i have always wanted to race on a major scale, i think im getting to that level. ide liek to compete maybe semi pro, or whatever.. im not sure what qualifications you need to have to do so... i know my car prolly isnt gonna keep with the M3's and the NSX, but im sure it will hold its own. it might who knows, the realtime car kicks *** and takes names later.. so what is the deal with WC? i know that is the hardest class to make im sure.. i wanna compete as a private owner, with his own personal car.. Am i Crazy?

 

Yes, you are crazy. I dont think you have a grasp on how much money the teams spend. You're probably looking at $250-$300K per car per year, the first year out. Tow vehicles, trailers, development time, engines, etc, etc.

Oh, and most of those drivers are not paid. They are paying heavily out of pocket with sponsor help.

One of the few privateers running a competitive operation is Roger Foo - and he has put his cars and tow rigs up for sale - just too much money to do it on your own now. The bar has been raised by RTR, Turner, TriPoint, etc.

 

RJ is right about the $. In the article about Dobson's team in this month's GRM, they say it now costs 150K$ to build a touring class car ann another 100-150K$ to run it for one year. I imagine Realtime spend even more than than that.

Again referring to GRM, they had a series of articles called "Zero to Hero" about a guy named Dave Wiegand, who had some money and a desire to race. They got him going in an 80's Golf (even though his street car was a Z06). He started out with little to no knowledge of racing and ended up with a race license and race car, as well as a couple of podium finishes. This is a good example of a guy starting from scratch and learning something useful. But a) that guy is not ready for Speed World Challenge and b) he probably spent 40K$ to get where he got with a car that initially cost 800$. Keep this in mind.

 

I agree with RJ. Speed WC is not the game for normal guy.....way too much money needed to run.
If you're serious about doing road racing, why don't you start with Honda Challenge first??

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yes, you are crazy. I dont think you have a grasp on how much money the teams spend.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Everytime I bitch about spending $2/gal for gas, it reminds me how I'll never be a WC driver

 

If you live near New York City, send me an IM or email ( cycldav@optonline.net ). I can give you an idea of what it takes to go road racing. I am hoping to have my rookie season within East Coast Honda Challenge (ECHC) next year. Even in this grassroots racing, I can show you the bills and credit card debt. I can walk you through how one weekend of racing is $1000 (not a lot for racing, but a lot for me = your average joe)

There is about 15 of us who regularly attend high performance driver's education (HPDE's) events throughout the northeast U.S. These events can give you an "idea" about road racing. But, HPDE's are no where like road racing. The only similarity is the speed.

I understand and applaud your dream of getting into road racing (I am living my dream now also), but I think you may need a dose of reality to help you get to your dream.

 

well bro, hit me up, i mean i autoX and on occasion hit up limerock with the PSCC, but they stopped going there the last 2 years due to insurance purposes.

All the retard kids around here are about the 1320. and i personally think that is a waste of time, there is no practicality in going fast for such a short distance. honda's are built for handling advantages, not necessarily straight line raw power.
SO i always challenge them to a lil late night competition on roads where room for error (other than driver) is pretty much non existent.

Im well into the $40g mark with my car, and have just placed on order another $5g or so for winter time projects, and that is not including the cost of the car.

 

here's another key element that really doesn't have anything to do with racing...........

will your current job allow you the rediculous amounts of time off required to travel around the country in the middle of the week to compete?

 

and another point..........Most of the guys and gals racing in WC or such, are corp execs or co. CEO's. or some high level exec who incorporate their work and their fun all in the name of racing........it takes major dollars, even on the low end of pro racing, as compared to NASCAR or F1 etc. Not only do you need the $300 - $400 grand to do it for the season, you need it next year and year after that etc. You might drop $5000 in repairs this weekend, only to ball your car up and have to do it again the next weekend. I'd say the successful racers have found a way of having their "cake and eat it too"........it can be done. You just might have to start on a different level..........like the guys in here said try running a season of Honda Challenge........it takes money and time too....I bet everyone could relate a story or two about running out of funds and scraping up a few bucks for tires, or brakes, or entry fees...........

 

With no disrespect, and knowing almost nothing about your ability or determination I will post the following.

But, for certain this quote of yours is a bit disturbing:

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 2k1_ITR_0736 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
All the retard kids around here are about the 1320.
SO i always challenge them to a lil late night competition on roads where room for error (other than driver) is pretty much non existent. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Your answer has pretty much already been posted but, just by reading what You posted, one can get the feeling that even though you may have autocrossed or have a bit of HPDE experience, that your maturity level and definitely your level of safety for yourself and the community are in question.

The more that most of us go faster and drive at or near the limits of ourselves and our cars, the more we develop a great respect for safety and life. Speed is addictive of course but, there is a time and a place for everything.

Heck, I've ended up driving HPDE's and then just parking my car till the next one. Not for anything more than the dissatisfaction of driving it on public roads with all the idiots, hazards and laws and limits. I just can't be happy not driving the car extremely fast. I don't tend to speed if I do drive it but, I just don't feel good or free when driving on local roads. And safety is a huge concern of mine.

Speed World Challenge is Expensive as already posted. You need more than w simply what I list; the funding, the car (a car that meets their specs, is no longer road legal, and one that is totally acceptable to be lost to collision, and replaced if neccessary) of course more money for any damage to your car & motor, money for tires (this gets to be extremely expensive) Brake pads, rotors, fluid, fluids. God the list goes on and becomes endless EVEN for the Honda Challenge guys. And all this says NOTHING about even hoping that your car or you are competitive.


