Ok, I really want to get into club racing/road racing etc... What do I need to get? How much have most of you spent to get started? I live near Dallas, Tx, is there anyway I can get tracktime anywhere in my streetcar? I know racing scool is expensive, but are the actual club races expesive most of the time? After racing school were you able to pick up sponsorship easy? Sorry bout all the questions.

 

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=353425

would be a good place to start.

 

There are a lot of long timer here who often react sternly. Some are busy arguing in some thread. I think you can learn the most by visiting the races and chatting with people. Most people here are sponsored by paycheck and or credit card.

 

you can start by purchasing a SA rating helmet , globes , shoes .. they all help a bit
start to attent local events, so you can experience to what road race is . In some events (if not most ) you can always get an instructor to show you the lines, which helps a lot ! if you get the chance or money , racing school helps the most . Mod the driver before the car ..

 

First, you need to get a big sum of money.

Second, you need to spend it all.

If you still aren't a road racer, repeat steps 1 and 2.

Seriously, competition comes at a hefty price - you can easily spend a thousand dollars or more (consumables, entry fees, lodging, food, etc.) in just one weekend. Then there is the cost of the car, the cost of preparing the car, the cost of safety equipment, the cost of your tow vehicle, the cost of insurance on your tow, and the cost of learning how to drive on a road course in the first place.

I would suggest starting out by going to a local track and talking with anybody who will talk back. Look into attending an HPDE to get a feel for track driving; you may want to also look into some of the big-name racing schools scattered around the country (i.e. Skip Barber or Bob Bondurant).

Good luck.

 

I was an idiot and didn't listen to this advice. You won't either but I have to try:

You are 19. Unless you can direct the family fortune at your racing, get an education, get a good job, and THEN go racing.

Read that over and over if your goal is to actually get out there and stay. If you want to be another of thousands of young people who failed at racing, go buy that helmet.

Kirk




Modified by Knestis at 8:13 AM 5/14/2004

 

1. Attend some local club races (SCCA, NASA, etc) as a crew member. Almost all amateur racers will be glad to have a helping hand. Most won't require you do anything beyond check tire pressures and make gas runs, so you'll have plenty of time to chat and spectate.

2. Go to an autocross. Basically a mini-time trial held in a large parking lot. Street cars are ok to use (whereas wheel-to-wheel racing requires lots of safety gear). Most clubs have loaner helmets, so don't bother buying one yet.

3. If you can save the money, attend a high performance driving school held by a reputable club. Again, street cars are ok, since this is not racing (passing is limited to straights and nobody is timed).

A few facts and figures from my racing experience...
1. A full season of club racing costs at minimum $10,000 in entry fees, travel expense, and consumables.
2. A competitive car will cost $10,000 on up. The $10k gets you a fairly well developed ITC car (Improved Touring C - think 80hp Civics and first gen Rabbits).
3. Personal safety gear will cost at least $2500. $400 for a helmet, $600 for Nomex driving suit, $1000 for a head and neck restraint, $500 for shoes, gloves, etc.
4. There is no insurance on race cars - if you total it, you're SOL.

 

For cost estimates, look here: https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=679722

At 19, unless you are independently wealthy, or plan never to move out of your parent's house, start out autocrossing. Road Racing is EXPENSIVE. Even if you do it "cheap". Car, trailer, tow vehicle, tires, gas, busted stuff, brake pads, food, hotel, etc. It adds up faster than you think.

I spent about $25K on the Spec Miata car, tow vehicle (97 Tahoe), and open car trailer in my driveway. That's not insignificant as a start up cost. Then add in the safety gear for you.

Try autocrossing. Do some HPDE events. Start there.

Also, I'm willing to stake a LOT of money on the bet that even if us club racing types have a little sponsorship, it does NOT cover anywhere near 100% of the cost. You need to be prepared to sponsor yourself. If someone else offers to pay for something, then great, but don't count on it.

 

Do some HPDE before jumping on road racing. Its not for every one dont forget that. I seen people walk away from one spin, and never look back at road race again.

 

Very Expensive....oh God so expensive...just spent $3K this month (ISAAC system, another set of wheels, another two set of tires rains/semi rains, and entry fees for next few events) and I haven't even raced yet !

I do anticipate my next year of racing to be cheap (probably only spend about $10K a year). However, this first year is very expensive.

 

Karts! Karts! Karts!

RJ - who is dumb and did not buy a Kart

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Karts! Karts! Karts!

RJ - who is dumb and did not buy a Kart</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have a Race car, a Shifter Kart, A fast street car. NONE of this would be done with out have in MONEY to burn. So with out money and commitment you cant do Jack Schiedt. SO work hard and save lots of cash before you start racing.

 

You are 19. Go to reputable racing school like Russel or Skip barber. Do a few of their race series and see where you stand. If you are not in the top 3, OSB (Other sports beckoned).

If you are in the top 3 and you want to get serious in the sport, get ready to sell your family, your gf and everything you got to pursue your dream. Live in a van and be around races every chance you got. Then you might be able to get a ride or sponsor. If you can't do that, OSB.

