Sometimes it is about the journey.

A few years ago Nissan did this corny ad campaign featuring an old Japanese man with aJack Russell dog travelling around to various scenic places with harmonious music in the background painting a serene picture of travel in the world. Emphasizing that its the journey to get there that is important, not the destination. Kinda corny and I'm sure that they didn't come up with this themselves, but effective non the less.

I came to that same kind of realization this last weekend while at the race track. Most of you know that I have always had this childhood fantasy about driving race cars. It was a goal that I thought I never would achieve. As fate would have it, I guess its fate, I have been able to accomplish this goal over the last three years. I started out with performance driving and moved up to time trials and now am in full fledged side by side racing in race group. I picked a few easy races this fall, at tracks that I was familiar with that had a small turnout of cars just to get my feet wet. Frankly I sucked. One thing I should mention. Now that I am in race group the car has to be completely set up to race safely. Full roll cage, Fire suppression system, window and right side safety net, and a head and neck restraint device. Not too mention the fire suit and fire proof underwear etc. I don't like small places. Never had. I don't like to be strapped down. It too me a long time to get comfortable wearing my seat belt when I drive. Sometimes at night when its dark and I'm along with no one to see I actually take it off. I swear I feel 10#'s lighter when its not around me. Its like there is a fresh breeze flowing across me. Well you can imagine how uncomfortable it is for me to be all strapped in my race car. I cant even buckle myself in all by myself because I haven't been able to relax enough to methodically do this myself. Until this weekend. When I got to grid I was hot and so I actually released my helmet and took it off to cool down and managed to get it all hooked back up before I had to go on track. I was relaxed for the first time. It was more fun than I am able to describe. From the actual start of the race until the end I actually thought about finding the fastest line. Trying new shift points, blocking, passing, making moves right at the start of the race. Both days I actually gained positions right at the start. You cant imagine the rush. I wasn't scared anymore and I started to trust my car. I should have trusted my car from the start because I have a REALLY good car.

So I guess it is about the journey. I wouldn't have had as much fun this weekend if I hadn't had to overcome some of the personal issues to get to this point. I had a great group of friends that come to the track to watch their spouses race that help me strap into the car and get me to grid on time. It was finally as fun as I thought it would be. Just what I need in my life, one more addiction.

Go out and pursue your passion. Trust me its worth it.