129 replies to this topic

[MG Brown]

Hm, hobbies or obsessions?

Collections of die cast (various scales), A room full of NIB slot cars (Fly, NINCO, scalextric, slot.it, etc) another room full of plastic model kits, racing event programs, record albums and CDs, pinball machines, Kyosho Mini-Zs and 1:1 '60s vintage muscle cars.

I gave up chasing women - too expensive.

[slotcarone]

I also like to do some cooking. Some of the guys in RE have had a taste of some of the stuff I whip up.

He says he "whips it up" but this guy can COOK!!! The same passion that goes into his paint jobs goes into the food!!!

[Duffy]

I gave up chasing women - too expensive.

The problem here is not in the women's "expense," but in your assessment of return-on-investment.

C'mon, you knew I couldn't pass that one up.

Duffy

EDIT: I'm still chasing after the woman I live with. Worth every penny, in "Fun-Per-Buck" if nothing else. - df

[Phil Smith]

Duff, now I understand your extreme weirdness. You're a serious musician!

Many musicians here. I had no idea. I played guitar since I was twelve years old. Played in jazz band in high school. Never played professionally. I did LOTS of jamming and home recording. Big into home recording at one time. Had lots of gear. Did manage to get a song on a Dallas radio station album. A rock/new wave song. I guess it sucked less than the other songs submitted. That pretty much ended when I cut my left hand on a table saw in my early 30s. Everything is still intact, but the last joint on my middle finger is fused, and that limits me to the point that I don't enjoy playing anymore.

Was a gym rat through most of my 30s and part of my 40s, and rode road bikes a lot for a couple of years. Not that good at it, but I really enjoyed it. What are those single-speed bikes for? Velodrome bikes don't have brakes right? I see front binders on yours, Mike.

I am now a full blown fat dude, so F you!

Was big into CRT projectors for home theater. CRT projectors require a lot of setup and regular tweaking (perfect hobby for this crowd), and were lots of fun. My best setup was my last, a rear projection setup in the house I sold five years ago. Viewing room:



Projection side (projector at top of the pic):



I had a lot of fun building that and I really miss it. That house was on the market a month or so ago. I almost bought it.

Now I work all the time and don't do any hobbies.

[Duffy]

I also like to do some cooking. Some of the guys in RE have had a taste

Oh, yah right, I cook, too. Love that.

Yup, gonna make some lucky guy a great wife someday. Hopefully not in jail.

[Phil Smith]

Rocky Russo and I both did free-flight rubber models for some years, and were kinda famous model-airframe engineers on our own and in collaboration. I got sidetracked by slots, and he doesn't do either anymore, to my knowledge. But it was fun there for a while.

Now I'm confused. Didn't Rocky pass away?

[The Bugman]

I trout fish, therefor I am.

In the High Sierras, of course.

[SteveDee]

Did R/C pattern planes for years till depth perception went south, involved in high end tube audio and loudspeaker design and construction till hearing went south, still do model railroad and of course slots, currently restoring a King track for my basement. Never met a hobby I didn't like. Shortly will be living alone again, on top of a mountain, yes!!! Hobby heaven...

[dan49]

Walleye fishing, catch and release in the grease.

[NSwanberg]

1982 Mazda RX7 in the IT7 class at Waterford Hills Road Racing. Someday i will figure out that there are curves on that track and not turns. I am spending tons of money but having lots of fun. It is a good group of people to work with. Where else can you race and watch races all day Saturday? BBQ with a keg Saturday evening then shoot shot guns Saturday night. Waterford Hills Road Racing Incorporated is actually part of the Oakland County Sportsmans Club.

Just remember that golf spelled backwards is flog and that is just what it looks like I am doing on the links when I do not have a separated shoulder from playing ice hockey once a week.

Speaking of which, how could I like something I am so bad at? The secret is to play against guys a lot older than yourself. I like that over 50 Tuesday morning group. I think the median age is like 67. Something tells me I am having way too much fun at this stage of my life and I am not even retired yet.

Slot cars? I would race every night of the week if I could get away with it.

[Duffy]

Now I'm confused. Didn't Rocky pass away?

Yah. It's not meant as callous - my statement describes the situation in terms Fate would use, and often did.

[Mbloes]

When my body would no longer let me ride my motorcycles without suffering major amounts of pain.

Great number, Robert!



My Yamaha RD 400 at Willow Springs in - I would say - about '80 or '81. My bike was so overwound; I definitely did my share of time on the tarmac as well!

