Expert: Dan Liddy - 1/26/2006

Question
Hey Adam,

Well as you can see I want to start getting into racing. I'm a big fan of British Touring Car Championship racing and would love to start racing in that sort of field in the US, seeing how competitive it is. I learn so much just from watching the shows and then taking that info out on the track. I live in Washington so there is not much to do on the weekends, so I go out with friends to Kent and race with other guys for fun to get experience. I have no expert experience only what I learn from watching T.V, websites and other racers. Always been an adrenalin junky and have urge to push my car to the limits and myself every time I go out on the track.

I been looking around for schools near by and found that Skip Barber is one of the best ones but expensive and sense I am only 18, I don't have the financial background to start on my own. I was wondering if there's a way you think I could try to get into the sport possibly without a lot of financial backing. I would do anything like be a pump man (fuel guy), tire changer, ect. Advise

Thanks,
Damian

Answer
Hi Damian :

The first thing I tell ALL people your age is STAY IN SCHOOL. And find a career that will ultimately make you about $70,000.00 per year, you're going to need it. That of course, means that you will have to go to college, or at least to a technical school.

NOW we can talk about getting into racing.  I belong to the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and believe strongly in what it has to offer at very reasonable cost. You can go to "www.scca.org' and do a search for the region in your area, then find where local meetings are held. The cost to join SCCA is minimal $50 or $60. and you can almost immediately start performing duties as a corner worker, fire person, or flagman. There are a wide number of other duties as a worker that will help you in getting started.

Later on , when you can afford to buy a race car,helmet, suit, and so forth, then you can move right into driving in races. It WILL take time however, so you must be patient.

The touring car series you mentioned is well beyond your means at this time.  Those drivers are professional, and have been racing for years. Plus they have corporate funding (sponsorship) behind them to absorb some of the cost. To put it in perspective, competing in that series probably costs around a million dollars a year for one team. It looks like fun, and it is, but the competitors have paid their dues, just like you must.

Good luck,

Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida