How to get into motorsports?

[Brian 89 325i]

Whats the *best* way to get into motorsports as a driver for an occupation? I am, and have always been VERY interested in doing this so i think ill give it a try. Thanks

Brian

[Fraser]

Check out www.scca.org and find out when your region is having it's next auto-x or driving school.

[trent]

Re: How to get into motorsports?

Whats the *best* way to get into motorsports as a driver for an occupation? I am, and have always been VERY interested in doing this so i think ill give it a try. Thanks

Brian

If you didn't start karting when you were 5 you are hosed. Or, you need lots of money and you can buy yourself a ride.

[Brian 89 325i]

Well SHIT!!!!! How bout getting into motorsports in some other way, but still making a living at it.

Brian

[Charlie]

Have money, lots of money.

Or have daddy have lots of money.

Otherwise, start racing karts, doing solo II work, IT level club racing & eventually showroom stock level stuff.

Then bring lots of money so you can buy a seat in a competitive ride.

-Charlie

[Streetspec_iS]

Well SHIT!!!!! How bout getting into motorsports in some other way, but still making a living at it.

Brian

do some courses in automotive engineering or whatever...maybe pick a specific area, ie engine/suspension/aerodynamics....do some courses etc, get an apprenticeship, then work your way up...i know of a few ppl that have travelled to europe and are now workn on BTCC and ETCC teams.

or wait until yr a rich 50yo and buy a place in something like Carerra Cup.

[rwh11385]

Well SHIT!!!!! How bout getting into motorsports in some other way, but still making a living at it.

Brian

do some courses in automotive engineering or whatever...maybe pick a specific area, ie engine/suspension/aerodynamics....do some courses etc, get an apprenticeship, then work your way up...i know of a few ppl that have travelled to europe and are now workn on BTCC and ETCC teams.

or wait until yr a rich 50yo and buy a place in something like Carerra Cup.

Wow! That's nearly my plan..... i'm going for automotive engineering.......

Anyway, my 2 cents.
Cent #1: Average Pro Racecar Drivers don't make much on racing alone. See www.salary.com
Cent #2: Get into the automotive field and use your company as an excuse to race: TURNERMOTORSPORTS!!!! He basically leads his own race team to show off his products......and have one hell of a time!

[DBurke]

Sports car racers don't make any money. Nearly all the Speed WC guys are paying, PTG guys and Auberlen are not. Turnermotorsports is a separate entity from TMS Racing.
If you want to make some money, you are going to need about 1/4 million to get started. Get in a pavement sprint car or midget and learn to love turning left. Win the Triple Crown. Now you can get a Cup ride, you can now turn right twice a year at WGI and Sears.
Right now there is only money in Busch or Cup so focus there and good luck.

[DBurke]

With the same 1/4 million you could run Formula BMW or Formula Mazda, for a season. I'd go BMW as you can win a scholarship to head to Germany and be in BMW's Formula Jr program.
You have to understand that you are going to have to spend quite a bit before there is any return. Its the same with attempting any sport for a living. I played professional golf for 2 years, on my own dime and did fairly well. What you have to realize is that unless its on national TV (CBS,ABC, NBC) you are not making money even when you do well. Why did I stop? Taco Bell gets old and so does being broke.

[Brian 89 325i]

Hmmmmmm, well with some of my new found info(ala the R3V folks) i may just continue with my current plan, Which is get a parts business going and end up(hopefully) in customizing and have motorsports as a $$ hobby. Also how hard is automotive engineering to get into. Im in a bind with school, also how long does it take? I think being an engineer would be pretty cool but id need to do some more reserch. Thanks

Brian

[rwh11385]

Turnermotorsports is a separate entity from TMS Racing.

From Turnermotorsports.com :

We test many of our performance parts on the race track before they are sold to our customers.

.....

The TMS Team:

Will Turner: President
Douglas Mahar: Vice President of Sales / Webmaster
Dougie "Drew" Ingram: Sales / Public Relations
Dave Morin: Chief Technician / TMS Race Crew
Marc Feinstein: Chief Race Technician
Kevin Foote: Bilstein Sales / TMS Race Crew
Stefan Foord: Technician / TMS Race Crew
Keith Wayawotzki: Technician / TMS Race Crew
Ben Glace: New Product R&D / TMS Race Crew
Kevin Holmes: Technician / Service
Gunnar Hagstom: Shipping / Receiving Manager
John Callahan: Shipping / Receiving
Steve Valliere Shipping / Receiving
Denise Doucet: Administrative Assistant
Graham Bacheller: TMS Race Crew
Linda Turner: TMS Race Crew
Mel Alexander: T2000 Driver / Trackside Chef

I'm a huge fan of Turner and his company. I would have replied earlier, but the TMS website was down. It seems difficult for TMS racing and TMS to be seperate if Turner uses his racing team to test his products (and for marketing)....... and to have his shop technicians also part of his TMS Race Crew.

[DBurke]

From Turnermotorsports.com :

We test many of our performance parts on the race track before they are sold to our customers.

.....
I'm a huge fan of Turner and his company. I would have replied earlier, but the TMS website was down. It seems difficult for TMS racing and TMS to be seperate if Turner uses his racing team to test his products (and for marketing)....... and to have his shop technicians also part of his TMS Race Crew.

Turnermotorsports "sponsors" TMS Racing. They are separate entities. He may use the same people in his shop and products that he sells on his racecars but they are NOT the same thing. I would bet that both Turnermotorsports and TMS Racing file taxes. Its like Roush Racing is a separate entity from Roush Enterprises. That way your racing can't make your business (livelyhood) go in the shitter. Also kinda like why you incorporate if you own your own business, I can sue the business and get EVERYTHING the business has but I can't come after personal assets, home, cars etc.

[UNHCLL]

To bad that list leaves the real $$$ man behind TMS off. Its all well and good when you have a financial backer ready to drop money to support your comany and allow himself free reign to play.

[OreoGaborio]

"best way to become a millionaire driving a racecar is to start out a billionaire"
-some dude when i was little.... just a quote that i remember from somewhere

as far as the statement "TMS Racing is a separate identity from TurnerMotorsports", i'm guessing it's basically just two different sets of books & tax forms. they are probably both their own separate corporations, ie identity... that's my guess... that way it protects your assets/liabilities & keeps the numbers nice & neat

[rwh11385]

Alright Alright.
Legally, TMS and TMS Racing make be seperate if you say so.

But besides tax B.S., etc. TMS Racing is hand in hand with TMS.

My original post:

Get into the automotive field and use your company as an excuse to race: TURNERMOTORSPORTS!!!! He basically leads his own race team to show off his products......and have one hell of a time!

Will Turner "started Turner Motorsport in 1994 as a BMW-only tuner." --January 2001 european car. He worked for various repair shops, got a business degree, and worked for a mail-order BMW company named Noble before that.

"So Turner Motorsports guys are all at the track, and can take what they learn from racing and apply it back at the shop." - - Will's own words

Turner uses the Speed Channel racing series for exposure and R&D.

If you get into the automotive business, you could also start up a race team. Mind you, it'd cost money ($$$$$). But Turner probably has greatly increased his name recognition and # of customers by racing, as well as learned more about the products he sells.

And as far as UNHCLL's comment:
He said he started it in 1994 as a mail-order company. My guess is yes, he probably had a financial backer........or took out a loan for his company. Who knows?! My friend's dad is a "Venture Capitialist" and supports new companies everyday, maybe one backed Turner to start......