Hobbies

Hobbies are a wonderful thing. They provide an opportunity to pursue something that you enjoy, something that you can learn from, and something that can be an escape from your normal boring daily grind.

Over the years I have developed a number of interests. Some are subsets of a greater interests. Such as learning to create this web site would be a subset of my interest in computers and other technologies. I'm a huge gadget freak. I'm always trying to stay abreast of the latest and greatest gadgets to hit the market. Sometimes I find myself trying to come up with a need so that I can justify buying some new gadget.

The one interest that has yet to wane is my love of the automobile and motorsports. I love auto racing, and not that NASCAR rounder stuff. My preference is more towards productin based vehicles like those found in the various touring cars series found through out the world or open wheel cars like F1. I mean racing that actually involves accelerating, braking, turning left and right. To me it's a thing of beauty to see a car go through a long sweeper. To see the wheels break traction into a controlled slide as the car passes the apex into the exit. I also love the sound of tuned engine at full song. Whether it be a fourcylinder or an exotic italian twelve cylinder. It's the most beatiful sound in the world.

I'm amazed at the skill that some drivers poses. We have Mario Andretti, Ayrton Senna, Hans-Joachim Stuck and of course Michael Schumacher. My dream as a child was to be one of those guys. What better job could there be than to be paid to drive a fast car as quickly at you can. For me that beats every other job in the world hands down. That even includes being a porn star, rock star or any other star. Well, porn might be cool for a day or two.

I can see how most people wouldn't understand the attraction. For most, it just cars going around in a cirlce really fast. They don't see the complexities invovled. There are so many things going on at the same time. The driver is inundated with information. Everything from the lap position, split times, competitor position on track, fuel comsumption, tire wear, weather conditions and the list goes on. With all this happening the driver must navigate the course at speed. From the few "race" events that I have participated in I can tell you that it's hard enough just putting the car where you want it on track. Following the line as it's called. You have to be aware of breaking points, turn in points, hit the apex, accelerating smoothly out of the turn and setting up for the next turn.

I love to initiate people to the world of indoor karting. Whenever the topic of motorsports comes up and I get the "how hard could that be attitude", I invite that individual out for an indoor karting session. Most I've talked to think that since they "drive" to work or the mall that they're experts. I've got news for them driving to work isn't driving, that's commuting.

In all seriousness. From birth we have a limited number of days. Why not used the time to we have to pursue something. Anything that interests you as a person.