Kyle to quote Woody Allen, "80% of life is showing up, the other 20% is the presentation".
I too came from SCCA to the Conference Family. I used to pray for competition to show up so I had someone to run and compare my performance too.
No matter what group, class, or organization you run with you cannot control who shows up or when. You can only do what you can within your control. The part you cannot control is of no value.
I too have my places in the class I run primarily because was fortunate enough to run more races. My main competition kicked my tail head to head more then once. But I am okay with that because it gives me something to shoot for. I prefer to judge my performance against my past in terms of lap times and consistency. As long as I learn and apply properly I will get better.
If this leads to better finishing positions that is icing on the cake.
It's the rush I get in the car and how I feel when I come off the track that makes it all worthwhile. Two of my greatest races and fun came in my 2nd and third novice races. No trophy but battling door handle to door handle against Bart made my whole year! He beat me once but I learned and used what I learned the second time to barely beat him. It was fantastic fun both giving each other fair room to race but no more. No freebies here.
I miss racing Bart.
But I will still take my season results with pride for my team and all my friends who supported me to get that one more race to qualify for the season points.
Almost as cool as being allowed to be part of this family we call conference. Encouragement, criticism, and the socializing at the track this year has improved my quality of life in ways I cannot begin to tell you. But my wife and friends have seen it and mentioned it.
Now if I can just improve my driving every time on the track I will beaming twice as much in the pits.
Good luck this weekend Kyle and go get Bart!