College and Motorsports

[Brutaka]

Hello everyone, i have a big predicament on my hands. I have decided that once i graduate high school in a few years that i was going to continue on to college and get a Masters degree, however i also have a dream to become a racing driver. I have not been able to start my own racing career now because of time and money.
I have found a college that has motorsports as a bachelors degree but it is more suited for the people in the business section of motorsports. If i was able to get money and applied for the SCCA; would it be a good idea to do so during my college years or could it endanger my education and that i should wait until after i graduate?

 

[Northstar]

Perhaps a college with a Formula SAE program?

 

[Brutaka]

Perhaps a college with a Formula SAE program?

Sounds very interesting, i will look into it. What i really wanted to do was like weekend racing with go-karts or inexpensive cars so that i can continue to pay for college without being so far in debt Thanks for your suggestion.

 

[nobuffalo]

College first. I had that racing driver dream and let that run my life for many years after high school, looking back it was a huge mistake. To each their own but I really regret my decision. As mentioned there are often programs and you can always autocross on the weekends to improve your car control.

 

[ZohsixGT5]

I too followed this dream after high school and have spent about 12k on Skip Barber racing school classes. Ultimately, as I found out, getting into racing and winning is insanely expensive for average joes. You can take the SCCA route, but there is still tons of cost involved when you start working your way up. Travel expenses, repairs (if someone hits you, the repair cost is all on you), maintenance, parts, fuel, etc. You will also need a team of family/friends to help you out on race weekends, and schedules don't always workout for everyone to give up their weekend for your dream. There are guys on here that currently race or have raced regionally and nationally, so they might be able to offer more insight on the SCCA/NASA route.

There is a lot to think about, but if you have a rich uncle or someone in your family in motorsports, it makes things easier.

Edit: I now have a desk job in management, but I would rather be racing

 

[slims]

If you could get some money to start racing in college then go for it. The sooner you start the better. That being said I'd still set my priorities towards the degree rather than the racing. Always good to have something to fall back on.

 

[Katiegan]

I'd suggest getting into autocross. It's probably your cheapest option - all you need is a car, the required safety equipment, the required license and you're good to go. You could just use your daily driver, like most autocross racers do. Drive there, race, drive home again. You can choose to run the track alone so you don't have the risk of hitting anyone. It's a good way to learn car control, and many race drivers have started out this way.

Although I don't personally autocross as I don't have the right car for the junior class, but many members here do and I'm sure they'd be happy to answer any questions you have about it.

 

[niky]

If you ain't racing yet, it's probably too late to make that your primary career.

Aside from participating in grassroots events, pick a College course that will get you a job in the industry. You can't get a break unless you're in the right place, and working there certainly helps.

 

[Cano]

If you ain't racing yet, it's probably too late to make that your primary career.

Aside from participating in grassroots events, pick a College course that will get you a job in the industry. You can't get a break unless you're in the right place, and working there certainly helps.

This, absolutely.

 

[Brutaka]

Well i had a feeling this would happen. Oh well i still want to find a way how to race anyways. My father is a mechanic and he knows a lot about cars and such so if i ever get a chance to race he can help me. I guess i have to see where life takes me and continue thinking.

 

[motortrend]

If you ain't racing yet, it's probably too late to make that your primary career.

Aside from participating in grassroots events, pick a College course that will get you a job in the industry. You can't get a break unless you're in the right place, and working there certainly helps.

Agreed.

Racers usually start out on karts and even some of those never make it anywhere. Some others might start older and on different vehicles but the reality is that to make a living out of racing you either have to be very lucky and willing to take risks like very few are or simply have quite a bit of cash because put simply, racing is expensive. You can always attend track days while you study and maybe participate in a few races and build a spec car and like niky said if you get into the industry that's probably your best bet plus you have a secure income.

I wanted to be a racing driver since I was a kid, I always wanted a go kart but my parents' financial situation did not allow for it, maybe things would have been different. In the future hopefully I will drive on the track as a hobby, as some do with golfing, but it certainly won't be my career. In the future I will do my best to give my children the opportunity to become something that requires a large initial investment such as this.

 

[niky]

Unfortunately, unlike sports like basketball or baseball, there's no High School or College tryouts for aspiring young racers. Everything you do, from the bottom rung of the ladder to the national level, will have to come out of your own pocket or someone else's. Many SCCA autocross champions do something else for a living... even those who work part-time as racing instructors.

