After I got back and unpacked, calmed down, and generally went linear again, I sent a note to the TF people to say that I’d gotten my Competition License – expecting that I would be allowed back into the Advanced group. Instead, the response I got was “We’re not impressed. Anyone can get a Comp License. You haven’t even run any races.”
So, now the hunt was on for a car that was race worthy.
After contacting a few friends, I got pointed to a couple of people who buy/sell/rent and maintain Miata race cars. Initially, I thought I would just rent a car for the 8 races that it would take to get to full competition status. But, it turns out that renting a race car is $1000/day. One of the people I contacted was also selling one (#57) for $9000 (essentially brokering it for a friend).
After doing the math, I figured I could rent one for $8000 or buy one (probably could haggle him down to $8K), race it 8 times and sell it for almost what I paid - costing maybe $500-$1000 plus consumables (tires, gas, etc). So, that was the route I decided to take. #57 was an option.
But, it turns out that the chief instructor for TF was also a racer and had mentioned in (approx.) the March timeframe that he was going to be selling his car and trailer and getting out of racing for a few years to spend time with family. But, at that time, he said he hadn’t decided on a price. So, I called him up and he said he was now ready to sell.
There were things I liked about each car. #57 had a 1.8L engine (more power), but a mostly unknown history. #28 had a 1.6L engine (less power) but the owner had won races a number of times, so that didn't seem to be a big factor. But, since he was getting completely out of racing, he also dind't need his trailer or anything in it - spare tires/rims, tools & Tool chest, spare parts for the Miata, portable canopies/sun shades, and more. So, he was willing to make me a package price on the whole thing. And, I had a complete history of the car. If I bought #57, I would immediately need to start trailer shopping. After some small amount of negotiation, he made me a great deal and I arranged to buy both #28 and the trailer, AND the contents. That was on May 31st.
So, I ended up buying my race car from the chief driving instructor from the group that wouldn't let me run in the Advanced group. To me, this was dripping in irony.
At the same time, I had to pick up all the other requirements for racing – nomex racing suit, gloves, shoes, socks. Since the car was in Martinez, and the suit, shoes, etc. were in Sonoma, I made one swing to look at the car (and decide to buy it) and get the other equipment, all in the same trip.
I picked up the car and trailer the following Saturday.
Upon return, I requested a re-evaluation by the chief instructor. He decided on a different format this time. Rather than riding in my car, he decided to do a “lead/follow” – where one car is following the other – except in this situation, whoever was in the back would try to pass whoever was in the front, and he would deliberately do things to put me off balance. For an entire 1/2 hr session we did this, and he was not able to mess me up at all. At the end, he deemed me ready to return to the advanced group.
Still, John said he didn’t want me in the group because “there was something about his (my) driving that scares me”.
At this point, it got somewhat tense. At one point, I was approached by John, who demanded to know, “Why do you keep trying to get back into the Advanced Group?” When I explained my motivation, it became clear that he just didn’t want me in “his” run group. But, he wouldn't say that.
No matter.
I had other plans.
I went to the person who ran the events and explained that the bar kept rising, and I now had my comp license, and at some point this would actually turn into something ludicrous. He was more reasonable, and said that if I successfully completed the races scheduled between then and the next TF event, I would be readmitted to the Advanced Group.