SCCAForums.com

I'm 36 and make at best a very average salary and I don't have any rich uncle..Am I too old or too poor to even tease myself into getting serious about racing?

I consider myself a very good driver and would LOVE to be involve with motorsports I consider myself a technical person but not a mechanic or anything......I'm mainly into open air or street cars. ( I'm not really into NASCAR or Drag racing)...

Anyway should I even bother? I have no racing experience but if plausible I would love to get involve in this sport. I don;t owned any sports car or even any high performace car. I actually drive a stock Mazda 6 (4 banger) that has a child seat behind! LOL

On the same token I don;t want to be 75 and look back and live a life of regret!

I need someone old or young and wise to tell me if I should even bother and if so how or what do I need to do or that I'mj ust an idiot and better off going skydiving for $250. Please don't flame me.. I need genuine advise.

 Thanks much in advance!!!!!

I think the cold weather and Rolex 24 is beginning to waken the motorsports enthusiasts! You might want to follow the other thread that's asking essentially the same question: http://sccaforums.com/forums/thread/400981.aspx

Too old? At 36, you're not even close to hanging it up! Autocross and PDX are two forms of motorsport that you can do with your car (although you'll have to remove the child seat at a minimum ). The St. Louis season starts in mid-March, but there's a "social" on Feb. 15th you should consider attending. (I see there's a thread on that now as well.)

C'mon out and have some fun!

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Paul Nittel
94 TBS - '06 350Z Enthusiast
St. Louis Region Chief of Emergency Services (Road Racing)

Rouge4jc,

I think that the important part is that you will have a blast if you come out to play.  The Mazda 6 will be ok, and you will have the biggest smile ever!  I was in the same boat as you last year and I am glad that I came out!

Here http://sccaforums.com/forums/thread/398812.aspx  is a thread (So, is SCCA right for me?) that gives you much of the info that you will need (web sites etc.).  The cost for an event is very reasonable (around $45 if you are a non-member), and you will never be the same .  I would suggest the Novice School on 3/13.  It is a great way to get up and running.

Feel free to post more questions as you have them.

God Bless,

Jeff

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We are not human beings going through a temporary spiritual experience.
We are spiritual beings going through a temporary human experience.

Midwest Christian Motor Sports (Let Faith Drive You!)
http://mcma.1.forumer.com/index.php

I got a great idea - keep asking questions here then on Feb 15 come visit with us in person. 

Some of us are getting together at Spazio's in Westport at 6PM - you could come by and see us and we cal introduce you to a few of the members and get can talk to them and get a bunch of questions answered.

The NEW St. Louis Region Monthly

MAKE IT EASY, MAKE IT FUN Socials
begin February 15, 2010 -  6pm Spazio's Westport!
 
The St. Louis Region SCCA is going to be holding monthly Make it Easy, Make it Fun Socials at Spazio's,

12931 Lackland Road, 314-576-0400.
 
There are NOT meetings, but Socials!   

 They are EASY & FUN!
 

So... You say, " what is a social?"  

Well it is NOT A BORING MEETING. It is face to face time for friendship with others who enjoy having and nurturing a sports car addiction.  It is 12 steps of how to grow that addiction with current and possibly new friends. 
 
It is a "hello", it is a "what tires are you going to use this season?"  It is a place to talk about your new car, or ask others how to set up your shocks. Or it is a time and place to invite that co-worker that is interested in cars to meet others with the same interests.
 
Think of it as a time and place to come, maybe have dinner, maybe have a drink or a cookie, maybe bring the kids (of all ages) and see some car friends.
 
It is informal.  No dress code, no membership required, just a friendly smiles and some car talk.
 
The Region will offer a BIT of info IF anyone wants it or needs it. But, we promise NO BORING MEETING JUNK. Mostly it is a place to come and do a little bench racing, enjoy some friendship, maybe see an old friend or maybe even make a new friend. 
 
So come on by on the 3rd Monday of each month.
 
February 15, 2010

"Make it Easy, Make it Fun with STL Region SCCA" - Social, Dinner (if you chose, come right from work, Spazio's is open all afternoon). We will MAKE IT EASYaccess to License questions, Hard card info, Waivers, Photos, Joining the SCCA, Getting Minor Waivers, National Convention News, Solo Novice School Info, and 100 Acre Wood Last Minute Info.  We do promise that it we will do everything we can to MAKE IT FUN.  

 

 

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Jan Rick
Make it Easy - Make it Fun!
Don't take life to seriously, no one gets out alive anyway.
www.soloperformance.com

 

Run the mazda.  You will most likely end up beating a few people driving much "faster" cars.  

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2001 BMW 300ci
RIP Black '00 Integra 57 STS Totaled Aug 2009
'95 Dodge Ram Its big, its ugly,
Adopt a greyhound fast dogs for fast drivers..
www.rescuedracers.com

rogue4jc:

Am I too old or too poor to even tease myself into getting serious about racing?

Am I too old?....I was 44 when I started autocrossing and doing PDX.

or too poor?...NOT to poor to autocross.  You can autocross a tractor or riding lawnmower if the SAC will let you and you can afford the entry fee.  Mazda 6 is a pretty good start!

...tease myself into getting serious about racing?...Club racing is a whole 'nother story as I am finding out in my preparations to go road racing.  Speed costs money...how fast do you want to go?

