Never build a race car.

"You never build a race car, you buy a race car."

How many times have I heard that? It is the litany of the hard core addict. Funny how many race cars there are for sale...

A couple of months ago, I realized it was inevitable that I would be gearing up for club racing this winter. Autocross, track days and time trials are just not going to be enough; time to see if I have enough life left to actually run in traffic. That means I needed a real race car. A car with everything non-essential stripped out and replaced with pure function: full roll cage, fire suppression, painted metal floors, etc.

I looked around to buy a race car. Did I mention there are a lot of race cars for sale?

I own a race car for sale. Well, not a real race car and not actively for sale, yet.

I own a heavily modded, but still street legal 2007 Miata. I understand why the rational person would never build a race car. 

Why? 

Because go fast parts are expensive. When you put them on a 2007 Miata and try to sell said Miata, most folks think you still have a 2007 Miata for sale; one that is under a cloud of suspicion as to where it has been and what it has been doing. Never mind that this 2007 Miata has just over 8000 original miles. What has that Miata been doing for 8000 miles? Good question.

Multiple thousands of dollars of go fast parts later, I have a 2007 Miata that I might or might not be willing to sell. Somebody would probably get a pretty good bargain.

That brings me back to the new race car. I tried to be rational. I tried to make the smart decision to buy someone else's investment of time, energy and money at a bargain price because I realize that after the first lap that new race car with all those new go fast parts will depreciate faster than deviled eggs at a summer picnic. 

But, in the end, I could not resist the urge.

I chose to procreate rather than adopt.