How can you become involved in motorsport?

[mc_conor]

I'm just wondering how anyone here has become involved in motorsport, whether driving, mechanic or marshall.It seems all very hush hush.

Even participating in karting, to drifting, BTCC, how do people go about becoming part of this?

What about mechanics? I take it F1 mechanics have a degree in mechanical engineering?

I take it to start even something like karting is going to be very expensive, i don't have much money so i'm sure it's out of the question for me to ever try anything like this in the first place.

Just curious personally, thanks for any replies.

[Racefan_uk]

First answer the question, what is it you actually want to do within motorsport? Then you can start to find a way in.

Best piece of advice I can give is that if you want to get up close with racing cars AND be of use, become a marshall. The spot can't survive without them and they are the backbone of racing in the UK.

If there's something else specific you want to get involved in, then ask more relevant questions. Do you want to be a mechnic? Official (marshalling is the best place to start for that anyway), involved in a championship in some way? Driver? (Yes, that will be the most expensive option! lol)

ETA: Race mechanics don't have to have a degree in mechanical engineering to work in a race team, they just need to be good at what they do and understand what they do and be methodical and precise, after all, they're setting up something that some looney is going to thrash around a track at over 100mph, needs to be bolted together properly!

Edited by Racefan_uk on Tuesday 27th May 21:42

[ewenm]

Becoming a Marshall is one way in if you don't want to race yourself.

Or pick a race series, buy a car, start racing. The Caterham Academy for example, but there are loads of others out there.

[mc_conor]

If the cost of actually racing in a particular series did not involve costs of into the high to tens of thousands per annum to race competitavely i would love to, but i don't think it's possible?

Realistically i would like to go about becoming a marshall and then see what happens from there. So how do you go about becoming one? You need a qualifications etc.?

Sorry if i'm sounding vague i don't have much knowledge in this subject to begin with.

[ewenm]

www.marshals.co.uk

[mc_conor]

Thanks ewen. How do you go about the mechanic route, marshall and get known and just help a team if they want your help with anything?

I take it it's impossible to race yourself unless you have 10k plus spare a year? I can just about keep my car on the road lol.

I'm 19 so too young to afford it myself, and too old for daddy to pay for it.

PS That caterham looks so much fun

[ewenm]

mc_conor said:

Thanks ewen. How do you go about the mechanic route, marshall and get known and just help a team if they want your help with anything?

I take it it's impossible to race yourself unless you have 10k plus spare a year? I can just about keep my car on the road lol.

I'm 19 so too young to afford it myself, and too old for daddy to pay for it.

PS That caterham looks so much fun

Looked into racing a bit myself but no time at the moment. RobM77 races a Caterham, as does MechSympathy.

I'd imagine mechanics get into it through apprenticeships/work with a race support team, but probably not easy.

[miss notax]

Join a local car club - they will run events where you can marshall and are likely to offer cheap events you can try in your road car - whatever it is! ie navigational scatter rallies, (a bit like a treasure hunt in a car) or maybe autotests - driving around a car park as fast as possible without hitting cones and following a set route.

Once you belong to a car club you could also get involved in the other areas mentioned and maybe try rally co driving?

Good luck!

[belleair302]

Contact local circuits for track work, or car clbs for hill climbs / rallying etc. Decide upon what you want to do and how much time you want to give to doing it and then put yourself around doing whatever to get a foothold.

This won't help but in the early 1980's a guy showed up at McLaren in Woking, Surrey, offered to clean cars and do odd jobs....today is the commercial director and earns close to £1.4 million a year. Enjoy what you do, not chase the money!

[anonymous-user]

if you want to marshal, give your local circuit a call and they should be able to help. marshalling is great fun, a great way to make new friends and gives you a real adrenaline buzz. it also helps with job applications as it is a good example of team work etc and gets people talking

if you want to work on a race team, go to a few meetings, speak to a few drivers and see if anyone needs a hand at races. most people will have a few friends helping them but you might find someone who needs help at races. at first you might do nothing more than check tyre pressures and tighten a harness but if you show a willing attitude and a commitment, you could well end up doing much more.

[JP_Midget]

I thought as you did at 19, but didn't have the time to spare and thought it was all out of reach. A few years later I found a way to have my own car and I'm racing

I think the best way in as a mechanic would be to decide which tracks are local to you and then go along to watch (or marshal) and check out the kind of cars you would like to work on. The programs usually have where the driver/entrant is located, so hopefully you'll be able to find the right combo near-by and then all you have to do is go and ask if you can lend a hand.

I suggest finding someone local as you can help between race meetings, which will be far easier to pick up the knowledge you'll need of the car and the driver as they can both be as tempremental as each other!

I see on your profile you're in N.Ireland, and unfortunately I don't have any contacts that are racing over there at the moment... trying to convince my best friend to start though!

[andy97]

mc_conor said:

Thanks ewen. How do you go about the mechanic route, marshall and get known and just help a team if they want your help with anything?

I take it it's impossible to race yourself unless you have 10k plus spare a year? I can just about keep my car on the road lol.

I'm 19 so too young to afford it myself, and too old for daddy to pay for it.

PS That caterham looks so much fun

I won't pretend that racing is cheap but it can be cheaper than many think. I race an Alfa 33 which I bought for £750 (which I bought with a bit of panel damage requiring a £200 repair). I know of 2 others available for about £1200-1400 each. Each race that I do costs averages out at about £400 all in. I do about 6 races a year.

As I said, its not cheap but I know plenty of people who spend lot more on a skiing holiday or a few long weekend breaks in europe etc.

