How to start racing?!?!

Ok, it may be a dumb question...but I've always wanted to race. I was thinking about going to a racing school, but, I've noticed the one I was thinking about going to (Skip Barber) is probley going to cover alot of stuff that I already know, atleast for the starting courses, which could cost quite a bit for stuff I already know. Anyways, that's why I'm asking you guys...what do I have to do to get started? I want to race some sort of road race/formula styled car....I have nothing against the other styles, but I don't want to race in a drag, nascar, or endurance/lemans....Does anyone here race? How did you get started? How do you go about getting a car and sponsors? THANK YOU!!!!!

Hope you have money, 'cus you're gonna need lots of it!!! In reality, people that race have either been around it their whole life, or they are doing very well money-wise, and can afford to buy all of the equipment to race. Atleast the kind of racing you are thinking about. But, I would say look into Go-Karting. A lot of Formula 1 guys starting off in that and I believe it's "relatively" cheap. Those things are fast too!

since you're already 23, you've kinda missed the boat for getting into big-time open wheel racing. My advice to you would be to get a used SCCA Formula Vee car and go ClubRacing. Thats probably the cheapest way. If you have more money you can get into a faster class of SCCA Formula ClubRacing.

Ok, thanks for the pointers guys...Ill look into that...It would be fun to do scca.

This was covered in another thread here somewhere. If you want to become a professional you pretty much are too old. You could try it, but if you're not racing professionally already by your age, the deck is stacked so far against you it isn't even funny.

BTW, I wouldn't run a Formula Vee. For less money you could run in Improved Touring, one of the most successful categories in SCCA history. Spec Racer Ford or Spec Pinata are more popular, but not by much.

What do you guys think a good age is to start or the latest you should start to get into track racing in open wheel?

I think if you haven't done anything by the time you're 18 you've pretty much missed a shot at the big time. With no karting experience, the learning curve on open wheel SCCA ClubRacing classes (FF, F2000, FV, or DSR) is pretty damn steep.

u really need to start carts at like 13+ cause look at F1 guys right now 20's also if from america sorry but dont' have much options or chance. Unless they do another Red bull challange

What you need to do is get a good DSR, CSR, or a good open-wheeled SCCA car and race the nationals. If you place well there you can get offered to drive in the Formula 3000 series, which is a step or 2 under F1. Show good there, and u may move to F1 or Cart.

Ummm, guys....Boris Said didn't climb into a race car until he was 26 years old...so all hope is not lost.

For him to be in F1 it practically is seeing as F1 teams are looking for young guys. But then again Michael is in his 40s i believe or close to it i think they said. But as for a road racing carreer his options are WIDE open.

I forgot to mention if u still want to get a used Formula car i can hook you up with some links.

Ummm, guys....Boris Said didn't climb into a race car until he was 26 years old...so all hope is not lost.

Boris Said is also well funded. You don't just go out and start winning Corvette Challenge races 3 years after you first start racing without some significant financial backing. He owned a motorcycle store before racing cars, and is a co-owner of No Fear Clothing.

Huh... I didn't know that about Boris. He's on my wife's fantasy NASCAR team (he would have been mine, but she won him in the draft). Boris Said is one of my personal heroes. Plus, he's just such a regular guy that you can't help but love him.

No question about Boris being a good guy, I've met him on a couple of occasions, and there is no doubt that he's racing because that's what he wants to be doing.

I don't know how you can consider someone with a 'fro that big to be a regular guy, though ;)

His hair is rad, 1970's porn star hair.