How do you get into F1 racing?

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!) =) [email hidden]

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. "Dunko" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:vSQp8.759$[email hidden]... > 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 sortof > tryout with a manufacturer? I am seriously considering in to going inthis,

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> so any help is appreciated! > > thanks, > Matt Dunko (remember that name!) =) > [email hidden] > >

Well I guess I am in luck then, as I am younger than 25! =) Yeah I have also heard of many tracks and racing schools in las vegas... So is that really the only way? Well, looks like I will have to go to racing school, get my racing license, and race every weekend with whatever car I have to come across... But that does seem like a large risk, as registration and licesence as well as school costs ALOT of money..not mention the residence and all the other expenses....Anywhere in Canada of a place where they race? Ontario would be even better if there was.... thanks "Dave Henrie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:BmRp8.186579$q2.16752@sccrnsc01... > 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 leadup

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> 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. > > "Dunko" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:vSQp8.759$[email hidden]... > > 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 nevertalked > > about how they actually entered. Is it through training such as racing > > school where there are people who scout for drivers or is there somesort

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> 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!) =) > > [email hidden] > > > > > >

On Sun, 31 Mar 2002 22:55:07 -0500, "Dunko" <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>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!

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!!

> 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. So you are telling me I am not going to be spotted on VROC? Darn - I'll stop getting excited each time the phone rings...

On Mon, 01 Apr 2002 09:30:44 GMT, "Tony Rickard" <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>> 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. > >So you are telling me I am not going to be spotted on VROC? > >Darn - I'll stop getting excited each time the phone rings...

ROTFL! :-D

On Mon, 01 Apr 2002 09:30:44 GMT, "Tony Rickard" <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>> 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. > >So you are telling me I am not going to be spotted on VROC? > >Darn - I'll stop getting excited each time the phone rings... >

Hehehe, good one! Rafe Mc

Residence and cost of the schooling/licensing is a TINY part of the cost that people mention (and if this is your biggest concern, then go find some other sport...it is much easier to be a pro golfer or pro tennis player than a pro race driver). It's not like you are going to go around with your license and people will offer free rides. You must buy your way most of the way...until you get to professional. And when I say buy your way, this is a budget in the 5 figures that you will need in the beginning, so start saving your pennies. Jesse Black

"Dunko" <[email hidden]> wrote: > 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 sortof > tryout with a manufacturer? I am seriously considering in to going inthis, > so any help is appreciated! Why don't you build your own F1 car, and sneak up behind them just before the start. If you should win (and why not), I'm sure some team will sign you on. > thanks, > Matt Dunko (remember that name!) =) Sure will, see you at San Marino! Ice D

"Ice D" > Why don't you build your own F1 car, and sneak up behind them just before > the start. 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...

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. 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 "Dunko" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:jgSp8.1044$[email hidden]...

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> Well I guess I am in luck then, as I am younger than 25! =) Yeah I have > also heard of many tracks and racing schools in las vegas... So is that > really the only way? Well, looks like I will have to go to racing school, > get my racing license, and race every weekend with whatever car I have to > come across... But that does seem like a large risk, as registration and > licesence as well as school costs ALOT of money..not mention the residence > and all the other expenses....Anywhere in Canada of a place where they

race?

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> Ontario would be even better if there was.... > > thanks > > > "Dave Henrie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:BmRp8.186579$q2.16752@sccrnsc01... > > 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 MONEYAND > > MORE MONEY...he knocked on doors all week to race on the weekends... heis > > 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 thatlead

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> 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. > > > > "Dunko" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > news:vSQp8.759$[email hidden]... > > > 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 asracing

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> > > 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!) =) > > > [email hidden] > > > > > > > > > > > >

Matt, 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 "Dunko" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:jgSp8.1044$[email hidden]...