I don't want to be 75 and look back and live a life of regret!  Good for you.  This should be everyone's outlook!  So, we'll see you at Solo school and the first event!

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Dr. Kyle Langley (and his alter ego Champ Winner)
2009 National Tour Eastern States Champion - FS
2009 SPS/R&S Midwest Division Champion - FS
2008/2009 STL Region Champion - FS
2008 STL Region Solo Rookie of the Year

I'm ~56 and began racing at 22. I have often regretted not starting sooner. 1st Autocross car was an 1984 Mazda RX-4 Stationwagon. 'nuff said?

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Mike Byington
29 Year Member
Solo, Rally, Rallycross
National Flag. & Comm.
2008 & 2009 National Rallycross "SR" Champion
"Drivers have races. Workers have enduros."

I used to come out in my 98 metro... 3cyl 1.0L... it was slow, but FUN!!

(note here's a good example of how not to put class lettering on your car)

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1998 Chevy Metro 84HS
1984 VW Rabbit GTI 84EP

XJDano:

(note here's a good example of how not to put class lettering on your car)

I think it is a great example of how to put numbers on the car. While the "H" might be a little rough  there is little doubt that the car is number 84. That alone makes a corner worker and Timing and Scoring happy.

You are never too old. Come on out and have some fun. You will quickly see that it is waaay more fun and a whole lot safer than driving around on the street pretending that you are going fast.

 

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Bryan S.
StL. Solo School Chair
91 Miata ES
2010 plans: few events on rock hard street tires to teach the 15 year old how to drive : )
04 Forester XT, 00 Golf, 08 Scott Speedster S30

black and blue is not a great combo, i started using white tape shortly after.

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1998 Chevy Metro 84HS
1984 VW Rabbit GTI 84EP

XJDano:

black and blue is not a great combo, i started using white tape shortly after.

I didn't know you had a GTI. I had a silver 84 GTI as a daily driver for 14 years. One of the best cars I've ever owned. Hated having to get ride of it, but realized it was never going to turn itself into an IT car simply by sitting next to the garage.

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Bryan S.
StL. Solo School Chair
91 Miata ES
2010 plans: few events on rock hard street tires to teach the 15 year old how to drive : )
04 Forester XT, 00 Golf, 08 Scott Speedster S30

Thanks everyone! you all sounds like a really nice group! I'm definitely more interested now than even before posted. So what do I need to get started? I'll try to make it to this Feb 15th.. see if I can find a sitter... I'm glad to hear I'm not too poor to start!

Do I need any kinds of gear? helmet, suits etc?

 

Thanks again!

They have some loner helmets, but if you are running all season you should get one of your own.  No suits required, however you will need numbers and class designation for the side of your car (you will need to figure that out, someone may know?).  That can be as cheep as painters tape (with a good contrast), or you can purchase some track side. Here is more info from the other post I linked to earlier

 <snip>

Here are a few websites to read over before you get started...

http://autocross.com/autoc/started.htm  This page gives a bunch of overview info.  The FAQ and Novice Handbook are great!

http://www.sfrscca.com/solo2/faq/chek.htm  This is a great check list of what you may want to bring to the Event.

If you found this forum I assume you have found our St. Louis site...   http://www.stlsolo.org/

Also remember that Solo Performance Specialties http://www.soloperformance.com/  should be at the Events in case you need anything (helmet, numbers, ...).  However they will not be at Novice school, so if you need some things you should get them before hand.

</snip>

See you at the Novice School.

God Bless,

Jeff

---

We are not human beings going through a temporary spiritual experience.
We are spiritual beings going through a temporary human experience.

Midwest Christian Motor Sports (Let Faith Drive You!)
http://mcma.1.forumer.com/index.php

rogue4jc:

Do I need any kinds of gear? helmet, suits etc?

Depends on what kind of racing you want to get into, I don't think you've said (maybe you don't know, which is fine).  If you are looking into road/wheel-to-wheel, you are going to need a suit and be sure you get the right helmet as mentioned above.  I think I was in the same boat as you when I got started - I just wanted to race, and drag racing is not my thing.  I didn't know about autocross and didn't have the money for wheel-to-wheel (still don't - plus I'm having so much fun with Auto-X, wheel-to-wheel is on hold).

I went out to try an autocross (the novice school was my first event) and have never looked back.  My advice, go sign up for the novice autocross school.  Auto-X is the cheapest way to get into amature racing.  If it satisfies your need, great.  If not, you've got a good start and path to get into road racing.

So, at minimum - yes you need a helmet (our Autocross program provides some loaners - be warned in summer months they can get sweaty).  Then, just go from there and buy what you need.

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John P
'05 Suby STi

Bryan S:

XJDano:

black and blue is not a great combo, i started using white tape shortly after.

I didn't know you had a GTI. I had a silver 84 GTI as a daily driver for 14 years. One of the best cars I've ever owned. Hated having to get ride of it, but realized it was never going to turn itself into an IT car simply by sitting next to the garage.

 

yeah good intentions haven't gotten my GTI back together either. so i bought another.... but this one ran. hopefully i'll be back in the sport one day... 

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1998 Chevy Metro 84HS
1984 VW Rabbit GTI 84EP