Garage Heroes (In Training)

Learning as we go. Come along with us and Enjoy the Ride!

Bill Fischer

GHIT 0184: A Race Bar Farewell to Jandy

The Jandy Man

After a very long delay in editing, here is the episode we recorded several weeks ago (pre-Christmas) as a farewell wish to Jandy before he went on a long-term deployment.  We did not expect to take as long editing, but we easily had triple the number of guests we have ever had and that made things a bit complicated.  This is a fun episode with a good bit of Storytime from past racing events.  Good luck to Jim on your deployment.  We hope to see you back soon.  And thank you so much for your service!

In this episode of Dominating with Dawson, we give and introduction to the basic braking techniques and when you should use them on a track.  The typical braking technique that you use nearly every time on a public road is never the proper technique when you are driving on a track and concerned about your lap time.  But here we describe the main types of braking that you will work to use on track as your experience grows.  We even go into a few techniques that you may not want to use initially, but we think you should be aware of, even on day 1.  The main technique that you will want to use at first is threshold braking.  Then there will also be a few turns where you only want to brush brake or even just lift off the gas pedal or throttle.  In addition, we introduce the concept of trail braking.  We do not recommend working on trail braking on day one for most drivers, but at the same time, we also don’t feel it is beneficial to be closed minded on only braking in a straight line.  Especially if you have a more well developed braking proactive where you apply trail braking naturally.  The key aspects to remember is to apply pressure quickly but not just stomp on the pedal to avoid upsetting the car or locking up the tires.  Just as important is the concept of gradually releasing the brake pedal to help keep the car stable throughout the turn.  Stomping on or popping off the brake pedal, as well as any of the pedals, is to be avoided. 

As always, if you have any questions that you would like us to cover with Ben, please let us know in a (5 star?) podcast review or via email at [email protected] or in a comment on our social media.

You can subscribe to our podcast on the podcast provider of your choice, including the Apple podcast app, Google music, Amazon, and YouTube etc. 

Also, if you could give our podcast a (5-star?) rating or even better, a podcast review, we would greatly appreciate it and it would help us to grow the passion and sport of high performance driving.  For instance, leaving an Apple Podcast rating is very easy.  If you go to your podcast library, under shows and click on the podcast you can leave a (5?) star rating and enter your review. 

A link to the episode is:  https://tinyurl.com/FarewellToJandy 

We hope you enjoy this episode!

PS  Please don’t forget that if you are looking to add an Apex Pro to your driving telemetry system, don’t forget to use our discount code for all Apex Pro systems you will receive a free Windshield Suction Cup Mount for the system, a savings of $40.  Just enter the code “ghitlikesapex!” when you order.  We have two systems for our team and Bill is looking to add a third for this season, pending CFO approval from Vicki.  They are a great system and truly invaluable in safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross etc.

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training Podcast and Garage Heroes In Training racing team drivers

Highlights from this episode include:

1)  It took almost 15 minutes just to herd the cats, so we put that as a “bonus” after the credits rolled

2)  Guest roll:  Jeff Caplan/Ron Mexico, Ann Moran/Giggles, Ruth Bates/Master Bates, Patrick Mchugh/Richard “Dick” Freelane, two secret commando guests who will go by Pat and Chris, Matty/Opah, Taylor Purcell/The Droner Boner, Estaban/El Banos, Lara Vernon, and our guest of honor Jim Andy Jandy Webb.

3)  Story time upon story time ensues.  Most are examples of what not to do, so we aren’t sure this episode will make you faster but it should make you laugh a few times.  Always remmerbe: The Jandy Man can! and usually does.

GHIT 0184: Wishing a Fond Farewell to Jandy – With Race Bar

GHIT 0183: Racing 101 Part 4: Buying and Selling a Race Car or a Soon to be Race Car

Are there any other types?