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> Well I guess I am in luck then, as I am younger than 25! =) Yeah I have > also heard of many tracks and racing schools in las vegas... So is that > really the only way? Well, looks like I will have to go to racing school, > get my racing license, and race every weekend with whatever car I have to > come across... But that does seem like a large risk, as registration and > licesence as well as school costs ALOT of money..not mention the residence > and all the other expenses....Anywhere in Canada of a place where they

race?

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> Ontario would be even better if there was.... > > thanks > > > "Dave Henrie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:BmRp8.186579$q2.16752@sccrnsc01... > > 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 MONEYAND > > MORE MONEY...he knocked on doors all week to race on the weekends... heis > > 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 thatlead

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> 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. > > > > "Dunko" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > news:vSQp8.759$[email hidden]... > > > 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 asracing

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> > > 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!) =) > > > [email hidden] > > > > > > > > > > > >

"Mark Seery" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:a89s98$b89$[email hidden]...

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> 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.

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. On Sun, 31 Mar 2002, Dunko wrote:

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> 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!) =) > [email hidden] > > > >

Technically they are American, i.e. they are from the continent of America in the same way I am European. Just because those people from the United States of America claim ownership of an adjective doesn't make it right. What are people from South America called then? Chris "redTed" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:a8adgm$qmiqp$[email hidden]... > > "Mark Seery" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:a89s98$b89$[email hidden]... > > 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 thingyou

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> > 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. > >

"Chris" < > What are people from South America called then? > > Chris uhmmmm....can't say it---this IS a family type newsgroup after all... ... :) dave henrie

> Piquet, Senna and Montoya are American ? I believe that the American continent extends both to the north and south of the USA borders !! Are you sure ? > Like Coulthard, Stewart and McNish are English I suppose. British Actually. MS > >

> Why don't you build your own F1 car, and sneak up behind them just before > the start. If you should win (and why not), I'm sure some team will signyou > on. A better idea than trying to buy one. I believe Prost recently layed off a couple of drivers again :-) MS

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> > > thanks, > > Matt Dunko (remember that name!) =) > > Sure will, see you at San Marino! > > Ice D > > >

In article <jgSp8.1044$[email hidden]>, "Dunko" <[email hidden]> writes:

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>Well I guess I am in luck then, as I am younger than 25! =) Yeah I have >also heard of many tracks and racing schools in las vegas... So is that >really the only way? Well, looks like I will have to go to racing school, >get my racing license, and race every weekend with whatever car I have to >come across... But that does seem like a large risk, as registration and >licesence as well as school costs ALOT of money..not mention the residence >and all the other expenses....Anywhere in Canada of a place where they race? >Ontario would be even better if there was....

Bridgestone Racing Series... http://www.race2000.com/ Eldred -- Dale Earnhardt, Sr. R.I.P. 1951-2001 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett GPLRank - under construction... Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

"Dunko" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:vSQp8.759$[email hidden]... > This is probably the wrong place to ask...but I was wondering of how one > gets into formula racing or cart (the real thing). A lot of good suggestions have already come out. Let me add one to the list. For a young guy who doesn't have rich parents, breaking into motosports can be a difficult task. What I suggest you do is start attending races on the local level. Hang out in the pits. Offer your assistance to anyone and everyone. A lot of guys will be more then willing to take you under their wing if you offer to do the many odd jobs a team needs doing around the pits. Once teams get to know you and see that you're a hard worker you'll soon make a name for yourself and if you're lucky you may just get a test drive in exchange for your services. Plus, you may find out that racing isn't as glamourous as it appears to be and you'll be thankful that instead of spending loads of cash to discover this, you've only blown a few weekends of your time

