"I wonder what it would be like to be normal"

Tom Hoppe · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 10:16 am **Posts:** 387

Any of you ever thought ""I wonder what it would be like to be normal"??

As I picked up 2 sets of azenis today (and sent the 3rd set off to get shaved), in a $800 borrowed Jetta, (since the BMW I bought as a beater is friggin busted) to go with the 3rd set that's sitting in my garage along with my $20K Subaru "race car" (on jackstands awaiting rear brakes and said tires) I saw a guy pull into the parking lot in a nice G35 coupe and ask for some performance tires for his car. I talked to him about cars for a few minutes and then thought to myself "Self, what kind of car/lifestyle would you have if you never got into this whole "car" thing"????

I imagine myself in some kind of G35ish type car living a life where I go on vacation to places other then Oscoda, MI, Peru, IN, and Topeka, KS

Anyone else? Or am I just really that insane?

-Tom

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

I thought that you wanted to be a fat guy drinking beer in Cheers from the thread title

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Thu Jul 22, 2004 2:17 pm

Tough question... I think I would drive my current 'race car', but it would be bone stock with no graphics or the like on it. I would probably play tennis again, go snowboarding, and hang out with the girlfriend. Now I autocross any chance I get, and the girlfriend gets the left overs... I now feel bad for her. - AB

Tom Hoppe · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 10:16 am **Posts:** 387

Damn cut off thread title

-Tom

Stephen Westerfield · **Posted:** Thu Jul 22, 2004 2:46 pm

Wes Eargle wrote:

I thought that you wanted to be a fat guy drinking beer in Cheers from the thread title

I have to admit...I was expecting the same thing.....

One way to look at it Tom...at least you have a Girlfriend that is supportive of your hobby and gets involved. My girlfriend isn't non-supportive by any means, but if she knew I was having thoughts like....."How can I make it through the holidays this year with her family and postpone popping the question and making that ring payment til late spring so that I can afford to buy a old beat up Nissan Sentra to drive around in the dirt with wreckless abandon, and get new Konis and race rubbers for the Integra for next season...."....then she might be asking the question...."Why couldn't I have picked a normal guy?" I have just learned to keep these questions to myself......

Kevin Allen · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2003 6:42 pm **Posts:** 3479

Christine wonders what it would be like.

I'm too busy working on the cars every night to think about anything else.

ChristineAllen · **Posted:** Thu Jul 22, 2004 3:12 pm

It seems like he's been working on at least one of the cars every night for weeks now!

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Kevin Allen wrote:

Christine wonders what it would be like.

I'm too busy working on the cars every night to think about anything else except my lovely wife.

Fixed it for ya.

George Bright · **Posted:** Thu Jul 22, 2004 6:17 pm

If I had not gotten the car bug I probably have graduated on time with my EE degree and have a more expensive house I cannot pay for because I would have been laid off from a high paying job. I would probably be driving some practical car recomended by Consumer Reports Snicker Snicker. :help:

Instead I skipped out on an orientation session at State to go watch a NCSU Sportscar club Auto-X that was happening that sunday. And thus started my road to ruin. :beerbuds:

Actually I had gone to see a Triad Auto-X when I was in high school. At that event a competitor's Mini Cooper crossed the finish line out of shape and plowed into a Vista cruiser wagon owned by someone shopping at the mall that day. Big OOPs.

Diane Hall · **Posted:** Fri Jul 23, 2004 9:09 am

Tom Hoppe wrote:

Any of you ever thought ""I wonder what it would be like to be normal"??

You aren't alone... I also wonder what it would be like to be normal. More and more recently actually. But then I go spend a weekend at the racetrack, and I remember why I do it.

Then again, if we didn't race cars, we'd find some other hobby to spend all our money on, don't you think?

Diane

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Fri Jul 23, 2004 10:24 am

Do you know anyone who is "normal" (i.e. the lifestyle equivalent of the proverbial "average family has 1.56 kids") or is everyone else just "abnormal" about different interests/activities as either participants or fans (i.e. fanatics)?

Eric Peterson · **Joined:** Mon Sep 01, 2003 10:24 am **Posts:** 494

Tom, I always thought you were normal. I guess that's proof enough that I'm not normal :-)

ep

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Fri Jul 23, 2004 12:45 pm

I've taken a bit of a sabattical from motorsports this year and I've gotten a glimpse into normalcy. It's pretty good.

When you're normal, you've got money. Your vehicle works. You have no debt. There's extra space in the garage where that MG used to be. You're not up late at night some Thursday putting an axle in the race car again.

I kind of like it.

Tom Hoppe · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 10:16 am **Posts:** 387

My "normal" buddy dave came over last night to play some playstation. As he came in, he remarked "You know you have 16 bald wheel/tires sitting in your garage right?" :lol:

to which I replied, "yea 4 more are on their way from getting shaved" :lol:

Peterson - Don't worry, you're definetly not normal

Rice - How is this whole "Having money" bit going? Must be nice.

I guess thats part of it. I looked (in quicken) at how much of my actual money goes to either "Auto:Fuel" "Auto:Parts" "Auto:Autox" "Auto:Maintenance" and went :shock:

-Tom

Sean Korb · **Posted:** Fri Jul 23, 2004 1:33 pm

I think I need an intervention.

6 cars and a motorcycle, all in various states of undress. My daily driver hasn't had A/C for 3 years, but I 've installed 3 engines in my other cars in that same time period. My front lawn doesn't grow grass anymore, while my engine bays are neat and tidy. My living room furniture consists of a '60s vintage couch, 2 full size rolling tool boxes, a variety of old car seats to sit on, an industrial sewing machine, and a Harley Sportster.

Anybody know of a recovery program? I'm getting the feeling that the ladies are not all up ons.

sean 8-)

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