Easiest path to the run-offs

Originally posted by Anubis:
To hell with that, just make a mount for your laptop and get some work accomplished while on track.
biggrin.gif


Click to expand...

I still think the I-card was invented by an ITC racer so that you can play Tetris with your Gameboy while climbing that hill.

BTW - The hill is marginally faster in G-prod trim, biggest difference is I get to the hill quicker
smile.gif


[This message has been edited by Greg Gauper (edited August 27, 2004).]
 
So lets say that you're going to try and get some sponsorship for your IT car. I know it ain't easy, but where would you start. Local bars for little stuff? Or shoot high for larger companies and that type of stuff. I know this topic is a big BIG one, just looking for a little 'been there done that'. I know I could probably make $200 faster then I can beg for it, but what does experience say.
 
Actually, I have a better question. Lets pretend that you're getting your name out there and you've got a sponser or two behind you to help you pay for racing stuff. How does a pro racing driver make money? I'm guessing you hold on to your day job just as long as possible, but once racing is starting to take all of your time, where is the money coming from? Do you start a racing business? Does prize money get better? Just curious. My girlfriend and I were planning out the steps and we both got stuck when we tried to figure out where the money comes from.

Thanks guys.
 
Originally posted by Knestis:
It's a cross-thread theme, Jake.
smile.gif


K
Click to expand...

Is that 'cross-thread' or 'cross-threaded'?
biggrin.gif


Anyway, you've gotten lots of good advice and information. The one thing I'll say about the short-track route, is it's not as cheap as people make it out, and it's REALLY hard to do by yourself. I crewed for a very good friend of mine for 5 years, on his asphalt late model. Tube-frame (Howe XL) car w/ a fiberglass body (5-Star), and a limited 358 SBC (iron heads, 2bbl, etc.) This class paid $500 to win (and it declined sharply after that) at the local fairgrounds on Sat. night. That $500 would barely cover the tires and fuel for the race (if you wanted to run up front, it was a new set of tires every weekend).

The car came home bent more often than not, and those fiberglass body panels don't hold up well to "rubbin'" (just ask the Prod crowd). After 5 years of racing, my friend had a stack of receipts as thick as the NYC phone book, and he was a VERY skilled fabricator. We used to talk about the differences of short-track vs. road racing. He figured that it cost him about $700 - $800 per weekend to run his car. That's about what it cost me to run my IT car. But he got 1 5 min. practice session, 1 8 lap qualifying race, maybe an 8 lap concelation race, and a 12 lap feature. This was on a 5/8 mile track where the fast lap times were in the 18 second range. If he ran the concey, that would work out to something like 12 min. of total track time.

And believe me, no matter what anybody said, Joe Gibbs, Jack Rousch, Robert Yates, or any of the other big-name folks were in the stands looking for their next driver. But there were plenty of guys out there that thought so, so they drove to 'impress'. Not to mention that there was some serious money sunk into the cars. There were guys there w/ $20k motors trying to win $500.

Not to put you off on short track racing, just want to let you know that it's not as cheap as it seems. Also, there are a LOT more guys (and gals) that are running short track cars that are looking for the 'big break' than there are club racers.

And as far as Runoffs' wins 'paving the way' to a Pro ride, I'm not sure that it doesn't do anything more than maybe get you a little more consideration (provided that you've got the money to bring to the table). Look at the guy that won the FA race last year, Rene Clayton. Very talented young driver (they were paddocked next to us at the '03 June Sprints). This guy wins his division, wins the June Sprints, and wins the Runoffs (and since he won all three, also won the President's trophy, the only one awarded last year). While I admit that I haven't been scouring results sheets looking for him, I haven't seen his name pop up in any of the 'next level' series.

Not sure if it means anything, just figured I'd share my experiences.

------------------
MARRS #25 ITB Rabbit GTI (sold) | MARRS #25 HProd Rabbit
SCCA 279608
 
Re: short track racing and budgets.

Choose the class carefully. I crewed for a Late Model Sportsman for a little while. All they complained about was the small purses and large costs. I learned all I could about that type of racing and then bought a low budget open wheel CDCRA car.

