Coming off the bench

A few months ago, I decided that I couldn’t afford to drive in the Alfa 10-hour regularity event that will be run in two weeks. My ten-week trip to the United Kingdom and Europe had drained my funds, and motorsport would need to sit on the sidelines while my cash reserves replenished. I have only driven in one motorsport event this year, and I have been more than happy with my lot, given the big trip I have recently returned from. Fortunately, the team found a replacement driver for my spot, and I volunteered as the event’s team manager.

The other day, one of our drivers called me to say he was having trouble with his car and that it may not be ready for the event, and even if it was, he had serious concerns about his car’s reliability. He asked if I would consider coming off the bench with my car and replacing him in the team. I reminded him of my decision to sit it out, but he was more than willing to cover the entry fee and make it as cheap as possible for me to participate.

I might have been swayed by his offer to pay the entry fee of $600, but my car needs new brake pads and discs, along with an oil change. These items would have set me back another $600. Participating wouldn’t have broken the bank, but I had decided to hold back, and for this year at least, I won’t be coming off the bench to participate in the Alfa 10-hour event.