Expert: Dan Liddy - 10/18/2006

Question
quickest cheapest way to get started racing? (im twenty two)

Answer
I would suggest you get in touch with the Sports Car Club of America at "www.scca.org" and look for your local region and district.  Once you join, you can start by volunteering to work as a flagman, fire crew, timing and scoring person, grid control, there are dozens of jobs in the running of a race.  

During this period of time, you will learn many many things about the ownership, maintainence and care of a race car, also you will be able to decide which way is best for you to start out in your own, and what you can afford.

While you are doing all this, you should seek out the World Karting Association also . With them, you can actually start racing go karts.  Most of the pros you have heard of today started in go karts, and that includes names like Michael Andretti, Al Unser Jr. Jeff Gordon , Tony Stewart and many many others.

Understand Josh, racing is NOT cheap. It takes a significant amount of money to field a race car, and there are always expenses.  In my case, I probably spend aroudn $10,000.00 a year on my racing nad I'm involved at a very modest level.   I have a friend who spends an average of $3000 for one weekend of amateur racing.   So that brings me to the other thing you must do. STAY IN SCHOOL !  Get a college degree in a specialty that will get you a decent income. Business, Law, Medicine, Accounting, engineering . all these areas offer rewarding income levels but you do have to work for them. Believe me , you will never be able ot afford racing without a decent education.  

That's about all I can tell you at this time,  I hope you can make it work for you

Good luck
Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida