thanks,
Matt Dunko (remember that name!) =)
> thanks,
> Matt Dunko (remember that name!) =)
thanks
> > This is probably the wrong place to ask...but I was wondering of how one
> > gets into formula racing or cart (the real thing). I have always
wondered
> > how so many people can get into real proffesional racing but never
talked
> > about how they actually entered. Is it through training such as racing
> > school where there are people who scout for drivers or is there some
sort
> of
> > tryout with a manufacturer? I am seriously considering in to going in
> this,
> > so any help is appreciated!
> > thanks,
> > Matt Dunko (remember that name!) =)
Most drivers that make it to F1 take the long route in "the ladder",
starting in karts when you're 10-15, then going to Formula
Fords/Renault/Opel, then a major F3 series, after that, if you're
really lucky F3000 world or european championship.
Almost all F1 drivers have titles in some or many of the categories
above, especially F3000 champions(Montoya, Alesi, Heidfeld, Massa
et.c). But that's not all. Just a good drive in say, a national FF
series can cost several $10.000, a good F3 drive a few $100.000 and an
F3000 WC drive is about a cool $1.000.000. A seat in the pay-to-drive
teams(i.e. bottom-tier) means at _least_ $10.000.000 or bringing a
major sponsor to the team. So if your name isn't Pedro Diniz(i.e.
having a bilionaire dad) you need to rustle up the money somehow.
Which means sponsors, usually. Exactly how you get those I can't tell
you(If only I knew... :), but I'm sure the gift of the gab wouldn't
hurt. :-) It's actually a necessity, I'm afraid. :-/
BUT, there's some people recently that have taken huge shortcuts
recently, like Kimi R?ik?nnen. He raced mostly karts and not even a
season in Formula Renault before being nabbed by Sauber. Or even more
impressive: a vietnamese-australian in F3000 this year: Nguyen, was
taking a a racing course at A1-ring last year. He impressed so much on
the course that he was offered a testdrive of a F3000 car. After three
laps he was offered an F3000 contract on the spot!!
So you are telling me I am not going to be spotted on VROC?
Darn - I'll stop getting e***d each time the phone rings...
>So you are telling me I am not going to be spotted on VROC?
>Darn - I'll stop getting e***d each time the phone rings...
:-D
>So you are telling me I am not going to be spotted on VROC?
>Darn - I'll stop getting e***d each time the phone rings...
Rafe Mc
Sure will, see you at San Marino!
Ice D
Jesse Black
I think Phoenix were going to try that but they got spotted!
Still it would give Yoong something to look at in his mirrors at the start...
Of course, there is the small matter of honing one's talent and meeting
criteria for licencing, fending off the competition in order to get very few
decent seats (and there are thousands of wannabee racers like yourself),
having a budget of several hundred thousand dollars per season - sponsors
help here so if your father happens to be the managing director of a major
engine building company...... :-).
It also helps to be an astute businessman and politician. Getting there is
one thing - Staying there is a whole new ball game. Good luck, you'll need
it.
MS
> thanks
> > There was a good article about a CARt driver, although I don't
remember
> > where I saw it...about Memo Gidley and how he made it....MONEY MONEY
AND
> > MORE MONEY...he knocked on doors all week to race on the weekends... he
is
> > an Amercian who made it for ONE season.
> > You might want to check out the Go-Cart track at Las Vegas. I think
> > Herta and Tracey co-own it and they have been sponsoring events that
lead
> up
> > to real Champcar testing for the very best Karters.
> > These days tho...if you are over 25 it's too late to start... :(
> > dave henrie
> > ps If you are European, the Karts may be the only way to get an entry
> > level ride.
> > > This is probably the wrong place to ask...but I was wondering of how
one
> > > gets into formula racing or cart (the real thing). I have always
> wondered
> > > how so many people can get into real proffesional racing but never
> talked
> > > about how they actually entered. Is it through training such as
racing
> > > school where there are people who scout for drivers or is there some
> sort
> > of
> > > tryout with a manufacturer? I am seriously considering in to going in
> > this,
> > > so any help is appreciated!
> > > thanks,
> > > Matt Dunko (remember that name!) =)
Check out http://www.mosport.com/ and investigate the Driver Development
program. I'm not sure who runs the school these days (Panoz?) but it used to
be John Powell after whom the driver development track is named. There is
also a kart club that races at Mosport (on the Powell kart circuit, not on
the road course). Depending on where you are in Ontario, there are several
other kart clubs as well. Check out http://www.mosport.com/karthome.htm for
a nice photo of the kart / driver development track and the 1/2 mile stock
car oval.
You may also want to check out http://www.shannonville.com/ for Shannonville
Motorsport Park. There are currently 5 different schools based at
Shannonville.
If you're leaning towards stock car racing, check out http://www.cascar.com/
. This is the national stock car series in Canada but there is also a
Sportsman's championship as well as regular weekend racing at several tracks
throught Ontario.
You should also surf over to http://www.asncanada.com/ which is the web site
for our ASN. They have quite a bit of information on the various series
running in Canada such as FF1600, Champcar Lights, National Rally
Championship, Canada GT Challenge, solo, ice racing, etc. Note that the
national karting championship is now called the "Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting
Championship"!
The Ontario arm of motorsports is governed by CASC-OR at
http://www.casc.on.ca/default.asp
Basically, there are lots of ways to get started in motorsports in Ontario!
Hope this helps.
Wayne Hutchison
> thanks
> > There was a good article about a CARt driver, although I don't
remember
> > where I saw it...about Memo Gidley and how he made it....MONEY MONEY
AND
> > MORE MONEY...he knocked on doors all week to race on the weekends... he
is
> > an Amercian who made it for ONE season.
> > You might want to check out the Go-Cart track at Las Vegas. I think
> > Herta and Tracey co-own it and they have been sponsoring events that
lead
> up
> > to real Champcar testing for the very best Karters.
> > These days tho...if you are over 25 it's too late to start... :(
> > dave henrie
> > ps If you are European, the Karts may be the only way to get an entry
> > level ride.
> > > This is probably the wrong place to ask...but I was wondering of how
one
> > > gets into formula racing or cart (the real thing). I have always
> wondered
> > > how so many people can get into real proffesional racing but never
> talked
> > > about how they actually entered. Is it through training such as
racing
> > > school where there are people who scout for drivers or is there some
> sort
> > of
> > > tryout with a manufacturer? I am seriously considering in to going in
> > this,
> > > so any help is appreciated!
> > > thanks,
> > > Matt Dunko (remember that name!) =)
Piquet, Senna and Montoya are American ? Are you sure ?
Like Coulthard, Stewart and McNish are English I suppose.
Buy this book, "Drive to Win" and read every word:
http://www.sae.org/servlets/productDetail?PROD_TYP=BOOK&PROD_CD=B-701
Carroll Smith has been there, done that...several times.
> thanks,
> Matt Dunko (remember that name!) =)
Chris
> > If you want to be a F1 racer, get out onto the kart tracks to begn with.
> > Almost every driver to a man, started his career this way. First thing
you
> > have to do is move to Europe and more specifically England. The British
> > championships along with the FIA F3000 championship tend to be the most
> > fertile breeding and feeding grounds for F1. Just about every American
> > (Piquet, Senna, Montoya Cheever, etc) ran in the British F3 championship
> > before going on to bigger things.
> Piquet, Senna and Montoya are American ? Are you sure ?
> Like Coulthard, Stewart and McNish are English I suppose.
