I'm curious, I'm 23 and about to finish up my bachelors in Graphic Design, and yet all I can think about is just hurrying up to graduate so I can start getting bills paid off and to start looking for a way to get into road racing. Does anyone know how I would go about doing this. It's one of those things that you know you would do anything to get into. I live in Texas, don't know if that might help. But if anyone has any ideas, tips, or actual knowledge on how to approach such a task/dream, I would greatly appreciate it.

Plan 1.
- start doing HPDE's (High Performance Driving Schools) in what ever you drive now.
- start saving
- get another job
- save more
- rent a cheap, slow car and attend a race school
- get a licence
- race a cheap, slow car until you can afford to buy a slight faster cheap car

Plan 2.
- drill the family tree for a wealthy relative
- check the net value of the families of any reasonable cute girls at your college, and start dating the rich ones
- attend high profile racing school (Bondurant, Barber, Russell)
- enter high profile 'feeder' racing class (Formula Mazda, Koni Challenge ST, Formula BMW, Miata Pro Cup)

Define "motorsport". DEs? Club racing? Pro racing? To be honest you are too old to start now at making a living racing.

The Dallas (Lone Star) BMW chapter is having a DE and club race the end of April at MSR (SW of FW). We are also hosting Ofest in late Sept at the same track. We also have another event at a new track west of Denton Nov 10-11.

If you have about $225-250 you can come out and do the DE.

Define "motorsport". DEs? Club racing? Pro racing? To be honest you are too old to start now at making a living racing.

i wouldnt say that bc if he is extremely talented and someone notices that he can easily be offered a ride even as a test driver. very slim chance of this happening but there still is a chance, be it <5%.



look into employment oppertunities w/ur favorite racing teams or any teams for that matter. Motorsports arent just drivers and pit crews they also employ doctors, IT guys, and of course graphic designers. there r many jobs opps. in this feild of work and it helps that u have a passion for the sport. i would start by emailing a company of interest, their human resources dept., and ask them for advice and/or job openings or internships. i would also try going str8 to the top of the corperation ur interested in and let him know u exsist, following advice from the Donald himself.

i wouldnt say that bc if he is extremely talented and someone notices that he can easily be offered a ride even as a test driver. very slim chance of this happening but there still is a chance, be it <5%.

look into employment oppertunities w/ur favorite racing teams or any teams for that matter. Motorsports arent just drivers and pit crews they also employ doctors, IT guys, and of course graphic designers. there r many jobs opps. in this feild of work and it helps that u have a passion for the sport. i would start by emailing a company of interest, their human resources dept., and ask them for advice and/or job openings or internships. i would also try going str8 to the top of the corperation ur interested in and let him know u exsist, following advice from the Donald himself.

I will say it. If you want to be a top flight Pro, you started too late. If you want to race, there are plenty of ways to do it, and the folks here have given you some pretty good ways to start. Join the scca (www.sscca.org) and nasa.

If you are looking for a career in motorsports, the poster above has a great point. There are lots of types of things that need to get done to run a team.

www.skipbarber.com
-3 day racing school
-2 day advanced racing school
-regional race series
-national series
-win national series = $100k
-move up...

Yeah, I can't even tell if the OP wants to be a driver or just have a career in motorsports. Maybe the OP could try to clarify a little what's exactly being asked....

Wow thanks guys I really appreciate all the advice and tips. Idealy I would love to drive in something like the speed channel challenge and an even bigger dream would be ALMS. It's just one of those things where if some one would give me a chance to drive and learn a lil then I'd definitely be in. I'm more than confident in my ability to drive a car I just need a chance to prove it. Money would be the hard thing though, granted I live next to SMU (where some girls are so perfect they HAVE to be genetically created) and my school def has some wealthy fashion designers, but it's one of those things where you want to take a power drill to your temple once they start speaking (same with the SMU girls). But aside from that, it's just one of those things where if I was given the chance I know I'd be able to prove myself.

i wouldnt say that bc if he is extremely talented and someone notices that he can easily be offered a ride even as a test driver. very slim chance of this happening but there still is a chance, be it <5%.

A test driver? No one hires test drivers but F1. He's got a much better chance of becoming a professional road racer in the States than a test driver in F1, and even then, the chance is well under 1%.

It's just one of those things where if some one would give me a chance to drive and learn a lil then I'd definitely be in. I'm more than confident in my ability to drive a car I just need a chance to prove it.

Methinks you have no idea what you've just said. It's not quite as easy as you seem to assume it is. There are hundreds, maybe thousands of drivers who have way more skill and talent than you have right now (since it sounds like you have no experience at all), and none of them are driving in a Pro series.

But aside from that, it's just one of those things where if I was given the chance I know I'd be able to prove myself.

