How old were you when you started?

I knew it was a spoof. Just could not resist.....

Kyle,

I took my first Skip Barber school in 1986 at Texas World Speedway in College Station. Dorsey Schrader was my coach and the class was held by Terry Earwood. You will never regret skipping a spring break and doing Barber. If you want to advance your driving ability and possibly career go for it.

 

I'm 26 now, will be 27 in late June (23rd). I've never actually raced anything, karts, Miata etc. Never been to a class either. I've always wanted to attend Skip Barber, but I really don't have any money. I'd love to pick up racing, but perhaps in a few years when money is a little less of a problem for me

 

+ 1 Billion and really very much congrats!!! If i don't get anywhere with my racing thats what i want to do.

 

I started when I was 7 or so, I forget. (21 now). But started off in karts, did Briggs and sprints, even some oval. Moved up got to drive some shifters, enduro, 250cc. I ran Red Bull F1 DS two years in a row (extremely intense and fun), when I was fifteen I started racing cars, did some Solo, first road course I ran was Road Atlanta in my SCCA ITC Civic. Just kept going up from there. Sucks being on a limited budget out of my own pocket, as my friends go out and party I sit at home and save for an event lol. I have had some killer offers to race for people in some NICE series (including the 24 Hours of Dubai) but they all require $, they all tell me I need to move to Europe lol.

 

My concern is that you are searching for a pre-made up excuse to use if you are not as fast as those that started earlier.

If I read correctly, Nigel Mansell never drove even a street car until he was 24 ? Or was it Graham Hill ? and he turned out OK. (others here would disagree I suppose).

If you look long enough, I bet you will find plenty of top-notch drivers that never started racing until their late 20's/early 30's.

 

20 years old Alfa Romeo GTV2000.

 

Plus another one. Started at 21.

 

I started at 18, and in my first year of racing I was going wheel-to-wheel with AJ Allmendinger, Scott Speed, and many other karting champions in formula cars. Anything is possible!

And if you're not looking to be a pro, then just go have fun racing amateur events or doing track days. Work with some coaches (the real ones) and you will learn a lot and have fun.

 

I started at nearly 40 and Club Race competently. I have managed to win and podium at the National Level in SCCA Spec Miata and have many Regional wins and NASA Texas wins as well. Lots of folks turn their noses up at SM, but it is some of the closest racign out there and a chance to hone your skills inexpensively. Work has been a bit slow this quarter and I have raced MORE than in any prior year, with 6 race weekends (17 sprint races and an 8-hour enduro) already, including an 8-hour endurance race. That's because I picked a class I can comfortably afford to race; I see lots of drivers struggle to drive a fast and "sexy" car only to burn out because they cannot afford inevitable repairs or to have top-notch equipment they need to run up front.

I'll never be a pro (in the sense of someone else paying me to drive), but enjoy it immensely and plan to continue doing so for a long tim.

 

I started seriously when I was 17 (got into pro racing in '79) and went from SCCA Pro to IMSA almost immediately. Did Spring Sprints, Bilstein Rabbit, multiple Camel GT series, Grand Am, karting, etc., etc. Over the years I have been in everything I could get in from karts to baja to get the experience, and because I was in some way able to finagle my way into getting a seat. My parents never supported me in racing, so the only way I could afford to go racing was to get good enough to get paid or at least paid for. There weren't nearly as many back then but it didn't really matter as I couldn't afford to go to a racing school back then either (many for whom I am now or have been an instructor) but I sure wish I could have because it is so much tougher to learn that stuff on your own or as you go. As far as what I brought... what ever my ride had, save for an old F-Body that was mine in my early days of GTU in Camel. I couldn't afford to pay my mechanic, so I worked at his shop in return LOL. Raced with the likes of Derek Bell and Bob Tulius among many others during those Camel days. Fun, frantic, and educational days. These days I do much more development work and non-competitive pro driving, as I have all but retired from racing - I only race now and then when a coaching client needs me to do so as a team mate, or a team needs to hire me as a hero driver - usually in something like Grand Am, ALMS, SWC, etc. To be honest, at almost 50, I love helping others go fast/faster as much as racing door to door myself, thus I am a professional coach, instructor, and facilitator/speaker in the motorsport industry. Don't get me wrong, I still love doing it but it's just as satisfying sharing my experience (many lessons, mistakes, wins and podiums) with those who can benefit from it for their own career/sport goals.

If you are not looking to go pro Kyle, then you can never start too late. And karting is an excellent place to start and indeed continue once/if you move into other areas as it is killer practice.

My initial suggestion to you is if this is something you really want to pursue seriously (at any level) as you say, then never let anyone step on your dream - listen to the naysayers only for valuable information about challenges to overcome, as opposed to insurmountable obstacles. To get really good, get in a good racecraft school (i.e. Skippy, etc.), hire a coach for longer than just a race here or there (develop a relationship with one that works for you), get as much seat time as you can and/or are willing to afford, set goals with dates on them, and have fun!! If you're not looking to be a pro, then don't make it work/job/tedius - keep it fun and enjoyable while being serious about it. Above all, keep a good attitude, your chin up, and network your a$$ off in the industry. The squeaky shoe gets all the attention in this game! When people see your heart's in it along with your potential more than your ego, they will gladly help you.

All the best!!

Cheers & C U @ d'Track!!
C

Chuck Hawks,
Pro-Driver, Coach, Instructor & Facilitator
DreamsFulfilled, LLC & rEvolution Performance Driving System ©