Very well put Ray. I like that.
For me, now at 38, started when I was younger, like 1985 and raced until about 1991. I think I was faster then but couldn't afford to travel to any big races. I started racing again about 4 or 5 years ago with my son, now 12 years old. Mostly to keep him off motorcycles (which I grew up racing).
I've notice that to be competitive nationally or even around the region you need to race in big races. When we travel to a big race it takes me a couple days to settle down and get up to the faster pace you don't see locally (or at least locally for me). Sometimes you don't have a couple days.
We have a couple fast guys locally but if your lucky enough to race every week with some national level drivers, then it would probably be easier. You have to be pushed or challenged to run the fast pace. Like Ray said, if you have the desire to go faster.
take care
john