How pro or semi pro rally drivers got started - Page 2 - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

TheWolf · 06-27-2011, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidewaysil80

go through all the hpde's, get your comp license, get into spec miata/spec3/spec e30 and not suck, get some podiums/network, hopefully get hired onto a professional race team (grand am cup or something along those lines). i don't think you would be making enough to "live" off of, but still have fun and not have to come out of pocket to race around the country. i feel like thats semi realistic and attainable. but imo i think thats the highest you would get, like everyone is saying f1 and things like that you need be molded into from a young age. you can do the hpde at a fairly old age (early to late 20's) and still have a shot.

Nope. Racing works backwards. First you get sponsor then you get good driver.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matej

Rich parents.

Yep. I'd say 95% of all entrants into something like the 24hours of daytona are private rich dudes that like to race. If you see corporate sponsorship on a ride, it's usually because they work for that company. A usual for instance is like the local Gainsco insurance daytona prototype. This is really some guys own the insurance company and us racing as a tax writeoff for advertising. If you see a bunch of south american dudes sponsored by Sharp or Xerox or soemthing like it. It's usually due to the fact that their father or them is the master distributor for all coppiers in brazil or something like that. The majority of nextel cup drivers, have fathers that are captains of an industry or they can write their own sponsorship deal. I'd say more than have of the indy 500 field is rental rides and F1. Don't think those "back markers" are there because of their hidden tallent. They're there because they bring sponsors with them to the team. Cash talks and racing isn't cheap. Michael Schumacher got to drive the Jordan on his debut because he could afford to pay for the tire bill for the weekend. Sure he's a great driver but he also needed cash to get his start.

soreballz · 06-27-2011, 05:13 PM

OP: You live in Georgia, right? Have you thought about circle track racing? Building cars for a 3/8ths to 1/2 mile dirt oval is fairly inexpensive, and would be a whole lot of fun.

Rally240sx.com · 06-27-2011, 05:24 PM

Welcome to the California Rally Series

they have been hosting stage rallys for over 30 years a good place to start if you ask me, its were Im trying to get to... if I ever finish my build and find a co-driver

s13Kurt · 06-27-2011, 06:05 PM

So I guess driving as an employment is gonna be out of the question

I'd even work on some race team if I could just to be able to travel.

Karlitos · 06-27-2011, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheWolf

Nope. Racing works backwards. First you get sponsor then you get good driver.

Yep. I'd say 95% of all entrants into something like the 24hours of daytona are private rich dudes that like to race. If you see corporate sponsorship on a ride, it's usually because they work for that company. A usual for instance is like the local Gainsco insurance daytona prototype. This is really some guys own the insurance company and us racing as a tax writeoff for advertising. If you see a bunch of south american dudes sponsored by Sharp or Xerox or soemthing like it. It's usually due to the fact that their father or them is the master distributor for all coppiers in brazil or something like that. The majority of nextel cup drivers, have fathers that are captains of an industry or they can write their own sponsorship deal. I'd say more than have of the indy 500 field is rental rides and F1. Don't think those "back markers" are there because of their hidden tallent. They're there because they bring sponsors with them to the team. Cash talks and racing isn't cheap. Michael Schumacher got to drive the Jordan on his debut because he could afford to pay for the tire bill for the weekend. Sure he's a great driver but he also needed cash to get his start.

QFT

I know a guy that was pro-am and had a chance to go pro. He was very good in american iron series from way back when. He got invited to a pro team. Except the team told him, if you want to drive our car you pay $70,000. So he has to pay to play. He was telling me this on the way back to the shop from Buttonwillow and how even F1 drivers pay their fees. Look up Pay Drivers in F1. These are teams as stated with connections to a company that have funds to build cars and sponsor them for tax write offs. They start just like "enthusiasts" build a car get money and get better afterwards. But yeah you have to start early and be part of a big company who can put a name on your car.

drift freaq · 06-27-2011, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HyperTek

look up Damon Hill..
Damon Hill - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

He got involved in racing at a later age then most (started racing motorcycles at 23) and became an f1 world champion in 96. Though his dad was a f1 racing legend but died when he was 15.

check out Gilles Villeneuve
Late f1 racer who died in 82, but was just a snowmobile racer in the beginning
Gilles Villeneuve - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

.

