When should one retire from motorsport ?

[TCJBOLDIE]

I am looking forward to being able to have another year enjoying driving my FN2 at track days and closed road events even though many would say that at my age I should be playing bowls or bingo like so many around my age.

But I am in good health workout at my gym 3-5 days a week starting with a 5 minute plank followed by 30 minutes rowing and with weights on alternate days and watch what I eat to be as fit as I am.

I firmly believe that if one thinks that one should act their age and slow down then they will be and act old .

I never feel worried or frightened heading onto the track and always try to beat or equal my previous lap times.

 

[obi_waynne]

You are as old as you feel IMHO. As long as your reflexed and health allow you to drive safely keep on it.

Age is not as good an indicator of ability or acuity as health.

If you haven't grown up by 30 you don't have to is my motto!

 

[TCJBOLDIE]

85 and still going strong and heading for my first track day in 24 next week.

 

[Eddie208]

I think the time to retire is simply the time it no longer is fun and enjoyable, if ever
am 26 and yet to start, good lucm on the track day!

 

[TCJBOLDIE]

Thanks Eddie It's all about enjoyment and trying not to be slow and had a good days driving as fast as possible and finding out more about the car and myself.
Unfortunately since then have caught Covid and was feeling better and the dam thing has got me again.

 

[Eddie208]

Thanks Eddie It's all about enjoyment and trying not to be slow and had a good days driving as fast as possible and finding out more about the car and myself.
Unfortunately since then have caught Covid and was feeling better and the dam thing has got me again.

Ah damn sorry to hear mate, think I've caught that or some virus (everyone seems to be catching something lately)..... hopefully it's not too bad your end.

 

[TCJBOLDIE]

Heading off again to Morgan Park an app 2 +hour tow away from home for another practice day on Wednesday to do some more laps and work on smoothing out my corner lines.MP has a lot of elevation changes as well as many different types of corners many of them off camber , some very tight others quite open and fast but challenging if you want to set a competitive time. There will be 20 minute sessions and the last time there I experienced brake fade for the first time so I need to upgrade the fluid from Motul RBF600 to Motul RBF 700 as I suspect that the fluid might have boiled as my Forza FP3 pads are good for 800 deg. Unfortunately my Honda does not have cold air ducting to the inside of the discs like my old track day Starion that helped keep the heat in check.

 

[obi_waynne]

Did you fit braided hoses to the brake lines? Hope you have a fun time there, keep us posted.

 

[TCJBOLDIE]

Did you fit braided hoses to the brake lines? Hope you have a fun time there, keep us posted.

Definitely have the SS braided lines for better pedal feel.
I have blead and flushed the fluid lines from RBF600 deg fluid and upgraded to Motul RBF 700 deg fluid and did discover some air bubbles when I was doing it as overheating the fluid can cause air bubbles to appear so I will be bleeding them after every track day especially if there were long hot lap sessions in order to get fresh fluid at the caliper pistons.

FYI There are many ways & gadgets to use or do bleeding brakes and I had SPEED BLEEDER nipples on my old car and need to get them for my Honda to make life a bit easier but in the meantime I get 1 way fish tank valves and insert them into the clear plastic hose to the nipple so when the pedal is pumped and released no old fluid is drawn back into the calipers.

 

[Eddie208]

I don't do tracks but that's interesting to know =)

 

[helphos]

Definitely have the SS braided lines for better pedal feel.
I have blead and flushed the fluid lines from RBF600 deg fluid and upgraded to Motul RBF 700 deg fluid and did discover some air bubbles when I was doing it as overheating the fluid can cause air bubbles to appear so I will be bleeding them after every track day especially if there were long hot lap sessions in order to get fresh fluid at the caliper pistons.

FYI There are many ways & gadgets to use or do bleeding brakes and I had SPEED BLEEDER nipples on my old car and need to get them for my Honda to make life a bit easier but in the meantime I get 1 way fish tank valves and insert them into the clear plastic hose to the nipple so when the pedal is pumped and released no old fluid is drawn back into the calipers.

can you attach a picture of your fish tank valves???? That sounds like a great idea! I have speed bleeders on my corvette, but I work on my wife's car, too. (I might buy some, repackage them as "Racer Parts" and mark the price up 400%! )

 

[TCJBOLDIE]

can you attach a picture of your fish tank valves???? That sounds like a great idea! I have speed bleeders on my corvette, but I work on my wife's car, too. (I might buy some, repackage them as "Racer Parts" and mark the price up 400%! )

Mate am not a puter geek and don't know how to post pics so all you need to do is go to your nearest pet supply store and ask .

