Expert: Dan Liddy - 7/20/2010

Question
Hi there.  Is there any advice you could give me about how to get into the racing scene.  I'd like to drift with the big boys. But being as im 17, noone has ever given me a full sponsorship. I've had great opportunities, but all of my minor sponsorships flaked out because of my age.  I'm told to be one of the better drifters in my area of living. Any advice you could spare me?

Answer
Hi Dustin:

Start with Go Karts, join World Karting Association (Google it!) and find the tracks close to you . Start racing in the lower levels, move up until you are in the larger , faster carts, and winning regularly.  MOST of the big names in racing spent some time in Karts early in their careers.  

Then join Sports Car Club of America (www.SCCA.org)  and look into racing with them.  You will have to buy a race car and do the mechanical work, buy the tires and gas and fix things that break at the track. It might be a good idea to try and get a friend interested in being your crew. You will probably need considerable financial help at this stage. But if you get good at road racing, your chances of getting a pro ride are a little better.

Understand though, something like 1/3 of the young population of the country want to be race drivers, so the competition is REAL tough, and you simply may not have the talent to be a professional. Plus it is EXTREMELY hard work.  18 hour days 7 day weeks and year around. It's a real killer. Many of us enjoy the amateur racing we do (I am in SCCA) and can spend some of our time doing other things that  professional driver can't - - like being with family !

Finally, if you're a good student and interested in racing, you should study Physics, Chemistry,and Math VERY hard, and plan on pursuing an Engineering degree in college. Several of today's NASCAR stars are engineers, Ryan Newman is one that comes to mind, there are others. An important point here is that you stay in school. Then continue to college . You will get nowhere in racing or any other effort without an education.If you work hard and apply yourself, you will!

Good luck

Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida