Why do you race?

A long car journey with a fellow 10/10ther yesterday saw one conversation end with:

"I think Club Racers should only race if they work on their cars themselves."

Remember this was a bar-room conversation so no high-horses but it got me thinking:

Why do you race?

Are you a keen mechanic/engineer who sees racing as the ultimate test of your engineering skills?

Or are you like me, a frustrated pay-drive racer who races anything with wheels (cars, karts, bicycles), who regards tinkering with the car a necessary evil because he can't run to a mechanic, and would rather be down the gym/karting/practising/in fact ANYTHING that would improve his own personal performance behind the wheel and is preferable to wielding a spanner.

For me, it's the driving that counts. I adore studying how I performed, where I could improve, trying each time behind the wheel to go quicker. Developing the car is pants, maintaining it is worse! :rofl:

Iam a driver and builder of cars i love the driving but also the engineering.There is nothing so satisfying as comming up with an idea putting it in to practice and finding lap time from it

I've been working on the car today (changing brake calipers to fit regs for a different series). Been working on it with my Dad and had an enjoyable day.

During this we were talking, we like working on the cars, but have time issues. So some of the stuff gets done by others; time and also others have far more expertise than ourselves.

For me it is the driving that is the primary motivator. However I get pleasure from the other side too. If I had the money and little time, I would pay for everything to free more time for racing. If I had the money and the time, I'd pay for a lot of things, but do a lot of things myself too! Probably in my own workshop, working with a dedicated legend spanner. As it is I have a little money and a little time and do what is needed to balance both.

I raced and rallied for the thrill to be honest. Driving fast over either narrow roads or in a the middle of a big pack, I just love(d) it.
Never was (or am) fond of cars though and I hated the mechanical bit, that is where my brother stepped in.
Changing tyres, no problem, a bit more technical than that and it was a nightmare.

I was however able to tell what was wrong with the car, even being total non technical.

So when I go racing again, the technical bit is going to be my biggest problem, as my brother is an even older fart than me. :rofl:

Iam a driver and builder of cars i love the driving but also the engineering.There is nothing so satisfying as comming up with an idea putting it in to practice and finding lap time from it

i couldn't have put it better. i would add that it also is very satisfying when your efforts pay off and you beat the cheque book racers...

I do it for the love of it! The love of cars and the sport.

I do it for the enjoyment of both sides. I do most work myself or with my Dad except engine building and G/box's as we don't have the facilities or knowledge. I love getting a car through a race without it breaking down. The best bit about building a car from scratch yourself is that when something does go wrong, you know every nut and bolt on it so its easy to fix!!! If I had the cash I'd just do the driving but I'm not sure I'd ever really trust that everything was tight!!! When I'm not driving I'm spectating. I guess we all do it cos we are addicted!! Or Dumb!!!!!!!!

I keep asking myself the same question and keep failing to come up with an answer!

Why do I race?

Its in my blood.

Started at age 12 with go-karts and Snow mobiles

at 14 switch to bicycles. ( the go-kart snow mobile engine builder moved away and my mother saw a race. She said NO WAY. ) I guess racing a shifter cart down Road Americas Morain sweeps at 150 mph 3 cm off the ground at age 14. . some ppl just dont under stand the need for speed.

Oh well went to bicycles.

at 18 switch to cars, a Camero for four races. ( oh what a rush to back on Road America ) but alase no money to continue.

then back to bicycles, though University and Graduate school until about age 32.

at 45 got back to racing cars ( could afford it then)

Why do I race?

Its the smell of 100 octane race fuel.
Its the smell of burning rubber.
Its the smell of hot brakes and brake dust all over the place.
Its the smell of a hot sweaty drives suit soaked in who knows all what.
Its the adrenaline rushing though my veins
Its the Testosterone.
Its 500+ plus hp out of a big booming V8
Its going side by side though corners.
Its the STORIES IN THE PADDOCK at days end.

Its in my blood.

THAT IS WHY I RACE.



or as Paul Neman once said

"Racing is Life, Everything else is just waiting."

Ditto, AU N EGL. Whenever anyone asks me "What makes you want to race?" I always ask them "Why wouldn't you if you could?".

