Getting started into racing

A

AGAINSTtheROPES

Messages
4
Canada
Canada
Messages
UPagainstTHEr0pes
I need some help. I am wanting to get into racing just I'm not sure where to start to look. I'm in Canada on the western side. I see things like international go-karting lessons for a day. Is that where I really want to start at?
 
^I think so.

To add to this, how does one set about working for a Racing team? Like, what do I need to do to become the Audi R18 program's official Windscreen washer/tear-off-er. What qualifications do I need to change the Nose section on an MP4-26?
 
AGAINSTtheROPES
I need some help. I am wanting to get into racing just I'm not sure where to start to look. I'm in Canada on the western side. I see things like international go-karting lessons for a day. Is that where I really want to start at?
Click to expand...

Many current race car drivers started their career with Go-Karts. It's competitive and pretty challenging. A good start to a career with motorsports but you need quite a lot of money to ensure your career lasts. And it really isn't cheap...

However, if you have the money and wanting something else, you can try some touring car races. Surely this you will need a car that meets with the regulations and that could be a gear grinder for beginners. So my advice is start with Go-Kart and forwards yourself until the national finals and such. But as mentioned, money is needed for this! ;)
 
I have a good friend who used to do karting as a teen. He toured all over North America with his team. And he once lined up third in a super-national race, with none other than Scott Speed taking pole. His karting actually got him a few tests with some ALMS teams. His parents were (and still are) well to do, so funding his karting wasn't a problem. But it was still expensive. At the level he was doing it, $60k a year was the norm. It's very expensive to do karting. So unless you have parents who are willing to invest, or you are good enough to have a nice lineup of sponsors, it's much easier said than done.

Of course you could always buy a test with an ALMS team. If you're good enough, they might just stick you in a seat.
 
It also depends what you mean by get into racing. If you mean into racing as a profession then you will need a lot of money, patience, skill and luck, and you're best place to start would be karting.
I assume this is what you're looking to do.

If however you just wish to race at weekends for fun (club racing) there is sure to be many series that run, to enter in which, you just need a car and a racing licence- I don't know what it's like over in America, but to take to the track in a series over here you need a national b licence at least. This would most likely cost somewhere around £10,000 for a season I'd imagine, so even this is quite expensive. :tup
 
We have one of these threads every couple of weeks. If you have a quick look around this sub-forum I'm sure you will find all the advice you desire.
 
How old are you? Do you have a disposable income? Where specifically in Canada are you? What kind of racing do you want to do?

Karting is where many stars start from. If you're young, and have rich parents... then this is the best place to start.

If you've got your driver's license, then your next option is to start with a local driving/racing group. In the US, the two main players are SCCA and NASA. There are pros and cons to each. Also, some regions have smaller orginizations that run at local tracks.

If you are totally new to track driving and have your driver's license, I'd start with an AutoCross day. Maybe two, then move on. That will get you some seat time and familiarization with your car. Next, join your local track driving orginization and get some instructed lap days. Progress thru their ranks, and then decide what local racing series you'd like to get in to. Test for a competition license within that group, build your car and see if you have the skills to compete. You have to start local, then move on to bigger fish. No one just jumps into professiona racing on their first try... unless you win some 1 in a million prize contest.

Good luck.
 
Well, I'll say a little bit about karting, as that is probably the best solution.

Go down to your nearest track and look what kart classes are driven there, and get an idea about the atmosphere. Last thing you want to do is just to run straight in and buy something that is A. Unreliable and B. Not common where you are driving. You are probably looking at either Rotax or Leopard as they are the most common world wide. Your budget can wary wildly. I race on about £2000 a year, however that is the bare minimum that you would be able to race on, £5000 a year would allow you to race once a month quite comfortably. However you will find people who spend upwards of £100,000 a year.


Its great fun, and feels alot faster than many people think karting is.

Hope this helps. If you want more info on karting have a poke round the karting thread in this forum.
 
Bottoz
How old are you? Do you have a disposable income? Where specifically in Canada are you? What kind of racing do you want to do?

Karting is where many stars start from. If you're young, and have rich parents... then this is the best place to start.

If you've got your driver's license, then your next option is to start with a local driving/racing group. In the US, the two main players are SCCA and NASA. There are pros and cons to each. Also, some regions have smaller orginizations that run at local tracks.

