Discussion
Hi,
Would you say 32 is too old to start a career in motor racing?
I am thinking of competing in a race series. I have always been told i have raw talent to drive fast , never lost a race (not proud of it but was young and stupid) even when in a much less powerful car.
I know it may be just a bot of fun but if i got really good at it can someone make a living out of racing?
Matt
Would you say 32 is too old to start a career in motor racing?
I am thinking of competing in a race series. I have always been told i have raw talent to drive fast , never lost a race (not proud of it but was young and stupid) even when in a much less powerful car.
I know it may be just a bot of fun but if i got really good at it can someone make a living out of racing?
Matt
mattprince said:
Hi,
Would you say 32 is too old to start a career in motor racing?
I am thinking of competing in a race series. I have always been told i have raw talent to drive fast , never lost a race (not proud of it but was young and stupid) even when in a much less powerful car.
I know it may be just a bot of fun but if i got really good at it can someone make a living out of racing?
Matt
When you say 'never lost a race' are you talking about traffic light gp?Would you say 32 is too old to start a career in motor racing?
I am thinking of competing in a race series. I have always been told i have raw talent to drive fast , never lost a race (not proud of it but was young and stupid) even when in a much less powerful car.
I know it may be just a bot of fun but if i got really good at it can someone make a living out of racing?
Matt
If so then you'll be in for a big shock when you get on the track. You could be the best road driver in the world but racing is a different kettle of fish.
I'd suggest hiring a car in a club series to see how you get on before spending a few tens of thousands on a national championship that 'might' get you noticed.
You wont make any money unless you get to top flight racing, even then its not a given. Many drivers work as instructors to help pay or their racing.
Good luck with it but in reality its probably best you keep it as a hobby - possibly working as an instructor for added track time.
How many racing drivers do you seriously think are paid?
As posted above you could get some experience and work as an instructor for corporate / driving experience days.
To get to the 'Driver Coach' (teaching your own clients) level of instructor you need to gain years more experience and develop a good reputation.
My advice: Don't give up your day job - But do go racing and enjoy it!
As posted above you could get some experience and work as an instructor for corporate / driving experience days.
To get to the 'Driver Coach' (teaching your own clients) level of instructor you need to gain years more experience and develop a good reputation.
My advice: Don't give up your day job - But do go racing and enjoy it!
Edited by BenElliottRacing on Wednesday 8th April 21:10
I was talking with Ron Dennis the other night (he drinks down at my local) and he was saying older driver's are exactly what top level motorsport needs. He's fed up with these young upstarts that come into the sport having done nothing since the age of four other than karting and national championships, thinking they have learnt it all. He'd like to see people that have learnt their racecraft out on the open road where the 'real' competition is. It's only once you've master the art of getting your 1.2 Corsa off the line quicker than the guy next to you in his much quicker turbo diesel repmobile, that you really develop that competitive edge that the top teams (and sponsors) are screaming out for.
Admittedly, it's not going to be a 'done deal' but if you've got that 'raw talent' then as long as you keep the faith that'll see you through.
Admittedly, it's not going to be a 'done deal' but if you've got that 'raw talent' then as long as you keep the faith that'll see you through.
If by career you mean being paid to drive a car in a race series, then very possibly. You could probably get your ARDS and try to work teaching, although I imagine the competition is very stiff and full of drivers who've been racing for years, with the experience and skills.
If you mean is it too old to start racing in your spare time - a club series, national series etc., then no not at all!
If you mean is it too old to start racing in your spare time - a club series, national series etc., then no not at all!
ruston said:
I was talking with Ron Dennis the other night (he drinks down at my local) and he was saying older driver's are exactly what top level motorsport needs. He's fed up with these young upstarts that come into the sport having done nothing since the age of four other than karting and national championships, thinking they have learnt it all. He'd like to see people that have learnt their racecraft out on the open road where the 'real' competition is. It's only once you've master the art of getting your 1.2 Corsa off the line quicker than the guy next to you in his much quicker turbo diesel repmobile, that you really develop that competitive edge that the top teams (and sponsors) are screaming out for.
Admittedly, it's not going to be a 'done deal' but if you've got that 'raw talent' then as long as you keep the faith that'll see you through.
Admittedly, it's not going to be a 'done deal' but if you've got that 'raw talent' then as long as you keep the faith that'll see you through.