Buying a Car

We are getting back to our podcast roots and wanted to start a special series Vicki calls “So You Wanna Racecar” that Bill can’t seem to say correctly.  This is part 4 of the series (of ~10). On this episode, we try to summarize the process involved with finding and buying a “new to you” car, or for those with a problem (Like Bill) how to best prepare to sell your car.  Lara Vernon is on as our guest for a second time and is involved with buying and selling cars in her real life where she owns a boutique exotic car dealership called “Rare Exotic Vehicles” in Asheville NC that deals with very cool vintage cars and hot rods from the 1930’s on.  The discussion deals with all types of cars, from a daily driver to a race car to a future race car to a parts car for the race car.  Lara’s advice will save you time and money and get you further towards your goal.  You may even find that flipping cars or parting out cars can help support your racing.  This is one of the rare cases where the magician gives away a few of the secrets.

Please let us know if we missed anything that you may want discussed in a future episode of our Racing 101 Series. 

The outline for the series is:

Part 1:  Building Your First Racecar (and options to not)

Part 2:  Safety and Safety Related Equipment Needed

Part 3:  Best Entry Points To Start Performance Driving

Part 4:  Buying and Selling Cars (With Special Guest Lara Vernon)

Part 5:  Going To and From The Event/Track – What To Expect

Part 6:  Paddock and Pit – Best Practices

Part 7:  Perspective of a New Driver (With Guest Adam Owens)

Part 8:  Tools, Spares, Supplies Needed for a Race Weekend

Part 9:  Common Issues All Drivers Will/May Experience in When On Track For the First Time

Part 10:  Miscellaneous Topics (& Things We Forget to Mention Earlier)

On this episode of Dominating with Dawson we go into how high performance driving education (HPDE) helps everyone on public roads, whether you have driven for decades or even if you are a new or soon to be new driver.  It helps in all areas including the use of controls within the car as well as increasing the ability for the driver to anticipate and read the road and other drivers.  We know of nothing that can be more effective in improving your driving as well as reducing the likelihood of an incident on public roads and everyday driving situations.  Our three hosts all agree but each has a different number one improvement area that they feel has been improved through our driving education events and driving on track.  We then wander into the relative safety of being on a track vs off track/on public roads.  For those keeping score at home, the track is way safer than driving on public streets, even if you don’t count the safety equipment improvements involved with a prepared race car.

You can subscribe to our podcast on the podcast provider of your choice, including the Apple podcast app, Google music, Amazon, and YouTube etc. 

Also, if you could give our podcast a (5-star?) rating or even better, a podcast review, we would greatly appreciate it and it would help us to grow the passion and sport of high performance driving.

For instance, leaving an Apple Podcast rating is very easy.  If you go to your podcast library, under shows and click on the podcast you can leave a (5?) star rating and enter your review. 

A link to the episode is:  https://tinyurl.com/Racing101Part-2

We hope you enjoy this episode!

PS  Please don’t forget that if you are looking to add an Apex Pro to your driving telemetry system, don’t forget to use our discount code for all Apex Pro systems you will receive a free Windshield Suction Cup Mount for the system, a savings of $40.  Just enter the code “ghitlikesapex!” when you order.  We have two systems for our team and Bill is looking to add a third for this season, pending CFO approval from Vicki.  They are a great system and truly invaluable in safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross etc.

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training Podcast and Garage Heroes In Training racing team drivers

Highlights from this episode include:

1)  We start off with a review of Lara’s recent win with her team on the 24 Hours of Daytona on iRacing where she will be getting her iRolex.

2)  Critical aspects of the car searching process, what to avoid, what to look for, and how to look for things that will indicate a well taken care of car. 

3)  How the discussion of the car can lead to even better deals, both on the phone and eventually in person when possible.

4)  Several of her favorite sites to look for cars online.  Bill shares the Auto Tempest addiction and has a large set of open searches that he is always looking at, much to the irritation of Vicki.

5)  Two words to try to avoid in most cases are accident and rust without a lot of further detail and investigation, rust being at the top of the list.

