airspeed247

How did you become a professional head to head road racer?

I've found pieces to answer this question on this forum but I am looking for a laid out answer. I understand that theres a million different routes but there has to be some sort of set structure to achieving this goal.

I've always wanted to pursue this dream and understand that its going to be a difficult and expensive battle but with some guidance I think the experienced guys on this forum could help people overcome common rookie mistakes.

Thanks to the great stickies I understand how to use others lessons learned on how set up my car for events and what parts to pick over others but I am more interested in the required events and licensing procedures that it takes to go from beginner to pro head to head racer.

Please answer this for someone like myself with little to none experience but am highly motivated and understand that seat time is my greatest asset. But whats the correct seat time procedures to go from rookie in a stock car to professional head to head racer?


Thanks again in advance!


- David

BQuicksilver

2 Options (at least if you're looking to be in any high level series)

1) Start at age 10 in shifter carts, and WIN as you progress through the (many) ranks. Eventually someone who owns a team will notice after 7-10 years.

2) Be wealthy and pay for yourself to be a "professional" driver. 3/4 of the Indy 500 grid are bringing their own money to the team. Outside of NASCAR and F1 (and even to some degree there) most drivers bring cash (their own or sponsors) to drive.

IMO race driving isn't a career unless your dad had planned for you to be a driver at a young age.

Red.

3) Be incredibly talented, and you will be discovered.

airspeed247

Thanks for the quick responses but I am looking for the exacts of it. Obviously I am no longer ten, I'm 25, lol, (although if I was ten with a corvette I'd be the most ecstatic kid on earth) and can only go forward in time and not back.

I am looking for the requirements. Talent aside.

What is the best route/steps to go from guy with a stock car and no experience to a professional racer. Do you have to do HPDE's, can you just go out and get a race license, what are the route options?

Racers this is your chance to help mold some rookies and slap the ignorant mistakes out of them.

Rob31

who you know goes allot farther than what you know .
How much $$ you got ?

gkmccready

This made me laugh so hard I nearly fell off my chair...

ukrbmw

All is not lost, but still...

1. Do a bunch of HPDEs and work your way from HPDE1 to HPDE 4 (or whatever the disgnation your local clubs may use).
2. Somewhere along the line buy a race car. Something like Spec Miata offers an actual path laid out which is offered through Mazdaspeed program. However, this is also probably the most intense class of racing in Club environment. It doesn't have to be a Miata, all your're looking for here is a well prepared car.
3. Take Comp school and pass.
4. Start club racing with SCCA, NASA, or something local.
5. Eventually when you feel that you're fast enough, get about $100,000 to pay for one season of Continental Tire challenge rental. If you can win, hopefully you can start attracting some dollars. If not, continue step 5 over and over again.

67Ranger

I would think running with a large organization like NASA and going through their HPDE program and then running in their wheel to wheel classes would be a good start. If you can start to win out there, then you look for bigger and better classes.

BQuicksilver

Me too, I was going to add 3a: if you're ten.

At 25 with no major experience you need to know someone to get a shot at a test session. Usually those are invite only, but if you've got a massive pile of cash behind you (i stress "massive") then that will get you in a lot of doors.

Some guys who brought $$ to the table ended up being competitive and obtained sponsors (easier to get sponsor $$ if you're winning) and eventually weren't paying to be a driver. I guess at that point you could be a "professional driver" in that you're being paid to drive.

As mentioned above, winning at spec miata would get you some attention since it's extremely competitive. On the other hand, winning in a tricked out ST vette won't get as much attention b/c fields are smaller and car prep varies much more.

Marketing matters, b/c it gains sonsors. In other words looking like a greek god (but much shorter) and being good in interviews also helps.

Of course every second of wheel time helps...you don't want to be the slow guy if you ever do get a test from a team.

I had a buddy who was a good cart driver and did well on an Indycar test, but the terms of the team offer basicly had him paying for wrecked/damaged cars. He was ready, but had to decline b/c he couldn't pay for $250,000+ cars, like most of us. Again, money.


Most all of us consider this a hobby, not a career for good reason. I really wish it was based only upon how good you were behind the wheel.

eogel

Read "Drive To Win" by Carroll Smith. Your question is specifically answered on pages 1-7 thru 1-14.

Ed

bosco022

There is no exact science to it, if you weren't born rich a good plan
might include.

1. Education: getting a degree in Public Relations/communications
and learning how to promote yourself would be key. Or maybe
auto engineering, learning how to do most everything yourself.

2. figure out type of racing you want to do, road racing, asphalt, dirt
or other. Then educate yourself on that type.

3. Join a club like NASA, SCCA or other and volunteer to help a team
paying attention to every facet, car prep, team administration

4. when your budget allows take a course at a top tier racing school
Bondurant, Skip Barber etc

5. Marry a rich, good natured, slightly rotund gal that adores you like
no other.

6. have wife purchase the best possible equipment for you, go out
and win races.

7. become a race driving instructor for rich, egocentric, untalented fellows in the midst of mid life crisis.

8. become rich, untalented fellows best friend, confidant and "life coach."

9. tell rich guy, he has tremendous potential and that the two
of you could probably challenge for the Grand Am Rolex GT championship if only you had the latest Riley Technology racer.

10. compete at the highest levels of the sport until rich guy runs out
of money and wife leaves you for a sensitive, singer-songwriter who
just needs a little help getting that record deal.

11. repeat steps 5-9

2K3Z06

Try the Skip Barber school...................... start at lowest seris. and see how you do.

and yes it will be expensive.

Good luck.

OCCOMSRAZOR

You must be young, small in stature and huge in wallet which is why most of us are in it as a hobby. Frankly, you need a pretty fat wallet to even do racing on a small scale as a hobby!

John Shiels

Call LGM tell Lou you have a million in the bank for one season and he will have you in a car in a jiff no matter what your size. That is the truth and no story. He'll even train you.

John Shiels

Are you kidding when you start beating your car hard at HPDE you need a fat wallet. You need a grand a day without blinking and not traveling more than 250 miles. That is just basic expenses with no equipment cost or depreciation of all the required equipment.


Lucky I don't have the time to put mine back together, it's money in the bank instead of a drain on time from business and actually cost. Time away from a business is another huge expense. Something I can't do now in tough times.
Codeblack got a wake up call and was set of pads 600 miles used about 500 so over BUCK a mile for pads

airspeed247

Let me add this to the question before I get a bunch of links to books and resources.

I think its best to also hear it from the people doing it on this forum.

How did YOU become a competitive head to head road racer?

parkerracing

No more posts everyone, WE HAVE A WINNER!

gkmccready

MX-5 Cup is Pro racing:

http://www.mx-5cup.com/inside/bulletins.php

SCCA Regional -> SCCA National -> SCCA Pro Competition license. MX-5 Cup cars are, I believe, legal in all those levels, so if you progress fast enough you can take your drivers school and go pro racing all in the same car...

Jason

2004: Autocross
2007: HPDE
2008: Time Trials
2010: Racing (soon)

Lots and lots and lots of seat time.

6SPEEDZ

L98 Terror asked this question to Andy Pilgrim @ Track Attack. What he told us is at the absolute top level in road racing like the others said they all start very young in karting. He started late in a spec miata like series with Renault's. Then he paid for 2 firehawk endurance races and did well. The guy renting the cars then let him drive for free if he got to the race track and later started making some of the prize money.