Future of the hobby

ramenth said
Here in NY state, now you have to pay for everything up front when you get your permit... the written exam, the road test, the 5 hour safety course, your permit and you license, all due up front. Once upon a time you paid as you went, which meant you could spread the cost over time. Now, a kid is expected to pay close to $200 up front.

And none of this is taking into account the job markets in areas. Kids and adults are competing for the same jobs. I live in a tourist area, with a lot of seasonal jobs with very little manufacturing. Once upon a time the seasonal jobs were filled by the kids in the summer and then back to school. Now those seasonal jobs are being filled by adults, trying to make ends meet.

Man Rob, and I thought I was getting hit by a money racket when I had to go to the DMV and get my after 9 restrictions lifted for $10.

As far as the job makets, you are right on! When I worked at wendy's I was working with kids my age on up to a lady in her 60's, and no she wasn't a manager. When I worked a seasonal job in furniture, I was the youngest person there. Ages ranged from 26-retirement age. They would work 6 months in the summer, get laid off and draw unemployment for 6 months till it was time for hire again. The factory made furniture for college dorm rooms. Finding a job as a teenager with little to know experience is ridiculous when you are competeing against adults. And you are gaurenteed to get slave labor pay because if you don't like it, there are 50 people behind you willing to take your job for minimum wage. Its a mess.

The only reason I own my car is because it was given to me.

Frankie said
That's simple: Expensive.

BINGO! The only reason I still own my car is this site. I can't drive 4 hours accross the state to go to shows and swap meets, there are no junkyards around here with the parts I need. If I need something for my car, it's either autozone or the internet. Even buying from here is a logistical nightmare! I can't begin to think what it would cost to ship an engine here from california vs just being able to pull one out of a yard.