6)  Lara also goes into the current market pricing and demand that she is seeing and how things are changing, even during our current COVID situation.  It seems to be a seller’s market currently.

7)  We also cover the transaction from the perspective of the seller.  Yes Bill, you can sell cars as well.  Try it.  You might make Vicki happier.

8)  Tips on how to inspect a car, what to look for, and where to get background on the particular model. Body, engine, fluids (level and color/smell), paint, with plenty of tips and tricks.  Note to self:  Do not let Lara near our race cars, they may not inspect well, lol.

9)  Somehow, we ended up talking about our award winning race at the 24 Hours of Lemons race in Thompson Connecticut during our second ever race.  Granted it was the “I Got Screwed Award”, but hey, it is an award, lol.

10)  We also go into a bit about her iRacing results and what is involved in some of her endurance races.  Now if we could just get Jen and Vicki to not get motion sickness.

PS If you are preparing to sell a car, another former podcast guest,  Jim Tramontano from “No Money Motorsports”, has a great article on things to do or avoid when listing your car to maximize your selling price and minimize the time on the market.  https://tinyurl.com/SellingRaceCars

(Jim, you are way overdue for another episode)

Lara’s Contact information is: 

Her business is are:  www.RareExoticVehicles.com

@Lara.is.racing on Instagram

9)  Somehow, we ended up talking about our award winning race at the 24 Hours of Lemons race in Thompson Connecticut during our second ever race.  Granted it was the “I Got Screwed Award”, but hey, it is an award, lol.

10)  We also go into a bit about her iRacing results and what is involved in some of her endurance races.  Now if we could just get Jen and Vicki to not get motion sickness.

PS If you are preparing to sell a car, another former podcast guest,  Jim Tramontano from “No Money Motorsports”, has a great article on things to do or avoid when listing your car to maximize your selling price and minimize the time on the market.  https://tinyurl.com/SellingRaceCars

(Jim, you are way overdue for another episode)

Lara’s Contact information is: 

Her business is are:  www.RareExoticVehicles.com

@Lara.is.racing on Instagram

GHIT 0183: Racing 101 Part 4: Buying and Selling a Race Car or a Soon to be Race Car

GHIT 0182: Racing 101 Part 3: Easy Entry Points to Start Performance Driving

Open door to racing

We are getting back to our podcast roots and wanted to start a special series Vicki calls “So You Wanna Racecar” that Bill can’t seem to say correctly.  This is part 3 of the series (of ~10). On this episode, we try to summarize the easiest ways that we know of to start performance driving and racing your car.  We selected these options by their ease of entry, ability to enter with little to no driving experience, and their safety.  Cost and complexity of entry was also added as a secondary criterion that we discuss throughout that episode.  The best advice we can give is to just pick one that sounds good for you and start.

Please let us know if we missed anything that you may want discussed in a future episode of our Racing 101 Series. 

The outline for the series is:

Part 1:  Building Your First Racecar (and options to not)

Part 2:  Safety and Safety Related Equipment Needed

Part 3:  Best Entry Points To Start Performance Driving

Part 4:  Buying and Selling Cars (With Special Guest Lara Vernon)

Part 5:  Going To and From The Event/Track – What To Expect

Part 6:  Paddock and Pit – Best Practices

Part 7:  Perspective of a New Driver (With Guest Adam Owens)

Part 8:  Tools, Spares, Supplies Needed for a Race Weekend

Part 9:  Common Issues All Drivers Will/May Experience in When On Track For the First Time

Part 10:  Miscellaneous Topics (& Things We Forget to Mention Earlier)

Our next episode of Dominating with Dawson covers the issue some drivers will have that is referred to as the “red mist”.  This is something to be aware of and avoid at all costs.  It does not improve your performance but often increased the risk associated with driving on the track.  Sometimes just knowing it exists is the key to avoiding it or dealing with it if you experience it.  The red mist is almost like having a temporary lobotomy while on track.  Obviously not the best condition to be driving at any point, but especially on track.  We even try to offer a few ideas on how to be cognizant of yourself to hopefully prevent the red mist issue.  Please let us know if you know of any other methods that work, we would love to learn and to share them with everyone.

