Luckily I am pretty unaffected by the downturn, but I am still cutting back my track days just to stuff more money in the bank (never know what might happen).

Anyone else changing their priorities? If so to what? cash? gold? real estate???

 

I am definitely thinking about my mods and yearly schedule much more than before. I think that's mostly because I made the cardinal sin of adding up what I spent on the first 1/2 of 2008 just to/from and at the track and it hurt! Trying to be competitive is not cheap.

As far as investment advice; don't look at me. I do know cars are probably the worst spot to sink money if you want to recoup!

 

As far as cars .. yes deffinately cut back. In terms of investment ride the market in and out and take quick profits like the big brokers do.

 

Always invest in the latest, best suspension bits for your cars... keep the economy going by spending more!

Don't overthink this economic model. Trust me.

 

"great depression"


Ask your grand parents or great grand parents about the REAL Great Depression if you want to know what it's really like.

Heck, ask your parents how that 20% home loan in the 80's was to pay.

We are experiencing the eventual come down from a ridiculous high in the late 90's and all these people that haven't known anything but "OMG I CAN MAKE 1 MEEEELIOON DOLLARS DAY TRADING!!!!!" are finally feeling a little pinch.

Boo-frikin-hoo.

And OP, my track time will only increase. My travel time won't though (too much time away from the family).

 

I was working for a major hotel chain, until the stock price fell, thus thousands of jobs were cut...so to the ^ poster, that is F* depressing, the past will always be harder so your point is moot. I have to keep staring at the car and bench race until i get another job on the same pay level so time will tell

 

haha yea... iono... its only bad times if you are in the habit of ALWAYS spending your whole paycheck

 

Comparing today's economic situation to the Great Depression is like comparing the war in Iraq to WWII.

That said, I am planning on doing far more auto events this year than in 08 where I only did about a dozen autocrosses. I plan on doing Phase 1 and 2 of Evo's AutoX School as well as at least 1 HPDE at Lime Rock with NASA and 1 at NHMS with COM. That's on top of about 20 autoXs with CART and FCSCC and buying a new suspension. But yes, the world is zomfg imploding!

 

man i put my evo iX away and its been 2 maybe 3 months now, just to save some extra cash....and i can't take this shyt no more man!!!! i need my evo...........

 

i have noticed its not nearly as crowded for trackdays here in socal and you can just show up and run. A couple years ago you'd have to sign up way in advanced.

Also the sunoco 100 and 110 fuel is still like $7.90 or thereabouts at the track.

 

I'm definately hurting. I just had twins and I'm the only income. The lancer is now starving for attention and all modifications are in the $20 and less category. Looking more racecar by the day. I'm scrounging just to get enough money for new pads for the upcoming event in Feb. Even w/ Christmas and my birthday it looks painfully doubtful. I've had to cut back on events already.

 

I received a $16,000 reduction in pay just before Christmas. We decided to take a pay cut vs. layoff more workers, we still had to lay off a few people yesterday. I hope I can meet all my obligations with my reduced pay. Times are tough and are likely to get worse before they get better.

The Evo needs new clutch and tires and the STI needs tires. I was able to pick up a new clutch yesterday - thats good news. Tires have to wait till income tax season. I wont be doing any racing this year because I can't afford to break or replace anything, aside from normal maintenance.

 

yes it does.

 

i've found i can buy things that i couldn't before because of all the price gouging, lol. mostly in the electronics area though. it's sad, but nice to pick up a nice $4,500 tc for $1-1500

 

yeah, I shoulda put great depression in "" marks. but you know what I mean.

Houston is almost completely unaffected. The malls are more packed than Ive ever seen them.

we are getting pretty big bonuses and everything. my fear is that pretty son even $'s wont be worth anything anymore, as fast as Hank and Beer-nanke are printing them...

My Track car is getting lots of TLC, since I am not spending $ on track days. Just put in new motor mounts, a new axle (evn though the old one was just a wee tiny bit worn), etc. I'm not in the mood to have an engine failure right now or a major off. Not sure why, but I'm just not feeling it right now.