Start racing in single seater racing

[Parakix]

First I would like to say hello! I was sent here multiple times by google when searching for some single seater racing information, though I haven't really found an answer to my questions. So I signed up with the intention of starting posting here .


Since I was a kid, I've always loved cars. I've always wanted to become a rally driver, which was back then not more than an young boys dream. At the age of eight I started karting at a regular base, but never in competition. At the age of fourteen, I stopped karting due to other hobbies.

Since I started driving a year ago, (I'm almost 18 yo), the willingness to do something in racing showed up again. I've informed myself in the differences between the open seater series, and some questions have rosen. If I understood well, the highest pleasure/price ratio can be found at formula Vee? But I can't find anything about that in Belgium, my homecountry.

But the biggest issue probably are probably the high costs. I'm not rich enough to start up a team by myself, and probably don't have enough skills and experience to start racing in a team.

Is there a way to work myself up in racing industries without having one hundred thousand dollar budgets? What would you guys advice me?


Thanks in advance!

[ivanalesi]

Learn more about your local scene! This is my advice

[kickstart]

I would find out what budget racing goes on at spa/ the ring and then go down and speak to people. I did the same thing 25 years ago and then scraped together the money to buy a wreck of a ff1600 crossle. It does matter that you know nothing as everyone has to start somewhere and the chances are if you buy a car you will get together a few friends and learn as you go.

You would be very welcome to come and have a chat as we are racing at spa at the summer classic which I think is about the 8th june.

Have fun

[Parakix]

Originally Posted by ivanalesi

Learn more about your local scene! This is my advice

Indeed, I've done some research, but it's quite hard to find anything about 'cheap' single seater series in Belgium. But like Kickstart suggested, I will contact some circuits for more information .

Originally Posted by kickstart

I would find out what budget racing goes on at spa/ the ring and then go down and speak to people. I did the same thing 25 years ago and then scraped together the money to buy a wreck of a ff1600 crossle. It does matter that you know nothing as everyone has to start somewhere and the chances are if you buy a car you will get together a few friends and learn as you go.

You would be very welcome to come and have a chat as we are racing at spa at the summer classic which I think is about the 8th june.

Have fun

Interesting reply! In the first place, I thought I was to old to start racing, so thanks for not giving me that impression


I went to Francorchamps and the Ring a couple of times, but I can't imagine where to address my questions to! I'll sent a mail to Zolder and Francorchamps . And in fact, I'm not a very gifted car mechanic neither. I think I shouldn't be able to restore a wreck, but however I will consider that option, and watch in my direct surroundings for interested people.

And FF1600, that's a Formula Ford 1.6? I read at a belgian forum that the prices to maintain such a car is an estimated 2500 pounds, though it could be another Formula Ford, I don't remember. If it costs that much, I would really be unable to pay that. Is it unusual in those racing series to search for sponsors?

And how did your story ended? Did you restore it completely? And did you win anything?

I would have loved to go to that meeting at Spa, but I have an exam the 9th of june. So it will be impossible for me to come over that day. Are there any more meetings in Belgium coming months?

Greetings,
parakix

[mountainstar]

My recommendation is get a great education, start working in a business career, start your own business, sell business for 100 million dollars and then buy whatever you want when you are 40.

Trying to race single seater cars at 18 is a tough deal if you don't have family funds as few 18 year olds are independently wealthy. And then even if you buy a car and learn how to maintain and fix it, you have to transport it somehow, store it, repair it, maintain it, set it up right.

I think the best thing to do is first get some open wheel racing training, learn how to drive and see if you really like it. I've seen tons of people think they'll love open wheel formula cars and then when the reality collides with the fantasy and they actually sit in one and drive one, their whole perspective changes and they realize it's not what they thought it was.

So I'd try that first and then if you like that, get your licence and then look for a lease deal for maybe something in the UK for a club level formula ford race or something. And then if you've done a couple of races and you can afford to purchase a car and run one, then do so.

One step at a time.

[andrewc]

Plenty of people run cars on modest budgets without needing a team. Cheapest cars to race are probably Formula Ford Zetecs or Formula Vauxhall Juniors or Formula Vee.

