krazykoncepts

Just wondering the age you guys started racing and what level you entered. I basically want to see were i stand and if money continues to trickle in how far i realistically will be in a couple years down the road.

I plan on making my rx7 a dedicated track car for solo 1 next year. so when i'm 20. This year i'm just taking a 3day racing school, racing go karts competively, and attending a couple solo 2 events and drift days for fun.

And no my parents havent payed a cent towards my car, insurance, tools, or racing supplies. (Well my dad gave me half a tank of gas when i bought the car lol)

EProdRx7

Started in autoX when I was 16 and had to get a waiver notarized for each event PIA! Started road racing at 22 and have done at least one race a year since. Best year was 1995, 17 events!

tims

I started racing motorcycles when I was 7 and was always slow. started racing cars when I was about 30 and I am still slow. Time and money will help but talent and someone to teach you will make you faster. Sadly I have neither time, money, or talent and I refuse to listen to anyone, so instructors are a waste of time and money. look for me about mid pack having a good time.

855m0n0

iTrader: (1)

I started racing (autoX) when I was 19 and started racing in WERA when I was 22. I still race in WERA, but almost never do any car racing due to cost. I average about 40 races a year or so.

cpa7man

iTrader: (2)

Raced motorcross when I was 18. Autocross when I was 25, had 3 kids and now doing car racing at age 46.

RussinStk

I started with Karts in 1969 at the age of 9. I raced until I was 16. Raced motorcycles from 17-19. At 32, enduranced raced Jet Skis for a few years. Returned to Karts for 4 more years. Then started auto-x in 2000.

If money is a bit of an issue, I am a believer in Karts. There is not a better way to learn race craft. You get a lot of racing for the $$$. The skills you learn/use directly apply to cars.

At 44, I love auto-x. I find it more of a challenge then tracking. When you track, you race the same course, and countless hours to test and setup the car and develop driving technique etc. Solo II you never see the course until race day. You must develop a race plan on the fly, which I find very mentally challenging. I occassionally do a track day for fun. The only draw back to Solo 2 is the lack of seat time in a day. One half day of time for less than 5 minutes of fun is not a great ratio.

Eagle7

My first racing experience was bicycles at the neighbors house in middle school - 45 years ago. Next was SCCA road racing at age 53 - two years ago. I started really slow - last year was just regular slow. Hopefully this year will be not-so slow. My parents didn't buy my car either.

jimeby

iTrader: (1)

I started crewing for an autox team at 15, started street racing at 16, drove first autox at 18. I quit driving when I started my son in quarter midgets when he was 6... moved to micro sprints when he was 11 (lied about his age to get him into a 13 yr old class) moved to stock cars when he was 16. Now he's 21, moved out and we're easing back... we're starting some road racing this year for a change of venue. For years, we ran twice a week all summer plus whatever we could find in the winter... 70 races per year... I loved it all but now I have to sock something away for retirement.

John Magnuson

I'm 29 now. Did a season of SCCA Club Rally at age 25 with two other friends. It tooks all of our combined funds. It was a lot of fun but the car broke most races. We did manage to set a couple of stage top times but never accomplished much overall. I was co-driver and a very talented friend of mine was the driver. By the end of the season the car needed a new chassis (even though we never crashed it). The rally roads out west are more like Jeep trails.

Started doing AutoX in my Miata at 26 and at 27 started doing time trials at various track days with my FD. It's all just for fun. I know I'll never compete seriously or make any money at it. At least I can afford it now. That will probably change if I have kids.

RedR1

iTrader: (5)

My foot is still in the door, but I did my first auto-x when I was 19 in a friends integra type R. After a few stints, I bought an FD, and auto-X'ed it a few times. I thought auto-x was fun, but after seeing video's and watched a lot of road races, i knew thats where i wanted to be. Did my first actual road course during racing school at 21, and have done one road course event at RA. Right now, im just experimenting with my car, trying to get a grasp of it before I really push her. I know other people buy a car and mesh well with it. I want to know exactly what my car will do if X+A = Q, but if Q/L =R then it could possibly end up at. . .well. . . .you get the idea Seat time is my limiting factor tho.

I feel the same as John, as I may never make it into the pro's where you get paid to do it, but at least i'm having the time of my life. That, and everytiem i'm behind the wheel, its like the only place I really feel at home, even if my seat time is limited.

alberto_mg

I'm a big believer in racing karts as well for the reasons you stated. When I was 18 I started doing HPDE events in my slighlty upgraded street VW Scirocco. Did that for a number of years and upgraded cars a few times after college, but stopped once the cars became to expensive to risk on track

A friend of mine finally convinced me to start racing karts a few years ago (age ~30) and I wish I had started doing it sooner. My driving and racing improved dramatically and it is a lot cheaper than breaking your street car and trying to figure out how to get home. I used to tow it using a small utility trailer on the rear of my BMW. Even had a few wins in my rookie season

I really tried to like it, but I never got into autox.

you are never too old to start! One of the fastest guys at the kart track was actually a 70 year old dude.

