Racing seems like a dream

[Dyno247365]

At first, I thought it was impossible at 22 to start racing and get into F1.

...Now I KNOW IT'S IMPOSSIBLE, but that doesn't throw me because I want to get into Formula Atlantic in the next few years, that's possible because it's the development series for Champ Car and F1 drivers. But I don't know how long it will take, because right now, I'm in college, can't decide my major, and the only way to get money right now is to sell all my cars (yes it's true). The slightly embarassing part is that I want to buy a go kart to start racing. But you know what? I don't give a F$#% what other people think anymore, no one cares about racing right? Well I do so screw you for hating it and hating on me. Everyone has a goal, that may seem really strange to another person. It's hard to keep some of my friends, because whenever I try to talk about racing in college they don't want to hear it, some call it gay and that really pisses me off. I feel sheltered because then I can't swap opinions and I can't be exchanged new ideas. At same time, we all want to pass our classes, they know what they want to do and...well...I'm almost broke and I want to be a race car driver. Sounds insane doesn't it? I'm very sane about it, because the next step is learning what to do about college and what my major should be, my gpa etc. I need a degree that'll get me a job that I'll be good at, want to work at, but at the same time keep time aside for racing...maybe travelling...AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Damn that was longer than explected. I guess I had some bad stress there.

[ansidious]

Originally Posted by Dyno247365

It's hard to keep some of my friends, because whenever I try to talk about racing in college they don't want to hear it, some call it gay and that really pisses me off.

[Dyno247365]

Originally Posted by ansidious

Yeah I'm starting to think they're not my friends after all.

[nismogt_rfreak]

Huh, the only people I've heard call racing gay are GAY PEOPLE.

[Igovert500]

seriously, most people don't have all their shit together in college. Just because you are broke, don't have a major, don't have the grades you want...don't sweat it. I think people put too much stress on the fact that every stage of your life is in preperation for the 'REST' of you life. LIke you have to do well in your 4th grade spelling bee, so you get into the advanced english group in 5th grade, so you are in the accelerated classes in middle school, and you gotta get a great GPA in middle school, and then get into the good classes in highschool, then do good in them and on the SATs, so you can get into a good college, etc. It gets ridiculous.

My philosophy is don't shoot yourself in the foot, but do what makes you happy, and if it stops making you happy, do something else. So if racing is whta you wanna do...go for it. I gotta say the odds are against you at this age, but I'm sure you already know that. But do what makes you happy. If you are good at it, and put the time and effort forth, it may go from a hobby to a profession.

Also, I have made it a personal point in life, to seriously not give a flying fuck what anybody, who uses the term 'gay' to describe anything but a homosexual, says about anything at all. If they don't have the vocabulary to come up with a better adjective to describe something they don't particularly care for, chances are they aren't bright enough to formulate an opinion worth listening to. my .02

[doberman_52]

Igov is right, do what you wanna do, do what make you happy, not what makes others happy, if they are your friends, they would support you. I know my friends and I support each other in what we do. You only live once.

[drunken monkey]

i) if you want to go racing, go racing
ii) if your friends aren't interested, you can't make them interested. it means that you can't talk to them about it; it doesn't mean they're not your friends.
iii) be realistic. There is a very, very slim chance that you'll make a living from racing. That in itself kinda says that you should keep in mind that it will only be a hobby. In turn, that means that you shouldn't put too much thought in it now when there are more important things to think about.

[gouldie1903]

one of the reasons i'm in a car club is because it's a group of people that enjoy racing and improving their car/skills. find one in your area join it, go to local autocross build from there.

[Dyno247365]

Originally Posted by gouldie1903

one of the reasons i'm in a car club is because it's a group of people that enjoy racing and improving their car/skills. find one in your area join it, go to local autocross build from there.

Igov, and everyone that says don't sweat it, and do what makes you happy, you're all absolutely right, drunken, you're very right that It would be hard to make a living in it, but my angle is that I want to get a job I like so I can afford to race, but that I want to succeed to higher level race series, just to race in them, not for the money. Infact, I didn't ONCE think about making a living from racing...strange

about those friends I was talking about, some of them can be real assholes but they're the ones I always party with. Then I have other friends that like my hobby but I don't party with them, because they party w/ another crowd, just the way it is.

Gouldie, that's just my problem, I had to start my own auto club at college and I'm having a tough time getting members here, but I've made some car enthusiast friends, just not enough imo.

[drunken monkey]

the thing is, you can't just get good at something like this and have the time and money to participate in higher level racing, mainly because of how things are run.

You can't race at high level without backing from a decent team of people who usually require payment. Let's not even go into the costs of equipment, UNLESS you are part of a professional team, in which case, you have to be one of those people who can do the crazy feet shuffle, in the dark running at 90+mph pointing at trees and cliffs.

on the other hand, if you work to get a job that makes you enough money to afford to go racing every weekend, unless you are in the top 1% who gets paid lots for not doing a lot, you are going to have very little time, even on weekends to have fun. When you do have time, you would probably want to spend it with family and friends instead.

this is going to be a bit pessimistic but I'm not sure if you can have a good paying job and be able to race regularly at the same time, unless your work is race related.

here's the pages from silverstone that I've been reading maybe once a month for a rough guide....
http://www.silverstone.co.uk/html/ma_become03.php