Last day at my current job.

"Forgetful" (forgetful) 08/08/2014 at 12:51 • Filed to: None

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Weird. Might as well blog about it. It's not like I'm going to be doing any actual work. Ok, I'll serve customers and answer the phone, but that's about it. I do plan on saying "It's my last day" a lot though.

I currently manage a smoke shop, selling cigars and the like in Kamloops, BC. Been here just over 5 years, the longest job I've held. It's been a decent place to work, my bosses are great and the customer base is interesting (mostly in a good way... mostly). I started as just a clerk, but I've been managing the place for a couple of years now, so I've pretty much climbed to the top of the ladder here and they aren't going to pay me much more than I already make, so it's time to move on. Also it's retail, and everything that comes with that.

A little over a week from now I'll be starting at a sharpening shop in Red Deer, AB. Better pay and a what seems to be a decent long term oppo-tunity, putting in motion my long term plan to own an Esprit much like the one you see here, complete with deep dish rear wheels (I call it the Deep Dish Esprizza). Also my new boss likes cars, even !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

I'm stoked because there seems to be a decent autocross club right in Red Deer that runs at least twice a month during the season, and Castrol Raceway is less than an hour away. Considering I think it was my lack of in-car experience that cost me at the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , and I full well plan on returning next year, I should be able to improve my real car control skills with a few autocross and track day events. I've already got a couple of opponauts ready to volunteer as pit crew. Good thing I already have the right car for the job. Also, rumour has it that one of my cousin's friends just bought a F5 Cobra, so I probably won't have to go it alone. No sponsors yet, but hopefully the better pay of the new job will outweigh any cost of living increases I'll incur, leading to deeper coffers for my amateur racing ventures.

I'll be able to ditch the front plate, so chalk one up for aesthetics and one for aerodynamics too!

I'll probably be on oppo less during the day ('cause I'm an overwhelming presence already), but I should have great photodumps and stories of autocross awesomeness to share in the future.

Brian Silvestro > Forgetful 08/08/2014 at 12:53

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Good luck! You'll dominate at AutoX because, you know, you're a really good driver.

thebigbossyboss > Forgetful 08/08/2014 at 13:00

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Congratulations on the new job. I wish I could visit Kamloops more often, I grew up in the lower mainland but now live in Ontario.

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > Forgetful 08/08/2014 at 13:39

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Best of luck to you! I hope to still see your GT6 ghosts if I ever get back on the game myself.

Forgetful > thebigbossyboss 08/08/2014 at 13:40

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I'm definitely going to miss the 'loops, but the only decent work these days is in mining.

Forgetful > Brian Silvestro 08/08/2014 at 13:40

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When I go looking for actual sponsors can I hit up your dad? You guys seem to be loaded.

Forgetful > With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username 08/08/2014 at 13:42

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I'm back on the iRacing right now, but if I can get a setup where it's easier to switch back and forth between PC and PS then I'll be back on GT. Of course, come GT Academy season I'll be back for sure.

Brian Silvestro > Forgetful 08/08/2014 at 13:48

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LOL yeah, I'm at lunch right now trying to convince him to get a Hellcat as his next DD.

thebigbossyboss > Forgetful 08/08/2014 at 13:52

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Yeah I hear that.

Forgetful > Brian Silvestro 08/08/2014 at 14:18

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Seems reasonable.

Just let him know, food for thought, a pay-to-play seat in a Continental Tires Series ST class car is 10-15 grand per race. Peanuts, I'm sure.

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > Forgetful 08/08/2014 at 14:19

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Well, I sure appreciate the opportunities I get to either:

1) Learn something about improving my times by following your lines

2) Sit in slack-jawed amazement as your ghost creeps farther and farther ahead despite my best efforts.

Let's hope autocross gets you more seat-of-the-pants inertial feedback and you get even better next year.

Brian Silvestro > Forgetful 08/08/2014 at 14:21

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That's...not even bad... Prize money?

Forgetful > Brian Silvestro 08/08/2014 at 14:26

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http://www.imsa.com/sites/default/…

8000, 5600, 3700 to the podium in ST.

Brian Silvestro > Forgetful 08/08/2014 at 14:29

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Wait.. then how do teams profit? Oh wait. I just realized sponsors probably pay the entry fee.