[John Streisguth]

After racing Slot cars and building models as a teen, I soon discovered the world of air cooled Hot Rod VW's.
Still into them after all these years as that hobby in SoCal is still very active.
This is my Sunday car...

Nice patina... although my nickname did not have anything to do with the car, it was fitting since that was my "thing" back in the '70s. I just recently re-acquired the motor from a '72 Super Beetle I had that did 0-60 in about 9 seconds. Not very quick by today's standards, but in 1976 when I built the car, a Trans-Am Firebird was about as fast. Some day I'll find an oval window to put it in...

These days, the other hobbies include skiing (still hitting the moguls at 57 years young), and within the last few years have gotten a small powerboat and have taken up IDPA and other forms of shooting. That's about what my budget can cover!

[Dr. Gamma]

Great number, Robert!


My Yamaha RD 400 at Willow Springs in - I would say - about '80 or '81. My bike was so overwound; I definitely did my share of time on the tarmac as well!

Really!!!

How did you get the Kawasaki leathers with the Team Kawasaki Road Race patches on the sleeves??

RD400F?? Dymag rear wheel??

[Mbloes]

My leathers were Wes Cooley's old leathers.

My bike was a 1976 (originally the "green" one) with Daytona heads and bodywork. And yes, it does have a Dymag on the rear!

BTW, I can detect absolutely NO evidence of female presence in your photos (maybe the china cabinet).

[Guy Spaulding]

Too many to master any or finish anything.

I play soprano saxophone weekly in our Praise and Worship band. (Used to play clarinet in the city band.)
Pit crew a short track stock car. (Used to build, drive my own)
Home remodeling and landscaping. (Turned an 800 sq ft of open space into master suite, family room, etc)
Like to ride motorcycle with my wife when we have the time.
Enjoy caring for my vehicles.
Quit fifteen years of R/C racing to return to slot car racing.

Love the pride and joy of doing everything with my own hands

[Dr. Gamma]

BTW, I can detect absolutely NO evidence of female presence in your photos (maybe the china cabinet).

I was given a ultimatum of "either the bikes go, or I do." Well, you see who won!!!

I don't need anymore high maintenance things in my life!!!

[Mark H]

This was my main hobby for a month or two over anything. By that I mean getting it running. Now I just try and ride it every day!

[Guy Spaulding]

I don't need anymore high maintenance things in my life!!!

Yeah. Mine's in "Maintenance Mode" tonight. (I pissed her off.)

[S.O. Watt]

Photography
(unretouched)



Restoring/modifying kewl old VWs.



And even racing them.



(Yes, it is a real '51 split window.)

And of course - Yard work and writing chapters, no - volumes, for "This Old House".

[flyracing]

There's other hobbies!! Lately all I can afford is afford is 1/32 Scaley, Slot.it and NSR mag and no-mag slot racing. Because I do a lot to help keep red Devil Raceway going I literally don't pay for parts and such? If I need it Gerry sez take it!

I used to be into radio control sailplanes, but that changed when they put a $30,000 iPod in my chest !(pacemaker)... ending ALL association with radio control. It's all good!

Life keeps me busy... Oh and the occasional Retro racing when I get a side job...

[Duffy]

I used to be into radio control sailplanes, but that changed...

WOO!! Craig, I was LSF Level III in 1978, when my life changed in strange ways - you ever do that?

[MrWeiler]

Airplanes... R/C (mostly electric now), free-flight, plastic models.
Reading.
Racing spectator (went to the sand drags today).
Dogs.
Trying to get into bicycle riding before my joints go away completely.

[Tim Neja]

Oh yeah, Duffy - been flying all my life!! Everything from real planes but I LOVE R/C!! For racing . F3F, F3B, and MOM racing are what I love best. But I'll fly anything from light electrics to large scale planes. The pic is from a Tanga that I raced in F3B and F3F. One is flat land flying - the other is off of slopes and racing around 100 meter pylon set up on the slope! Flying's BIG FUN, too!!

LSF III - that's quite an accomplishment - so you did a lot of flying too back in the day!! Nice!

[flyracing]

WOO!! Craig, I was LSF Level III in 1978, when my life changed in strange ways - you ever do that?

Nah, I hardly got past my trainer when the local soccer moms got King County to steal the field (60 acres) from the flyers so they have a place to park!

However soon as I can install a laundry tray in my condo, I'm gonna revive an old hobby... BEER BREWING!!