When beetles fight these battles in a bottle with their paddles and the bottle's on a poodle and the poodle's eating noodles...
papabishop: i'm not very well informed with fostering, but isn't there some avenue for standard maintenance payments or other methods of financial support? or do you forego those when you say "you want to keep them out of the system"?
You keep saying "I do not mind" when obviously you do. Otherwise this thread would not exist. I think the first step is for you to accept that you mind, and embrace that it's totally ok for you to mind. In fact, I think you'd have to be insane to not mind. Minding also means you care enough to mind, and if you didn't care you probably wouldn't be fostering these girls. It also takes nothing away from what you're doing for these girls or how well you'll care for (and about) them.
Next, I think you need to just accept that autox is geographically excluded. There is no use to dwelling on that. Instead focus your energy on finding and engaging in possible alternatives. Additionally, you mention both the project side and the competition side of cars as what is lacking in your life. Take some time to consider which is the bigger factor in how you're feeling, and whether or not you could get at least some of that feeling from anything other than cars. For me it has been the project side more than the competition side, so I have found that finding a way to satisfy the project side keeps me sane. If the opposite is true for you, then find ways to satisfy your competitive side. Either way, If you're anything like me, you might actually find that it doesn't even have to specifically be car related in order to find at least some semblance of what you crave.
Of course, it helps if what you find is something that can also be engaged in with the family, enjoyed by the family, or that the family can benefit from. Case in point, I picked up a smoker (Pit Barrel Cooker) a few months ago. Smoking my own mean has not only probably saved us more money than it has cost already, but has proven oddly satisfying for me personally even in the face of my not being able to justify car projects right now...This also happened to be an easy sell since my wife loves smoked brisket. Also rewarding is the occasional basic maintenance on my daily driver, aided by my Little Shop-Helper-In-Training, and taking her to local car shows to share my passion with her.
Find three other guys in the same boat who want to scratch the racing itch and form a car club or team. Split everything four ways.
Good luck with whatever you do and good for you helping out the kids.
Well I’ve been trying to get back to this all day, lemons lemons lemons I’m try respond to all in one post, get ready for long one, here we go.. First off I feel I should apologize. I know in my first post I said few things that probably didn’t need to be said. My day starts at 4am, dealing with these kids situations and child services through out the day, had few drinks and needed to vent off. We’ve only had these kids for lil over 24 hrs and the more truth that comes out, we are glad they’re with us. Thankfully these girls have known us their whole lives and are perfectly comfortable with us, which is a blessing. Don’t get me wrong going to be huge adjustment for all who’s involved. I know I said what I did about project/racing, but my main priority is family. Within past year and half, we’ve had to take in my FIL due to medical issues and with crap medical system what should of been couple months turned longer..whole other story! He finally is better on his own. We literally have had “our” house back for 2 months then this happened. Now we have a much fuller house. A 5,7,8,10 year old kids........ Bear with me we’re getting to cars soon. How my wife hasn’t lost it I have no idea. This will be defiantly another test to our marriage. Which has been up/down , but we are getting better at communicating with each other, and we both made commitment to each other and refuse to give it up. Crap rambling off topic. I sat down and talked with swimbo in past about me wanting a toy/project. And if possible once month going somewhere to race. And she understands and is ok with that. But home/ family first. I understand racing may be pushing it, but even me just having a fun/project car back in my life would be great! Am I going to say no to my kids getting all new clothes for school, NO. I’m focused and determined it’ll happen, today,tomorrow, next year idk??? Karting.. never put much thought to it but would be loads of fun. But still comes down to having to travel. I don’t live in a small town but it’s not huge either, hence venues are all drive to get to. I DD an Infiniti I35, prob best all around DD car I’ve owned. VQ power at tap, surprisingly stiff stock suspension. And yes I could auto x. But really don’t want to stress the car doing that. It has more important role then making this one guy happy. Let’s have little car history . 