When I was young tried getting into scrambling (my uncles were champions at sidecar) but a couple of nasty tumbles put me off two-wheels and into four. Did some banger racing, loved it, but couldn't really go much further with it and after a death off-track (Jeff Woolford) me and the other guys decided to pack it in.

Thing is, you can take the guy away from the race but not the need to race from the man, know what I mean? I'd been thinking about racing again for nearly a decade, 6 meetings up Combe on the wrong side of the fence and I was signing up for my ARDS :)

So here I am, back racing again. But everything has changed for me - before I was time rich, money poor, so I had plenty of time to do things myself and no money to try and get anyone else to do it :) Now I've got no time, a baby on the way, and the extra money I do earn is spent on getting other people to do the work on the car.

In some ways, its a good thing - means I can concentrate on doing what I enjoy most. But I have to admit, there was nothing more satisfying than building a car during the week to have it ready for the weekend!

There's also the difference in setup as well - with banger cars your biggest problem was keeping it running and fixing damage - with a FF1600 I'd have to setup the bump, rebound, gear ratios etc etc.... there is a whole heap of knowledge there that I don't have. Yes, I could learn it, but thats just more time I don't have. It's a balances thing.

But to get back to the original question - for me, it's about the speed, it's about feeling out the limits of the car, of the lows (knowing when I let myself down or circumstances outside my control bring me down) being offset by the highs (fighting for 28th place is as good as fighting for 1st, if you win it by your skills alone).

I spend all month earning money and looking forward to blowing it on 1 day. Nuts, but I couldn't give it up if I tried :)

I spend all month earning money and looking forward to blowing it on 1 day. Nuts, but I couldn't give it up if I tried :) Here Here

A Bad days racing is a million times better then a good day working.

:cheers:

Because I can!

But to that end, the engineering side of things is very important to me - I enjoy the basic tinkering, but I also enjoy thinking of ways to make the car/structure/strength/weight/whatever better in ingenious but cost-effective ways.

As I must spend tens of hours between race meetings, my ratio of workshop:track time is probably 50:1, and in that respect I would HAVE to enjoy the grubby stuff - if I didn't I wouldn't race, as I can't afford to pay someone else to spend that amount of time preparing the car how I want it prepared.

But I also really enjoy the driving side - working out how to make myself better, and how to get the most from the car at my disposal.

And I enjoy the technical stuff that comes from that - basic datalogging will keep me interested for ages, as I try and work out why it thinks I'm losing time somewhere, and what the dips at apexs might mean (apart from slowness...).

Then there is a 'coolness' aspect of it, which is mostly shared with photos, stories and video footage. I know I'm in a fortunately minority of people who race, and my friends seem to enjoy talking to me about it (to a point).

But I suppose it does all come down to the time:money ratio. I have a lot of time in the evenings, but not a great deal of money, so I have to stretch the funds I have and make sure they're spent in the right areas. I wouldn't pay to have something made I could make myself, even if it takes me a lot longer and the final result isn't quite as 'professional' looking...

or as Paul Neman once said

"Racing is Life, Everything else is just waiting."Minor, off topic question: I thought that was Steve McQueen?

It is bob on though!

Minor, off topic question: I thought that was Steve McQueen?

It is bob on though!

It was neither, it was Maurice Trintignant!

Minor, off topic question: I thought that was Steve McQueen?

It is bob on though!
One of the two. Think your right it was Steve. and Spot on.

I just love being able to give my wife a pair of brown pants to wash when I get home. Today's pair from Spa were extra special. :laugh:

Tim is the car in one piece (underpants are cheap)
The top of Eau Rouge is a classic for crashes , that's why you get quite a few watching from that spot ! How did you get on ?

Gordon, the car is fine apart from 4 flat spotted tyres, after a safety car session I lost it on cold tyres, Yoko 008s in the rain no less, and managed what felt like a 100 yard broadside slide. The race was a bit of a fiasco regarding pit stops (BSS was not a happy bunny). The drivers that were changing over had to stop for a full minute yet those that were single drivers didn't have to stop at all, this put us down from 8th at my pit stop to 23rd at the end of the race, this was due to the French Lotus 7 contingent throwing a wobbler at the driver's briefing.
More later though on the thread in historics.

