Compete or Retire When is it Enough

Just wondering, if anyone has thought of this. My goals were not met yet, but still need to play. We saw Kollar retire but his family is bigger than mine. Need some input.

To each is own. every year i set a goal and if i meet it i say this will be the last year, then look around and think about it and set a bigger goal and keep going. but family plays a big part in it

YA thats tru, ive met most of my goals. My family is first,but i have been in this for many yrs. Its still fun i meet new people at every show.

Just keep competiting.. every time I think about quitting it only last untill the next show or next build.
It is in our blood!

I not guiting but, just like to know. I havent got world finals in my collection yet. But i am running out of room. This coming yr will be different.

i believe that everyone that competes should go to finals at least once. then after that u might not think about retiring. i met lots of people there and made lots of friends

Well ive met most but not all. I you i havent,i was there in 2008 with a friend he took 2nd behind jimbo. My blazer blew a motor. I WILL BE THERE IN 2011.

Compete until you start not enjoying it, when you get to that point realize what you are feeling and dont push it anymore or you will grow to hate it.

Just my experience, I wish I had quit a long time before I actually did. I got the feeling and kept on and didnt put forth the effort I should have with the people I had helping me and sponsoring me because I j ust plain didnt enjoy it. In turn I didnt give them the return on their investment or time and I kick myself for that everytime I think about it. Should of just got out and let them focus on someone more deserving of their support.

totally agree with Cris and Navi , don't go to a point where you hate it .Thats what Navi did wrong I have got to the point where I don't enjoy a few times , but I stop and get bored and go back .Because ,is like Chris says is in our blood.
When it comes to family , they are 1st ,but a man needs it hobbies and toys to make him feel like a man. Most of us here this our hobby and toys .
Take things as they come one day at a time .I have also stop for my fam. they are the ones that push me back , as fact last world finals was all them helping me out.

im about done ... mught call i quits this year ,,,,,,really debating on it

Come on Rowland you aint done. We all say that, its in our blood. I respect alot of people in this sport. Thought about it but, what else would we do. Im taking this to a different level, you, jimbo, kollar, estes,kumar and ralph and jennisa, i respect alot. Its on for 2011. I guess im an old fart with alot more.

its more the money i spend around 15k every year going to shows

Ya its more than money,ive been at this since 2000. I like to be loud as hell,its pure fun. Maybe this i will yr, i will accomplish it. I might ask for advice from some of you.

As long as it is still fun, keep doing it! When it stops being fun, stop.... Or discover a way to make it fun again!

My thoughts.

Guys, just keep in mind that it doesnt' have to be all or nothing. I set out to see if I could compete with the best in the world. My goal was a world final top 5. I accomplished that. Since then, I still compete because I love the sport and I like to see what new build and ideas come out. As it was said before, it is in my blood. I may be the only 85 year old guy still competing. One thing though-I don't get worked up when I get beat, I just keep in mind that other people have different priorities than I do. I accomplished my goal, and I compete for fun. I always get the drive to rebuild and make another run at a championship, I just make sure that it is because I want to and I enjoy it. Last time I put a ride together was 2006. Since then, once again, it is all for the fun of the sport.
I also agree-if you are having to make an effort to go to shows, and compete, I would take time off, maybe for a month, maybe a year, maybe indefinitely. If you don't, you may grow to resent the sport.
You can always do what I did-go from one venue to another(SPL to SQ or vise versa.)

I retired in 2005 after meeting my goal. Always had a vehicle and equipement, went to shows just like I did when I competed to support the fellas. In my area, there is a whole new crew of competitors but they are not as serious as we were. Very few of them will travel but their numbers aren't impressive, atleast to me.
I've decided to come out of retirement in 2011 and seriously compete again. Not to prove anything to anyone around here but because I missed the sport.
I've put my son through college without any financial aid, now it's time to exhale and do me. This is my hobby and I enjoy it.
I hope USACi returns in my region in 2011.
Bottom line, you have to decide what's best for you. If you retire, you can always come back.
Sorry for the rambling, lol.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Well put for a oldtimer...lol jk. good words

No you got it right, lol.

Im not retiring....just taking a break. When it gets boring or you miss doing sh1t with the family in the summer its good to take a little time off. Im still building cars for others and sloooowly working on mine till I want to come back.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and input. I will be taking it one day at a time,im building something new for 2011. Hope i get to meet most of you this year at finals. Here we go again, im setting my goals for 2011. thanks.

I will be looking for you at finals! Not many of us older dudes that still play hard.

Ha, I'm older than both of ya.

I guess, Im not the only old fart here. Anymore besides Mark 43,44, 50.

I'm probably the oldest and proud of it, lol. Been through a lot.

I'm not too far off at 35.
I was 22 when I started-seems like just last year.

ika young pup turn 21 in april