You will need to be a hands-on mechanic and to do all your own setup and maintenance. This is where a huge amount of money can be saved, assuming you have the time to dedicate to the car.

Many single seaters are as cheap as saloons or hot hatches to race, assuming you don't crash it.

[andrewc]

Come to Spa next weekend - 10/11/12 Big single seater event. Many cars from the UK joining up with Austrian F3 cup, Formule Zetec, Formul Renaut Cup. Ask questions!

- MSV F3 Cup, Austria F3 Cup & Austria Formel Renault Cup / http://roadbook.be/spasummerclassic/...ummerRace9.pdf
- Monoposto Racing Club & Formule Zetec / http://roadbook.be/spasummerclassic/...ummerRace8.pdf
- Formula Kent / http://roadbook.be/spasummerclassic/...ummerRace4.pdf

[Parakix]

Thanks for the advice guys! But many of the by you suggested alternatives aren't accessible in Belgium. In fact, it appears that there are no single series championships anymore. Racing in Britain would be a lot of fun, but that is practically quite impossible. I heard there's a Formula Ford championship in the Netherlands, but prices to run such a car for a whole season run op to 50k, which is way out of my reach.

And thanks mountainstar for the honest advice concerning my future! But don't be afraid, I keep all options open. I'm now at university, but I have still plenty of time to something else. I work for my money, I'm in the middle of a business start-up and by the beginning of 2012 it will start to be profitable (can you say this sentence in English?), which gives me the possibility to do some crazy ****. Maybe it would be better to save some money and start investing, but when I'm 40 I don't want to have the feeling I've missed some opportunities in the past.

And thanks andrewc for the advice too! But like I said, none of those are accessible in Belgium . And I would love to go to the Francorchamps event next weekend, but I'm afraid my exam schedule won't allow me to .

I guess, the best thing to do in my situation, is to start karting to gain as much as competition experience as possible, and hoping for a financial windfall to start with the serious business the year after.

[darcia2]

Hi in your part of the world is there a national hillclimb championship or regional events.... thats how i started here in Australia i used my road car at first then progresssed to a clubman sports car now i have a F3 car ...Along the way i met many interesting people who became friends them sponsors.... by profession im a chef . My father and myself do majority of the wrk on the car ..... it all takes time though.... Best of luck

[Memus Racing Design]

My advice Buy a Kart as its the cheapest form of motorsport and more fun than you can imagine and the competition is fierce and enjoyable,stay well away from the Formula Vauxhall Juniors or Formula Vee brigade as these are getting silly and parts are very frugal and not easy to come by nowadays unless you want Fleeced/Ripped OFF by the E-Bay scammers and bidder uppers that seem to congregate on this site nowadays(sorry but 4 times l bid on parts and seems to be a Dick in cheshire and his w@@ker mates bidding).....

[Flavio Galtieri]

Originally Posted by Memus Racing Design

My advice Buy a Kart as its the cheapest form of motorsport and more fun than you can imagine and the competition is fierce and enjoyable,stay well away from the Formula Vauxhall Juniors or Formula Vee brigade as these are getting silly and parts are very frugal and not easy to come by nowadays unless you want Fleeced/Ripped OFF by the E-Bay scammers and bidder uppers that seem to congregate on this site nowadays(sorry but 4 times l bid on parts and seems to be a Dick in cheshire and his w@@ker mates bidding).....

Buy a Kart by all means but don't believe this rubbish about Formula Vee parts being scarce!! Formula Vee has still got amongst the largest grids of any club single seater series at a fraction of the cost and only a tad slower than FF1600 and most of that is the hard tyres they run.

[delta]

Listen to andrew c.Go to Spa next weekend and talk to the Dutch Monoposto guys and girls. All your questions will be answered you will meet some lovely people and have a lot of fun. Good luck

[Tal Aras]

While you're deciding what to race in and putting the money together, why not get involved another way by marshaling. You'll get to understand how a meeting works and to see the lines through corners from an angle no spectator does.

I'm not sure how you start marshaling in Belgium but you could ask one of the marshals at a circuit or ask in the marshals section here.

[SAMD]

This has to be a smart way to go. A unique insight into racing that precious few racers have.