Starting off the new year, it made me think about the future, and goals I want to achieve. I want to improve better as a racing driver, still travel, and camp. But a new goal is buying a 2nd home, and making more money.

Last year I became a NASA instructor, and that has greatly lowered the cost of racing as instructing pays for the entry cost. In exchange I instruct the DE1 group. It’s good till you have care issues. Then you don’t have time to work on it trackside since your time is spent instructing. Then I wouldn’t be able to make it to the next race. Thankfully the things that need to be fixed wasn’t too expensive, but did take time. The upside: now my 86 is working, and no issues in the past 3 events. Hopefully this will continue on for this year.

I am planning to race in spec Miata this year as a team, with with my friend Tony. I decide to join a team because this will reduce the cost more since we are splitting the cost of racing 50/50. But right now the Miata isn’t 100% ready to race. It still needs a seat, and some other miscellaneous items. For now, I’ll continue to race the 86.

I want to improve on my racing career, in a sense that I get better as a racing driver. I would like to have the ability to drive any car decently fast, with just a few laps. Improve my skills so I can drive other cars with confidence. Work on my race craft, and use those skills to instruct for other organizations.

In the non racing stuff, I have been renting my guest room for 1.5yrs, and the tenant has been great. Feeling inspired, I want to rent the whole house, and get a 2nd home for my wife and I. But buying a 2nd home takes money….. I feel like I reached a point in my career I maxed the money at this company, and not much left for growth. The rising inflation, feels like my paycheck isn’t keeping up. $100 now wont buy the same thing in the future.

With that dilemma, I could just stick to where I’m at, but doesn’t seem like that the best way to make more money. I could quit, and look for another job that pays more. Possibly go in remote nursing work or school nursing. One of the nice things about being a nurse is you have the possibility to go into other fields of nursing. I just know, I need to make more money if want to buy a 2nd house, and still continue to race. I’m not planning to quit racing anytime soon.

Looking back this past year, I placed 2nd overall as st6 season driver. Yey, more trophies. I flew business class, and gone to 4 different countries. I have to say, business class ruined me. In a way I can can’t fly economy on international flight after tasting business class. I was able to get upgraded though points, but it is a gamble with uncertainty. You wont know if you cleared business class till 24hrs of departure. Nerve-racking. But to be able fly business is an experience I hope to continue this year.

My goal is to be able to make enough money where I can pay the full business class price, and not get mad knowing some people might have gotten a discount on their fares. Last year gave me a taste of what can be better if I work harder, and I want to be able to continue that for 2024.

It’s the year of the Dragon, maybe this will be the better year?