Expert: Dan Liddy - 12/5/2008

Question
I am from NY and I am 29 years old and weigh 267. Am I too old and too fat to begin racing? I LOVE DRIVING!!!

Answer
Hey Brandon!  

Great question. I personally am your answer.  Though I am losing weight and have gotten down to about 220 from 250, I know a number of drivers that are heavier than I am, and a couple that are a little older. I just turned 69.

Paul Newmann ran his last race at Daytona in 2006 I think, and he was 78 at the time.

To become a pro ?   Well that's not very likely to happen.  Maybe in drag racing which bores me to tears.

Here's what you can do, and what I am doing.  Join the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) .  Go to www.scca.org and do a search for a region in your area. Contact them for your local district and join the fun.  Depending on where you live, you will be able to actaully start driving (in a school) early next year. Roebling Roads in Savannah, Ga.  has a school in Februay sometime.

You will need a race car and personal gear, like a fire suit, helmet, racing gloves and racing shoes or boots. DON'T BUY ANYTHING until you've become a member and learned what the rules are.

Of course, cost is important to everyone.  I started racing in one of the less expensive classes, and my annual costs were about $3000.00 for a season. After you've been at a while, you'll want to move to a faster class, and of course the costs go up.  Racing costs money, how fast do you want to spend ?  

I'm sure now you have a zillion more questions. Write them down, and when you have a short list, send them to me. I'll do my best. But the most important thing is to join SCCA and start meeting other racers. Once you've done that, there will be a lot of answers right in your own group. Of course, you have to attend the meetings to learn anything, but they're usually a lot of fun.

Best wishes, and maybe someday I can show you the way around Sebring or Daytona.

Dan Liddy
Sarastoa, Florida