Damon Hill got in late because of who his father was and he had been running in feeder series before jumping off to F1.

There is a rookie driver this year who is actually older I can't think of his name right now that was like a 2 time GP2 champion.

Gilles Villeneuve had talent and paid his way in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by s13Kurt

Well I guess I need to either start trying to slide in pro am or get into some kind of scca racing. Only reason I ask is i've always had a borderline obsession with cars but I've recently figured out its more driving them instead of working on em which I do now for a living. I wouldn't care about making a shit ton of money if I just got to focus on driving something.

Well working on them for a living is way into driving them as you can promote your shop through your car. Going Pro Am is not a bad thing to do.
You are still young enough to compete in a lot of different forms or series. Its just the Formula car drivers and Pro Rally drivers well that is just a whole other thing like we all said.

Lots of stuff you could be competitive and quite possibly build into a career. Of course the first to do is to find a sponsor by proving to them you can drive and then get out there and start doing it.

20 is just to late for some of the balls out serious shit. Though there are guys running LeMan's and what not that are in their 40's and 50's so its not out of the question but like I said before and others have said. Money , Money, Money is really the key for most motorsports.

mrchomponthis · 06-28-2011, 12:26 AM

I feel like many of the people involved in this discussion really have no idea what they are talking about. spec miata, spec e30 won't get you anywhere! Most kids start karting at a young age and are picked up very quickly if they are great drivers. Then contracts are signed by parents and expectations by sponsors must be met. I have seen many kids go from karting to Formula cars, vw challenge, lower end alms, or super karts.... If anyone is really interested in karting check out ekartingnews.com

sidewaysil80 · 06-28-2011, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrchomponthis

I feel like many of the people involved in this discussion really have no idea what they are talking about. spec miata, spec e30 won't get you anywhere!

a mutual friend of mine went from spec e30 to getting signed with bennet racing enterprises. matter of fact i think two of his 3 co drivers all came from spec miata/spec e30. i'm not saying it will get you into formula1 or lemans lol...BUT for weekend warriors and guys with late starts it could potentially get you (assuming you have the time/dedication/talent) into "pro" series such as the grand-am rolex, grand am cup, etc.

mrchomponthis · 06-28-2011, 02:08 AM

Read what the topic is about my friend. Race winning spec miata's cost thousands more than karts and your basically getting the same if not more interest by major race teams.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidewaysil80

a mutual friend of mine went from spec e30 to getting signed with bennet racing enterprises. matter of fact i think two of his 3 co drivers all came from spec miata/spec e30. i'm not saying it will get you into formula1 or lemans lol...BUT for weekend warriors and guys with late starts it could potentially get you (assuming you have the time/dedication/talent) into "pro" series such as the grand-am rolex, grand am cup, etc.

sidewaysil80 · 06-28-2011, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrchomponthis

Read what the topic is about my friend.

how pro or SEMI PRO drivers get started. i got that much...what am i missing?

mrchomponthis · 06-28-2011, 02:36 AM

Rally............

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidewaysil80

how pro or semi pro drivers get started. I got that much...what am i missing?

drift freaq · 06-28-2011, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrchomponthis

Rally............

While the OP did put Rally as the subject title he actually did mention or query about other forms of racing, in subsequent posts.

I think most of us stated( I know I did) that going for F1,Indy cars aka open wheeled racing was determined at early ages and most through karting. Though Sprint Cars used to feed Indy cars back in the day.
We also stated that most Pro Series paid driver racing involved talent developed early on through feeder series.
As for the Pro Rally query most top name World Rally drivers are foreign from countries that have feeder series to Pro Rally as well or in the case of the Finnish its just what they do from a young age and its a national past time.

Though in the U.S. one could get there through SCCA Rally. Albeit like I said earlier would take lots of money and real driving talent.

