Auto Racing: Gettin Started into Racing, professional motor sports, rutgers university

Question
Hello Dan!

Thank you very much for taking the time to read my question. I am currently 17 years old and a senior in high school. With college right around the corner, and my major being mechanical engineering, I was wondering how exactly one would get started in a career in racing.

A little background of myself. I am a resident in New York and I have been a racing fanatic for as long as I can remember. As a little kid I was into all of the racing video games and played them on a regular basis. As I started getting older, whenever I was at an amusement park or somewhere that had go karts of some kind you can bet I was on them at least 5 times. Now I am 17, I currently have my senior drivers license, and have discovered a local official go kart track no more than 10 minutes away from me. I have been there multiple times and it is safe to say that I have never been so passionate about something in my life.

Now that I have told you a little about myself, now comes my real question to you. I have read books on how famous racecar drivers have started their careers in go karts and have worked their way up into professional motor sports. If I continue to make an appearance at this go kart track, (it is called Grand Prix New York) and become a successful racer, will I end up getting sponsors from local companies? I am also confused on how one would advance in the type of cars that are being driven. For example, if a person is racing in go karts, how would they successfully be able to advance to the SCCA or some other amateur racing league? My last question (for now) is will a person really get recognized for being a successful go kart driver at a local go kart track? There are so many more experienced drivers at higher levels that I just don't know if anyone would take the time to scout out someone in the lower levels of racing.

As I said before I plan on going to college and I have already been admitted to Rutgers University (currently waiting on 8 other schools) and I am majoring in mechanical engineering. I am a very diligent student and I have maintained a solid B+ average throughout high school. I have no intentions on dropping out of college or not finishing my education for any reason. I take college and school very seriously and I know that staying in school is extremely beneficial to beginning a race career.

I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions and I will be anxiously waiting for your knowledgeable opinion. If I have any more questions I will be sure to contact you!

Thanks Again,
Andrew  

Answer
Hi Andrew:
Thank you for a very well written letter. What you say about yourself leads me to believe that what ever you do, you will be a success. Discipline is as important anything else. Your passion will help .

I understand your passion for racing, it was mine , is mine.  It sounds like you have some talent for driving, perhaps for racing  Here's how you can get started in SCCA.  Go to their national website at >>www.scca.org<< and look for the region nearest you in NY State. Then within that region, look for the District closest to your home. There should be local contact information . Get in touch with them and join . Then attend all meetings, and race events, volunteer to work races as a corner worker, gofer, what ever they need. There are several specialties in the race working end of it, one should appeal to you.  You will gain experience being around "real" race cars, and watching road races from a workers station is as good as it gets.

While doing this , you can decide what kind of car you want to start in, I recommend small sedans because they're cheapest, and easiest for which to find parts. Be sure and ask a LOT of questions  especially related to cost.  Budgetary considerations will surely become part of your race program.

Keep reading the books , get the one by Bob Bondurant, book stores shoul have it or they will order it for you. If you already have it, read it again. Also try for "How To Make Your Car Handle" by Fred Puhn - - -and excellent book on suspension and chassis set up for beginning  racers.

For now that's all you need to know. We can talk about marketing your talents once you have developed a higher level of skill.

I wish you the very best of luck, feel free to write again as you progress

Sincerely,

Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florids