If you are totally new to track driving and have your driver's license, I'd start with an AutoCross day. Maybe two, then move on. That will get you some seat time and familiarization with your car. Next, join your local track driving orginization and get some instructed lap days. Progress thru their ranks, and then decide what local racing series you'd like to get in to. Test for a competition license within that group, build your car and see if you have the skills to compete. You have to start local, then move on to bigger fish. No one just jumps into professiona racing on their first try... unless you win some 1 in a million prize contest.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

I am 16 but I am wanting to look ahead to see what preparations to make. Also I live in Calgary. Some of the programs are karting and formula.
 
hawkeye122
^I think so.

To add to this, how does one set about working for a Racing team? Like, what do I need to do to become the Audi R18 program's official Windscreen washer/tear-off-er. What qualifications do I need to change the Nose section on an MP4-26?
Click to expand...

learn German. They'll love that.
 
AGAINSTtheROPES
I need some help. I am wanting to get into racing just I'm not sure where to start to look. I'm in Canada on the western side. I see things like international go-karting lessons for a day. Is that where I really want to start at?
Click to expand...

1.) How old are you?
2.) Link me to the site of the lessons. Ive been racing for years, and you also might want to drop this post in the karting thread. We will all help you out from there.


EDIT: And for Hawkeye, If I cant make it as a driver, I want to be an engineer on a crew too. Im currently in Engineering classes. Take some engineering classes. And do you live in England? Because I could link you to a good college that many students have gone off to work at Mclaren, BMW, Ferrari, Audi, Chevy, Ford, etc. In F1, GT, WTCC, BTCC, Formula Ford, Karts, LMP, etc. You will most likely want to start at a lower level series as a mecahnic like Kating. Go to a local kart track and see how its done. Apply for a karting job at a shop when you get good. I work on my own kart, there not much to them.
 
nitrorocks
1.) How old are you?
2.) Link me to the site of the lessons. Ive been racing for years, and you also might want to drop this post in the karting thread. We will all help you out from there.


EDIT: And for Hawkeye, If I cant make it as a driver, I want to be an engineer on a crew too. Im currently in Engineering classes. Take some engineering classes. And do you live in England? Because I could link you to a good college that many students have gone off to work at Mclaren, BMW, Ferrari, Audi, Chevy, Ford, etc. In F1, GT, WTCC, BTCC, Formula Ford, Karts, LMP, etc. You will most likely want to start at a lower level series as a mecahnic like Kating. Go to a local kart track and see how its done. Apply for a karting job at a shop when you get good. I work on my own kart, there not much to them.
Click to expand...

No, currently living in America, probably will be for the foreseeable future. But I'm still interested to know about the name of the college.
 
Money,

Your racing ability as a pro, is measured in cubic dollars.

Find some... then find some more. Repeat
 
hawkeye122
Im in California. We aren't using FIRST, but rather the VEX curriculum from Carnegie-Mellon University.
Click to expand...

Its a competition, not a curriculum. I know there are teams from California. You should try to get involved. Many kids get scholarships from this. By the way your country says United Kingdom, so you should probably check that.

There are a massive amount of videos on youtube.

 
Schwartz38
Its a competition, not a curriculum. I know there are teams from California. You should try to get involved. Many kids get scholarships from this. By the way your country says United Kingdom, so you should probably check that.

There are a massive amount of videos on youtube.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZObziI6N00">YouTube Link</a>
Click to expand...

Because he s from there but lives in California
 
nitrorocks
1.) How old are you?
2.) Link me to the site of the lessons. Ive been racing for years, and you also might want to drop this post in the karting thread. We will all help you out from there.

EDIT: And for Hawkeye, If I cant make it as a driver, I want to be an engineer on a crew too. Im currently in Engineering classes. Take some engineering classes. And do you live in England? Because I could link you to a good college that many students have gone off to work at Mclaren, BMW, Ferrari, Audi, Chevy, Ford, etc. In F1, GT, WTCC, BTCC, Formula Ford, Karts, LMP, etc. You will most likely want to start at a lower level series as a mecahnic like Kating. Go to a local kart track and see how its done. Apply for a karting job at a shop when you get good. I work on my own kart, there not much to them.
Click to expand...

I'm 16.
Links: http://racingadventures.com/ http://allenbergracingschool.com/
 

Latest Posts

Back