The following was something I sent to my local paper. Hoping to see it published soon, but thought I'd share with you all as well...

Becoming a racecar driver….

On Saturday, I hope to do something many people only dream of doing. I’m hoping to become a licensed racecar driver. I have realistic expectations about my adventures, though. I won’t be making millions of dollars whopping it up with the likes of Jeff Gordon or Little E, and most likely will never be one of the greatest driving talents the world has ever seen, like Michael Schumacher. However, Me, an average guy living in Madison, will soon become a racecar driver.

I’ll be on track for the fun and excitement of amateur sports car racing as part of the Midwestern Council of Sports Car Clubs. I’ll be driving around a road course, with thirty-plus other competitors, wheel-to-wheel, fender-to-fender, all in search of a win, a checker flag and a wooden plaque. Of course, there’s a lot more as to why I might want to do something like this.

For us car junkies, the sound of the first engine firing up in the morning, just across the paddock, starts to get our adrenaline pumping. Then there’s the smell of oil and race fuel in the air that helps build the excitement. This is quickly followed by the anticipation of the start of a race session with that thirty-car field, thousands of horsepower, all lined up in the grid ready to go.

What happens next, as far as personal feelings go, I can only guess at. After taking the racing school on Saturday, and hopefully earning my competition license, I’ll know a lot more about the feelings, the nerves, and the anticipation that a race car driver goes through during a race.

So, you might be wondering, how did I get here? As I said before, I’m just an average guy. I’m not specially qualified in any way to become a racecar driver. I’m married, have one dog, work 45-50 hours a week to pay the bills, and live in an average house. It turns out, though, that just about anyone can be a part of motorsports.

For me, I started participating in autocross events in 1999 with the Madison Sports Car Club, after a friend suggested that my new car would be perfect for the sport. Autocross is a time-trial type of event where each car competes against the clock. It’s relatively safe, as you’re out on course by yourself and speeds are kept lower than one would drive on the freeway. Still, it teaches you excellent car handling skills and puts you into a competition frame of mind.

As I participated in more events, I was naturally drawn to the club’s other activities including wheel to wheel racing. For many year’s I’ve volunteered as part of race staff; having the best seat in the house by working the flags out on the corners, meeting many new people and having a lot of fun in the process. In the back of my mind, I started to plan how I could someday be in the driver’s seat instead of on the corners.

This year, I’ve been talking with one of my friends about how much I desired to be behind the wheel, but wasn’t quite ready to make the financial jump that it takes to go into the sport. Throughout our discussions, he’s been trying to push me over the edge. To help do this, he’s been kind enough to rent me his car for this Saturday’s school and the following race, all with him serving as crew chief for the weekend.

I’m thrilled to take this chance to become a racecar driver, filled with anticipation, excitement, and anxiety. What happens if I crash up the car? What if I get hurt? What if I forget some minuscule, but important piece of information that I need to get my competition license? What if I don’t pass the written test? Do I have a chance at winning the race? Or will I just be a back-marker, a rolling obstacle for the other competitors?

I can’t wait to find out the answers to these questions and share them with you.


Andrew Schmiechen is the founder of At Speed Autosports, based out of Madison, WI. He couldn’t be in this position today if it weren’t for the help of his corporate partners, Zimbrick Honda and Brandboxx International. http://www.ASAutosports.com

 

Good luck with your licensing school. You mentioned that one thing you don't want to forget about in the school, I think that one thing is the flags. See them and obey them!

 

Good luck!

Hard work pays off!

 

First of all, GOOD LUCK. Enjoy what many only dreams about doinng.

How old are you??

I am planning to get my racing license too. I been autoXing and road racing(open track) for the past. I also been honing my skills by racing in go karts(single speed) weekly.

My friend and I (both mech. engineering) graduates are looking into racing. He has been in the compact sport industry for 8 years. He is helping me to race. Giving me free parts when I am low on cash. All the labor has been free. What a great friend. He knows I am the better driver of the two, and I have more desire. He wants to make money, while I race for him.

I just joined NASA and will be starting with HPDE events for the next six month. Honda Challenge in the next year or so.

I am a regular guy just like you. I will be starting my work with the United States Air Force this august as a Civil Engineer, ranked as a 2nd Lt. at Vandenberg Air Force base.

I know I won't be making any money from racing. I know I am not the best. But I LOVE racing(drag, autoX, go karts, road racing). I feel like all my problems disappear at the track. I am just very fortunate to have a friend help me with my dream of racing.

Frank
23
So Cal

 

I'm 29. The school went well, all without incident, where I recevied my novice license. What a blast. Still smiling today. On Sunday, I also entered my first race. The difference between the school and the race was night and day. For some reason I was missing the "must be competivie" mode in the school. Put me in the race, and I ran much faster. Unofficially, at the school I was running, I believe I was putting down 1:38's . In the race, my fastest lap was a 1:29.2. I'm told about .5 seconds off the track record for ITC, currently held by the car's owner. Won my first race and placed 14th overall in the run group.

I'm told I was smokin' for being a rookie in a C car. That's a good feeling. We've got a number of people in our club who think autocross is the stupidest thing. Looks like the skills and technicques learned in Ax do pay off.

 

It was the car that makes any driver, I guess any driver other than the owner, look so dang good!!

Mental note to self, put oldest, hardest tires on car when renting out in the future. I will burn up those RE-71s yet!!!

All kidding aside, you did an excellent job!!

D

 

Hey great to hear you're jumping in!... and I agree I think autocross experience can definitely help. We're in good company with folks like Randy Pobst and Shauna Marinus (sp?) to name just a couple.

I wound up getting my permit this past February with my brother-in-law's RX-7.
http://www.nerdsracing.com/NN_Roebling_021204.htm

This past Sunday I took the "new"ly acquired ITA car out to an autocross to see what I had... what a blast! http://tinyurl.com/33sl4

Good luck, have fun and thanks for sharing!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ITC Racer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It was the car that makes any driver, I guess any driver other than the owner, look so dang good!!

Mental note to self, put oldest, hardest tires on car when renting out in the future. I will burn up those RE-71s yet!!!

All kidding aside, you did an excellent job!!

D</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, sorry about that. I'll slow down next time. Thanks again for the car rental and the help. I would have loved to have gotten by Loren just to rub that in a little. While having a faster lap than him, it doesn't do me any good if I don't finish in front. Talking with Loren later, he said he was slowing up a bit at the end since he couldn't catch the guy in front of him. Yeah, right!

 

Gratz!!! ..and good luck with everything!

I also hope to be out there some day. For now I'm sticking with HPDE, Time trials and watching the racers from the side lines.

 

Press Release follow up on Sunday's race!

ASA Records its first ITC Win.

http://www2.asautosports.com:8...43437

 

Wow, excellent result. This makes a good argument for renting a top notch car rather than showing up with your own freshly asssembled one...

 

At Devin's rental price, absolutely. Unfortunately, his rental price was a "get you addicted so you need more" price. Now that I drove the snot out of the car, and I'm seriously hooked, it won't be so cheap.

Still smiling today.

At any rate, I'm now trying to figure out how to finance a race car, trailer, tow vehicle and gear.