Whether
you grew up watching NASCAR or Formula 1, there is something exhilarating about
the sport of racing. The only thing more exciting is getting behind the wheel
of your own racecar and taking to the track. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as
submitting a job application or showing up to a career fair. Here’s how to get
started in auto racing.
Make a Plan
Before
you start showing up at racetracks with your daily driver and getting laughed
off the course, you need to make a plan. Wanting to get into racing is a noble
goal that’s too broad to be realistically achievable. You need to make a plan
and break it down into smaller pieces so you know what you’re working
toward.
Do
you want to drive for NASCAR or just make a name for yourself in local
circuits? Do you want to drive someone else’s car or build your own from the
ground up? Once you have a clearer picture of the kind of career you want to
have in auto racing, it becomes easier to achieve your goals
Get a Car
Next,
unless you get really lucky and land a NASCAR or Formula 1 contract, you’re
going to need a racecar. The exact details of your vehicle will depend on a lot
of different variables, from the type of race to the rules of the track. You may need a
regular car with no modifications or you may have free reign to alter it as you
like to get the most out of it.
If you own a truck, you may have thought about taking it racing once or twice. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as just showing up at the track and paying the entry fee. What do you need to do to get started in truck racing?
Choose Your Race Type
Just like with cars, there are different types of races you can enter your truck in once it’s ready. The preparations you need to do will vary depending on the competition. There’s drag racing, where you will need to increase horsepower and torque to blast down a quarter-mile strip as quickly as possible. There’s off-road racing, where your suspension and tires will require a serious upgrade. There’s track racing, drifting, desert racing and even super truck racing, where drivers speed around the track in souped-up delivery trucks.
Your next steps for getting started in truck racing will depend on the type of race you choose. Read the rest of this entry →
The world of auto racing can seem like an intimidating place. At the highest levels of competition, professional drivers race cars that cost more than $100,000 in parts alone. However, stepping into the world of racing may not be as difficult as you think. There are several different types and levels of racing, ensuring that you can find some way to participate regardless of how much time and money you can invest.
Autocross
The easiest way to start racing is with autocross. The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) holds more than 1,200 events around the country, and these events are open to anyone. All you need is a car that has passed a safety inspection and a helmet, which you may be able to borrow at the race.
In autocross, makeshift tracks are laid out with traffic cones, often in a large parking lot or at an airport. You’ll race the course alone, just you against the clock, and compare your time against other vehicles in the same class. You can talk to your local race organizer about how to best prepare for the event, but common advice is to put some extra air in your tires, remove your hubcaps and take any loose items out of the car.
Wheel-to-Wheel Racing
If autocross doesn’t quite cut it for you, wheel-to-wheel racing might be more your speed. You’ll be put on a road course with several other drivers, pitting your skill – and your car – against theirs. Being on the track with other racers does add an element of risk, which is why your vehicle will have to meet strict safety requirements. Here are a few safety features most racing clubs require: Read the rest of this entry →
The Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month is a former major league baseball player who came into the game as a teenager and stayed until he was in his 40s. In between, Rusty Staub put up a solid career that was primarily spent on expansion or rebuilding teams.
Originally signed by the Colt .45s at age 17, he made his major league debut as a 19-year old rookie and became only the second player in the modern era to play in more than 150 games as a teenager.
Though he hit only .224 splitting time between first base and rightfield, Staub did start building a foundation that would turn him into an All-Star by 1967 when he finished fifth in the league with a .333 batting average.
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