The driver change over has always been a bit of a fiasco. This year in the Heritage two drivers can change as quick as possible whereas a single driver has to run round the car twice. OK for a Mini, but a Yank Tank !
Why don't they just have the same stationary time ?

Why do we race, I am seriously wondering why this morning, all that hard work and money to get sidelined after 4 laps with a thrown fanbelt I am beginning to think someone is trying to tell me something. Give me a few days and if the engine is OK I will no doubt generate some more enthusiasm.

Al , we've all had those days, (broken rotor arm on lap 3 of a 40 min race last time out) but when it comes right you forget about it,
I love punching above my class in a car that I completely do all the work myself in an old chicken shed !
Its much more satisfying than cheque book racing.

It's the competition side I enjoy,knowing that you have the car under control on the limit ,it's a feeling not easily described.Not forgetting the friends made over the years, of course.Plus,doing all of my own work,tried having it "Proffessionally prepped" but will never take that route again!!

I'm a mechanic and race my own car, and I agree the desire to race is what primarily motivates me, but I also enjoy learning more about how to make the car go better.
I bought a car and got out on the track, had a bit of fun with it, but minor problems have held me back. So I've decided to strip it down to a bare shell, paint it inside and out, and get the finer details done so that its more reliable and CLEAN when I have to work on it.. I think that makes a huge difference... esp when you are out at the track.

Yes the comariadery is a big plus factor I agree with that.

I actually do like preparing the car its just this last run in I had with the engine and clutch and having to do it all over again just got on top of me a bit then only doing 4 laps at Mallory yesterday. Mind you I can live with that as there was positive stuff to come out of it and the engine survived no problem and when I fired her up this morning it still had good oil pressure etc. despite getting a bit hot when the fanbelt threw.

So I'm in the minority when it comes to wielding spanners....perhaps Fellow Tenther is right then and there's no place in club motor sport for someone who's not an engineer.

Anyone want to buy an MG Midget? Owner moving on to shopping trolley racing.

No I don't think anything like that was implied, come on lets be honest if I was in a position to pay someone to lie under my car for the last 4 weekends instead of me do you honestly think I would'nt have done, same goes for many others I'm sure! With me its either I do it myself or I don't race its as clear cut as that, if I did have the money I would pay for some of the work to be done but manage the operation myself and still like to get hands on as well.

So I'm in the minority when it comes to wielding spanners....perhaps Fellow Tenther is right then and there's no place in club motor sport for someone who's not an engineer.

Anyone want to buy an MG Midget? Owner moving on to shopping trolley racing.
First off, I don't race (can't afford it :() so I marshal. But it seems to me that as long as you are having fun somewhere along the line, preparing, racing or watching people race, you are in the sport for the right reasons.
That said, how much for your MG? :rofl:

Mick

Swap it for a shopping trolley - cash adjustment in your favour of course. :rofl:

Actually, just discovered quite a bit of maintenance needed on the trolley wheels, so more work required than I really want to do ;)

Swap it for a shopping trolley - cash adjustment in your favour of course. :rofl:

Actually, just discovered quite a bit of maintenance needed on the trolley wheels, so more work required than I really want to do ;)
Hows about I buy you a shopping trolley straign from the factory, with the stupid toe in and toe out set from the beginning? Hmm? :)

Mick

full steve mcQ quote:-
racing is life. everything else, before and after, is just waiting:)

for me its the driving, spanner work and engineering aspect that appeal in equal measure. a humble amatuer that loves spending hours (when possible) working on the car using my hands and brains in a non-sales, working capacity. for those of us that spend all day talking to people and interacting, the solitary moments in the garage perfecting the latest demon mod are rather theraputic. love learning and practicing a new skill, welding, spraying, composites etc.
never thought i would get back the 'competitive' temperament i had as a kid, but couple of laps behind the wheel and i would trade a kidney for a 1/10th of a second lol

S.......Anyone want to buy an MG Midget? Owner moving on to shopping trolley racing.

