At what point do you become a 'Racing Driver'?

[jamiebae]

A tricky one this....

Once I do my ARDS, am I a racing driver?

How about after I finish my first race in Stock Hatch or similar?

Someone like Dave Pinkney paying for a drive in BTCC?

Are the guys buying their drives for $2m a year in GP2 racing drivers?

At what point in their racing career does someone go from a normal person doing a bit of racing to a racing driver?

[Jemco]

jamiebae said:

A tricky one this....

Once I do my ARDS, am I a racing driver?

How about after I finish my first race in Stock Hatch or similar?

Someone like Dave Pinkney paying for a drive in BTCC?

Are the guys buying their drives for $2m a year in GP2 racing drivers?

At what point in their racing career does someone go from a normal person doing a bit of racing to a racing driver?

You're in marketing... surely you can tell people that you're "a racing driver" just by thinking about doing your ARDS!

[RT106]

Surely you're only a *insert profession* once you're getting paid to do it.

I've had a stage rally licence for the last ten years but would never consider myself to be a 'rally driver'.

[jamiebae]

RT106 said:

Surely you're only a *insert profession* once you're getting paid to do it.

I've had a stage rally licence for the last ten years but would never consider myself to be a 'rally driver'.

So would you class most of the guys in GP2 as racing drivers, or is the fact they're paying for their drives (in sponsorship or otherwise)enough to change that?

I'd say Mat Jackson is a racing driver, but he's had to bring in sponsorship to fund his drive in a BTCC Lacetti this year.

[matt3001]

Surely its just when you are driving to race?

[Munter]

matt3001 said:

Surely its just when you are driving to race?

Excatly. It's the day you sit in a car and compete in a timed fashion to go faster than another car/driver over the same course.

[VX Foxy]

Worst "I'm a racing driver" thread, ever!

[bikemonster]

Depending on the conversation, I can describe myself with complete honesty as a cyclist, musician, race driver, scuba diver, surfer, photographer, writer or engine builder.

None of these is an accurate answer to "So, erm, what do you do for a living?", which is a very different question.

James

[belleair302]

I would think it is when your life revolves around race meetings, any testing opportunities and when fussing over your car becomes more time consuming than your social life.

Few Classic Car drivers class themselves as Racing Drivers, and only when it becomes your sole job would you be classified as a racing driver.

Makes no difference if you are paying your own way or being paid. Nick Mason is not a racing driver although he loves to race. Frank Sytner is not a racing driver and he also loves to race.

Having a race licence is not a qualification to race. Does having a law degree make you a lawyer...or an accountancy degree make you an accountant or a PPL (Private Pilots Licence) make you a pilot of you only fly two or three hours a year? I think not.

[jamiebae]

VX Foxy said:

Worst "I'm a racing driver" thread, ever!

I'm not though, just pondering if I should sell the Elise, do my ARDS test and go racing...

This thought came up when I was chatting to a couple of proper racing drivers earlier this week, neither of whom are being paid to drive their cars, but I would class both as racing drivers.

[VX Foxy]

jamiebae said:

VX Foxy said:

Worst "I'm a racing driver" thread, ever!

I'm not though, just pondering if I should sell the Elise, do my ARDS test and go racing...

This thought came up when I was chatting to a couple of proper racing drivers earlier this week, neither of whom are being paid to drive their cars, but I would class both as racing drivers.

Do it.
www.pbmwc.co.uk
The Production BMW Championship was started by a bunch of Elise owners a few years ago. Very competitive and about as affordable as it gets.

[VX Foxy]

If you have a licence and compete, you're a racing driver. End of. If you also get paid for it you're a professional racing driver.

[ewenm]

RT106 said:

Surely you're only a *insert profession* once you're getting paid to do it.

I've had a stage rally licence for the last ten years but would never consider myself to be a 'rally driver'.

My job doesn't define me - my passions do. Only the very lucky manage to combine a passion with employment.

[RT106]

ewenm said:

My job doesn't define me - my passions do. Only the very lucky manage to combine a passion with employment

I agree entirely. My passion's rallying, and that sport has far more influence on who I am than my profession, which I consider to be nothing more than a means to an end. But that doesn't make me a rally driver, not by any stretch of the imagination.

[The Wookie]

belleair302 said:

I would think it is when your life revolves around race meetings, any testing opportunities and when fussing over your car becomes more time consuming than your social life.

Makes no difference if you are paying your own way or being paid. Nick Mason is not a racing driver although he loves to race. Frank Sytner is not a racing driver and he also loves to race.

Pretty much sums it up for me. I've only just started getting winnings for my racing (although I still spend a lot more than I get back), but I've considered myself a racing driver for a couple of years because my life has revolved around it. Holidays, jobs, university, social events, everything comes second to the race calendar.

Has to be said though, I still wouldn't call myself a racing driver if I didn't have at least a couple of trophies in the cabinet.

[RobM77]

I'm a cyclist, a swimmer and a runner so I suppose I'm a racing driver. I certainly care far more about motorsport than any other sport, and think about it constantly when I'm not doing it. However, I wouldn't really call myself a racing driver until I was pro, it just sounds a bit pretentious. Good point above though - a lot of drivers still pay for their drives even very high up the ladder, but I'd still call them racing drivers.

[AndrewW-G]

Surely you become a racing driver when you participate in your first organised race . . . . . . but only become a Professional racing driver when you get paid to race

[Jungles]

It would depend on the context.

For example, in a conversation about hobbies, an occasional club racer could call themselves a "racing driver" and not sound like a prat. On the other hand, if such a person was to claim "racing driver" when discussing occupations, then that will be stretching the truth way too far.

In general usage, I'd say "racing driver" is justified if you are a dedicated (and licensed) racer in a championship at club level or higher. The key word is "dedicated", meaning you compete regularly, at least several times a year.

Unlike "swimmer" or "cyclist", "racing driver" has a quasi-professional connotation, so they can't really be compared.

Edited by Jungles on Monday 27th July 14:24

[Strangely Brown]

I would say that it's when that is how you make your living. Until then, you just go racing?

[Strangely Brown]

RobM77 said:

a lot of drivers still pay for their drives even very high up the ladder, but I'd still call them racing drivers.

For those people (who buy drives at the highest levels etc) it could be argued that they still make their living from being "a racing driver". Whether they get paid by the team or get paid by sponsorship and then buy the drive, they are still making their living from what they are doing.