Starter motorsport?

What, in your experience, is the funnest and easiest way for an amateur driver with no crazy aspirations
by tbmshark on June 21, 2008 - 4:31 p.m.
  • Lear

    It depends somewhat on what kind of tracks you have near you. �If you have a Kart track with an active racing scene (not just a concession track), Karting is nice, because:

    1. Cost to get in and go very fast is probably under $10 grand in equipment

    2. Karts are simple and relatively easy to repair

    3. Karts are quick (good learning) but tracks tend to be small so speeds aren't ridiculously dangerous

    4. Classes are well defined and some do not allow much tuning, keeping the cost down and the competition tight�

    I think base form of racing would be track days. �Few and far between, and not really racing, but a good way to try track driving to see if you want to go further. In a similar vein, a track school gives a bigger taste, though at a higher cost.�

    As for regular ongoing racing, you could argue that SCCA club racing or autocross are even cheaper than karting since you can just use your street car. �Problem is you are a bit more dependent on sanctioned events and you probably have to travel more.�

    A motorsports country club is a third option (if you have one) that can provide Kart-like access, and allows use of your street car. Cost is a function of usage and how much you tear up your (cheap or expensive) street car. �I'm sure prices vary, but since the track infrastructure is bigger, membership/rental prices probably are higher than karting.

    Vintage can also be good. �I think the motivation is a little different (social scene, car pride). �You need your own dedicated car for the most part, so cost is higher than some SCCA stuff. �And my impression is that travel and prep cost more too. �I haven't tried this, so I'd like to hear from vintage racers about cost and benefits.

  • BillS
    I like 'rallyes' that local clubs sponsor. �Road driving, not hard core, fun.
  • dieselhead
    I vote for Autocross because the cost is very low and you are unlikely to really damage your car through wear or crashing. From there you can move on to something else if the urge strikes.
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  • Karting is more expensive than most people think, and intensely competitive even at the club level. Once out of the Junior ranks (mainly Honda 4-stroke and 100cc Yamaha two-stroke here in Canada), the costs to keep an ICA or shifter kart in the top third of a grid mount quickly. Frequent engine rebuilds cost thousands if farmed out to reputable builders capable of squeezing out those precious additional 1-2 hp, tires get chewed up at an alarming rate, and trailer, spares, tools and other gotta-have items can quickly add up to an amount equal to or exceeding the cost of a base chassis and engine. Autocross and Solo 1 (or Solo Sport) can be cost effective and a whole lotta fun if one avoids the modified classes, but it's not door-to-door racing. IMO the best bang for the buck full-on competition is in club level SCCA classes; running a mid-pack car in a slow class can cost a whole lot less than campaigning a shifter kart .
  • quasarmotorsport
    Running my TaG kart cost $6000 for the first year, $2500 for the second. I was regionally competitive the second year.
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