You answered your own question. For the past year or so a buddy of mine and I have been playing parts bitch for a local 8 second Poopra team. Nothing super fancy, just whenever they decide to race we go out and do all the bitch shit. Get the driver his doritos, grab water when it gets hot, change the wheels out, and hold up the sign reminding the driver to turn on the nitrous and make sure he has the map switch set to race.
In the process of that, we've been given all access to the shop's race gas, left over and old parts, using the lifts if we need one, and getting invite to ride/drive the street cars. Latest update was a standing invite to Texas 2k11 Supra Nationals.
I'm not looking at being a driver on their team or what not, I just get a kick out of helping out. But yeah, the best way to get in is find a shop with decent human beings behind the counter, get to know them, and let them know your a reliable parts bitch or gofer and you can help out.
And don't expect to get paid, either, lol.
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2006 Redline Red Nissan 350Z Base
K&N|Falken
I am just that JDM tight, yo.