After gaining A+, and soon got kicked down to 90% or so A, I found that the stress and pressure to keeping it at high A/going back to A+ actually took the fun out of racing. I'm a very ambitious, get almost possessed, when I engage. It became a must, and something that caused me to feel down since I was not able to put in all the time and efforts to maintain that rating.
So I created a new account (American based) and started completely fresh - no cars, no money, no meny books. Got my license, the menu books, and started to do some dailies. And it was absolutely massively fun. Just jumping in to a race, not QT 2-3 days to get a decent time, just pure fun racing. Sure, I have to look out for complete beginners, and those missing the brake marks, and others with zero sportmanship, but I'm pretty good by now to avoid them. But massively fun. I became BS during the first week, and I felt that this is where I belong. This is where I can do a casual race or two in an evening when I'm not travelling or hosting late meetings, or have personal commitments.
But I started to miss the possibility to compare my times with my friends from here, and also the lack of money meant that I couldn't buy the cars I wanted to race (in my colors), so an idea started to form in my head. I was going to downgrade my 90% A, to a medium or low B. That's what I've been doing for the past two weeks, and you cannot imagine how hard it is to downgrade. First of all, people are crashing left and right, so even if you are starting 16'th, finishing lower than 12-13 is unusual, also because some people just quit all over the place.
Right now I'm just a hair of A, so hopefully I will be B next week.
Why do I tell you this? Because chances are that you have seen me in races this and past week, where I've been the backmarker in race after race after race, and perhaps wondered what is going on. Now you know. Yesterday (or perhaps it was two days ago) I had Tidgney, Dreamcatcher, Gotmaxpower in two-tree races. I was super ashamed of course, actively trying to be last, but at the same time very impressed by the way you guys drive, you are so fast that you made me 100% sure I don't belong here.
Hoping now for a more laid back attitude from my side towards racing, and increased joy. Perhaps when I'm retiring (soon), I might aim for low A or so, since by then I should be able to put in some more time.
