Drew M

oh. i see.

avizandum

Francis...

minitech

Get a good driving partner on same team! "SHAKE AND BAKE!"

varkwso

I hate it when I do that. Thanks for the correction.

airspeed247

So.... anyone have any spare race parts they just, I dont know, need to empty from their garage and would like to mail to my address? I promise to put them all to good use.

Mitch3000

Question, is 19 too late to start? (Do have years of kart experience but havent raced in the last couple of years...)

John Shiels

In this economy even staying ones seems like a huge problem for many.

Z06_BluByU

AU N EGL

So how did the OP finish his season( SCCA, NASA, Grand Am, ARCA, Truck Series ) and the National Championships go?

Winning Races is Exposure ie EVERYTHING,

The more big races you win the more exposure you get.


not destroying equipment is a huge plus too.

airspeed247

It went great! Did you not see me on tv doing donuts in the middle of the track while I stood on my hood?

lol

Actually I got started in autocross in the Southern Gulf Coast region and then just got out of the military and moved back to Texas. Looking to get started here now.. Just need some funds for maintnance and such. THEN.. Then I will be doing donuts in the middle of the track while standing on my hood. Pros can do that you know.

Z06Aspirations

yes sir. this pretty much applies to all careers, not just race car driving.

cire96

Lower cost solution:

1) Go to the local rental go cart track and set a new track record.
2) Go to autocross event and seriously beat all comers in class.
3) Enter HPDE event and lap the entire HPDE 4 field.
4) Rent a Spec Miata, or SRF and quickly dominate everyone in class.

If any of these can't be accomplished, you probably don't posess the inherent talent to become a professional. (They really are THAT good.)
Cire

Falcon

I've got a neighbor whose family moved here from up north to get him a ride in the lower rungs of NASCAR.

He has years of karting experience, late model sportsman, and can drive the wheels off of anything, and, also, is a very smart and charismatic guy. He's only 18 or so. He's had public relations classes by those who do that stuff for a living.

He's been at it here for a couple of years and his dad has spent a small fortune buying him rides. Rides are few and far between, depending on how much his dad is willing to spend.

After all that he's working at Lowes awaiting the magic ticket.

I live in the buckle of NASCAR and good drivers here are a dime a dozen. It's kind of like Nashville, good musicians there are a dime a dozen, and the chances of making the big time or even a paying gig are so small one could starve waiting on the "special" call.

BTW, Penske just laid off over 60 employees at their shop, so it's not getting any easier. Seems like each year end brings a new round of layoffs in the racing industry.

JordonMusser

Not sure how many pro drivers are on here, but I can tell you how I did it.

Karting: won everything I could their for several years. Hone my out of car talents (engineering and business). The combination is what put me in a car last year.

If you can afford to race cars, put yourself in a Spec Miata for a few years. Run up front and win at the RunOffs, move to MX5, win that.. and Mazda might knock on your door..


best bet? start with a large fortune

and Cire is about right... Most people that "earn" their way into a pro ride truly are *that* good.

Corvee

Do you mean autocross with the Houston region of Southwest Division SCCA or back East? Several opportunities for HPDE's in the Houston area - NASA and The Drivers Edge have events at MSR-Houston in January. Events at Texas World Speedway (College Station) a couple of times per month. Plus there is MSR-Cresson, Harris Hills (San Marcos). Check them out.

Neil B

Lots of good advice from knowlegeable people here. Here's my story...

1) Started NASA HPDE's in 1996 with my street car (at 26 years of age).
2) Worked my way through HPDE Group 1-4 and got NASA comp license in early 1997.
3) Turned my 5.0 Mustang into a NASA CMC car and started racing in 1997. Found out how much I had to learn.
4) Started running up front mid to late '97 in CMC.
5) Ran CMC series 97-99 seasons and won some races.
6) Rented a ride in 1999 at the Petit LeMans Motorola Cup race. Finished 6th in GS. (This is now the Continental Tire Series).
7) Rented a ride in 2000 Rolex 24 Daytona Motorola Cup race. Finished 3rd in ST running out of fuel on the last lap.
8) Rented a ride at the VIR Motorola Cup race in 2000. Had car trouble and finished mid-pack.
9) Dialed it back a notch and ran sporadic NASA events in cars owned by friends through 2005.
10) Haven't done any racing since 2005.

The guys that seemed to have the most success racing for free (or possibly getting paid) were the full-time racing school instructors. Working as full-time instructors gave them an excellent combination of contacts and seat time.

Everyone's experience is different, but that was mine.

--Neil

Neil B

I'll add some more to this story to show how opportunities for talented people can open up...

11) My friend/co-driver (in his early 40's) at Daytona was able to self-fund a few more races in Motorola Cup.
12) During this time he developed a relationship with a new team owner. That team owner offered him a free ride for most of the 2001 season.
13) He also knew Jon Bomarito, who became his co-driver in 2001.
14) My friend got a win or two in Motorola Cup with Bomarito as his co-driver.
15) My friend 'retired' from pro racing after 2001, but Bomarito continues today as a good example of someone with real talent coming up through the ranks at a young age.

rfn026

You can also rent a Porsche GT3 from TRG - I think it's just for a test day. It's $15,000 a day.

Richard

JordonMusser

We rent our GRAND-AM CTSCC cars for about $7500/day testing (local).

Neil has the right idea.