Wuzaracer aka ITACivic

Simple Guide to Racing
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Simple Guide to Racing

Guide to racing and becoming pro racer

Amatuer Racing

First define what you mean by racing.

Does it mean:

  • Competing in a sanctioned club and series?
  • Or does it mean driving your car on a race track and doing things that are very similar to racing?
 

If you want to compete in sanctioned club racing, go to the races talk to people and get real first hand information.  I was lucky to work with a racer who guided me through the process.  Club racing is full of people who will help you.  You just have to ask.  The best way to learn about racing is to crew for a racer.  You will learn so much.  I usually tried to buy event t-shirts and feed the very nice friends who came out to help me. 

If you just want to drive your car on the race track, you are looking for what is known as High Performance Driving Events (HPDE) or track days or driver education.  This by far is one of the best ways to have fun.  Requirement vary between clubs and organizations that run these events, but the general guidelines are similar.  All you need is your car.  The car can be factory showroom stock, or filled with go fast parts or even a real race car (tin tops only).  You will need a helmet and most clubs allow motorcycle helmets.  Once you have the car and helmet, you need your fees and you are ready.  Most clubs and organizations that hold HPDE type events have some rules and groups based on experience.  Generically there might be a beginning, intermediate and advanced group.  Rules for passing and instructors differ between each club.  Basically, you can have a great time, just remove any presumptions of going fast and open your mind to re-learning how to drive.

Weekend Club Racing Setup
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I used to sleep and eat at the race track

Pro Racing
I once dreamed of becoming a pro.  Once I learned the realities of the matter after I experienced how exspensive it was to race as an amatuer I decided that pro racing would not fit with my plans to feed my kids and send them to school.  Anyway, my experience in club racing taught me that more money can help you aquire the skills and machinery needed to win.  More money means more track time and experience, which in time  will increase your skills.  In racing, you have to get onto the track and that cost money. 
Hadware Cost Money
There is an argument that I see and hear about all the time regarding what car wins races.  People say build not buy and other says buy not build.  Either way, the car cost money.  Parts cost money, and most of all maintenance cost money.
Pro racing cost more money
I plagerized this from the internet, but I think this sums it up the best.
  1. Work out a budget for what you think it'll cost.
  2. If you have no prior racing experience quadruple your estimate,
  3. If you have a little experience triple your estimate
  4. If you have a ton of SCCA/NASA/BMWCCA/PCA experience double your estimate.
If you've actually raced in the series, you probably have a good sense of what it costs. This goes for most professional level series. On the sponsorship side, do the opposite. Estimate that you will only get a very small fraction of the amount you think you'll be able to find.
If your fathers name is Andretti, Unser, Foyt, Earnhardt, etc, you can think differently
 
Looking Back
I feel that racing was fun and expensive.  It was like buring money on a monthly basis.  Much like owning a boat or a yacht, it takes effort and money and to have fun.  Would I do it again?  I don't really know.  Will I race again in my future?  Probably not.  Open track days seem to be the best bargain and I intend to continue to participate in track events.

Pro racer's set up
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Full sized big rig complete will everything

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Minimally updated Augus 2006