Good luck with what ever you end up doing, but a good friend of mine recently won the Renault Clio championship last year, something like 12 out of 18 poles and never off the podium all season, he had won the championship by race 12 or 14.
My point is this, not only does Ben have the driving talents that humble the likes of probably everyone on here but he also has a full time job as he earns a meagre amount from racing, thats if you win races, but his father also puts in many many hours sourcing the funding to allow Ben to race, he's no rich kid so they have to do all the legwork themselves.
If you're thinking of earning a living you're not being realisitic, at all. I know you wont be running a Clio, which incidentally costs around 70-80 thousand to run a full season but even on the Touring car grid barely a handful are fully paid works drivers, the rest have to put up their own funding.
I love the kid to bits as i've known him from a baby but, when someone this good can't get the funding together to race it seems to be a harsh reflection of the economy we are currently living in and this is a young lad that was plastered all over the telly every time there was a touring car round on.
A serious wish of good luck though, i would love to to a race series at some point but i think only ever as a hobby not my main source of income, even the good drivers can't earn from this sport.
My point is this, not only does Ben have the driving talents that humble the likes of probably everyone on here but he also has a full time job as he earns a meagre amount from racing, thats if you win races, but his father also puts in many many hours sourcing the funding to allow Ben to race, he's no rich kid so they have to do all the legwork themselves.
If you're thinking of earning a living you're not being realisitic, at all. I know you wont be running a Clio, which incidentally costs around 70-80 thousand to run a full season but even on the Touring car grid barely a handful are fully paid works drivers, the rest have to put up their own funding.
I love the kid to bits as i've known him from a baby but, when someone this good can't get the funding together to race it seems to be a harsh reflection of the economy we are currently living in and this is a young lad that was plastered all over the telly every time there was a touring car round on.
A serious wish of good luck though, i would love to to a race series at some point but i think only ever as a hobby not my main source of income, even the good drivers can't earn from this sport.
Edited by Evo on Thursday 9th April 07:32
Basically you have missed the boat. If you havent done club level motorsport yet, you probably dont really know how fast you are. If you walk into club level motorsport and win every thing in sight, then you need to fund yourself into something that is on the motorsport ladder. If you do that and you win everything in sight, then there is a slim chance you may make it as a GT driver / instructor. That _may_ be about enough to repay the horrific debt you will have built up by then.
My bet is you will find, that a decent club level single make series will show you how much you dont know.
"Remember there is a fortune in motorsport, I know, 'cos I put it there!"
My bet is you will find, that a decent club level single make series will show you how much you dont know.
"Remember there is a fortune in motorsport, I know, 'cos I put it there!"
In short, its not too old to have a dabble, and hell if you've got the money you might even buy yourself a seat in the BTCC or GT's - but if you're talking about getting paid to drive - I suspect you are living on a different planet. There are some seriously quick guys naturally talented young drivers that could have made F1, WTCC or WRC on talent out there that don't get to realise their potential, its not a sport where you really 'get spotted' and certainly not one where you are invited to go and play for an academy, or you can pop down to JJB and spend £50 on boots and show the world how good you are - it doesn't work like that at all. I'd do a little more research first, and perhaps have a crack at a few track days and see how you get on. It's a bit different for a traffic light GP.
ruston said:
I was talking with Ron Dennis the other night (he drinks down at my local) and he was saying older driver's are exactly what top level motorsport needs. He's fed up with these young upstarts that come into the sport having done nothing since the age of four other than karting and national championships, thinking they have learnt it all. He'd like to see people that have learnt their racecraft out on the open road where the 'real' competition is. It's only once you've master the art of getting your 1.2 Corsa off the line quicker than the guy next to you in his much quicker turbo diesel repmobile, that you really develop that competitive edge that the top teams (and sponsors) are screaming out for.
Admittedly, it's not going to be a 'done deal' but if you've got that 'raw talent' then as long as you keep the faith that'll see you through.
superb Admittedly, it's not going to be a 'done deal' but if you've got that 'raw talent' then as long as you keep the faith that'll see you through.
Here's us kindly pointing things out to the OP and he's vanished. Probably putting pen to paper for a paid drive as we speak.
If you want to do it for fun you can start at any age. Didn't I read last year the oldest driver to win his first race was in his 90's. I hope I'm still racing then!
If you want to do it for fun you can start at any age. Didn't I read last year the oldest driver to win his first race was in his 90's. I hope I'm still racing then!
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