It's only the very talented who get picked up for sponsorship by major teams. And those guys start very young. If you aren't already competing and winning in karts right now, you've missed that opportunity.

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Take driving classes, get certified, but work on your College degree. If you're serious, take up Mechanical or Automotive Engineering (and yes, find a school that participates in Formula SAE), so at least you have an outside shot at meeting the right people.

Me, I'm pretty sure I'm well past the sell-by date for budding racers, on the wrong side of thirty. But at least I'm in the industry as a writer and a tester, doing the stuff I love, and sometimes getting to beat the snot out of cars on the racetrack.

-

And getting paid to do it. That's the important part. Because it used to be the other way around, and that sucked.

 

[Brutaka]

If you ain't racing yet, it's probably too late to make that your primary career.

Aside from participating in grassroots events, pick a College course that will get you a job in the industry. You can't get a break unless you're in the right place, and working there certainly helps.

Actually in fact i wanted to get a masters (or better if i need it) in business so that i can work in the auto industry, like being a manager for a auto company or better yet, be like Bruce McLaren or Jim Hall

 

[niky]

That takes you away from the blood and guts (or is that oil and gears?) of the industry and up into middle management (if you're very lucky) or into an assistant manager job at a car dealership (if you're modestly lucky). There are a lot of people going for those jobs right now.

McLaren and Hall both started off soaked in grease up to their armpits, and with a great technical understanding of race cars. Not as budding office staff carrying Lee Iaccoca's coffee.

An MBA, if you've got two or three years of HS left, is about nine to ten years away, and guarantees you very little unless you graduate from a good school with good credentials.

A degree in Mechanical Engineering takes less time, has good employment opportunities, and puts you right where the action is.

 

[McLaren]

The first quote is from an active racer. The 2nd is from a retired Porsche factory LeMans driver.

I've raced SCCA, NASA, PCA and a smattering of minor pro races and my advice has a few steps. First, can you drive? And by that I mean quickly, consistently and in control. Going to a professional school is a great way to ramp up on these skills, but seat time is critical afterward. Get as much school and seat time as you can afford without actually racing until you can run within 3 seconds a lap of the track record , +/- 1 second each and every lap, for 5-10 laps. Why? You mentioned SM and in qualifying the top 5-10 cars will be within 1 second. 3 seconds off pole will put you at the back of the grid. I have seen many a racer show up with enthusiasm only to be burned out in short order due to lack of pace and inability to actually race anyone.


Second, I recommend renting a race car for your first few races. That way you can try out one or more classes and sanctioning bodies, as not all cars can race with all groups and everyone has their preferences. Skip Barber also has race series for grads that is a great place to put a toe in the water.

Third, pick a car that you can afford to race, and by that, take the price, multiply by 3 and that is your first year budget to do say 12-15 races. Now it could be less, but I have also seen a new racer total a car in the first year, and my rule is you should not race it if you can't afford to wad it up and walk away. Trust me, you don't want a car that you cannot afford to have prepped to the highest level, as racign is tough enough to add inferior equipment to the mix.

Personally, my favorites are spec cars, as it evens the playing field and reduces the cost of development, as the rules are fixed. Your suggestion of SM is a good one, I have raced this class since 2000, although my current focus is on Spec Racer Ford.

Finally, Apex Driving Academy wil be adding to its curriculum SCCA provisional licensing for qualified drivers in 2013, so that is an option. Qualified means you are quick, consistent, in control and alert to your surrondings.

Enjoy! I have never found a hobby I liked as much with my clothes on.

As to opportunities....very, very, many highly skilled and experienced drivers are still looking for the "paid ride".

Got any rich relatives or good friends who own a big company with a lot of money to throw away??? An old saying about racing is something like "the way to make a small fortune in racing is to start with a big fortune". Very true. For most, racing is a very expensive hobby and/or a very frustrating, unpredictable, and fleeting career.

 

[Brutaka]

An MBA, if you've got two or three years of HS left, is about nine to ten years away, and guarantees you very little unless you graduate from a good school with good credentials.

A degree in Mechanical Engineering takes less time, has good employment opportunities, and puts you right where the action is.

