advice required

Post by **Shug** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 3:54 pm

deano15482 wrote:talent...check
balls...check
schmoozingness......mmmm....check?
lucky...check
money...check
LOADS of money......bollocks

Don't want to be arsey here, but let's not beat about the bush if you're asking for serious advice. How do you know you've got talent? How often have you been on track? What sort of times are you doing? How does that compare with race times?

Gordon is a great example here. He's just gone into racing some of the most competetive cars in a national championship with his own money. I knew he'd do well as there wasnt much quicker than him on trackdays when he was driving a standard elise (and everyone else had at least 50hp on him). I don't want to kiss his arse, but he's one of the quickest guys I've ever seen and has gone on to prove it with class pole and wins in his first two races. The timesheets tell the story.

Problem is (and I sincerely hope it doesn't happen to Gordon) that it wouldn't be the first time someone so good has come on the scene and promptly disappeared when the money dried up. It looks like you have to be doing well for years to get noticed these days - sponsorship in club racing is almost non-existant.

If you can - get out and gauge yourself. See how quick you are against racers - not track day heroes... Times talk, not mates who tell you that you're a bit quick... Then think about racing - even if you're brilliant, be prepared to spend a sh*tload of money and get nowhere.

I don't want to be down on you mate - but like you say, " turned 24 this year and its about time i grew up a bit". Don't take this as a personal insult, just as a reality check.....

/brutal honesty

Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 4:03 pm

Shug wrote:
deano15482 wrote:talent...check
balls...check
schmoozingness......mmmm....check?
lucky...check
money...check
LOADS of money......bollocks
Don't want to be arsey here, but let's not beat about the bush. How do you know you've got talent? How often have you been on track? What sort of times are you doing? How does that compare with race times?

:

I didn't want to be the first to ask that...
Ricers are fast Shug!

deano15482 · Post by **deano15482** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 4:13 pm

TBH i was joking before.i dont have much experience on track.was having a laugh ....feel very embarassed now!!

i appreciate exactly what you're saying mate...honestly i do.
i suppose that exactly the advice i was looking for.
i want to get as much experience as i can,i'm not saying that i'm going to be a pro racer or anything.

and hey.....RICER!!!!i'll ricer you in a min!!!haha

cheers shug

DEan

Post by **Shug** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 4:15 pm

deano15482 wrote:TBH i was joking before.i dont have much experience on track.was having a laugh ....feel very embarassed now!!

i appreciate exactly what you're saying mate...honestly i do.
i suppose that exactly the advice i was looking for.
i want to get as much experience as i can,i'm not saying that i'm going to be a pro racer or anything.

and hey.....RICER!!!!i'll ricer you in a min!!!haha
cheers shug

DEan

Fairy muff mate

The internet is sh*te at getting across tongue in cheek stuff.

deano15482 · Post by **deano15482** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 4:19 pm

Shug wrote:
deano15482 wrote:TBH i was joking before.i dont have much experience on track.was having a laugh ....feel very embarassed now!!

i appreciate exactly what you're saying mate...honestly i do.
i suppose that exactly the advice i was looking for.
i want to get as much experience as i can,i'm not saying that i'm going to be a pro racer or anything.

and hey.....RICER!!!!i'll ricer you in a min!!!haha
cheers shug

DEan
Fairy muff mate The internet is sh*te at getting across tongue in cheek stuff.

no probs mate...
i don't want to come across as a wee scrote who thinks he knows it all and will challenge anyone to a race F&F stylee!!

i seriously just want to be a god driver,pro,amatuer...whatever...just for my own selfish pleasure

going to start taking driving training courses etc more track days whatever i can get my hands on TBH

GregR · Post by **GregR** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 4:59 pm

Shug wrote:
Fairy muff mate The internet is sh*te at getting across tongue in cheek stuff.

who's cheeks have you got your tongue in now?

Post by **Shug** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 5:14 pm

GregR wrote:
Shug wrote:
Fairy muff mate The internet is sh*te at getting across tongue in cheek stuff.
who's cheeks have you got your tongue in now?

Jealousy gets you nowhere Gregor......

deano15482 · Post by **deano15482** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 5:20 pm

would you two like to get a quiet room somewhere??!!

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 6:36 pm

Hi Dean,

I have a mate who is on the motorsport course at Hamilton. I don't think the course would be too tough to get onto. The guy to speak to is Jim Mooney (who I think is the head of the course). I reckon that your enthusiasm would carry you a long way.

The other option would be to join a motorport preparation business as a trainee mechanic. Another mate went down that route. He travels the world looking after a group 'n' wrc car. Upsides; travel, expericence; down side; not well paid, and you usually see little of the countries you go to.

Dominic

renmure · Post by **renmure** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 6:45 pm

deano15482 wrote: i turned 24 this year and its about time i grew up a bit.

Crikey!! I didnt get to the 'wanting to grow up a bit' stage till about 34.
6 years later I am trying hard to get OUT of it!!

Jim

thinfourth · Post by **thinfourth** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 7:17 pm

Okay heres my thoughts

From friends in the IT industry that got in to IT from it being a hobby and now it is there job and now they hate IT as it is no longer a hobby it is a job. Alot of folk say don't tun a hobby into a job as you will hate it after a while.

Now what is it you like about cars i would guess from seeing pics of your car you are not your average max power idiot who is more obsessed with the shiny then anything else. So i guess it is the driving and the engineering of a car.

So i would say keep the driving as a hobby and go for it as an engineer. Study as an engineer even if you start of on an HND/C course you are giving yourself a background as an engineer that will make you more attractive to employers. i only have a lowly HNC but i went into marine engineer and i have a truely bizarre job but i would not reccomend following in my footsteps. If you want to know more about being an engineer ask the folk here.

Now as to the driving bit then start off with something safe see if you have some talent you already have a car that is well suited to starter events. If you are completely broke then go autotesting it cost £15 to enter and apart from slightly increased tyre wear you get to show how much talent or lack of you have. If you are slightly flusher then enter the sprints and hill you only need a class B speed license for this so no need for the ARDS but you still need a helmet and the fireproof overalls. You can then enter a class appropriate for your car. And don't even think of saying it is quick enough as i have seen guys entering a sprint in their mothers corsa. if you are interested in autotesting then ask Dom if you are interested in sprinting and hills then ask lawerence.

As to getting your butt in an exige well if you come along to a tracknight and ask one of the exige owners most of them will happily take you out in their car for some passenger laps. if you fancy something a bit more extreme then ask myself and i will take you out in the 7

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 8:44 pm

thinfourth wrote:As to getting your butt in an exige well if you come along to a tracknight and ask one of the exige owners most of them will happily take you out in their car for some passenger laps. if you fancy something a bit more extreme then ask myself and i will take you out in the 7

Dean,

Come along to Knockhill on Thursday and you can pax in mine

Digital · Post by **Digital** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 9:09 pm

Does the Scottish Caterham Academy series still run? Always struck me as a bit of a bargain for circa 17K (you do have to build the car yourself) plus a few K for running costs. Cheaper than buying an Exige...

Jamie - ex ITR owner

Victor Meldrew · Post by **Victor Meldrew** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 9:13 pm

Shug wrote:
GregR wrote:
Shug wrote:
Fairy muff mate The internet is sh*te at getting across tongue in cheek stuff.
who's cheeks have you got your tongue in now?
Jealousy gets you nowhere Gregor......

Well it isnt Gordons, he said so further up...

Scottish Elises

advice required

Re: advice required