Questionwell my age is 19 I am a male and live in oregon drive a 2000 323i BMW and their isnt a car out there that I wouldnt know how to drive like a pro...for example I drove a 2004 Mercedes s500 after five minutes of driving it I knew how the car could handle on the road and how fast I could take turns and also I estimate my way of driving, and what risks I could take, next thing I knew I was speeding at au 135 mph weaving in and out of traffic and thats probably the slowest I went, I know its not the safest way to drive but I cant help it every were I go in any car I have to speed, after driving the car it was just to slow for me, every one that's ridden with me tells me you should become a professional driver. I take my BMW to the track its no challenge at all I fly through cars on that track no one can keep up, I even slow down for people who have faster car then me just to have a little fun and still beat them. so I know that might sound a little grimmy but if you gave me any car any were any time and I could get you the best time and could beat anyone out there on the track or on the road.
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The text above is a follow-up to ...
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hello, I’m looking to make racing a profession but don’t know were to start, I’m really good at it and would like to know how I could achieve that. It seems you would be the best person to ask because as I read you have had experience in racing. Please help
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Most of the pros these days started at about age 8, in Go Karts. You can contact the Workld Karting Association online. You'll have to do a search, but they should be easy to find. The other organization that can really help you is the Sports Car Club of America, look for them at <www.scca.org> locate a region near you and join, you can be involved in racing right away as a course worker.
You didn't tell me your age, or where you live, pursuing a racing career is much easier in England for instance, than it is in the USA. I don't know about the expense part of it. I DO know that pursuing a pro racing career takes a LOT of money no matter where you are.
So my next piece of advice isto stay in school, and study for a profession that produces a good income. Engineering, medicine,law etc.
Without more information, that's about all I can tell you, If you will send me your age,sex,location and other information , i'd be happy to comment further.
Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida
AnswerOK this is a help
Now I'm going to sound like an adult here, and since you are nearly an adult, perhaps some of it will sink in.
I'm sure you enjoy weaving through traffic at speed, but if you keep it up, you won't LIVE long enough to follow your dream I'm sorry Al, but professional race drivers don't act that way, and it's because they know how dangerous it is.
In a race, all the drivers are aware that they're being challenged, they are all going at roughly the same speed, and they are all highly skilled at what they do. In traffic, at 135 MPH, the next guy you pass may be in his 90's , looking for the next exit, and perfectly willing to cross five lanes of traffic to get to it. In virtually ANY accident at 130 MPH, in a street car, you will most likely die ! End of lecture.
On to the racing career. You should still start with Go Karts, it's inexpensive and will teach you the basics, and how to 'feel the track' with the seat of your pants. Other racers will gladly teach you the basics, and you will learn really fast.
And you should also join the Sports Car Club of America for some exposure to road racing, the most challenging kind. Membership is cheap and you'll be welcome from the start, especially if you volunteer to work race events as a flagger or fire crew . There are many other areas of race working that are available. Within a month or two, you'll know more about what kind of car you wish to start in, and you'll have some idea as what you can afford. (It probably won't be your BMW !) And you will have been exposed to the necessary saety equipment and a lot of general knowledge on that subject.
Once you've done that , you can seek out instruction from one of the professional racing schools like Bob Bondurant in Phoenix Az. of one of the many others. Take a look at Skip Barber too.
Finally, as I said in my first answer, you need to stay in school, think about a career in engineering , preferably mechanical engineering. If not that, then law or medicine. You sound like you're aggressive enougn to suceed in most anything that suits you.
Please do me one favor though, STOP driving like a fool ont he highway, you're quite likely to have a serious accident, and no one is going to give you a racing job because of it. One of the secrets of success in racing is gaining control over yourself during a competition.
Best of luck
Dan Liddy