Well i am a Sophmore now. The school i am in is one of the most well known in Chicago, i even heard that they earned one of the highest amounts of Gates scholars in the country. Now i am not an applicant for a gates scholarship but i am pretty sure i can get a bit of money. I probably have to accept that i won't become a professional racing driver, but that is still no reason to just give up on it yet. My last resort to get into motorsports is to save up some money if i have a good paying job and compete in grass roots racing and attempt to go nationals.

 

[Cano]

Me, I'm pretty sure I'm well past the sell-by date for budding racers, on the wrong side of thirty. But at least I'm in the industry as a writer and a tester, doing the stuff I love, and sometimes getting to beat the snot out of cars on the racetrack.

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And getting paid to do it. That's the important part. Because it used to be the other way around, and that sucked.

Oh, this absolutely. Altough I suck at driving, it's all the fun in the wolrd lol.

 

[wrapture]

I am a freshman in high school. I am trying to get into racing my ZX6R but I have two major hurdles. First is getting race leathers, I don't have $1k for good leathers. Second is track days. I have two options for tracks, Capitol city raceway (old torn up track, $150 a weekend) and NOLA Motorsports Park (brand new multi-million dollar track, $200 a day). I could probably get a better deal at NOLA as my dad knows some people, but its still really expensive.

 

[niky]

You want to play, you gotta pay. That's why most of us sit in front of the TV playing Turismo instead of adding more items to the "fix it now" list pinned to the windshields of our immobile track rats.

 

[wrapture]

You want to play, you gotta pay. That's why most of us sit in front of the TV playing Turismo instead of adding more items to the "fix it now" list pinned to the windshields of our immobile track rats.

Yea, I love the reset button on games It would also be my daily driver so more money for tires.

 

[Brutaka]

Thanks for the feedback even if my dreams are being crushed before my eyes haha

 

[David]

Thanks for the feedback even if my dreams are being crushed before my eyes haha

Man, reality can be harsh. I truly believe that people should try as hard as possible to do the things they love but you also have to be realistic, especially in the current economic climate. Outside of coming from a wealthy family or winning something like GT academy, becoming a professional driver is not very realistic for most people, especially if you didn't start young in karting or something and happen to catch the eye of someone with connections.

I think it would be a mistake on your part to not take steps to secure steady income in your position before chasing dreams. Like others suggested, focus your education on something in the automotive/motorsport field if you wish, but get an education, learn some tradeskills, just do something to make sure you have real options.

 

[Brutaka]

Man, reality can be harsh. I truly believe that people should try as hard as possible to do the things they love but you also have to be realistic, especially in the current economic climate. Outside of coming from a wealthy family or winning something like GT academy, becoming a professional driver is not very realistic for most people, especially if you didn't start young in kart-ing or something and happen to catch the eye of someone with connections.

I think it would be a mistake on your part to not take steps to secure steady income in your position before chasing dreams. Like others suggested, focus your education on something in the automotive/motorsport field if you wish, but get an education, learn some tradeskills, just do something to make sure you have real options.

Dont worry I know. I have to put my responsibilities first before dreams. Also, what are the odds that the one sport I enjoy a lot is extremely expensive.

 

[David]

Also, what are the odds that the one sport I enjoy a lot is extremely expensive.

Hey, a lot of us here are in that same boat. I'd take driving a car all day over sitting in this cubicle any day, but I didn't have the means to attempt that career. I tease my parents sometimes and tell them that if they had been rich I would be a race driver right now.

 

[sems4arsenal]

Dont worry I know. I have to put my responsibilities first before dreams. Also, what are the odds that the one sport I enjoy a lot is extremely expensive.

I'm in exactly the same situation but here there is absolutely next to none interest in Motorsport,I have spoken to a few local drifters and racers and if I to have any chance I'd need to sell alot of things buy a car and pretty much forget about college .So yeah just have to win GT academy

 

[Brutaka]

I'm in exactly the same situation but here there is absolutely next to none interest in Motorsport,I have spoken to a few local drifters and racers and if I to have any chance I'd need to sell alot of things buy a car and pretty much forget about college .So yeah just have to win GT academy

Well make sure you talk to your parents about thisand make sure you know EVERYTHING on what you have to do. Always think of every option and good luck to ya.👍