 

[TCJBOLDIE]

Was competing @ the annual Pittsworth street sprints last weekend and managed to win the registered under 2 litre 2 w d class with a local in an MX5 the runner up . It is held on closed roads in the towns industrial estate and run in the opposite direction on the 2nd day with the best times from each day totaled to decide the winners. There was app 200 entries with one car totaled after a head on into a concrete barrier after the finish line as well as an immaculate BMW I30 . I had spoken the beamer driver after seeing him come within inches of a barrier on his 1st run over the 1.5 klm course and on the next run returned to the pits after hitting the passenger side on a barrier and on Sundays final run crashed again and the car was towed . A few other cars has some battle scars but remained drivable.

Am always happy to drive home from any event with my Honda CTR undamaged after 12 runs over the 1.5 klm track.

Here is a video of the track that I found .

 

[Eddie208]

Was competing @ the annual Pittsworth street sprints last weekend and managed to win the registered under 2 litre 2 w d class with a local in an MX5 the runner up . It is held on closed roads in the towns industrial estate and run in the opposite direction on the 2nd day with the best times from each day totaled to decide the winners. There was app 200 entries with one car totaled after a head on into a concrete barrier after the finish line as well as an immaculate BMW I30 . I had spoken the beamer driver after seeing him come within inches of a barrier on his 1st run over the 1.5 klm course and on the next run returned to the pits after hitting the passenger side on a barrier and on Sundays final run crashed again and the car was towed . A few other cars has some battle scars but remained drivable.

Am always happy to drive home from any event with my Honda CTR undamaged after 12 runs over the 1.5 klm track.

Here is a video of the track that I found .

Blimey a rough day for some ~
Track looks fun =)

 

[TCJBOLDIE]

Eddie the video makes look wider than it is in the tight bit between the concrete walls.

 

[Eddie208]

Oh right, yeah I forget video makes it look more warped and slower than when physically there, I'd probably end up like the beamer or driving like a granny if I went on that track haha, defo would have to do an open field one.
Very bendy track that is not really a spot to put the foot down from the video, which is more fun I suppose :3

 

[TCJBOLDIE]

I will be 86 next year so am thinking that it might be my last year of tracking my car. Not looking forward to being just a spectator again it but everything eventually ends including life. Just being realistic. am comfortable behind the wheel and like to tinker with my car like changing pads but finding getting down and up from the floor a bit difficult despite doing gym work 3 or more days a week.
Don't feel my age or nervous when behind the wheel on road or track.

 

[Eddie208]

Ah well if your vision and reaction timing is still good and certainly don't feel your age then I don't see why a bigger number should stop one tracking Oh nice what kind of workout do you do at the gym? is good to keep up fitness early on I need to start more to be honest ~
Some are terrible drivers at a young age, some forever, some can never drive, if you're still not nervous and driving well then no need to stop =)

 

[TCJBOLDIE]

Ah well if your vision and reaction timing is still good and certainly don't feel your age then I don't see why a bigger number should stop one tracking Oh nice what kind of workout do you do at the gym? is good to keep up fitness early on I need to start more to be honest ~
Some are terrible drivers at a young age, some forever, some can never drive, if you're still not nervous and driving well then no need to stop =)

Eddie IMO I tend to think that the driving test is too easy in many countries and the powers that be lack the backbone to upgrade the skill level need to be let loose on the roads as they would be unpopular and be voted out of their comfortable well paid positions and there is no requirement or incentive to undertake additional post license training or instruction to raise ones understanding of car dynamics and how they react to the drivers inputs.

You will often hear on the news or from people you encounter say " the car lost control and I had an accident " when what really happened is that you lost control and crashed your car.

I encounter so many driving well under the posted limits in the right / overtaking lanes with no cars in sight when they should be keeping left.

My gym sessions start with a 5 minute plank then 5 types of different weight exercises with a 15 minute s in the sauna. I also try to do 50 sit ups morning and night at home. Use it or loose it is a good way to live life as we only have one shot at it.

Nearly forgot to mention that in my state we have to undergo a medical and eyesight test every year when you turn 75 .

 

[Eddie208]

I think that's a fairly accurate opinion, I'd just add the car companies probably would lobby against it too (how lobbying isn't 'corruption' is beyond me but meh that's politics) so yeah is what it is ~

Ah yes the classic "it's not my fault it's him/her/it" And oh cool I do similar but slacking of late ~