87 Pontiac sunbird n/a gt, 86 sunbird turbo gt(under rated if you ask me), talon tsi(major fail) , 240sx(should’ve kept it) , 13 WRX, the Forester, few appliances not worth mentioning, and now the Infiniti. Yea I sold the fozzy, prob way to cheap but hey I got some cookies and limited edition t shirt out of it, plus she went to good home and will be used for good cause. Could have I used it for what I want.. I’m going to say no. The very first rally x I spectated at seen one roll over on course. Auto X , maybe, but still HCOG vehicle, 165hp motor with 277k miles. I know I’d mod it to make it better, but then get bumped higher in class, and not easy making better power out of stock n/a ej, atleast not what I’d want. I’ve had a plan/mindset it motion for months to get me my car. Moving in next week or so which will not only be saving me around $500 month . But also puts us closer to family, and much better school district. And then life happened. I’m not happy with certain things, but we are doing what’s right. Kids... drive you berkeleying nuts.. but they’re kids. They deserve best life that can be given. We are not technically fostering these kids, but will be with us for atleast next 6 months.... yeah we can apply for help, but you know make $200 too much to qualify for anything not worth it. Anyways with money we’ll be saving I was going to find a car, both for my “fix” and 2 not to be putting miles and miles on family car. Yes I know it’s a car drive it. But now I’m in a situation where I have 4 kids, wife, and me, and one car that seats 5. That situation there makes me upset, yes I want what I want, but has to go on back burner again. Yes I’m upset but I know what needs to come first. I’m going to get my car, I’m determined for that, when??? When it happens. Racing is in my blood though. My grandpa taught me to drive maunal in wrx. Imagine that being 14 going 80 in a 40. My Gpa raced back in his days. And story goes one of my family member supposedly is one of great you started SCCA back when. Family member who imported MGs and such just to do so. Is it true..I hope so. But it’s there in me! To finsish up this novel I just want to say, thanks to everyone who supports me. No I don’t know you and prob never will. I’ve lurked here for years. Main reason I finally signed up is because of the community here. All the forums I’ve been apart of nothing compares to here. I’m going to get my project thread here eventually....
Oh yeah, car shopping. Time for SUV, or minivan. Maybe time for ls swapped van... off to copart and Craigslist
Congratulations on the additions to the family! I have four boys, so I know a little bit of just how much fun it can be at times. Budgets are always tight, but it's all worth it.
I did a Skip Barber two-day class 14 years ago, and a track day nine years ago. My only solace is a 2001 Mustang GT that just turned 300k the other week that I drive when the snow isn't flying. It's not much, but it's enough. I have a modest sim rig that I've used for probably 1/2 hour in the last seven years. It's all worth it to be a part of my kids' lives. There are times when I'd like to do more fun stuff with cars, but it is what it is.
Over the last few years, the most rewarding automotive work I've done is to fix cars so folks could get back on their feet. It's not racing, but it still gives a sense of accomplishment.
Hang in there, and be proud of the decisions you've made to better the lives of your girls!
This was my fun car and Challenge Car the year the first kid arrived.
It was fun. Different fun.
Wait, according to the googles, isnt the texas mile in your town? https://www.texasmile.net/
Bear with me a second. Find someone locally who is doing it and building a car for it. Make friends, help on the build.
When I was in college I was able to autocross (locally), but lacked the time or money for a project or being able to do more serious racing. Made friends with someone who was interested in autocross, but wanted to build a car. It didnt end up being a great car, it didnt end up being fast. But we would typically spend some time on weekends wrenching on it in a haybarn. Still in touch with the friend and the car has been parked in his garage for a few years as he has messed with building boulevard cruisers. My life progressed and I have projects lined up, but having my first kid any time now, so have to work on balance.
In the short term, make a friend to go on the ride with. Projects can be even more fun when its someone elses money and the pressure isnt really on you when stuff doesnt get done. Yeah, driving isnt part of it, but its still something.
Also consider volunteering for the event. I did that too, it at least lets you feel involved.
how far is MSR Houston?
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