Comments on: Do You Want To Be A Racing Driver?

By: irfaan

irfaan — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:37:06 +0000

I havnt missed a formula 1 race since the age of 11,watched the full 24hrs LE MANS for the past 4years,God willing we can probably pay a fee if required.

THANK YOU!!

By: irfaan

irfaan — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:30:11 +0000

Hi i am irfaan,indian,20years of age and from South Africa.I have extremly great talent of driving from a very young age,i got passion of driving and racing just by WATCHING FORMULA1.But unfortunatly we could not afford it and still cannot.I really would LOVE for whoever is out there to give me chance to show my talent and skills on the race track.I have exceeded in every form of racing i’v participated in.SOO please make my dream a reality and we’ll be a extremly strong an successfull team.

THANK YOU!!

By: anthony prakash

anthony prakash — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 13:38:17 +0000

so long i try contact who incharge person to help me become racer

By: Mr Butterscotch

Mr Butterscotch — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 21:27:53 +0000

Hi Luke,

I wasn’t implying that karting was cheap, merely that it was the cheapest way to get some practical racing experience (even if it’s just going for a jaunt at the local track at the weekend). In saying that, there’s a number of racing series out there now that offer low/no budget action.

By: moschum

moschum — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 19:32:08 +0000

@ luke,
there was no average lap time, it was 1 timed lap in the astra VXR, n00b.

yeh, and heel and toeing isnt hard, but most people there couldnt do it in the jag prototypes, the only other person heel and toeing was someone who had raced in formula ford.

so rather than speculating stick to what you know/dont know about the event.

By: luke

luke — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 11:32:04 +0000

@mr Butterscotch….i have read some of your comments about the kating scene and i would just like to say that its not as cheap as you think it is…i used to do just the normal ‘clubbies’ meetings on a very tight budget and would be be consistantly fast..i race a 4 year old kart (doesnt sound old but the difference between that and a new 2010 kart is unbelievable) and still finished 3rd in the championship having only done half the amount of rounds. however like i said this is only a clubby meeting so theres just no recognition towrard quick drivers with a low budget…you have to race in super 1 to be recognised at all…but you will need very deep pockets to do this…people spend around 30k a year on karting.

@moschum….just because your the quickest driver out there doesnt mean that u should deservidly win the competition…you need consistancy in your lap times…u may get quick lap times but your probs only a one lap wonder and thats it. the person who won it was probably only a tenth or 2 behind you on your fastest time but i bet the average lap time was quicker….oh an heel an toe…its not that hard…

By: Mr Butterscotch

Mr Butterscotch — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 23:25:57 +0000

Hi Marc,

Unfortunately the competition is now closed with no hope of reopening. The best thing I can offer is to get involved with your local motorsports club and they can give you further information on how to get involved.

By: marc cargill

marc cargill — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 16:34:13 +0000

how do i get my shot at this.i am 23 and wake up ever day thinking on racing and getting that track time would be just what i need.i no i have something just never got to show it my mind is in one place perfect racing lines perfect driver head and theres no i in team

By: paul

paul — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 13:12:50 +0000

Moschum was making a very valid point, motorsport is never going to be affordable to everyman.
Most people set their sights too high, you can’t expect to just take up racing and jump straight into Formula Renault or BTCC. Just as much fun and competition can be had in series such as the Mighty Minis or similar entry level series.
If you really want to race and are prepared to dedicate a lot of time and effort to do so then you can get set up in the Mighty Minis for under £7000 for the first year, including the cost of the car!!
People need to be realistic, most televised race series only really cater for the guys who have been nurtured to the top by big teams,or those who have a massive personal wealth which allows them to buy their seats.

By: moschum

moschum — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:07:53 +0000

this makes for hilarious reading.
i was one of the finalists in the year that alison won. i was the fastest driver, set the fastest times in 2 of the 3 disciplines, dominated the go karting race, and the head of the vxr race team even asked me how i’d managed to become so good at heel and toeing.

despite all that, they chose someone who was safe. basically. alison wasn’t slow, wasn’t fast, he was steady and average. this proved in his season in the Cup as he didn’t win a single race, despite having the best car and team around him.

im pretty sure vxr aren’t running the comp. more than anything it was a promotional thing rather than genuinly helping someone start a career in racing. Also after the season was over you’d be on your own i.e. back to reality. So unless you had the 50 odd k needed to race a fully works prepped vxr astra, your career would be over.

i used to be a dreamer, but then realised motorsport is primarily a business, funded by rich people, sold to rich people. i was at a kart meeting and the chain fell off my kart. I needed a new screw for the sprocket – i went to the parts van. The guy wanted £4 for 2 small screws. I said ‘are you joking’. he said ‘well you’re in the wrong sport mate’. Thats the sort of mentality you’re up against if you want a ‘career’.
Most people don’t even know you need at least 100k to do a season of formula renault, or 50k for formula ford.
my point? i don’t have one really, apart from the fact that the fans feed this money driven sport by appreciating it and calling the drivers ‘skilled’ when in reality a lot of people could do what they do, given the funding. its time for fans to demand easier access and cheaper costs for competitive go-karting at least. Of course it’ll never happen as you’re all deluded.