I'm interested to hear. What are your stories? Did you start young? in HS? After college when you started making money? How did you get into it? :)

I WISH I had started when I was single digit old in a Kart. Now im 29 and it still seems like a far off dream. Still hoping though

Since this is the Pro Forum, i'd say on avg most guys who are in their mid to late 20's who are pro right now started fairly young (single digits), and in karts. You'll also find a common theme of thier families supporting them through most of their careers, atleast until they got paying gigs. Takes a lot of money/support to be good (or get seen as being good ;)).

anyone think that starting in karts at 15 is a little late? I wish I could have started sooner, but money wasn't abundant back in the day...
Jake

anyone think that starting in karts at 15 is a little late? I wish I could have started sooner, but money wasn't abundant back in the day...
Jake

Depends, what are your goals?

If you want to Kart for a long time, than sure, but you might as well get right into cars after a season of karting to get your hand/eye coordination/reactions honed in, and w2w experience.

Are you hoping to be a professional race car driver as your main career/occupation?

You'll also find a common theme of thier families supporting them through most of their careers, atleast until they got paying gigs. Takes a lot of money/support to be good (or get seen as being good ;)).

money money money, thats all it takes at the semi pro level. If you are a fully funded driver you can drive just about anything. Without wealth behind you its hard to break into the ranks.

Yep, I can't think of more than 1 or 2 young drivers right now in rolex/alms that did not have family funding to get them where they are. Well, that or having a father that has an "in" by owning a team or something :)

I don't drive. I'm terrible at it and would rather have someone else do it. Actually, I love race weekends as this allows me to not drive a car and let someone else do it (this is just going back and forth to the motel) . This is why I drive a van. They are big and boxy. At 30mph, you feel like you are doing 3 times that speed.

The last time I ever drove anything that was considered fast, was at Miller. I drove one of their go karts and had a blast running the thing over the curbs. I considered myself a pro driver as I was able to destroy the thing but I left it to the mechanics to fix it.

After that, it was back to reality.......

Are you hoping to be a professional race car driver as your main career/occupation?
yes, exactly. I don't think it would happen, but I dream of being a Porsche Factory Driver...
as for getting w2w experience, I really think my class is probably the most competitive around. Basically one engine guy around here, so everyone is even there, plus a tight, twisty course with limited passing opportunities...every time I go out there, I have to will myself to be less of the "nice guy"... that attitude started after I had my block ruined from an idiot driver...
Jake

Have fun with that.

what is your budget?

"Finding a sponsor to pay for..." Simply put, that doesnt exist at the junior ranks of motorsports in the USA. Of course there are exceptios but they apply to less than 1% of those racing currently.

"Finding a sponsor to pay for..." Simply put, that doesnt exist at the junior ranks of motorsports in the USA. Of course there are exceptios but they apply to less than 1% of those racing currently.

Its called Daddy-o ;)

...exactly the point that i was trying to reach.

Theres too many young drivers out there with plenty of exceptional talent waiting for that "sponsor" to carry them through, but it really is a shame that this idea has gotten to be blown so out of proportion. YES, there are very very few who do manage to achieve this but even when they do, it is through some sort of contacts. It really is family money that carries you to where you want to go, if you dont have it...you dont have it.

The other way is to hop on a team and work your ass off and hopefully/if at all possible, try to exchange labor for a test session and prove yourself...and then if the impossible happens the team owner just might have you drive a race. There are some who have done this.

I currently *might* have a IMSA Lites (are they even called that anymore?) ride for a race sometime this season. Trust me, i take everything i can get and when this came up i jumped at it and im doing everything possible to do it.

I currently *might* have a IMSA Lites (are they even called that anymore?) ride for a race sometime this season.

Make sure its with a team with an eligible car...I have a feeling the series might not exist very long. There has been some articles recently about IMSA Lites, and how some of the manufacturers might be breaking off to make their own series...mostly b/c of the 3 new classes"

The three classes for IMSA LITES in 2007 have now been established as follows: LITES 1 class will be all Elan DP02 chassis. No other manufacturer to participate in the class. LITES 2 class will be all West chassis. No other manufacturer to participate in the class. LITES 3 class will be all SCCA Sports Racers.

Im confused as to whats going on. Why the different series? Are the chassis THAT different/advantageous to one another that they are deemed too dominant over another?

Im pretty sure it will be with the Elan chassis, though im not sure.

So far looks like politics...as usual.

Start with large fortune. Turn into small fortune. There, you're a race car driver.

Yep, I can't think of more than 1 or 2 young drivers right now in rolex/alms that did not have family funding to get them where they are. Well, that or having a father that has an "in" by owning a team or something :)

Would have loved that in. The worst part is im not even sure why I got the racing bug, no one else in my fam is turned on by it. Oh well, Ill get it the old fashioned way:D