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"Blinky", my 83 RX-7 autocross car that I regret selling has come up for sale. It underwent a massive transformation and is now a roll-caged, log-booked, and race-winning track car. It's still street legal, but definitely less so. It's affordable ($500 more then I sold it for!) and I have wanted to wheel-to-wheel race forever...
However, kid on the way (Jan 12), foster parenting, Javelin restoration, and a Porsche currently dominate my time. What to do?
Buy it and put it away until you have time for it 
I sold my 240z 2 years ago as a shell, and it was on craigslist a couple months ago for $300. Almost picked it up, but had a 1 car garage at the time 
In reply to Javelin:
start on the kids go cart first 
I had a Trans-Am that I called "herpes"
Every time I thought she was gone, she came back.
Shawn
Pick it up and make it into another family project!
Family is important but regret is forever. If you can in any way make room for it, buy it. Even if it's a long-term affair, even fathers need a way to maintain their center. Consider it as a way for you to focus your mind and unstress yourself, so it's heart-attack-prevention.
David
"Don't look back, you can never look back" - Don Henley - Boys of Summer
Take care of the family first, cars will always be there.(I'm on my way to my father-in-law's funeral)
You have a Porsche, enjoy it and go road racing later in life, there will be many other RR cars come your way.
Advice from an old fart, so take it for what it is worth:
Move on. Life is about carrying the bag of "wants" and "needs". You have a lot of heavy needs in the bag at this point, and the want of this car just adds dead weight.
Retire a few of those needs and then reconsider the wants from a bit further down the road.
^ This. I'm only now just starting to enjoy working on a project car that's been plugging up my garage for 2 years. Do you have a place that you could store it where it wouldn't bug you?
There is ALWAYS a great car just around the corner when you least expect it.
FWIW, I've been working the past 8 months to purge the garage to the basics - to have only as much project as is fun. For me, that meant getting rid of the M5 that I never got around to fixing (I parted it out) and selling all of the stuff I'd accumulated that I probably wouldn't use. Now that the garage is nearly reduced to basics, it's starting to feel less like work, and more like fun.
Since the little guy arrived, I don't have nearly as much time as I'd "like" to work on cars, but have found that it's way more enjoyable to have relaxing weekends with the family with a bit of time wrenching thrown in.... rather than frenzied weekends trying to "get everything done". I plan on either finally getting the car to the "running project" point (so I can enjoy it), or selling it as parts and buying a different running "project lite" so that I can keep a reasonable balance.
fasted58 wrote:In reply to Javelin:
start on the kids go cart first
I've had a go kart for a year and a half! 
You only get one chance at life. If you regretted selling it then, you're gonna kill yourself if you don't buy it back. I say do it.
It's not the car you sold, it's now a caged, log booked racecar. You've already got a lot on your plate as it is. You will have little to no time to go w-t-w racing for several years, what with your foster child and your own child on the way. If you can ignore all the rational reasons, and you have the budget for it, do eeeet!!! 
I'm in the camp of "walk away". Your life is pretty full now. You've got bigger and better things to do right now than to bring a car that will have little, if any, use for you besides nostalgia. Ask yourself this question, and answer it honestly. "What would I really do with it right now?" More than likely the answer is "not much" or something like that.
As has already been said, when the time is right, there will always be a car that you can find that will strike the right cord with you. I did the same thing when I started my family. Sold my race car, trailer and eventually my tow vehicle. 6 years later I'm now at the point where I actually would have time to use a race car, so I'm starting again.
Javelin wrote: ... and I have wanted to wheel-to-wheel race forever...
Then dump one or two of the projects that don't end in that result.
People always over-estimate the needs of children. You know who loves racecars? Kids. You know who likes to go to the track with daddy? Kids. You know who fits in the back seat of an old 911? Right again. Kids. You know who benefits from watching daddy live his dreams? Everybody. (to a lesser degree than daddy... but still... net win :) )
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:Javelin wrote: ... and I have wanted to wheel-to-wheel race forever...Then dump one or two of the projects that don't end in that result.
