The RACECAR vs the GIRLFRIEND: Can the two Co-Exist?

The Girlfriend?

The Racecar OR...

This has probably played out for some of you guys out there:

Girl: "Why the heck do you race your car anyways?"
Guy: "............." *silence*

Girl: "You know what, I think it's just a total waste of time and money! It's stupid."
Guy: "Ummm well, I never criticized any of your hobbies you do or spend time on you know..."

Girl: "............................." *Utter Silence*
Guy: "And, I wouldn't knock on it unless you've tried it you know?"

Ah, what a downer.

In my years of racing, there is bound to be times when you're flying solo or you have a wing-lady/better-half/kill-joy with you at events...you get the idea if you've been there. 

WELL, this Racecar vs. Girlfriend subject has been brewing in the recesses of my brain for some time and now it's come to the surface. Throughout the years of doing motorsports events, I have either had a girlfriend or was in between girlfriends (mostly dating, no dice) and I can't count the number of times I've seen, witnessed, and have been the actual guy who ends up either dragging their girlfriend out to a driving event (with heels dug in my side) OR surprised the girl actually wanted to go and ended up liking it (which is very, and I mean VERY-UBER rare).

Racing your own car or having a girlfriend COSTS MONEY and if you have or "do" both (pun intended), then it unfortunately costs MORE MONEY which brings up the question: Can you just have only one OR both at the same time?  My answer to that is: Mostly NO but in some cases, YES.

Funny thing is that you use the car to attract the girl and basically shell out money to do just that BUT the  screwed-up part is that sometimes in the end, your hard-earned dough goes towards the girl. Some guys are ok with this because it means "mission accomplished" but for others, it means that the car goes by the wayside and is not a priority anymore.  Strange how things change like that...

And the even more sad part is that the media has sold us car guys on the idea that with a nice car, we will get this type of girl:

Yep, drive a nice car and you'll get her...IN YOUR WET DREAMS DUDE!

Sorry guys but most of you (notice I said "most" because I know some jackhole will think otherwise) won't be getting a girl like that model in the pic above UNLESS you're either filthy rich, overtly hung somehow (insert Tommy Lee joke here), or just a plain ol' douchebag.  But us car guys will keep on chasing this idea that the media has had us buy into and we'll happily spend dollars trying to accomplish it which makes the car manufacturers and the aftermarket parts guys even happier.  Some guys are lucky and accomplish the feat (hats off to them) while the rest of us just don't.

Anyways, most of the racers at events come "Han-Solo" alone while a very small portion actual have their girlfriend or wife with them.  And in some cases, the girl will race their own car (lucky bastards)!  How to accomplish that is somewhat beyond me because personally, I have never had a girlfriend who approved of and/or liked my racing hobby, not to mention one who encouraged it.

When I did have a girlfriend come with me, it seemed as if I couldn't enjoy my time out at the track like I normally do and instead, I could feel this sort of negative, unspoken "I don't want to be here..." vibe the whole time she was there.  Unfortunately to this day, I still have yet to have a positive experience with a girlfriend coming with me to the track.

Don't ya wish all girls love cars OR actually do car stuff?  Even drift???!

Anyways, here's a few equations I've come up with...maybe they'll help figure things out:

You + Your Car Racing hobby = No girlfriend UNLESS you're a lucky bastard.

You + Girlfriend who DOES NOT like cars and racing = No Racing or Race Car at all! =*(

You + Girlfriend who DOES like cars and racing = Race Car with benefits (RCB)!

You + Girlfriend who actually does track events and races = CAR-VANA, Heaven, priceless. CONGRATULATIONS you SPAZ, you have a chick that wants to drive! =D


SO, what's the point of having a girlfriend if she doesn't like your car, your racing hobby, or both?  They say love conquers all but when it comes to choosing between the love of a girlfriend and the love of racing cars, I think most guys would choose burning rubber racing the car instead of burning rubber with the girl.  But in some cases, I'm probably wrong.

Here's my advice if you want to keep doing the Race-Car thing: STAY SINGLE!

How to have both the Race Car and Girlfriend Co-Exist: 

Find yourself a lady who can relate to your racing hobby/love of cars- one who you're not afraid of sharing it with. 

I think that's what most of us car guys just really want anyway.

Good Hunting.