Life: April '24 was the month that my unemployment insurance ran out and, faced with lack of interest in my resume along with insulting and broken job search processes, I gave our finances a deep review and made the decision to pull the ripcord and bail out of the market. I unofficially officially "pre-tired" on my 60th birthday. I'm not against accepting future employment, but I'm just not going to get on my knees and subject myself to that disaster of a process. It's really broken, y'all. I really do feel for young people looking for a job, a mate, and a house, because all three of those are being managed the same way now...swipe left, swipe right...
But if I keep my eyes and ears open, then maybe I can meet that perfect employer through family, friends, and social contacts. We'll see. In the meantime...
Racing: I didn't have a functional competive SCCA race car this year as both the HP MR2 and the EP Civic were crashed in 2023. We did not have the time to rebuild the broken race cars and Ed had other priorities so he sold off the HP Fit and the B-Spec Fiesta.
It's possible that the 2023 version of the SCCA Runoffs, my 14th, was the last one as a driver. What an ignominous end...
However, the 914 was running good (he says, foreshadowing ...) and should be a dependable yet casual Regional and vintage/historics racer.
Recognizing that I was now very flexible on time and travel, I agreed to step into the role of supporting SM and SMX drivers as Class Ambassador at SCCA Super Tours and the Runoffs (Road Atlanta, VIR, Hallett, Road America). That was quite enjoyable and it looks like I'll be doing it again in '25.
I also managed and coached Track Night in America events at New England's race tracks (Lime Rock, Thompson, Palmer, New Hampshire) as well as stewarding SCCA Regionals...sometimes on the same weekend!
Music: 2024 was a good concert year: Riley's L.A. Guns w/ Stephen Pearcy, Quiet Riot, Vixen, Mohegan Sun Arena; 311 w/ Sitting On Stacy, Mohegan Sun Arena; Mammoth WVH w/ Nita Strauss, Toad's Place; Hatebreed w/ With Honor, Shadows Fall, Sworn Enemy, Shadow of Intent, Oakdale Theatre; Sammy Hagar w/ Loverboy, Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater; Yes and Deep Purple, Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater; KK’s Priest w/ Accept, The Ridgefield Playhouse; and to accompany my love, Nick Fradiani at Mohegan Wolf Den and Daughtry at Oakdale.
Cars! Well the new-to-me Porsche 968 got registered and my garage lift was busy with maintenance (timing belts, fluids), repairs (A/C, speedo/ABS/cruise, evap case, clutch), and upgrades (BT radio, new Conti ECS02 tires, and full repaint - thanks Phil!) It got most of my attention during the year and was my primary driver in '24, even driving it to New Jersey Motorsports Park for the Majors. What a nice cruiser it is! I even drove it at a Track Night in America event at Thompson, just for fun.
But as a result, the poor 914 was mostly ignored and did not even drive enough this year for a fuel tank refill, so I have to resolve that in '25. The GTi sat a lot too, except for a long drive to Louisiana and back (more on that in a sec).
Brewed a few beers with my buddy Seth this year; we did a SMaSH Pale Ale, a Porter, and an IPA? All came out nice.
Unrelated: I logged my 3000th unique beer on UnTappd; it took right at ten years to get there (don't do that math). Also unrelated: meeting Chris Tonn and Rob Foley after the NYIAS Press Days. Many beers consumed. We're overdue for a Book Club meeting...
And some other racing-related highlights included being a spectator at GridLife (yo!) as well as the MiataCon and FCP Euro show, both a Lime Rock. It was kinda nice pulling the RV trailer into the venue, setting up some chairs and a grill, and enjoying beers with friends. And the on-track antics were worth it!
Speaking of the RV trailer, Thea likes to take it on a planned vacation each year with the dogs ("NOT TO A RACE TRACK!") so this year's adventure was to Amish/Mennonite country in Pennsylvania. A nice long interesting weekend (though y'all need to dial down that highway rage...sheesh...)
There were, of course, some downsides for the year, some minor and some not-so. One relatively minor one I alluded to, unintentionally running my racer 914's engine without oil pressure before the Labor Day Weekend Historics at Lime Rock. Yup, it locked up solid (but it didn't done blowed up tho). Id id hang around for the weekend and assist with some driver advising, so not all was lost...but what a carless and stoopit thing to do.
Another hard-hitting item was testifying in April at a trial for a murder I witnessed in 2021; that wasn't an easy morning (he got locked up).
And despite a nice RV trip to and from Wisconsin with the RV trailer (scamming my way into boondocking in Watkins Glen's paddock on the way home) I managed to somehow dislodge the trailer's side canopy and it partially deployed and destroyed the thing...more hassles.
But there were some serious downsides in 2024, the most important one being the passing in November of my mother, Mary Faith Wyble Thomasee, in her home in Louisiana. She had been fighting cancer for some time - I had flown down in June to see her through some surgery and manage some family business down there - but her final passing, among us family, was peaceful. We will, of course, miss her, she was one of a kind (and she had to raise me!)
I was named Executor of her estate and I am managing her surviving spouse's finances, so that will be a strong focus for me in 2025, and possibly beyond.
And have you read the story of the family's cemetary PVC pipes...?
A silver lining for those two Louisiana trips is that I finally took the opportunity to visit two museums that I had been putting off for many years: the National World War II Museum in New Orleans and the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola. Fantastic displays and I will be going back to both again (I promise!) I also visited the New England Air Museum this year, which I should do more often especially since it's close and I'm a dues-paying member...
So that's my retrospective look at another calendar year, done and gone; did I miss anything? 2024 will always be remembered by me as the year of passing of my mom but I remind myself that this is part of life, of living. And that will remind me that we should enjoy living as long as we're alive.
So we will.
So what's up for '25? Man, I hate predictions, but they sure are fun to read in hindsight - and laugh! I foresee the SM/SMX class ambassador thing again happening successfully this year, with a lot of travel to almost all Super Tours and the Runoffs (I already have travel booked for Sebring in January and Buttonwillow in February). I'll be watching for excellent concerts to come rolling through the area (already have tix for Dream Theater!) Volunteering for VITA tax prep is a given (and it starts up again soon!)
My own racing future is mixed but if/when the 914 engine gets done and installed I could do some historics racing at Lime Rock (Empire Club and LRP Historics), VRG Thompson vintage fest, and I'm sure at least one SCCA regional (gotta keep that comp license up to date). No doubt I'll be stewarding Regionals and managing/coaching TNIA events as well.
Thea and I already have a trip planned to Cancun with the German club in May and I'm sure we'll do an August RV trip again...where should we go? Maybe upstate NY wine country? Ideas being accepted.
Regardless, I do wish you and yours the best, and I hope we all have the opportunity to hoist a few beverages together this coming year...after all, how far away can my Unique Beer Number 4000 be...?
See you in '25.
Greg
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