People always over-estimate the needs of children. You know who loves racecars? Kids. You know who likes to go to the track with daddy? Kids. You know who fits in the back seat of an old 911? Right again. Kids. You know who benefits from watching daddy live his dreams? Everybody. (to a lesser degree than daddy... but still... net win :) )
Exactly. My two boys , 8 and 3, are constantly asking when they can go back to Mid Ohio.
Sounds to me like your plate is full. If it was me, I would either pass on it or get rid of a project in order to free up that space in your time/enthusiasm/energy.
But I'm the type that gets weighed down by too many projects. Some people thrive on it. I don't believe you'll kick yourself too hard for letting this one go as it's not the same car you sold and it's just a car. Save self recriminations for more important stuff.
Rusted_Busted_Spit wrote:Exactly. My two boys , 8 and 3, are constantly asking when they can go back to Mid Ohio.
11 & 8 here - They can't wait to go camping at Summit in two weeks. They are asking all kinds of questions about how they can help crew and if we can run the kart in the evenings, etc. Pretty cool.
Now if I could just get that sort of enthusiasm for helping get the lawn mowed...
Rusted_Busted_Spit wrote:Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:Javelin wrote: ... and I have wanted to wheel-to-wheel race forever...Then dump one or two of the projects that don't end in that result.
People always over-estimate the needs of children. You know who loves racecars? Kids. You know who likes to go to the track with daddy? Kids. You know who fits in the back seat of an old 911? Right again. Kids. You know who benefits from watching daddy live his dreams? Everybody. (to a lesser degree than daddy... but still... net win :) )
Exactly. My two boys , 8 and 3, are constantly asking when they can go back to Mid Ohio.
My oldest son is 7, and I have twins (one boy/one girl) that are just about to turn 4. They're all very excited for daddy to go "racing" (HPDE) and they want to be my pit crew. In fact, they were out last week helping me change pads and rotors. So I do agree with your point. However, 3 years ago, when my twins were just 1, it was a whole different situation. It wasn't realistic for me to go then. I'm very glad to be at the point where my kids can be excited for it and even come along.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:Rusted_Busted_Spit wrote:Exactly. My two boys , 8 and 3, are constantly asking when they can go back to Mid Ohio.
11 & 8 here - They can't wait to go camping at Summit in two weeks. They are asking all kinds of questions about how they can help crew and if we can run the kart in the evenings, etc. Pretty cool.
Now if I could just get that sort of enthusiasm for helping get the lawn mowed...
Get another lawnmower, paint numbers on em, and make it a competition. Put cones in the yard or something. Watch that lawn get mowed DAILY.
I'd jettison one of the projects for the RX-7, if necessary. If you know this car, you love it, and it's already built and ready to run...seems like a no brainer to me.
alex wrote:I'd jettison one of the projects for the RX-7, if necessary. If you know this car, you love it, and it's already built and ready to run...seems like a no brainer to me.
Ditto. Unload the Porshe(s?) and rejoice in your re-rotaried garage.
Bryce
pigeon wrote:It's not the car you sold, it's now a caged, log booked racecar.
This exactly. Normally I'd be all about enabling you and cheering you on to get your car back, but it's no longer your old car anymore. Sure, it's the same bones, but it's a different spirit and mind now.
You will need a stress releiver. Too many cars is too much stress. If you really want the RX7, jettison one of the other projects. Let your wife know your plans to she will not be expecting the yard to look like a pick-n-pull.
Ya I regret selling both my 85 RX's. The thing is I am not sure I want that specific car back. (my last one got the Blues Brothers treatment) But I sure would like another one!
With racing probably not in the picture for a while I would have to say not to that particular car. BUT getting another FB in stock form would be a better way to scratch the FB itch. This way you can at least take the little one out at 3AM for a drive when he/she will not sleep. 
I swear if my 351-W powered Conquest ever comes back to me, I wouldn't know whether to cry out of happiness or out of sadness. LOL Awesome idea, very little aftermarket support.