Eh? :? :? but you don't like shopping either :rofl:

full steve mcQ quote:-
racing is life. everything else, before and after, is just waiting:)

for me its the driving, spanner work and engineering aspect that appeal in equal measure. a humble amatuer that loves spending hours (when possible) working on the car using my hands and brains in a non-sales, working capacity. for those of us that spend all day talking to people and interacting, the solitary moments in the garage perfecting the latest demon mod are rather theraputic. love learning and practicing a new skill, welding, spraying, composites etc.
never thought i would get back the 'competitive' temperament i had as a kid, but couple of laps behind the wheel and i would trade a kidney for a 1/10th of a second lol

:winner: gets my post of the month award

Not all Happy Hours are spent in a pub. Many are spent on a garage floor under your race car... and that 25 min strapped into the drivers seat when the green flag drops.

>>>>>>>>>>>>Not all Happy Hours are spent in a pub. Many are spent on a garage floor under your race car

Eh???? sorry Au, you've lost me there.

Just spent all day climbing on/around/under MGs, loaded my racer onto trailer to go testing and now it's quiz night at the Greyhound - that first pint is going to go down a treat........

Will agree on the 25 minutes strapped into the car though, makes it all worthwhile.

Yah I guess your right. I just ( ABOUT) punted one of my work computers across the room.

midgetman - you're not alone. I have my car prepped by a proffesional team too.

This is just my first year of racing and there are a couple of things they've repaired (bent axles, bent exhaust valves) that would have ended my day with my lack of knowledge. So in my view it's worth it whilst I can afford it. I pretty much can afford to have the support at the race weekends, however if there is any damage then thats when I need to actually cut back on racing. It hasn't come yet this season so let's hope it stays away.

Back to the original question though - why do you race ? The honest answer from me is I'd been spectating for a little while now and thought how hard can it be, what the hell, I'll have a go! Bloody hard actually! I'm still a backmarker, yet learning everytime I go out on track.

The great thing about racing at club level is there are all levels of ability so out of my 6 races this year only 1 has been spent without dicing with someone, and I love that wheel to wheel racing. Thats when I feel lap times don't matter much, it's getting your car in the right position etc etc.

I'll let you know after the bank holiday and my very first race meet at Oulton park (nervous you bet)
Tho it will be a great relief after many months and the last few frantic days of spanner work, cursing, crying, cursing, buying, cursing, begging, cursing, upsetting neighbours and Oh some swearing.. to see all that put out on the black stuff :)

Like many here, I love the cut-and-thrust of racing. It doesn't matter to me where I am in the pack, as long as there's a great race going on. Bragging (or not) about where you finished is for the bar afterwards ;)

I also like tinkering, and have spannered my own cars, built my own engines, etc. However, I lack the time and money to do a any sort of serious tinkering or testing, so I tend to restrict myself these days. And if I had to pay someone else to prep the car, I wouldn't be racing as well, that's for sure!

Not all Happy Hours are spent in a pub. Many are spent on a garage floor under your race car... and that 25 min strapped into the drivers seat when the green flag drops.




25 min? Hardly worth strapping up.:laugh:

>>>>>>>>>25 min? Hardly worth strapping up.

Didn't think you historic racers bothered ;-) Flat cap on backwards, stringback gloves, tie tucked into your shirt, all you need old boy! goes with the territory like contact breaker points and period modifications :rofl:

>>>>>>>>>25 min? Hardly worth strapping up.

Didn't think you historic racers bothered ;-) Flat cap on backwards, stringback gloves, tie tucked into your shirt, all you need old boy! goes with the territory like contact breaker points and period modifications :rofl:




Ohh,Absolutly,you should never tuck one's tie into one's shirt,silk does not like to be crinckled to much,besides its far better to drive with an open neck shirt,the breeze around the armpits is superb;)

25 min? Hardly worth strapping up.:laugh:

Our races are 25 min to 40 min for the most part and two races a weekend.

17 weekends a year.

Heck I couldn't go for more then 50 min without a fuel stop.

Why do I race?

To win. To forge a career. To live in hope! :lol: ;)

i race cos i've got nothing else to spend my money on !!

i race cos i've got nothing else to spend my money on !!
Well, I would like to help you with your problem. My bank account number is [removed] Feel free to transfer as much as makes you happy! :rofl:

Mick

That's putting thoughts into my head !!