There are exceptions to every rule and in Auto Racing Money is the key to that exception. Paul Newman while being a very good driver would not have had the success he had in his 40's and 50's in Trans Am and whatnot if he had not had money to spend.

Now the thread has had quite a bit of info that has actually helped the OP make a better conclusion as to what do. Perhaps you should take heed of that?

word sux · 06-28-2011, 08:56 PM

karting is the way to go

I remember begging my parents for one when I was little. I live right down the street from a track. But sadly I grew up poor.

s13Kurt · 06-29-2011, 02:49 PM

Thanks alot for all the replys. I think I am gonna make a move to get into karting and try and go part time to have as much time to race as possible. I gotta get into it now before its too late lol

FreemanX · 04-24-2013, 09:48 PM

I would also think you may get noticed if you attended a rally school. If you did really well, they might sponsor you or recommend you for a race? <a href="http://www.freemanxexperience.co.nz/driving-experiences-gifts/rally-driving/">Rally Drive Days</a> - for the best across Oz & NZ - <a href="http://www.freemanxexperience.com.au/driving-experiences-gifts/rally-driving/">FreemanX Rally Drives</a>

gambit420s · 04-24-2013, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreemanX

I would also think you may get noticed if you attended a rally school. If you did really well, they might sponsor you or recommend you for a race? <a href="http://www.freemanxexperience.co.nz/driving-experiences-gifts/rally-driving/">Rally Drive Days</a> - for the best across Oz & NZ - <a href="http://www.freemanxexperience.com.au/driving-experiences-gifts/rally-driving/">FreemanX Rally Drives</a>

fuck you, msglength

simmode1 · 04-27-2013, 11:18 AM

Shameless promotion. But not bad advice though.

06-28-2011, 12:26 AM	#37
mrchomponthis Zilvia Addict Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: fghjghjfg Age: 33 Posts: 877 Trader Rating: (11) Feedback Score: 11 reviews	I feel like many of the people involved in this discussion really have no idea what they are talking about. spec miata, spec e30 won't get you anywhere! Most kids start karting at a young age and are picked up very quickly if they are great drivers. Then contracts are signed by parents and expectations by sponsors must be met. I have seen many kids go from karting to Formula cars, vw challenge, lower end alms, or super karts.... If anyone is really interested in karting check out ekartingnews.com __________________ CHOMPONWHAT?

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06-27-2011, 05:24 PM	#33
Rally240sx.com Leaky Injector Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: San Diego, Ca Age: 39 Posts: 114 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Welcome to the California Rally Series they have been hosting stage rallys for over 30 years a good place to start if you ask me, its were Im trying to get to... if I ever finish my build and find a co-driver

06-27-2011, 06:05 PM	#34
s13Kurt Zilvia Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: georgia Posts: 224 Trader Rating: (5) Feedback Score: 5 reviews	So I guess driving as an employment is gonna be out of the question I'd even work on some race team if I could just to be able to travel.

06-28-2011, 08:56 PM	#43
word sux Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: earth Age: 59 Posts: 1,138 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	karting is the way to go I remember begging my parents for one when I was little. I live right down the street from a track. But sadly I grew up poor.

06-29-2011, 02:49 PM	#44
s13Kurt Zilvia Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: georgia Posts: 224 Trader Rating: (5) Feedback Score: 5 reviews	Thanks alot for all the replys. I think I am gonna make a move to get into karting and try and go part time to have as much time to race as possible. I gotta get into it now before its too late lol

04-24-2013, 09:48 PM	#45
FreemanX Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: USA Posts: 1 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I would also think you may get noticed if you attended a rally school. If you did really well, they might sponsor you or recommend you for a race? <a href="http://www.freemanxexperience.co.nz/driving-experiences-gifts/rally-driving/">Rally Drive Days</a> - for the best across Oz & NZ - <a href="http://www.freemanxexperience.com.au/driving-experiences-gifts/rally-driving/">FreemanX Rally Drives</a>

04-27-2013, 11:18 AM	#47
simmode1 Post Whore! Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Addison, TX Posts: 5,526 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Shameless promotion. But not bad advice though.