I breathe, drink and sleep racing. So I wished I did that long time ago. Now, I work, spend my money in racing, get a few sponsors, but still racing in little league team.

If you find out you have the talent and willing to sacrifice, go for it. Otherwise, go to good school and make a lot of money. Then you can maybe race in PCA or Ferrari club.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by self2884 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ok, I really want to get into club racing/road racing etc... What do I need to get? How much have most of you spent to get started? I live near Dallas, Tx, is there anyway I can get tracktime anywhere in my streetcar? I know racing scool is expensive, but are the actual club races expesive most of the time? After racing school were you able to pick up sponsorship easy? Sorry bout all the questions.</TD></TR></TABLE>

So far:
2-3K for the double school including rental, lodging, and food.
6K for the car
500 for the suit
250 for the helmet
gloves, shoes, neck collar thing - 150 bucks

Sold daily driver to afford a trailer (1,800 bucks)
Need to buy a truck/suv to tow with yet est $8,000

It adds up... and there's more incidental stuff... hear is a sort of diary I started for pricing stuff out and miscellaneous ramblings.
http://y3k.shacknet.nu:31338/n...7fbbb

Jeez, I wish I hadn't typed the costs out... now I know I'm f'n whacked! (bugs bunny laughter)

This should help to get started with track time: http://www.trackschedule.com/sched.html

Sponsorship... still learning about that, but it seems if you have friends/family with money and a business... this is your best bet.


Modified by emwavey at 6:15 PM 5/14/2004

 

First, don't be scared by all of the people telling you to wait until someday later in life when you have [Forrest Gum on] "More money than Davie Crockett" [Forrest Gump voice /off] to get involved. There's no reason you can't get involved in motorsports right now. I wish I had not had my own dreams for the future focused so far in the wrong direction when I was even younger than you are, and could've started a lot earlier than I did. Just do what only a few people here have alluded to: Do it incrementally in small steps. Each step further down the road to total and complete involvement and absorption does increase the financial requirement exponentially, if you let it.

Ignore those who tell you to go to Skippy school or Bondurant, unless you happen to be a gozillionaire. That is the entrance to the deepest level of motorsports involvement, wheel-to-wheel. Don't go there. Don't go near there. Not yet, Grasshopper.

Start out autocrossing. SCCA Solo II events are held all over the place on a regular basis. Go to http://www.scca.org and find your local region. Get there schedule. Go and watch. Ask lots of questions. BTW: Ask of the people who are the top of their classes, and volunteer. Avoid the ricers and stunnahs with the show cars. Some of them are just there "styling." Some may be legit, most are not. Don't even bother with a helmet if you don't "have to have one" - most clubs have loaners.

Don't mod your car! Unless of course you're correcting some condition that might cause the stress of autocrossing to cause something to break or fall off. Otherwise, good streetable condition is all that is required. You will be a much better driver if you learn to drive before monkeying with your car. No amount of trick suspension bits, snails, r-tires or other such bling will make you faster until you've thoroughly tightened the "nut behind the wheel." Solo II has a class for just about every car, in every state of tune. Start off simple, with the least mods, and set your expectations low. Learn first, conquer the world later. You'll likely find some crusty old dude in a rusty bone stock '86 Civic kicking much ***. He knows how to drive. Emulate him, whoever he is. These car control skills will be of great use later in your amateur career. And oh yeh, I said amatuer- you're likely way past your prime when it comes to truly "going pro." Those guys started when they were 5.

Autocross. Then, autocross more. When you're the king of the world, move up to the next class. Rinse and repeat.

At some point, you may decide you're ready for the next big step. You want to go fast. Really fast, and thumb your nose at old Sir Isaac and his damn physics laws. Guess what? Now it's time to learn to drive all over again, only this time it's much easier, because it's much of what you already know, just on a grander scale, with "more grander" consequences to boot. Your next step is HPDE. Driver's Ed. Lapping on road courses with an instructer coaching. Work your way up through the levels. This stage could last from a couple of years to infinity, depending on your ability.

The important thing here from a fiscal point of view is that to this point you have not as of yet been required to do anything expensive to your car modification wise, unless you went crazy in the autocrossing stage. Your only main expenses are consumables and maintenance. Tires, brake pads, fluid and rotors maybe, oil, etc. You've been modding the driver instead. You can still drive the car to school, work, the track, etc.

Now, when you're financially capable, it's time to go road racing. Wheel-to-wheel.

Remember how you used to go and just watch uatocrossing before you got involved, just for the learning part? Do it again. Go to some SCCA regionals or NASA events. Watch. Ask questions. Learn. Hell, volunteer to work.

Maybe here if you're Mr Moneybags you go to Panoz, Bondurant or Skippy school. If you're smart you go to SCCA school, or if you have a lot of time NASA school. By this time you've spent all of your money on car prep, safety equipment, tow vehicle, trailer, wheels, tires, and other consumables. Oh yeh - keep your daily driver a daily driver, unless you just won the Powerball. If your tow vehicle is also your new daily, sell the old one. DON'T waste a bunch of money on building a race car from scratch. You could buy one ready built and well sorted for half the financial outlay that just the parts likely would cost to build your own. Trust me on that. Been there, still got the credit card bills to prove it. Won't make that mistake again. My next racer will be taken possession of by me as it rolls off the track for the last time driven by its previous owner, hopefully with the checkered flag still lying in the passenger floorboard.

