Well...........whatcha think............is it taking far too unnecessary a risk for some fun and thrills, when you can potentially leave your wife and kids alone in their grief is something were to happen to you??

I would like your opinions on this............more so from those folks that are married (both male and female), and especially those with kids....................I know what the single folks have to say, so I'm really more interested in what those who are married have to say.........

Very heated debate here at home...............Potential life-turner.

thx,
jc

 

Well, I am single, so apparently, my opinion doesn't count.

BUT


Do you race, or do you just sit in the stands? If you just sit in the stands, just go.

If you race, bring the fam damily!

I don't know you well enough to make sarcastic comments, and there may be a few more like me here. Give us some background....Do you race? If so, how long? Do you make decent money doing it, or is it a hobby?

If you bring home the bacon racing, keep doing it. Regardless of what anyone else has to say.

Show your wifey-poo the $$ if you race, vs. if you don't.

 

Hell No! We started racing in 2001 & haven't stopped. We did take a small hiatis this summer (I missed 2 races & hubby missed 1) so I could give birth to our second child (the day after my hubby got back from a racing weekend in Chicago).

Our 2 1/2 year old daughter has gone to every race with us (the first when she was 3 months old). The only thing she said she was going to teach her new baby brother is about racing.

My hubby does most of the racing (in the NMRA) but I race also when our truck club rents out tracks.

rdy2rac with
(the wife)

 

I've been married for 34 years and my wife goes with me to car/truck shows & G2Gs. She went with me to Las Vegas for the SEMA show this year. Knowing my wife as well as I do, if she didn't enjoy it, she wouldn't go. If it is a question of Safety, most " organized " racing is probably safer than most freeways. If it is a question of "money" being spent on racing vs. family, that is an answer you have to figure out. If you were not racing, would your "quality of life" improve (being home more)? I would venture a guess that there might be some "resentment" for having to give up something you obviously really enjoy. Does your wife "resent" the amount of time you devote to racing vs. the time you spend at home? I don't know if this is what you were asking for, but I hope it at least brings up some questions that might help you :thumb

 

Racing is not the most dangerous thing you could be doing, there are many, many careers and hobbies that pose a far greater risk to life and limb. You could be sky diving, bungee jumping, surfing(sharks ya know!) flying experimental aircraft, king crab fishing in Alaska (one of the worlds deadliest jobs). Put it in perspective, racing isn't that dangerous. People are killed every day just walking across the street, you can't live your life in a bubble and if you try you are going to end up miserable. My husband used to run a car in the demolition derby and it was a terrific time for the whole family, kids included. In fact when our son was old enough to be allowed in the pit area he became part of his dad's pit crew and loved every minute of it.

I'd say keep going just take the time to be extra cautious with your safety gear. However this is something that will have to be worked out with your wife. If it is just a hobby for you and she is dead set against it, it could cause serious issues in your marriage. But she also needs to realize that there are other things you could be doing that would be worse and she can't pin you down because that too would be bad for the marriage. No easy answer for this one.

 

you take a risk everyday that you wake up and leave the house (sometimes you dont even have to leave the house). As stated previously there are other much more risky things you could be doing. As long as your safe about it there shouldnt be an issue. In some instances i think your safer at the track than you are out on the road. Track provides a more controlled environment with more safety equipment and personnel on standby. Whens the last time you saw a fire truck and emt's rushing to a car seconds after it crashed on the street? Life is short, our time is better served living than worrying about what might happen all the time.

 

I have an almost 3 year old as well as a 4 month old (as I posted before under hubby's name). Racing is all about safety along with speed. My hubby cares enough about his family that he had his roll cage installed a year before he really needed it (wasn't quite fast enough). His only hesitation came after having a dream that I hit a wall while racing my truck (the slow Wood) & that hesitation was about me racing not him. I take safety seriously as well, I have a helmet for racing even though you are not required to wear one until you break into the 13's.

 

I think more info is needed.

How old and how many kids?

If your wife is stuck at home with post partem depression and a group of 1 month old triplets, that's a bit different than an 18 year old kid who has moved out.

IMO, you gotta put your kids and family first. If they are financially protected in case of a tragedy and you are not shirking your responsibilities as a dad and husband, your wife should compromise.

Personally, my hobbies have taken a big hit as a result of kids and my wife staying home. Far less time and money than when we were DINKs (Double Income No Kids). Sure, I miss many things about the 'old days', but I don't regret the choice and inevitable lifestyle consequences of having a family.

 

Well I never got serious about running my stang but since my kids were born (5 & 2) I haven't raced (street or track) since. The chances of injury are rare and there are risks in everything but I just can't expose my kids to an additional risk that is strictly voluntary.

Yea I love to smoke that hot head in a Camaro next to me but if I did so what...I'll never see him again....nothing to gain and alot to risk.

I must be getting old...

 

Thank you all for your candid responses............I am forwarding this to her so she can see the various different responses.

Someone above requested more info...........well, we are engaged to be married, no kids...........I'm 29, she's 26.........ironically enough, we both drive a Mach 1; hers a black auto, mine a red 5-speed. She enjoys the looks and sounds of our cars, but would never frequent the track........not her cup of tea..........

I am far from being an avid racer..............I race maybe twice a year, and not even on points nights or anything.........just test and tune; get my 4-5 passes, and go home. In the 5+ years we've been together, I have gone to the track <10 times.

Her issue with me racing is taking unnecessary risks just to have a rush of adrenaline, which I understand. It is not a matter of spending time away from her or the future kids, nor is it a matter of me blowing money on it. My argument is similar to many of yours; it is a controlled environment, and substantially safer than driving 75-90 mph on a highway with 1000 other morons who mostly can't drive...............furthermore, I feel that as long as I don't endanger my life, or her life by doing stupid things on the street anymore (which I've vowed to quit, and I have), I think I have earned the right to take my semi-annual trip to the track................

Tough one to discuss, no doubt................Again, I appreciate all your responses.

JC

 

the interstate speed limit is 70 mph so you are exceeding the legal limit by 35 mph for less than 6 seconds. fact is that it is nothing to to go 75mph on the intestate with the ocassional 80 mph to pass or get by a big truck. at the track no one tail gates you or runs red lights.

second, when do you think you are more aware, cruise control on 70 mph on a 3 hour trip or those 13 seconds down the track.

start going to 1/8 mile tracks.

to me going to the track is safer than going to a bar. do some research and see how many people are injured or killed at the track, i bet the number is low, otherwise insurance would close them down.

 

I agree with the above post, fatality rates at the track is very low. Each day you drive to and home from work, each intersection poses serious risks of someone trying to beat the light and T-Bone you in the driver's side (frequently fatal).

If you cut out anything (recreational) that has any degree of risk to it, you will be staying in bed during all of your free time (you wouldn't want to slip and fall walking around the house). Also, make sure you never eat french fries, or anything that could cause weight gain, or cholesterol, as same could cause a heart attack.

Honest, I'm not being a smart a ss, I'm just trying to make a point, that everything, including being alive is a risk. Plus, with the amount of times you visit the track, almost sounds like a non-issue.