I know exactly what you mean, I’m pretty much in the same position, my last race was over six years ago and I don’t know where the time has gone! I’ve also lost many pals over the years including my endurance teammate , along with all the injuries and months in plaster,operations etc I still want to race as there’s nothing better but I just don’t feel comfortable about it yet ! It’s weird when I think of all those years of doing anything to get my regs in,kipping in the van in the rain,wobbling around a wet track just loving it! I picked my bike up from pcr today and I was talking to paul about the very same thing! Maybe it’s just time for me to call it a day and just do the occasional track day! I’ve got a few years on you Adam so I’m sure when you feel the time is right you’ll get back out on the grid!
I used to see those older fellas around the paddock, still racing, with their motor homes and think ‘that has to be me one day!’ Tbh I’ll probably be 60 before I race again
I often wonder what I could / can replace it with I’d been contemplating motocross / enduro etc or even going back to cars. At the moment I’m not entirely missing it as I’m knee deep in house stuff. But something my ex father in law said to me years ago has stayed with me.... “There’s many bold and many old, but not many old and bold” & “There’s plenty of fast riders down at the Graveyard”
And there sits the problem! Track days never quite scratches that itch! I’m lucky in a way as four of my lads are on track now so I do get a lot out of helping them , the first time one of em comes past me I will definitely call it a day lol,
When I stopped racing and stopped timing amd started using less appropriate bikes I find I enjoyed trackdays fir the first time in years. Sure, I was/am also a hell of a lot slower, but was having fun Buy something that isn’t designed for tracks really and have a hoot!
thats the thing , i think people forget trackdays are supposed to be fun and not trying to be a bsb race
But how many time it these days? Most it’s not racing others as such, although it’s more fun when you have a ding dong with another rider/s, but it’s just going faster and faster. Ime it took the fun out of trackdays
Tbh some of the best fun I’ve had is an out of control multi passing sports bikes or keeping up when they pass. It’s lol in your helmet! If I were taller I’d defo be looking at something like a hyper or lighter sm
Really enjoying my new van so far. Really weird being so excited by a van.. but I have some cool plans for it