Racing as a career (not repost)

[c0de M3]

ive read a couple threads about 17 yr olds who want to become race car drivers. and basically everyone is saying "unless u were karting at 10 yrs old, you have no chance."

i honestly beleive that after taking a raceing course that i will have exeptional skill in driving. im only 17, but have been driving since 14. I'm not saying im better than anyone here, but i beleive that out of about all my friends, i definately am better than them. I have a very smooth heel-toe, and am really precise at following lines.

Is it possible i could be one of those "exeptions?". I know i sound like a noob posting this but how else am i supposed to ask these questions i want answers to. Michael Jordan didnt make his highschool cut into the team. I have been having dreams my whole life doing this, but dragged at actually going through with it. I honestly can't see myself with another carreer

I plan on purchasing a couple of the recommended racing theory books, and consuming them all before i attend the skip barber 3 day class this summer.

Where is the best place to get noticed?
Should I just give up and do it as an EXPENSIVE hobby?
If I do it as a hobby, can I still make money?

[Vitolo]

Driving and racing are two different things .There is no substitute for experience in racing. There are too many variables to get by on just talent.

With that said, the longer you wait the harder it will be. Any noteworthy series will have heavy competition with dozens of guys who have been racing for 10 yrs already by age 17. Most who race professionally spend more to get there than their salary so as a hobby there is no 'profit' from it; only recoup some expenses IF there is prize money. The faster you want to go, the more money you will have to spend. It started as a gentleman's sport and was never intended to be affordable. Get into karting first and see if you can cut it...that is the best cost vs benefit racing out there.

[c0de M3]

thanx for the information man.....i just wish i could make money doing something i love. experiance is a mothaf*ka.....lol

[orijinal_poser]

yea, i've always had the passion of being a race car driver, but you have to invest soo much. what i recommend you do is volunteer. go down to your local track or what not and see if you can help the pit crew or help intern. it will be a rewarding experience and you will definitely make friends with important racing people.

[c0de M3]

anyone else know of a carreer i can make big money in the automotive industry too? besides being a technician

[driftz31]

go work at a performance shop or learn cad and design parts

[caracas_e30]

if you have 10 grand or so, go club racing in the SCCA. That will be sufice for a whole season of racing spec miatas. It has been known to be the most affordable and exiting club racing in the US.

To learn more, go to the SCCA website.

[Suneal]

Check out this thread, it should answer most of your questions: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...ad.php?t=86432

[Spencer]

Originally Posted by caracas_e30

if you have 10 grand or so, go club racing in the SCCA. That will be sufice for a whole season of racing spec miatas. It has been known to be the most affordable and exiting club racing in the US.

To learn more, go to the SCCA website.

I wouldn't advise this. In general, SCCA is not somewhere you go to get "noticed"

First thing, go buy a kart. Start in a 125 clutch and move to shifters quickly. If you are an "exception" you'll move up quickly. This is also the best venue to be noticed by professional teams.

Like you said though, you've got a lot aganist you. I race a rotax kart and race aganist teenagers who have been racing karts for more than half their life, some start as young as 4-5.

You also need alot of money. Even though karting is "cheap" in the racing world, its not cheap for someone your age. You need some generous parents or start looking for sponsers, but thats unlikely until you "prove" yourself.

You might as well try but you better get out there quickly because time is aganist you.

[MarkS1382]

Racing carts is different from racing real race cars. Just like the dynamics in a Porsche are different from those of a BMW. It's not really at what age you start, but how committed you are, and are willing to learn from the pros. There are a lot of variables as mentioned in a previous post. Racing is an expensive hobby.

[Vitolo]

Do you know what you're talking about?

[Spencer]

Originally Posted by MarkS1382

Racing carts is different from racing real race cars. Just like the dynamics in a Porsche are different from those of a BMW. It's not really at what age you start, but how committed you are, and are willing to learn from the pros. There are a lot of variables as mentioned in a previous post. Racing is an expensive hobby.

I'm going to have to agree with Jon Vitolo here..... do you know what you are talking about?

Classic dtm post......

[LITEWAITM3]

Originally Posted by Spencer

I'm going to have to agree with Jon Vitolo here..... do you know what you are talking about?

Classic dtm post......

\

Yea this is getting sad

I especially like these two:

Originally Posted by drftz31

go work at a performance shop or learn cad and design parts

Originally Posted by c0de M3

anyone else know of a carreer i can make big money in the automotive industry too? besides being a technician

[OldSkoolBmw]

ok I've done the whole cad thing.. and worked in performance shops.. now I own one on the side of my diesel engine parts business.. CAD'ding parts is stupid. expect 15 an hr if your non expierneced and upto 25+ an hr if you are the shiznit with alot of programs. You are a useless drafter if you've never sent your parts to a cnc machine. you must know how the mill operates before you just start drawing shapes. your tool paths and everything must be generated and somewhat accurate. I spent a year in college voluntiering in the machine shop. After that year I learned I could make most anything. The other part is you will learn most engineers who have never done it.. make stupid mistakes.. it's hard for a sophmore to tell a professor with 2 PHD's the part he made is crap because you can't get a wrench in there to tighten that bolt..

If you want to be a career racing driver honestly your best place to go is like an arca series.. don't go to scca.. it will make you dumber.. you will start to think that if you do a half trailbrake downshift with a full brake bias adjustment twist all while going into turn one and passing 5 people... you are a "amazing driver that is just undiscovered" In reality you almost spun out and was about to take 10 people with you... all racing costs money.. horsepower can hide alot.. so can chassis setup... karts will showcase your driving more but if you are big or heavy don't bother because there are somethings you can't over come like gravity... arca/legends... asphault modifieds.. anything you can do at a local level and then say win your region will definitly get you noticed and in the process you will learn tons on chassis/engine setup which is required for driving...

[LITEWAITM3]

Originally Posted by OldSkoolBmw

ok I've done the whole cad thing.. and worked in performance shops.. now I own one on the side of my diesel engine parts business.. CAD'ding parts is stupid. expect 15 an hr if your non expierneced and upto 25+ an hr if you are the shiznit with alot of programs. You are a useless drafter if you've never sent your parts to a cnc machine. you must know how the mill operates before you just start drawing shapes. your tool paths and everything must be generated and somewhat accurate. I spent a year in college voluntiering in the machine shop. After that year I learned I could make most anything. The other part is you will learn most engineers who have never done it.. make stupid mistakes.. it's hard for a sophmore to tell a professor with 2 PHD's the part he made is crap because you can't get a wrench in there to tighten that bolt..

If you want to be a career racing driver honestly your best place to go is like an arca series.. don't go to scca.. it will make you dumber.. you will start to think that if you do a half trailbrake downshift with a full brake bias adjustment twist all while going into turn one and passing 5 people... you are a "amazing driver that is just undiscovered" In reality you almost spun out and was about to take 10 people with you... all racing costs money.. horsepower can hide alot.. so can chassis setup... karts will showcase your driving more but if you are big or heavy don't bother because there are somethings you can't over come like gravity... arca/legends... asphault modifieds.. anything you can do at a local level and then say win your region will definitly get you noticed and in the process you will learn tons on chassis/engine setup which is required for driving...

What school is this that you went to? They should get some better professors

Also, if you are good with CAD (whether it be analysis, rebdering or just 2d schematic drawing) you can make way more then 25/hr, you just have to know the right people. But the job will not take you very far, and is being given to colege students who are willing to work for cheap.

Realistically you will make moremomey getting a normal job then posting about being a driver. Don't waste your time, get a real education and career going for you...then try to race.