy when I buy one,even if I could not afford a new one, I would still do everything I could to buy the one that fit my budget (plenty out there for any budget).

 

I've been a "car guy" since before I knew what that was. It's a part of almost everything I do and I'm surrounded by it. I find it difficult to spend much time with others that don't share at least some of the passion.

 

I want to follow up my post with a picture that makes me smile.
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I'm one of the posters in the passion-is-gone thread indicating how I can understand the OP's sentiment. I've also indicated that my passion is not gone.

To use bdhelp's words, my own sentiment is that my passion has evolved. Specifically, my focus is towards new car-guy experiences: racing/driving a specific selection of cars (mostly race cars), participating/attending certain events I've not previously done.

Also, I used to want to own a higher number of cars than I do now. Now, it's more about quality experiences that involves driving (more than showing). I think this is also a function of having other passions/pursuits and time is precious.