Don't try to become the World Champion the first year. You'll likely find you need many races of experience before you're a serious competitor in your class. Take it easy. Enjoy what you're doing, and learn. Don't spend megabucks trying to get that last 1% of speed out of the car when the driver is only up to say 85%. Experience will make more difference than anything. Plus, experience if often more affordable than trick race parts.

Camp out in the infield of the track if allowed. We'll be there. Bring a grill, a tent and a bag, or sleep in the tow vehicle. If you add of up two or more nights in a hotel room each race weekend over the course of a whole season, that's a lot of jack. Worth a set of tires or two. Plus, you get to hang out and dring lots of beer and hear bullshit stories from a lot of great people. Those will be some of the best memories you'll look back on later down the road.

You CAN get involved in motorsports now and work your way deeper and deeper into the sport without necessarily going deeper and deeper into debt. There's no reason you can't start now with autocrossing and develop your skills, and race later when you're able. Just remember, "Don't mortgage your racing future in order to pay for your racing present."

Be smart with your money, mod the driver first, and always look long term before making a move. You'll be much better off and ahead of 90% of the pack in all respects.

Cheers,

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1gTeg90 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">.... Take it easy. Enjoy what you're doing, and learn....
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Dat was my favorite part.

Scott, who thinks that if your goal is to enjoy your racing the odds are much much better than if your goal is to be a super hero...

 

Hey,

I am 16 and started to build my future ITC car when I was fifteen. My 'program' I dont think counts since most was luck. I got my car for free from a family friend with a blown motor. For the car I did have to help cut down a tree though. I started by gutting it out, then I added a racing steering wheel, and bought all my suspension. I just got Tokico struts with H&R springs, it is a ok combination for right now, I like it. I had the head in the shop and then got it back and put it back in the car and it ran, but it still burns oil, luckily I am getting a full rebuild soon. A VERY nice person named Mark Coffin, he races a prod. VW race car donated me a fuel cell, race seat, harness, wink mirror, fire extinguisher, race shoes, gloves, and other smaller items. I also had help from many people off the internet, trading like around $20 for a logo on my car/ kart and website. I also traded old springs for a header, got an air intake for Christmas as well as wheels and tires, bushings, and other stuff, got a custom exhaust done, and just ordered a roll cage from Kirk Racing. As you can see I trade a lot, and have been extremely lucky with my car so far, I raced karts for a VERY long time and still do, I also am doing the Red Bull Driver Search, and just get lots of seat time, I started Solo 2 when I was 15, and that is a VERY VERY good way to get a very good idea of car control for a very low price. The atmosphere is great and lots of cool cars. I have signed up for a HPDE in June, which will be my first time in a car on a road course, cant wait. Anyway hopefully I have not turned your question into my life story, but maybe it helped a bit. My real answer, start with Solo 2 (autocross) , try karts, and keep moving from there Have fun!

 

Buy an ITC race car. there is one for sale $1800. Its in the SCCA paper.

 

DON'T BUY AN ITC CAR!

You'll be stigmatized as Mullet wearin fender smashing bump draftin low down inside wheel liftin......frog panty wearin' oddball.

Scott, who's just trying to help...a small error in course now can lead you way off target years down the road....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ASteele2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=353425

would be a good place to start.</TD></TR></TABLE><TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ITACivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">There are a lot of long timer here who often react sternly. Some are busy arguing in some thread. I think you can learn the most by visiting the races and chatting with people. Most people here are sponsored by paycheck and or credit card. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Sorry if that was the impression I gave, 'twas not my intention. There's just a wealth of knowledge in that sticky and it helped me along before. Anyways, seems as if the bases have been pretty well covered here...

go have some fun

Andrew, who loves his competition

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">DON'T BUY AN ITC CAR!

You'll be stigmatized as Mullet wearin fender smashing bump draftin low down inside wheel liftin......frog panty wearin' oddball.

Scott, who's just trying to help...a small error in course now can lead you way off target years down the road....</TD></TR></TABLE>

Dont forget about Paula Abdul or thinmints

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1gTeg90 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">First, don't be scared by all of the people telling you to wait until someday later in life when you have [Forrest Gum on] "More money than Davie Crockett" [Forrest Gump voice /off] to get involved. </TD></TR></TABLE>

this entire post gets my vote for the best advice ever given on HT



Modified by JoelG at 8:20 AM 5/15/2004

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Andrie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You are 19. Go to reputable racing school like Russel or Skip barber. Do a few of their race series and see where you stand. If you are not in the top 3, OSB (Other sports beckoned).</TD></TR></TABLE>

Lord knows you can't practice and improve your skills.

 

Just save yourself time and go flush all your money down the toilet right now.

Note: the above statement was meant as a joke, not that racing is a waste of time or money.

 

1) Win the lottery
2) Rob a bank
3) Print money
4) work the next 10 years so you can race then, if you aren't dead from overwork at that point


Regards,

Jon Kofod