[cptsideways]

I think its was V15Ben on here who asked exacty the same question here a year or so ago. I sent him to the EDC organisers (Drift Championships), he offered to assist, ended up with a good position assiting us drivers in paddock marshalling all over the UK at the big circuits, assisting with event management etc, all hands on stuff & I know the organisers were pleased with his input.

I'm sure it'll have gone a long way to a good career move too

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?h=0...


Was great to see Ben at the events enjoying it too

Edited by cptsideways on Wednesday 28th May 10:21

[aquilamotorsport]

hi mc conor. its relatively easy once you know where to start. marshals have been mentioned above, i became a marshal at 17 and its been brilliant. in terms of mechanicing and owning your own car. well i marshal at circuits but im more involved in oval and drag racing. i help out witha friends top fuel harley at drag racing, just got talking to himk one day and a friendship grew from ther. in terms of racing yourself. drag racing is pretty cheep, you can do rwybs at the pod for 30 quid a pop, ok its only a track day but its really enjoyable becasue there are championships run for anything froma street car upwards. 'proper' drag racing gets a little more expensive, it costs £100 for a weekends racing, you will get around 8 runs for that, where as at a rwyb youll get 10 for 30 quid, however again you can start in a road car and work your way up. short oval racing is pretty cheep too, there are no entry fees so the racing is free, all you need to do is buy a car, they cost from £1000 all the way up to £100,000 depending on what you want! have a look at the classifieds section on www.shortcircuit.info theres not much on there at teh moment because its in the middle of teh season but stuff pops up there at the end. i drag race a legends car at teh moment. its an ex oval car, cost me around £8000 which is pretty reasonable, my racing budget for drag racing is around £2000 a year inc petrol to get to and from track etc. however when you move up to the big time, your looking at 500 per meeting including entry fees, petrol etc, so over 10 rounds your looking at 5000. i managed to afford my car because i took a year out before going to uni and got a job, the money soon adds up. plus i still live with my parents so dont have any commitments at the moment, it means that i can do what i want with my money ie go racing! bottom line is though your exactly the same as i was and still am, im impatient, but these things take time, however until you can afford your own car start marshalling to get rid of the cravings a bit!

[intrepid44]

Karting is still the cheapest form of motorsport, and if you're thinking of racing, it should be the first area to look at. I successfully compete (looking to win the club championship this year) on a shoe-string budget, probably around £1000 for my annual budget, of course some people spend a fair whack more than me, but it's only as expensive as you make it, so per meeting it's around £140 (7 round championship, and in every meeting there is; 1 practice, 1 timed practice, 3 races, 1 semi-final, and a final, about 80 minutes driving), you can't beat karting for value for money.

[Kickstart]

What about being a rally navigator that should be very cheap ? You might be best to try marshalling a few different events race/rally etc and speak to people and see what you fancy.

[superkartracer]

mc_conor said:

Even participating in karting.....

I take it to start even something like karting .....

Chief, karting is top notch motorsport with some of the best drivers around, but you make it sound like some sort of arse-end of motorsport LOL

At the top end expect to spent 100k+ and 170mph if you want.

But it can still be cheap fun, but even £250 per racing meeting is expensive for some pockets.

test days are very good value at £30 off notes

SKR

[RobM77]

I've never seen it as a hush hush world actually. I've been racing for 8 years now and most people that I meet are very friendly indeed. What motorsport is though is money driven, you do need lots of money. Competing in just one race in my Caterham costs me more than a two week holiday in the sun! Don't ask what it costs to actually be competitive

If you do want to get involved with motorsport, then simply pick a championship that interests you, go to their website, e-mail a few people and find out about it. Once you've got your ARDS test (just ring up and book it over the phone), all you do is trailer your car to the track, sign on, race with everyone else, and then tow it home again. Easy, and not hush hush at all. If you don't want to tow or get your hands mucky, you can even pay for a team to do all that bit for you (I've done this just the once and it was amazing! Thanks SimonY).

[miss notax]

If you want to see what it's all about I would offer to service for a team at an event. That way to get to experience it all and chat to everyone. If you can change a wheel / tell the time / make a cup of tea (or even all three!)then you'll be in demand!

Personally speaking we would be delighted if someone joined us at events, so I would ask around and see what you can do..

[JP_Midget]

RobM77 said:

I've never seen it as a hush hush world actually. I've been racing for 8 years now and most people that I meet are very friendly indeed. What motorsport is though is money driven, you do need lots of money.

I think it can seem quite daunting and seem hush-hush when you don't have much experience of motorsport. The top level, particularly F1, seem to hide away at race weekends, at least that is the impression they give so it is easy to assume it is the same all the way through.

When you attend a club race and find you can wander up and chat to the drivers and crew, it can be difficult for them to give you the time and attention you might like because of the time pressure they may well be under. Before the race there is signing on, scruitineering, maybe a breifing, practise and tinkering before the race. Then afterward a lot of people have far to go so need to pack up fast, and there are awards presentations and such like to attend too. I know one time that I would have loved to have chatted to a chap that came to talk to me, but they called our race so I had to dash!

With so much money involved in the cars, and paid out for a race entry, it can be difficult for drivers to bring in a new member to their 'team' straight away at race meetings since they do not know you, and have a lot invested! So a newbie might well end up with the stopwatch, or a sponge for the car while everyone learns to work together.

Having said all that I do agree that everyone I've met so far has been incredibly friendly, but I can understand where the idea of a secretive hard to enter sport can be created when someone doesn't have much experience of the environment.