How hard is it to become a racecar driver?

[Diamond Monaco]

In terms of time and cost, what's the min. capital you would need to start racing competitively and actually get paid for it? Starting at the bottom, how long is the path one must travel to get into such a career?

I once saw Tom Cruise track somebody else's car and he from a nobody to a superstar instantaneously.

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by Diamond Monaco

In terms of time and cost, what's the min. capital you would need to start racing competitively and actually get paid for it? Starting at the bottom, how long is the path one must travel to get into such a career?

I once saw Tom Cruise track somebody else's car and he from a nobody to a superstar instantaneously.

And "get paid for it"??? Impossible question to answer with thousands of variables. Be profitable? Salary to drive somebody else's car? Or, simply win some prize money?

To be a paid pro-shoe...First, you have to be 19-21 years old with multiple karting titles or Daddy's BIG budget car racing titles. You have to be articulate and charming (except Kimi) You'd probably have to bring your own money with you to help as a team sponsor. Then, you'd have to win every race you're in to keep the job long.

As a team that actually profits on racing, there may be a few out there out there somewhere, if they have big RedBull or other corporate sponsors, but the teams have millions into the sport and multiple titles before they get the big sponsor contracts.

You can buy a 914, join the POC, win your class, and get a free Hoosier all for about $10,000.

[wdfifteen]

I worked with Price Cobb for about three years when he was starting out. He paid the bills for those years and I don't now how many more before he started getting paid. I worked with a couple of others who bought rides for years and never got paid. Racing is an expensive career to buy into.

[ckelly78z]

Are you talking about buying into professional racing, or earning your way to the top ?

You need to talk to Tim Hancock on this forum. He has a long thread "Finally went and did it....wife is not happy" on buying and building a Street stock dirt circle track racer. This is most likely the second step in a young racers career (the first step would be the aforementioned go cart racing championships starting at an early age), and someone successful could work into sprint cars and finally sponsored pavement racing in the Arca, or Craftsman Truck series. This is going to be an all consuming quest that takes a minimum of every weekend for 7-8 months a year or more to earn your spot in the next higher series.

Another path would be to win locally and at the national level autocross and somehow be noticed by a formula Ford team or Indy light team. To buy into professional racing not even at the top levels would be $1,000,000+ after you consider the required team members, transportation and fuel for not only the race car, but the semi hauler, and the people, not to mention the multiple parts needed for an expensive car, and entry fees.

[xbrumossalesman]

If you are older than 12 years old you have missed your window of opportunity.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by xbrumossalesman

If you are older than 12 years old you have missed your window of opportunity.

Unless you are a billionaire that want to become a millionaire.

[boba]

As I learned many years ago, "there is plenty of money in racing... I know I put enough of it in there myself".

As a former crew guy and ultimately a team owner in the Geand Am series I can tell you- you must be talented, this means winning and bringing the car back in one piece. I had fast guys who used up the car and they were not welcome back. Being able to pay for the crash damage and excess wear is not enough. It wears out the team. You will need to be well funded, either self or a personal sponsor to get noticed at the levels you will need to be at to get paid. Keep in mind even some drivers at the top F1 and NASCAR levels are buying rides. They have personal sponsors who may be paying the bills but they are not paid by the team. Your window is while you are very young, after 20 you may have missed it if you not a phenomenal late bloomer.

[911SauCy]

My cousin had to give his left leg!!!

Liam Dwyer Racing |

[Aragorn]

Time wise, for the average individual, it is Karting, then lower formulas until you get to a step up ladder series. Could be 10-15 years to get in a good national open wheel series. Making money? You will do nothing but spend your own money until you get into a series that has some kind of sponsorship deal that will share some of the cost.

I looked into open wheel racing a few years ago. The cost was around $3-5K for a school to get your license. Then it cost to "buy a ride" in one of the series cars (Barber Dodge Ladder system.) Cost seemed a little steep for me at the time for the amount of racing you got to do.

IF you have an established semi-pro race history, you might be able to buy a ride on one of the TV race series. Some World Challenge teams have arrive and drive programs. Look to spend at the minimum $20k per race for a well established team car. The old Trans-am series seemed to be cheaper. I think I heard one of the drivers say he bought a ride in an older (Tommy Kendall style) Mustang for around $6-8k for the race weekend (in the late 90's.)

[911_Dude]

"start racing competitively"? You can only buy part of that equasion. I cant think of many other ways to have as much fun going broke.

[herr_oberst]

Start with a large fortune.
If you get lucky, you'll end up with a small fortune.

[boba]

Originally Posted by Aragorn

I think I heard one of the drivers say he bought a ride in an older (Tommy Kendall style) Mustang for around $6-8k for the race weekend (in the late 90's.)

By far he late 90's a seat in Grand Am Cup was $8-10 with two drivers in the car, by 2005 they were ~$15K per seat with many drivers buying the second seat for a pro co-driver who they would also pay. Rolex rides were another $10k so $25k per seat. And that was in GT!

[bpu699]

Just found out my neighbor is a successful racer in the national ferrari series. Won some nationals, in the news, etc.

Asked him how that works, what the sponsors pay for, how much the dealerships are contributing, etc...

His answer was very interesting... "The cash only flows one way "

Sounds like he does it because he loves it, and can afford it.

To answer your question, in order to get into racing on a national level, you had better be very wealth to start with...

[LakeCleElum]

In college, I took a Masters level class called: quantitative decision making

One could tackle this question for a term paper, get an "A" and still not have a good answer for you.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

In college, I took a Masters level class called: quantitative decision making

One could tackle this question for a term paper, get an "A" and still not have a good answer for you.

I respectfully disagree...and I have a minor in Quantitative Methods as validation for my "good answer":

It's HARD .

My cousin married into a 3rd generation "racing family" that still earns them a nice lifestyle in Nascar's lower level series. It takes MONEY, and LOT$ of it....

[LakeCleElum]

[QUOTE=KC911;8612972]I respectfully disagree...and I have a minor in Quantitative Methods as validation for my "good answer":

It's HARD .
:QUOTE]

Funny stuff........That answer wouldn't have gotten a very good grade from my professor.....Tough course by the way.......

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by KC911

My cousin married into a 3rd generation "racing family" that still earns them a nice lifestyle in Nascar's lower level series. It takes MONEY, and LOT$ of it....

There's one answer. Three generations. Just start spending every penny you earn now and you grandson might start making money in lower NASCAR if he is really good.

[Venetian]

What about a guy like Patrick Long. I'm assuming Porsche pays him and if so does anyone have an idea what that would be?

[Ayles]

Even Karting at a high level is expensive. My old boss races Rotax Karts internationally and he could easily chew through a couple thousand bucks in parts, tires and engine over a race weekend before factoring in travel costs.

[Dan J]

easier to grow a second dick