Chances don't just fall out of trees into your lap...you've gotta go looking for them. At your age, you've got to be willing to sacrifice EVERYTHING (family, friends, career, financial security) to get out there and hope to be in the right place at the right time...not to mention that you've gotta get in a car and start getting REAL seat time and winning races. I've been in your shoes...when the $$ ran out, I had to quit and go find a real job. The drive is still there, I just couldn't afford to sacrifice everything else to pursue it. I'll be sticking to club racing until life circumstances and finances allow a jump up to something bigger.

Try shifter karts. It's a good, cheap (relatively) learning ground.

And/or Skip Barber racing school - to get your racing license. They have a nice starter spec series. Or yes, Spec Miata/MX-5, Club racing, NASA, HPDE, etc. are all good ways to get seat time.

Step one is to figure out of you are any good. If you are, there may be a hobby for you in World Challenge or Koni Challenge, but you need some cash. If you are great, and you are made of money, ALMS or Rolex may be for you.

Just for a heads-up, World Challenge rides are about $25,000 per race.
Daytona Prototypes are about $40,000 per race.
Spec Miata club level is about $2500 per race.
MX-5 Cup pro level is about $7500 per race.

I would suggest trying our DE first. Your first DE is usually a humbling experience.

www.skipbarber.com (http://www.skipbarber.com/)
-3 day racing school
-2 day advanced racing school
-regional race series
-national series
-win national series = $100k
-move up...Let me finish this. To move up, you need to run a series where you need two drivers. You need to hire this stuntman, make him your co-driver and coach. Since he's your coach, he needs to dress like Coach Harris from Revenge of the Nerds. He will only go by "Coach" and you will not speak to him unless spoken to. Only his friends can call him BJ and that will only be when "The Bear" (his best friend) is around.

As you can see, racing is quite difficult with all of the rules. So, just make sure that you follow them and the racing world will be your oyster. The sky is the limit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Bjandthebeartv.jpg

A test driver? No one hires test drivers but F1. He's got a much better chance of becoming a professional road racer in the States than a test driver in F1, and even then, the chance is well under 1%.

i was unaware of that. so in every other series the race drivers do all the testing and car setup? what about car manufacturers, who does there testing and development?
very interested bc ive always wanted to race but i have come to the realization that the only way this would happen is by making my money in a career and race on the weekends. hopefully get good enough and rich enough to start a venture some how or some how get lucky.

i used the value of 5% bc on the standard deviation curve. also using the Rare Event Rule stating that if and event has a probability of less than or equal to 0.05 or 5% its is highly unusual. (who ever said u dont use what u learn in undergrad)

Once again I really appreciate the wealth of information on this subject. It's too bad people who are my age are more or less "over the hill", or so it seems from what you guys are saying. It just sucks that once you realize that this is really the dream job you would do anything to achieve that it's almost impossible to attain.

It's just once you find yourself on a daily basis no matter what the circumstance apexing, rev matching, taking advantage of ever possible turn (there's not many here in Texas) you just know that every time you turn your car on and hear that smooth inline 6 all you want to do is put that passion to good use.

Who knows, maybe I'll get lucky.
Until then I'll just take advantage of a great car every chance I get.

You were "over the hill" before you got your driver's license....sad but true.

Why don't you do our DE?

Once again I really appreciate the wealth of information on this subject. It's too bad people who are my age are more or less "over the hill", or so it seems from what you guys are saying. It just sucks that once you realize that this is really the dream job you would do anything to achieve that it's almost impossible to attain.

It's the same way in most any sport...if you don't start young, you'll never make a career out of it. Only, in racing there are even fewer available slots for a PAID professional than any sport that I can think of.

i was unaware of that. so in every other series the race drivers do all the testing and car setup? what about car manufacturers, who does there testing and development?

Racers = Testers. Heck, the racers are the most important testers in F1 too, it's just that the development happens so fast in F1 that they need drivers testing the cars while the racers and rest of the team are in another country racing.

Methinks you have no idea what you've just said. It's not quite as easy as you seem to assume it is. There are hundreds, maybe thousands of drivers who have way more skill and talent than you have right now (since it sounds like you have no experience at all), and none of them are driving in a Pro series.
quoted for truth.