RussinStk

The only problem I have with karts as an adult, is being 6' 4". I am a human wind anchor. Karts are still a lot of fun. I have my 9 and 13 year racing. I can't believe I was dumb enough to take them down that dark path. The 13 year old is already tired of his Yamaha and wants a 125 shifter....eeegad...I told him he better get a good summer job.....

BMS2004

Last year (at 19) I did 3 solo 2's and 1 solo 1 oh and one drag race. It was an awesome summer though because I was at the track, lapping the car during test and tune nearly every week. This year a full solo 1 season is scheduled.

christaylor

I started racing Quarter Midgets at age 8. I had two options: race Quarter Midgets, or not do anything (parents didn't like using my head as a rollbar in karts). I took the reasonable option.

Went to a NASA DE in a SRX7 (shared the car with my dad) at age 15. SCCA driver's school at 17. Finished 2nd last year in the NASA Texas SRX7 Championship at age 18/19. My best SCCA finish was a 4th in a rain-soaked sprint race before an Enduro. Finished 5th in the enduro after spinning off in the mud two laps from the end (would've been 4th, or 3rd, if the race went full length and I didn't go flying off).

I don't get paid in my job in cash or checks, I get paid in entry fees.

kukri

go karts at 13 (russia), auto x 19

alberto_mg

Hehe. yeah its hard if you are that big. I'm only 5'11" and the bigger guys just aren't competitive due to weight and fitment issues

Might want to try a Rotax or Parilla b4 going shifter. Check out ekartingnews.com if you haven't already.

I'm contemplating moving to SoCal in a couple of years. At that point I'm going to try some kind of car based racing. I'm thinking IT/Spec7, Miata or some low-cost BMW stuff. Unless I can find a more competitive low budge series

rotarhead1

[QUOTE=christaylor]I started racing Quarter Midgets at age 8.

I too raced Quarter Midget's. However, I started at the age of 10. Some of the guys weren't too happy with a female whooping their butt's. Had lots of fun and even moved up to Half Midget's racing with alcohol my last year! That raceing stopped 16 because the club had an age cutoff and if you went any further you were racing under your own risk with no insurance. Been wanting to get back in to racing but haven't had the time or money. Guess I have to wait until I'm out of college and been in my career for awhile to have the money to do it. Oh well, sooner or later.

gxlspeeder

ski racing from 4 till 12, first auto race at 16 (last year) at the dragstrip

DrBobII

I started drag racing at age 19; rallying at 20; and autocrossing at 21. At 23, I went through the "process" of SCCA drivers schools, regional and national licenses, doing a total of 12 races. Over the next 15 years, I ran ~160 regional, national and professional races in SCCA. Starting up, again, last year, my goal is to do 1 or 2 track days a year.

christaylor

You really cannot beat an RX-7-based spec series, no way, no how. The Miata's cost wayyy more, are a PITA to maintain, etc. I've said it before: the suspension on a Miata is about as beefing as the steering on the RX7. I've got a stack up to my knees of Miata control arms bent beyond recognition.
IHeh. We had quite a few "chick" racers here in Texas. Only one of them was a real problem, IMO. She'd always tap my rear bumper under the yellows.... until I spun her out a few times.

rotarhead1

Well, I never did anything like that. I did race with a friend once and I would give him a little tap on the rear to let him know I was behind him. He did the same. Other than that, I didn't do it. No, most guys felt since I'm a girl I can't race. One guy said I would be behind him in every finish. Too bad for him it was the reverse order!

jagwrjack

iTrader: (3)

I was 28 back in 1975 and raced a Lola formula ford which could be bought brand
new ready to race for $6500 from Carl Haas.
Raced it for 9 yrs. and had a lot of fun until the scca allowed the class to get out
of hand. ( That's why you see guys in their 60's racing at the national level now.)
At Pocono and Summit Point, WV. we had 40 cars starting in the class. Now you'd be lucky to see 15.
Raced micro-sprints up until about 5 yr. ago (I'm too old) 58.

Jack

NasaPro7

I started when I was 24; two years ago.
We run a Pro7 on the West Coast, SCCA & NASA
Financially its all me....
Looking at Me-otters for next year...

M.

BMS2004

what chassis model did you have. don't quote me on the year but we have either a 74' or 76' Lola t-342. I get to drive that thing finally for the first time tommorow.
I'll see if I can find a pic.

christaylor

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!