Not racing yet, should I be concerend?

[kwm]

I am 33, been out of college since 98, going back part time next month, full time job in my career for just over 5 years, and have had my car just over 1 year. I really want to get into track days and racing. I started by auto-crossing and 2 track days on my motorcycle (which is far less expensive than I expect it to be in my car) but can't get past that point expense-wise and time-wise where I can start into it as much as I would like.
I was wondering what the average age of most people who race our cars is? If my local PCA is any indication it must be something like 49-50 years of age but I can not wait that long.
I honestly think that a reasonable time assessment for myself is at least 5+ years away as much as I hate to admit that. When I consider the cost (and my knowledge in this area is limited) and time needed it just doesn't seem doable. Any helpful advice?

[911teo]

If cost is a factor I would consider racing a different car... You already have a Miata... I suspect a Miata spec class would be far cheaper than a PCA G-class racer.

As per time needed, well you are the only one that can answer what is important to you.
I know that right now I want to spend as much time with my family as I can.
In 10-12 years when my girls will be in their teens and they will not stand my presence then I will spend my days at the track.
I will be 44 then...

[kwm]

I actually sold the Miata to buy a truck to tow my car to track events....D'oH! Thanks for the advice thought.

[Jims5543]

I started Autocrossing when I was 34 years old. Wish I had started a lot earlier. I did Autocrossing for 3 years solid traveling around to different events, taking Evolution Driving Schools, toying with running in Topeka. I even towed my RX7 from Florida to Indy to compete in a national Rotary only competition.

Then I decided to skip the national stuff and all the competition and just do DE's. I was more interested in going fast than competing.

I know this sounds crazy, but, the AX has really halped me a lot with the track stuff, my reflexes are really fast and Road Course feels like slow motion to me, even when I get out of wack it happens slower then in AX.

I also play GT4 a lot with a wheel and pedals. Say all you want about it being a game but it keeps my brain in tune when I am not on the track much.

On a checkout ride with an instructor once he commented on my fast reflexes and said he used to have them when he was in his 20's too, I informed him were were the same age, 40's.

Stay in good shape take care of yourself and your never too old to race. I know of a guy that has a 944 that races the Bay Bottom Crawl every year and he is 86 years old, his times rivel drivers 1/2 his age.

[Dantilla]

I don't think age has anything to do with it.
Plenty of drivers show grey hair when they pull their helmet off.
Sure, cost (both time and money) is a concern, but you can either get in a race car and have fun when you're ready, or you can sit in a rocking chair and complain that you're too old to have any fun.

[Conekiller]

I started Autoxing at 16 and started doing DE's last year at 18. Although it's great to start young there are many disadvatages, mostly the fact that you have to earn everyones respect.
Your right about racing being a big budget, i spend all my money on my car/DE's, i cant even imagine how much a race budget would cost.

[Jon Merck]

NASA has a program where you can work for track time, I have worked corners and suprisingly you can learn a lot by watching different lines in a corner.

Stop by a PCA or NASA event and usally you can get a paddock pass to meet and talk to the guys...that's what I did. NASA has an event this weekend in Rockingham, come on down and see.

I am building a spec E30 (BMW) to minimize my cost to go racing, I have DE'd for the last 6 years and next year plan to compete. This month I will have seen 45 winters in my life time and want to experience some side by side racing as well as refine my racecraft. Only God knows how long I'll be able to do this kinda stuff. One bonus is my wife and kids all enjoy a day at the track. My oldest child is approaching driving age and can't wait to get on track, so I may be crew chief instead of driver all too soon...

[jluetjen]

I started racing fairly soon after college -- first as crew and then in my own car. The problem was that even though I had time (and weekends free), I didn't have any money. I eventually built up to my own SCCA ITB car after I got married. Once my wife got pregnant I went on sabatical. Here I am in my mid-40's, money isn't such and issue now, but time is with family activities and work taking up all of my free time. Hopefully I'll be able to squeeze a few weekends out in a year or two and start again with my 911.

[Esel Mann]

Track days and racing are two different events. The latter potentially being significantly more expensive.

You've only had your SC for a year. Perhaps consider first attending just track days for a year or so or more. Worry about the racing later. How many track days you attend is naturally based upon time and money available (as you've mentioned). Due to your question one could infer that you have limited amounts of one, the other, or both. As such monetary funding of the habit requires budgeting savvy and time allotment requires time-management savvy.

The bright side to this is that lots of folks across the whole age spectrum (from two to toothless) do it. So unless you are in a financial or time bind, you should be able to do so also. Sure many would love nothing more than to hang out at the track all the time. However reality quickly sets in.

Good luck!

