QuestionQUESTION: So Im 15 and have a budget of about 5 grand to 6 grand, I want something that is pretty fast and Standard trans and could teach some fundamentals of racing if you could help that would be great. Im also intrested in becoming a professional racer i know it want be easy and will take lots of dedication. Thank You,Jon
ANSWER: Professional racing just about reauires a degree in mechanical engineering or automotive engineering. Whatever you do, STAY IN SCHOOL.
You are not going to like the next advice I give you but It is the best thing you can do for your future. Take your 5 or 6 grand and invest it in a college fund to help you with that engineering degree, Find a Credit Union nearby (not a bank, not an investment broker) and ask to speak to their investment adviser. Tell him 'college fund' and 'security' and leave the rest to him. It would be a big help if you had an adult family member along who understands a little about finance.
Take a couple of thousand and buy a Mazda Miata.
The Miata is fast enough to learn with, handles quite well, and though not entirely bullet proof, is a tough little car that will stand a ton of abuse. Then get the book, "High Performance Driving" by Bob Bondurant. Bob runs a professional school out in Phooenix Az. and has raced in nearly every venue known, including LeMans and Formula One in the 60's And his book is easy to read.
If you still have any money left over, go to a go kart track and take a spin or two, then some lessons, and maybe you can afford to do a little racing with them. Don't belittle darts, it's where m ost of the pros you know of started, that includes Michael Andretti, his son Marco, Danica Patrick, Tony Steward, Jeff Gordon just to name a few.
Becoming a pro requires more than just dedication, it also requires talent and determination and usually a LOT of money! But if you don't have the talent, no amount of determination is going to get you there.
I wish you a lot of luck, once you've read Bondurants book about twice, write me back , you'll have some more educated questions by then.
Best Wishes
Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida
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QUESTION: What else can i study in college if i major in mechanical engineering or automotive engineering. Also what can i do right know to learn more about cars im defintly going to take Auto 1 in school and apply for a job working at a mechanics shop, is there anything else i could do.
ANSWER: Hi again Jon !
BOOKS- - - I'm a firm believer in independent study. Go to www.summitracing.com, search 'books' and select a few that you think will help. Get a couple on driving technique, a couple on mechanical subjects, (I have one about brakes that is a GREAT resource) and a couple on race preparation. The Engineer/Author Carroll Smith has about 4 out that are good sources of information (somewhat dated) about desiging, building, chassis tuning and so forth.
There are numerous books written by famous drivers about how to drive a race car. Many of them are more like life stories though and a waste of money. The book by Bob Bondurant is a good one, as is one written by Alain Prost, a Formula One Champion of a few years ago. Pass up the one by Mario Andretti.
A third thing you can do , perhaps in nite school, is take welding. If you are going to start racing cars, you're either going to learn to weld, or pay someone a lot of money to do it for you. If nothing else, it will save you a lot of time dragging race cars back and forth. Sheet metal fabrication is another less important subject.
The list of course, is endless but I value my welding and mechanical skiulls as highly as anything I've done, and my one summer job doing sanding and prep work in a body shop has paid huge dividends. I do most of my own body repairs and our local group thinks m a genius at it.
But finally, seat time is about as important as the rest. Find that go kart track!
Again, good luck !!
Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida
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QUESTION: I was thinking of joining the milatary and they say they will pay for your college tuttion, do you think this would be a good idea.
AnswerIt's an excellent idea, but remember we're at war. The Army is NOT where I would go under the circumstances. The Navy is better, and the Air Force will give you the best shot at high tech stuff like computer guided weaponry, airplane mechanics (some of it's like car stuff ) . And yes they will pay a full ride to college for about a 4-5 year enlistment . A military career isn't a bad deal either. The retirement benefits are unequalled. I know that sounds like a long time ahead for you, but when you get there, it means a LOT I've been retired for a few years now and kind of wish I'd gone that route.
Dan