The CDCRA car was MUCH cheaper than a late model (about 10-12K for a top of the line car, we ran a spec tire, limited to the purchase of one new tire per weekend) the fans liked the show, so we got on a good card. Usually with the SCRA Sprint cars and USAC Midgets. This meant full stands and decent purses. I had 2 mediocre seasons, got lucky and didn't tear up too much stuff, sold lots of t-shirts, sold the car after 2 seasons and came out a few bucks ahead.

This was a class where the purse/operating costs were much more attractive than many other classes. Hoosier was also a series title sponsor and contributed to our year end points fund.

As far as the run offs meaning anything...it means on that day you were faster/luckier/better prepared than the others in your class. Unfortunately, it doesn't open a bunch of doors to anywhere.

Look at the number of people with multiple run-off wins...quite an accomplishment...but what has it done for their pro-careers? You are much more likely to advance to the next level by winning a National Championship in a few kart classes.
 
Great stuff. But how does a pro driver make his or her money? I got the jist of what it takes to attempt to get in the big boys, but how does one sustain? Looks like most people have race shops, own teams, maybe driver instruct? The girlfriend and I were just trying to figure out how does it work when you are mister big cool driver guy. I'm guessing it's some kind of way of roping in working with race cars and driving them.

Like what does Pierre Kleinubing, Jeff Altenburg and those others do on their non-track days? I know a lot of the time is doing the sponsors bidding. So then does the sponsor help pay the cost of living and also the price of the car? Does the team actually pay you a salary?

Sorry for not letting this post die. You guys are the best and only source of info on this topic! So thanks for the help.
 
Most "professional" drivers are called that because they work in professions where they (a) generate enough disposable income to pay for their own racing, and (B) are able to take lots of days off for events and travel.

You'll find people who cashed out of businesses before the market slumped, trust fund babies, hard working entrepreneurs, and those we used to call the "lucky sperm" - the ones who were born to a family where Mom and Dad will just write checks.

You will also find a significant number of shysters, crooks, and people of questionable repute. I rented a seat in an enduro to a guy who had just gotten out of the brig for insider trading. (Bonus points if you can guess who.) He sat at my dining room table and wrote me a check for $2000 like he was paying for a round of golf.

This example illustrates how a lot of the guys with more talent than $$ make it work. Notice how many teams include a fast guy and another guy? That "another" guy is often the dough behind the program.

Portland GT3 guy Dave Rugh ran the IMSA International Sedan series for a while with a rich German bankrolling the effort. I was there one day when ALL the benefactor could talk about was getting the "high rev chip" in his car. He was SURE that he just needed more motor to get from where he was - back of the pack - to where Rugh was. Dave won that race and the rich guy spent all day early-apexing and mismatching revs on downshifts.

At least a couple of guys from the last 20 years have generated racing budgets by having developing sexual relationships with well-heeled, older men. So there's an option, albeit one the GF might not like...

K


[This message has been edited by Knestis (edited August 31, 2004).]
 
I recently read "Flat Out, Flat Broke: Formula 1 The Hard Way" by Perry McCarthy. Pretty scary, actually. Anyone who thinks they have the driving aptitude to make the big time should read this book.

Unless you are exceedingly lucky, and the best driver around, it still takes being at the right place at the right time to make it happen. Probably a blacker image than most would like to see, but probably closer to the truth than most want to admit.

Unless you have the cash to buy your way in to begin with, and are willing to lose it all.
smile.gif


------------------
Lesley Albin
Over The Limit Racing
Blazen Golden Retrievers
 
Where does a pro driver make his money???

Man THAT is a tough question! Talk about no one answer, and closely guarded secrets!

Most guys like the Speed hotshoes, (only the front runners) make a living, but do it with ride and drives, and various other related efforts.

Guys like Pobst are rare..I imagine he is well rewarded, but I doubt he threatens Mr Gates.

On the other hand, the NASCAR guys are doing fine, even at the back. When John Andretti joined Petty, after a so-so (at best) career that included nearly every form of motorsports, he joined (this was what...'95??) for a salary of 500K per year. plus t-shirts, plus die casts and all that crap, etc.

Most guys end up the year not with a big salary, but with a collection of checks from misc trade deals, associate sponsors, cvommisions from middleman deals, sales of donated supplies, instructor fees, ride and drive fees and so on, and in the end the hustle pays the bills, not just the driving....

------------------
Jake Gulick
CarriageHouse Motorsports
ITA 57 RX-7
New England Region
[email protected]

[This message has been edited by lateapex911 (edited August 31, 2004).]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top