It is not a minor undertaking. And money spent on your car alone in mods is not really the point. You'd need support, a trailor, tow vehicle, And loads more money than running in a Grassroot's event.


And if you aren't at least an advanced level driver, how would you expect to pass your comp test?

Bring your car to the track (roadcourse) and play there a bit more to see if you've got it. Ask the Senior Instructor to evaluate you, tell him/her what you are interested in. HPDE's are one thing, wheel to wheel is different.


Theres no sense in wasting loads of money without a good plan to begin with. But, if you feel you have the money right now, then take a Skip Barber or Derek Daley school (one allows you to qualify for your comp license at the end.) An extremely flexible career and the ability to travel are paramount, as is funding if you haven't got that yet.

This is all coming from someone that has plans for the Honda Challenge in the future and pretty much has the budget for it now but, has virtually no free time. I am resigned to doing as Many HPDE's as possible until I can make that concerted effort and see the same dream.

I am envious at times of those who are able to do what I just can't, but It also gives me a greater respect for the sport and the people who participate. All at once is one way to go but, many times patience teaches you more.

Reality is many times tough to bear.

Come join us at Summit or Limerock (November) to get more track time, (at least until you have a full plan.)

Good luck.

 

anyone seriously thinking of a career as a pro driver should read the first chapter of "Drive to Win" by carroll smith. It will open you eyes.

as far as WC goes, the little guys in TC are spending six figures a season. In GT the big guys are spending 7. Yeah, a million plus a season.

joel

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 2k1_ITR_0736 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Im well into the $40g mark with my car, and have just placed on order another $5g or so for winter time projects, and that is not including the cost of the car. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Modifications to your car is the LAST thing you want to do if you are serious about learning how to drive on a road course and then get into road racing. I'll try and contact you soon and we can talk. For example, with all of your mods, what class will your car race in? With $40K of mods, there is probably no grassroots racing program available for that car.

 

If, after reading the above, you insist on getting into WC, you might as well buy the whole package. Roger Foo is selling his Proteges, trailer, and truck as a package deal for $144,000.00. Here's a link.

http://www.sccaforums.com/cgi-...00167

Good luck.

 

2k1_ITR_0736,

Not to smack you down at all, but the question regarding WC in itself reveals your lack of experience in the racing world. That's not a bad thing, because we all had to start out. But looking at WC as an entrance into competitive road racing is like being an optimistic Iraqi soldier when the U.S. announces an invasion. By the way, you're very first requirement for driving in WC is an SCCA Pro Competition license.

There hasn't been a whole lot of discussion regarding talent in this thread. The front of the WC field is a talented bunch of folks. Your lapping days may have provided you with experience to drive around a track quickly, but you really need to give yourself time to develop race-craft (the ability to strategize behind the wheel while you drive door-handle to door-handle with a bunch of other cars).

Start out in a series that is designed for starting out in. Honda Challenge is a perfect example. Trust me, there will be more competition than you can handle as a rookie to roadracing.

Gary
Sheehan Motor Racing
http://www.teamSMR.com

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GarySheehan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Start out in a series that is designed for starting out in. Honda Challenge is a perfect example. Trust me, there will be more competition than you can handle as a rookie to roadracing.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well said.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GarySheehan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
There hasn't been a whole lot of discussion regarding talent in this thread. The front of the WC field is a talented bunch of folks.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Agreed (and the route GarySheehan outlined is by far your best bet). Speed WC has really attracted some great talent lately in both GT and Touring as some of the bigger teams can afford it. But talent is not a requirement to race in WC, or to get a license and be labeled a Pro; money is. And I believe there are people who start out racing at this level simply by writing checks for arrive and drive programs, scheduling a few private practice sessions and then go racing. Of course at first they’ll be on a different planet driving wise when compared to the talented top runners, but nevertheless they are participants and will be regarded as Pros. But this is of course common knowledge for most people reading. So 2k1_ITR_0736, it’s up to you what you can do. If you do have the funds to start out with this high level of hardware equivalent to WC cars, go right ahead. Depending on how much money you have to spend you can do anything, from running an autox event with your daily driver, to getting fully built turn key cars with service support and private coaching. Have fun!

 

I have a friend that did a few WC races last year. It isn't cheap. $1000+ entry fees and $300 practice sessions add up really quick.

I dont think it would be that hard to get a car built to rules and enter a race here and there, but to actually follow the series is big bux.

Of course, sponsors always help.

 

Do you want to road race on a budget?

Then do what I'm doing and buy a kart and go racing. Cheap fun.

 

Well maybe the honda challensge is where its at..

Tell me when and where....

 

http://www.honda-challenge.com

If you are interested...just like we talked about in our instant message conversation... Nov. 1st and Nov 2nd a bunch of us from the NY area are going down there. One guy is racing (and hopefully going to win H1 , let the trash talking begin!! go Matt!! ) and I will be getting my comp license.

 

OT: Foo is leaving Speed TC? Where's he off to?

 

Road Atlanta next week is their (Foo and Baxter's) last race and they're paying for it out of their own pockets.

There was another thread Scott started as to why..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kekek-20 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
There was another thread Scott started as to why..

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

i can't find it....do you have a link?

 

hey oscar.. here it is

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=619587

-dan

 

can you post a pic of your $40k car?