Carlton

[porsche911girl]

Welcome to my world! I'm 23, in college=no time or money.

I'd love to DE and Auto-x the SC, but I don't have the time, or money, so I'm a long ways off from doing anything fun like that...*sigh*

Best of luck to ya tho!

[cbeers]

I don't see how anyone can say they don't have money to AX ?!?!?

It's $30 here and I assume about the same across the country right?

Track time is a whole different game and racing another level above that for sure.

I have AX'd for three years now and have two "years" of track time, but those are few and far between, maybe 4/year. It all helps though


-Chris

[naparsei]

Don't worry about the towing. What you want to do is as many autox and DEs as possible. If you can fit a second of set tires and a jack in (and most can, in a 911) then make that investment, along with a harness bar, better belts, and a great seat. You can have tons of fun with that setup and learn the ropes.

Then as time and money permits, you can start down the slipperiest slope ever:
1. perf parts
2. ripping out your interior and lightening stuff
3. truck, trailer, multiple set of rims
4. RV

I'm at step #3. It's great fun, but it definitely has a cost!

[porsche911girl]

I didn't realise it only cost $30...now I feel stupid. I can afford that. It's getting the car to a nearby track that would be the hard part for me...not that I'd need to tow it, I'd just need to convince my dad to let me...

[crashmy911]

Just sign up and do it. Every one is on a differen't budget. So you can do it cheap. Don't laugh at those older guys. They will all probably kick your ass around the track!

[ZOA NOM]

I expect to run my inaugural race this year at the tender age of 43, and I can't wait! I look at the number of years ahead, not behind. I see guys in their 70's on the track. That's 30 years of fun ahead. There's plenty of track time ahead.

[911 in SC]

Originally posted by 911teo
As per time needed, well you are the only one that can answer what is important to you.
I know that right now I want to spend as much time with my family as I can.
In 10-12 years when my girls will be in their teens and they will not stand my presence then I will spend my days at the track.
I will be 44 then...

Matteo, you couldn't have said it any better! I am in 'the same boat'! My daughter is 7, so it may not be 10-12 years for me (I hope so though, as long as she'll still want Daddy around!). If I have to wait another 10 years, I'll be 48. Definitely not too old to start!

I would definitely start by doing some autocrosses and track days. I have been to a couple of autocrossing schools, and they were great! I definitely learned the limits of my previous car. ('87 VW Golf)

Later,
Mike

[ted]

Try go karts, cheap and all the racing thirlls.

yeah hopefully we can track or race our cars into our senior years.
I'll play golf when I have too.

[Noah930]

No helpful advice, kwm. Just wanted you to know you're not alone. I'm the same age as you. I'm as much a car-guy as anyone else, and went to a race school over 10 years ago. Unfortunately, schooling and post-grad training have prevented me from getting back to the track--though not for lack of desire to do so. I figure you need time, money, and skills/facilities to build a track car. Well, you need 2 out of those 3 things, at least. And up until now, I haven't had any of them. But I'm finally looking for my first "real" job right now. And I'm hoping that a real salary and real work schedule will finally afford me the time and funds to do what I've always wanted to do. It's been a painful wait, but the end is in sight, if somewhat still blurry. All those years of waiting I took this attitude: I knew where I wanted to be in the end. As long as I went to bed at night knowing that stuff I had done during the day made progress in somehow getting closer to my goal (of getting back onto the racetrack), then it was a successful day. That didn't mean I necessarily had to rebuild a brake caliper, or buy a tow vehicle, etc. I viewed going to school to get a better job to pay the eventual racing bills, or even working out to get better stamina/strength to tolerate the physical rigors of driving a racecar as worthy efforts, too. And at the very least it's kept me sane while I wasn't really driving a car.

edit: Remembering that the SCCA Formula Atlantic championship (at the Runoffs) from a few years ago was won by a 73 year-old also helped put things into perspective. Heck, I've got at least 4 more decades of track time to look forward to.

[David]

Unless you think someone is looking for you due to your extreme talent, it doesn't matter when you start. Paul Newman started late and raced successfully into his 70's.

I dabbled in racing (motorcycles and autocross) until I was 33 when I could afford to race karts for a full season (it's more expensive than you'd think). You may never be as good as you would be if you started real young, but after a few seasons you'll be running at the front if not earlier. I believe it's all about repetition, after you've gone through about a 1,000 turns in a race, it becomes second nature.

We even have a few folks over 60 that race karts.

[porsche930dude]

i dont understand why it costs 30$ to race around cones in a college parking lot. Usually theres about 30 cars at the autox thats 900$ where does that money go!? They dont even give out trophies or drinks or anything.