I keep seeing all of these pro drivers in there early 20's. I'm 20 and I am finishing my second year of collage. I still have no idea what I want to do. This year will be my first time on the track. I plan to do a few DE's as soon as I get my car running. Now it seems to me that most of the drivers today were racing karts befor they could walk. I am willing to do what ever it takes to accomplish what I want. If I should decide that racing is what I want to do, where the hell do I begin? I know that money is a huge factor and that there are many levels of involvment. I don't know what I'm really asking, but since I'm starting at age 20 how far can I go? Is it ever possible for me to get past club racing? Hmmmmm... <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

 

Of course you're not too old. I have no idea what the ins and outs of that Industry are, but someone on the board will tell you. If you want it, you can do it. You can acquire the skills you need to be on top. However, you need to accept the fact that nothing in this society happens because of pure skill, though: you are going to need to network, etc. etc. It's gross and it's disgusting but it's true. Everybody who makes it in the glamor fields has a network of insiders pulling for them. Writing, music, sports... whatever.

Also, don't be put off by the way the society seems to be fixated on the ultra-young "naturals"... the 17 and 18 year olds who seem to excel at one thing and blow everybody else away. The Mozarts, as it were. History is replete with examples of people who, because of drive, made it when they didn't start at age 5 or whatever. People who took things up in their 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's, and got to be the best or nearly the best at what they were doing.

keep the faith
keep plugging
follow your bliss

Thaddeus

 

I would say that 99%+ of the people who 'make it big' have done it through commitment and dedication. Sure we see news and hype in the media all the time about the 'wonder kids' and such, but they represent such a small, small minority of the success stories out there.

Eurospeed951, if you want to break into big-time racing, go to Europe. That's where you get Thaddeus's connections in networking. The junior racing programs (carts, etc.) are in place there, like we have little-league baseball here. The racing teams have scouts on the lookout for new talents all the time.

 

I was talking with my friend today at the Toyota Long Beach Grand Prix, justing shooting the breeze about how and what it takes to become a CART driver. His dad used to be in charge of Toyota Racing, and basically, it all boils down to natural ability and sponsors. Without a sponsor, moving up within the ranks is pretty hard because of the extreme costs associated with auto racing. As for whether or not 20 is old enough, I don't think so. Michael Andretti is pushing 40 i think. Jimmy Vasser is also pretty old.

At the bike company where I work, we sponser tons of bike riders (i know, they arent car racers, but sort of similar). We have this racing program where we basically hook up the riders with cheap bikes, and in return, they go out and race and give our brand greater coverage. I'm sure there are a bunch of companies willing to help out a driver in return for press. As for the details, I have no clue, so I'm not much of a help, but that's the general idea, from my understanding.

 

HEY! 40 AIN'T OLD! It's prime .

 

What about Formula Ford? Anyone know anything about it?

 

I talked to some Formula Ford Guys. They said I would be much better off going to some place like Jim Russell. I will give them a call on monday, right after I pick up a few lotto tickets.

 

Well, if you plan on getting into racing, my suggestion is: "Don't quit your day job!"

Most people who race are not in it for the $$. I'd have to say that probably 90% of people in the USA are into Grassroots type motorsports: Club racing, in a nutshell, like PCA club racing, SCCA, NASA...etc. In these venues, there is very little, if any prize money: definately not enough to support your racing habit. There are those who use such club racing as a stepping stone into the big time (same as with the karts, as you mentioned), but again, that's after YEARS and YEARS of hard work and tons of money.

My suggestion to you is this: attend DE's (like you already said), and even get invovled with autocross. Once you start doing this stuff, it will realize a few things:
1. You are either a natural at it or not. (Even then, you NEED to learn and mature as a driver)
2. You will either enjoy it or not! (Some people love the idea of racing, but once they actually do it, they swear they will never do it again!)
3. You will see the cost factor! (Usually greater than everyone estimates and admits! )

I do not wish to discourage you from the racing evnue, but just trying to give you a realistic view and approach.