I'll second this recommendation. What's neat about this book is that Smith tells you how to go about the job of being a race car driver and how to get it. If you are at all discouraged after reading Smith's book, realize that you probably don't have the dedication required. Buy every one of Carrol Smith's books. Read them front to back and back to front. When it comes to where to start, Karts are the only answer. Get into one of the Yamaha or Briggs classes and learn how to race. There's no real point to going to racing school yet as you'll learn just as much from the kart. From there shifter karts are a valid option (check out SKUSA's web site). Learn how to set up the Kart and learn race car engineering. Test driver is a valid way into some series and if you can speak the engineering lingo that's a head start. You'll need to realize that race car driver is one of the most sought after jobs in the world, and that if you're serious about this you'll need to spend just about every waking moment working on your career. The problem with being from the US and wanting to get into F1 or CART is that there is nothing approaching professional status in the lower ranks of road racing in the US. And no SCCA does not count. England is probably the place to go to race against real competition and catch the eye of someone. A simpler choice in the US would be the stock car route as it's fairly clear what the next level is whatever the level you're currently running at. And driving stock cars would still be better than working :) Doug Milliken <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> > 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. > > > > On Sun, 31 Mar 2002, Dunko wrote: > > > 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 nevertalked > > about how they actually entered. Is it through training such as racing > > school where there are people who scout for drivers or is there somesort of > > tryout with a manufacturer? I am seriously considering in to going inthis,

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> > so any help is appreciated! > > > > thanks, > > Matt Dunko (remember that name!) =) > > [email hidden] > > > > > > > > >

Dunko wrote:

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> > 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!

Spend a $1000 and take a one day course from one of the good racing schools. You will get some basics and get to drive an actual race vehicle for a couple hours. It's well worth doing for us hobbyists too, even if only as a once in a lifetime thing. And if you find you don't have natural talent, then "Other Sports Beckon" as they say ;) and you have saved yourself some time while still having great fun :) If you were an engineer then you would do a literature search. Of course, as an engineer you would probably already be too old to start out! ;) These two books discuss getting into racing and helping set reasonable expectations and how to come up with plan for your career. "The Successful Race Car Driver, A Career Development Handbook," Robert Metcalf, SAE, Warrendale, PA, 1999. ISBN 0-7680-0497-7, SAE Order Number R-254 "Drive to Win, The Essential Guide to Race Driving," Carroll Smith, Carroll Smith Consulting, Inc., Palos Verdes Etates, CA, 1996. ISBN-0-9651600-0-9 We have a professional race driver who consults with our company ( http://www.jeffharrison.com/ pictured in the first reference above as it turns out.) He works several racing related jobs (driving instructor, videogame consultant, etc.) as he navigates the seas of sponsorships and series selection. - Matt

Thanks for all who replied...looks like I have alot of reading to do... "Matthew V. Jessick" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > Dunko wrote: > > > > 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 alwayswondered > > how so many people can get into real proffesional racing but nevertalked > > about how they actually entered. Is it through training such as racing > > school where there are people who scout for drivers or is there somesort of > > tryout with a manufacturer? I am seriously considering in to going inthis,

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> > so any help is appreciated! > > Spend a $1000 and take a one day course from one of the good > racing schools. You will get some basics and get to drive an > actual race vehicle for a couple hours. It's well worth doing > for us hobbyists too, even if only as a once in a lifetime thing. > And if you find you don't have natural talent, > then "Other Sports Beckon" as they say ;) and you have saved > yourself some time while still having great fun :) > > If you were an engineer then you would do a literature search. > Of course, as an engineer you would probably already > be too old to start out! ;) > > These two books discuss getting into racing and helping set > reasonable expectations and how to come up with plan for > your career. > > "The Successful Race Car Driver, A Career Development Handbook," > Robert Metcalf, SAE, Warrendale, PA, 1999. ISBN 0-7680-0497-7, > SAE Order Number R-254 > > "Drive to Win, The Essential Guide to Race Driving," Carroll Smith, > Carroll Smith Consulting, Inc., Palos Verdes Etates, CA, 1996. > ISBN-0-9651600-0-9 > > We have a professional race driver who consults with > our company ( http://www.jeffharrison.com/ > pictured in the first reference above as it turns out.) > He works several racing related jobs (driving instructor, > videogame consultant, etc.) as he navigates the seas of > sponsorships and series selection. > > - Matt