Forgetful > Brian Silvestro 08/08/2014 at 14:30

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Racing and profit are mutually exclusive entities. Which is why we need your pops.

Brian Silvestro > Forgetful 08/08/2014 at 14:33

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Dude if I had unlimited money I guarantee you there would be a an oppo racing team.

BZiel > Brian Silvestro 08/08/2014 at 17:12

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If you want to make a million dollars racing, you need to start with two million. Quit when you have a million left. :-)

Brian Silvestro > BZiel 08/08/2014 at 17:19

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The best way to live life!

BZiel > Forgetful 08/08/2014 at 17:23

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The Lotus Esprit is a truly overlooked car, and, one I think that is due for some huge gains in value over the coming years. You can find really nice '90-97 examples for $20-30,000 all over the place now.

Forgetful > BZiel 08/08/2014 at 17:25

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Inorite? I gotta get on that shit, quick.

BZiel > Brian Silvestro 08/08/2014 at 17:27

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I'm going to see what I can do to at least get an Oppo sticker on our GT car for 2015.

No promises.

There are corporations, lawyers, and many people more important than me involved

BZiel > Forgetful 08/08/2014 at 17:46

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http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/de…

http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/ca…

I know they are far from you, but these are example of what is out there right now.

Forgetful > BZiel 08/08/2014 at 17:50

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DAAAAAM, that red one is less than I paid for my FR-S.

BZiel > Forgetful 08/08/2014 at 17:55

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Looks like a prime example of that car, too. The only thing I don't like are the aftermarket stereo stuff. But, it does seem easy to correct.

That is the kind of car to seek out and hold for appreciation in value.

Brian Silvestro > BZiel 08/08/2014 at 18:39

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Lawyers? Really? I'm sure you can sneak it on.

BZiel > Brian Silvestro 08/08/2014 at 18:58

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We ran a test day at Road Atlanta about a month or so back...blew an engine. Detonated. $140,000+ of damage to car.

Trust me...lawyers are involved.

Brian Silvestro > BZiel 08/08/2014 at 19:06

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Well shit...that might be an issue..

BZiel > Brian Silvestro 08/08/2014 at 19:11

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Racing is expensive. Lawyers cast us almost 15% of our yearly budget.

Fuck lawyers.

Brian Silvestro > BZiel 08/08/2014 at 19:13

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Wut. That's a shitload of money.

Why...how...

BZiel > Brian Silvestro 08/09/2014 at 10:30

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Dealing with corporate level sponsorships is incredibly complex and very time consuming and the contracts that are drawn up for them can be hundreds of pages in length - they outline everything from financial arrangements, to advertising criteria, to team performance goals, to, well you name, it's all in writing. Then on the team side, the lawyers are involved in everything from workers compensation cases to handling the day to day legal issues any business runs into.

Brian Silvestro > BZiel 08/09/2014 at 10:32

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Dear god. Why does racing have to be so complicated!!!?? I just want to race!

BZiel > Brian Silvestro 08/09/2014 at 12:00

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Well, racing, as a business is definitely an incredibly expensive endeavor. I believe the budget for the GT3 team I'm now involved with is somewhere north of $16 million for the 2015 season.

But, racing on a local level can be quite affordable. Local SCCA events like autocross and track days are quite reasonable. Car clubs often hold specialty events like high performance driver experience days.

I would also recommend karting as a super affordable way to get some terrific seat time. To tell you great karting is, on my last trip to Charlotte, NC I went to the GoPro Motorsport Complex and was racing with Kasey Kahne, Scott Speed and Michael McDowell (one of the owners of the facility). Nowhere else in the world of racing can you get to drive against people like that without being a professional or paying 5 figures.

Brian Silvestro > BZiel 08/09/2014 at 12:09

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Yes! I've been karting a couple of times, it's ultra fun. I'm going to my 4th autocross event tomorrow, and my first track day next month.

BZiel > Brian Silvestro 08/09/2014 at 12:15

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Best of luck tomorrow and keep at it.

Brian Silvestro > BZiel 08/09/2014 at 12:16

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Thanks, and I will! Very interesting pieces of knowledge you've told me.