So, what can you do to prepare?
1. READ: there are tons and tons of books and magazines that you can read that will help you understand the concepts, theories, and terminology of performance driving. Possibly the best magazine out there for starting up in racing is: Grassroots Motorsports. SCCA publishes a monthly mag too (membership to SCCA requires). Books from all of the big schools (Like Bob Bondurant and Skip Barber) are always helpful. Even Panorama and Excellence often have articles on racing. Performance driving is more of a mental sport than most people think.
2. Attend autox and DE's (already mentioned above). Nothing beats seat time!
3. Once you're involved with DE's and autox, you'll get to know people who are also involved with club racing: GET TO KNOW them. Volunteer as a pit-crew member for them: this experience will be very valuable for when you need a crew!
4. Attend a performance driving school (Bondurant, Skip Barber, Betril Roos...etc). These guys are pros, and they know what they are doing. However, IMO, the price is expensive for these schools: about $1500 to $2000 for a weekend session, that that's not all driving time! (Compare that to about $200 for 2 days of driving in PCA DE's) They do have more in-class instruction, but I think most of that you can get by reading books/magazines.

Sorry for going on so long. Hope this helps!
-Z.

PS: I just got back from back-to-back weekends of DE's (Lime Rock, CT and Pocono Raceway) and I guess I'm still stoked from all the fun! Do I wanna be a racer? Well, no: but I hope to become a DE instructor someday, when I grow up!

 

Thanks guys. You, as always, have been a great help. As of now my plan is to hit as many DE's as I can while I get my skills and my self in a more competitive condition. After that I think I'm going to head to the Jim Russell School. As was said above I have spent the last few years leaning and practiceing as much as I could about performance driving. Heel toe, Threshold breaking, hitting the apex, ect... I do know that it is extreamly in likely that I would ever make it as far as I would like, but I will have a hard time doing a lot of other things in life if I don't give this a shot.

 

Euro:
Cool. Good to hear you're keepin' it real.

One more thing to consider:
Based on your siggy, you've already get a bunch of mods to your car. That's fine, but now it's time to focus on improving the driver, and not the car.
For the first few years (!) focus on running with what you have. Use the stock tires. Stock suspension setup. You could do a little negative camber to help preserve your wheels.

Any mod you do should be for safety and durability. Stuff like: synth tranny oil, better brake fluid, lower temp termo switch, track pads. Stay away from any more performance mods! You car is already quite capable of holding it's own at DE's. (Ask me about the 996TT's in my run group at Lime Rock, and who was faster around the track! hehe )

If you start doing more performance mods (like R-compound tires, better turbo, stiffer suspension...etc.), then you won't be able to determine what is improving: the car or the driver. Besides, street tires are GREAT to learn on: they give plenty of warning, don't 'give up' without warning as much, and you don't need to spend $$ on another set of wheels/tires. Besides, when you get to a point where you are faster on street tires than someone with race rubber, it's a good feeling!

Good luck! and enjoy your quest!
-Z-man.

 

Thanks Z-man, I know my mods are kind of backwards. It just kind of worked out that way. The engine needed to be rebuilt, so I decided to do the stuff I wanted to do later while I already had it open. This car is being built as a learning prosses for me and so that when I'm done I will have a car that looks and performs great and is different.

 

Hey Eurospeed your not too old but you need to get in and around the scene. What are you willing to sacrifice? If you’re not rich (lots of racers or their families are) then you need to be willing to pay your dues. I went through different Skip Barbara racing schools and practice days. This is an avenue that I would highly recommend.
1. You will learn more from professional instructor in that week then years of DE in at the local track.. Those formula Dodges are as fast as you need.
2. Practice in your car at the track what you learn.
3. Skip Barbara has various scholarship programs where drivers win a "full ride" for a year of highly competitive racing. Also you work with sponsors and get lots of exposure. This is truly a great grass roots way to get with the big boys.
4. If you’re not lucky (or good enough) to win one of the scholarships are you willing to live like a college student and work for it? (read not have a nice car, work to jobs and live in an apartment with other people in the same boat) When I was there every mechanic, turn worker and instructor was a want-to-be racer. It was like actors in LA. The good news is it works. My instructor was Kelly Collins (now driving a Corvette for Chevy in the AMLS), this is also how Brian Herta, Tony Stewart, and many others have come up the ranks.
Lots of hard work and patients, it's not overnight but it can be done.

Why didn’t I? Because I got married to a wonderful women and now have a beautiful daughter (3 months old!!). Wouldn’t trade it for the world. I will just do club racing and cheer you on…

Rick
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