Fox Body:
You're getting old.
No, no, just kidding! I couldn't resist.
I have a near-stock LX and generally, I'll run almost anyone on the street, although your 351 would probably be one of those "let's-see-how-it-runs" type of races, where I would feel more like an observer of your cars performance rather than a competitor.
For all that, I've let probable races go by and I'm sure most others around this site have too. Lots of reasons; The other car is too slow, i.e. A ricer with decals and a fart muffler but not much more - which is about 95% of the ricers in my neck of the woods.
A wild sounding muscle car that is clearly WAAAAAY out of my league or else the road is bad ahead and I know it or it's cop heaven - and I know it - or just too much traffic to mess around in...the usual reasons for not racing when you have an opportunity.
Then, there is just 'mood'. Too tired, too crabby, too distracted with more important things at the moment. As for having pangs of guilt when thinking about family as you described, that's an important factor too.
It's a whole lot easier to be a little crazy behind the wheel when it's just you, but when you have a wife and kid(s) and maybe a home and career too, driving 100 MPH down Main Street just to 'show' some stranger in a Chevy (or whatever) how fast your car is doesn't have quite the same appeal it once did. Not for me, anyway. So I still street race, but not just because some jerk revs at me in a Civic or his Daddy's Monte Carlo.
I race when I want to, when I think I have a good shot and when the road, traffic and weather is reasonable. That turns out to be less than I would like, but just enough to keep my racing juices flowing without endangering myself needlessly, beyond the normal danger of just driving fast.
I would say you're reaching a maturing process and your lack of desire to race anyone, anytime, anywhere is normal and certainly nothing to worry about. Enjoy the freedom to choose and the freedom to do as you wish with your Mustang, not dictated by every punk kid or old fart who pulls up to you at a light and revs. You decide and it's O.K. to say "Nope". It's not a lack of pride or guts, just using discernment and free will. It's kind of liberating, so enjoy it.
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