two ways to go professional: money and connections

From my own experience i will say this. I am now turning 25. Just graduated college last May. I broke into the motorsports scene by a miracle after my brother asked me to help out for the Grand Am Cup team he was working for. That was 2 years ago. I started doing the bitch work, which is not bad if you really love motorsports. Eventually, more duties were given to me. I eventually became a very important part of the team, not to be cocky, but my hard working attitude and my work ethic are very good. I eventually did PR for the team with our head PR director and I made a very good impression. Although my title was Light Mechanic and Support and also a PR intern, my name spread through out the paddock. After two years with this and now that im done with school, i can no longer be a full time member of the team. HOWEVER, thanks to all the people I met from different teams, i have been helping out (fly in) many of teams in different series. Koni, Ferrari Challenge, PCA, PBOC. The key to move up is to never burn any bridges. You would be surprised as to how fast your name could get around, wether for good reasons or for bad ones, hopefully for good ones. But to warn you, starting out is considered by many the worst ever. Yes its bitch work but the things you can learn from doing the smallest things are incredible. Once you are in, do the bitch work and do it right and dont complain. Remember that crew members can be replaced in a second and also, i believe the ACURA team that won the ST class last year in GAC didnt even have one full time crew member. I remember we used to have people drop by and handing us their resumes just so they could help out, but they tried and some of them were hired on the spot, not by us but someone else.
I now work a full time job, 9-5. Hopefully one day i can race, but one has to be realistic. I have driven once and it was a shifter kart. I did well but I dont have the money to blow on racing and i also know that at this time in my life I cant afford to take time off work to race. Most importantly, I know im not the next Schumacher...but like someone else said, anyone could be a pandora's box and have amazing driving abilities that we just dont know about and only the chance that comes once in a lifetime will uncover that.

Good luck my friend.

It's too bad people who are my age are more or less "over the hill", or so it seems from what you guys are saying. It just sucks that once you realize that this is really the dream job you would do anything to achieve that it's almost impossible to attain.
i know the feeling. this is one of the most difficult sports to get into. there r alot of parents out there that dont even give it a chance. the first thing on my christmas list since i was 5 years old was a shifter kart, needless to say im still waiting and im 23 yrs old. i play ice hockey, so to say money was the issue is a bs excuse, and i made it to the collegiate level.
It's the same way in most any sport...if you don't start young, you'll never make a career out of it. Only, in racing there are even fewer available slots for a PAID professional than any sport that I can think of.
most all sports have this issue. the sports w/more spots r the sports most people play. u have alot more kids playing football and baseball than there r racing. look at golf, even men that pick it up in there 20's have a chance and r fighting to be on the tour. i can only imagine how hard it is to get into Regata racing.
Racers = Testers. Heck, the racers are the most important testers in F1 too, it's just that the development happens so fast in F1 that they need drivers testing the cars while the racers and rest of the team are in another country racing.

makes sense. IMHO, this field in the automotive sector needs to expand. more testers means more innovation. am i false to assume this?

makes sense. IMHO, this field in the automotive sector needs to expand. more testers means more innovation. am i false to assume this?

A) Someone has to pay for it...in most cases, racing in America barely "makes" money in anything other than NASCAR.

B) Most teams barely have the budget to test occasionally anyway, much less to be running tests every week of the year, even while their team is traveling around the country for races.

the old adage is always true... the only way to make a small fortune in racing is to start with a very large one.

There is plenty of talent walking around the racetrack on any given weekend. Even down in Mexico City, I talked to three well known ( and talented) drivers walking around looking for a ride. These drivers paid their own way to get down there just in hopes for landing a seat. When it comes to a race in the states, that number goes up greatly.

I look at racing like other pro sports. If someone decided at 20, that they were going to play in the NFL, everyone would laugh at them. Now, the big difference is that the people that won the Mega Millions Jackpot, would have no way at making it in the NFL but could easily make it into sportscar racing. To be honest with you, this has always been the case.

So, if you want to make it in motorsports, find that rich uncle, father, grandpa or whatever. Every once in a while, there is an opportunity for someone to make it on talent. Those are few and far between. Then there are the weird teams that just pick their drivers depending on their personal preference. Just talk to any driver that tried out for DSTP (Don't Spend The Principle). Like most of racing, they come and go.

A successful team owner told me this. If you stood in the middle of the paddock and hoisted up a flag that said, "Driver Needed", you'd be surrounded by 20 drivers before you could get it half way up. If you did the same thing but the flag said, "Crew Needed", no one would even talk to you.

A successful team owner told me this. If you stood in the middle of the paddock and hoisted up a flag that said, "Driver Needed", you'd be surrounded by 20 drivers before you could get it half way up. If you did the same thing but the flag said, "Crew Needed", no one would even talk to you.

That's a new one Jeff, but so true! :boink

See you in Homestead.:redspot

A) Someone has to pay for it...in most cases, racing in America barely "makes" money in anything other than NASCAR.

B) Most teams barely have the budget to test occasionally anyway, much less to be running tests every week of the year, even while their team is traveling around the country for races.

thats is sad, but its the truth. i guess w/the american auto industry sucking so much balls these days, having them put money into research is not gonna happen any time soon.

