*Photos & Text by Bryan Goffe
“Where is everyone?!” has grumbled from mouth many times over recent years, “Probably in a basement playing video games.” While out at a racetrack like: Pacific Raceways, Ridge Motorsports Park, Evergreen Speedway, Portland International Raceways and others for some races catching up with regulars. Sure annual marquee events like: Formula Drift, INDYCAR, MotoAmerica, Nascar, NHRA, etc. pack a track and fill the stands – but what about the rest of a season.
“Games, they’re home playing those video games.”
“Yeah, that’s where the young people are.”
In 2019 I had the opportunity to be interviewed on a podcast “Wheels and Pedals Wednesday” with my car, a 1968 AMC AMX. Johniwanna (his gamer tag) worked for Forza and this podcast was another lane of his Motorsports lifestyle influencing. Prior I knew nothing much about Forza, nor any other Xbox games and did little to learn more after the podcast.
A few years later I was interviewed for a temporary position on a rotating team photographing vehicles for the Forza game(s). I did not get the position (yet) and since the opening reoccurs I decided to do some research (better late than never) and be prepared when opportunity knocks again.
For my 57th birthday I got myself an Xbox console.
If you want to laugh, swear, feel younger and lose track of time while honing your hand-eye coordination..get one. And I keep hearing things about ongoing learning to help preserve the brain, use it or lose kind of wisdom. Must have hobbies, etc. If I need to keep learning it might well as be something fun.
Fast forward, many thanks to Garage Asylum affiliates for funding the next level of my gaming experiences with a Logitech steering wheel and pedals which quickly lead to a Playseat gaming chair.
Currently turning my living room into a SIM race car.
“How do you have time to play?” is a common question.
“It significantly cuts into my tv time.”
“When do you play?”
“Usually early, I wake up early anyway and racing around along with a cup of coffee is a great way to start a day.”
In some words of Clint Eastwood, “I get up every morning and I go out. And I don’t let the old man in.” Okay before ‘I go out’ I get in some SIM seat time.
See ya at the (virtual) track.
Gamertag: GarageAsylum
Plate: LETHAL
*Photos are posted on the Garage Asylum Facebook page in various albums.
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