That's a new one Jeff, but so true! :boink

Most Professional drivers actually start life as Professional leg humpers. :boink :D

A successful team owner told me this. If you stood in the middle of the paddock and hoisted up a flag that said, "Driver Needed", you'd be surrounded by 20 drivers before you could get it half way up. If you did the same thing but the flag said, "Crew Needed", no one would even talk to you.

So who needs crew? Are there resources out there for connecting teams with labor besides knowing the right people?

Say I'm a bored college student/autocrosser/hobby-level mechanic who knows he has no chance of making it as a pro driver but wants a job out at the track. What are my options?

Tech school, become a pro mechanic? Not my cup of tea.

Engineering? BTDT, got the T-shirt but no diploma. Might go back in that direction someday.

Do racing teams need accountants? :help

Come on out to Road Atlanta March 17-18 and meet some teams.....do some networking. NASA race/HPDE weekend. I'll be there.

So who needs crew? Are there resources out there for connecting teams with labor besides knowing the right people?

Say I'm a bored college student/autocrosser/hobby-level mechanic who knows he has no chance of making it as a pro driver but wants a job out at the track. What are my options?

Tech school, become a pro mechanic? Not my cup of tea.

Engineering? BTDT, got the T-shirt but no diploma. Might go back in that direction someday.

Do racing teams need accountants? :help

Ahh, there's the right question. Go to the track (paying your own way, of course). Offer to be an errand-boy for free, then work your ass off, be conscientious, be good at what they tell you to do and never, NEVER complain. You'll be invited back. After proving yourself a number of times doing this, you might actually get paid.

That's an easy one.

That is exactly how I did it. Do what your told and do it well and never complain.

randy pobst told me he started in a old crapy honda...autoX and just moved up from there... being rich dose help

Come on out to Road Atlanta March 17-18 and meet some teams.....do some networking. NASA race/HPDE weekend. I'll be there.

I'll be there, Sunday probably. What group/number are you? I'll come say hi.

Thanks for the advice, everyone. :)

I managed to wrangle up a Spec Miata to race, so I'll be in the blue/white #61 (or 6, or 1 - depending on what numbers are available) with OPM Autosports. See you there!

randy pobst told me he started in a old crapy honda...autoX and just moved up from there... being rich dose helpJust look at the time frame that it took for him to get where he is. He was driving one of TC's Civics back in the late 80's and early 90's. I bet he wasn't getting paid to do so either. Actually, I think Andy Pilgrim was his co-driver for many events. So, as long as you have a long term goal (like 20yrs or so) then you'll probably make it. If you are looking for something sooner, you better start drilling that tree.

The problem is that most people don't see how many years it took for someone to get where they are. There are the exceptions to the rule. Like the people that take the same chances in playing the lottery. Every week, there are a few new millionaires but if you look at the amount of people that play, you'll soon get the point.

One other thing, even when you make it, there is some young punk that is clamoring away to get that ride from you.

Another possible route could be through graduate school. I know that a lot of graduates of this program wind up in motorsports at some level. At least you're in the right area for it. http://www-mae.uta.edu/

It's good to see this thread has really taken off. I personally would not mind being an errand boy for a race team, as long as they raced BMW's haha. Too bad I live in Texas, they don't have any tracks that can compare to Luguna Seca, Mid Ohio or Road Atlanta. That and I wish Tv wasn't so watered down with Nascar, it really takes away from people knowing that there are a lot of other great racing classes out there.

So who needs crew? Are there resources out there for connecting teams with labor besides knowing the right people?

Say I'm a bored college student/autocrosser/hobby-level mechanic who knows he has no chance of making it as a pro driver but wants a job out at the track. What are my options?

Tech school, become a pro mechanic? Not my cup of tea.

Engineering? BTDT, got the T-shirt but no diploma. Might go back in that direction someday.

Do racing teams need accountants? :help

Taking the B(usiness) Train out of tech ?

Also, I'm sort of in the same boat as you are, being 21 (well, in 5 hours I will be) having never driven anything that resembling a racecar on a road course. My goal is just to start working for either a team or parts company after getting my MS/MBA, and then eventually start doing club racing or something. Unless you were thrust into a kart straight from the womb, you don't have much of a chance in the highly competitive and often times financially unrewarding field of driving.

Our DE's registration opened today. Apirl 28-29 at MSR. Go to motorsportreg.com to sign up.

The other part of the puzzle to get into motorsports is to have a very positive attitude while having a realistic view on how thing could turn out.

In all honesty if you are truly serious about making this a career, you should have spent the college money on racing and started 4-5 years ago.

I am currently in "Plan 2" as stated in the 2nd post with Skip Barber. One regional season will cost you $18-20,000. For first place you win a $50,000 credit that will cover an entire national season (roughly $44,000). For second you win $25,000, third 10k, etc. If you win the nationals, you have a choice of a full season in Mazda Star, or 100k.