Also, as a bonus since we missed one last episode, we have a double shot of Dominating with Dawson.  On the second segment, we go into things that you can do and should do on that straightaways as you progress.  While not only illustrative of how many things there are to do on the straightaway, but we also hope we show that there is a near limitless number of things that need to be reviewed on the track and while on a straight you usually have a bit more time and can collect yourself and collect some information that is vital to keeping your car in order and improve your racing.  As a new or first time racer, you will likely be overwhelmed, but as you progress, you will have more and more time to do some of the things we discuss here.  With proactive, the racetrack will seem to slow down in your mind even though your lap times will likely be significantly faster than your first time on track, even in the same car.  Racing on a track is surprisingly active even when it appears you aren’t really doing anything, like driving straight.

You can subscribe to our podcast on the podcast provider of your choice, including the Apple podcast app, Google music, Amazon, and YouTube etc. 

Also, if you could give our podcast a (5-star?) rating or even better, a podcast review, we would greatly appreciate it and it would help us to grow the passion and sport of high performance driving.

For instance, leaving an Apple Podcast rating is very easy.  If you go to your podcast library, under shows and click on the podcast you can leave a (5?) star rating and enter your review. 

A link to the episode is:  https://tinyurl.com/Racing101Part-2

We hope you enjoy this episode!

PS  Please don’t forget that if you are looking to add an Apex Pro to your driving telemetry system, don’t forget to use our discount code for all Apex Pro systems you will receive a free Windshield Suction Cup Mount for the system, a savings of $40.  Just enter the code “ghitlikesapex!” when you order.  We have two systems for our team and Bill is looking to add a third for this season, pending CFO approval from Vicki.  They are a great system and truly invaluable in safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross etc.

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training Podcast and Garage Heroes In Training racing team drivers

Highlights from this episode include:

1)  Attending an amateur race, particularly if it’s one you may be interested in trying is a great way to “audit” the process and see what you may need to do and prepare for.  Talking to others in attendance is a great way to learn and make your first racing friends.  Cost estimate :  Free to $10-30 or so

2)  Autocross is often jokingly referred to as the gateway drug for performance riving.  It is quick, relatively cheap, easily prepared for, and not too much preparation or safety requirements to start in most cars (Helmet, good working condition car, and good to go, in many cases there can be rental helmets on site).  Cost estimate :  $20-100 or so for entry

3)  SCCA’s Track Night in America is a weeknight track event at a local track where you are welcome to go race your car on the track and see how it goes.  There can be some instruction there and all drivers and street cars are readily accepted.  A relatively cheap way to start and try your hand at a local track.  Cost estimate :  $100 or so to enter

4)  HPDE’s and Track Days are closely related and on a spectrum of the amount of instruction being offered.  It can be a single day event or the entire weekend.  HPDE’s offer a higher fraction of your day with an instructor and may involve classroom sessions and potentially on track drills which are usually a ton of fun.  Track days often have instructors available to set up or just ask to drive with you but are usually a bit less formal and structured.  There is a wide range of events that go from one end to the other and finding the one that fits your personality and interests is as easy as signing up and start out, or all of them, lol.  Requirements are usually a helmet and a safely running car.  Again, rental helmets can usually be reserved ahead of time for the event.  Cost estimate :  $200-500 or so per day to enter

5)  Rally events are not usually speed based events but are a great way of getting into the driving culture.  There are several types, and each has a varying set up and goal structure.  The cost can be quite low, and they are often used as a charity fundraiser or to support local community interests and needs.  Cost estimate :  $50-500+ or so to enter

6)  There are several types of racing that are set for you to enter a race as your first step, things like Lucky Dog, the 24 Hours of Lemons and ChampCar are geared to accept and help first time racers.  This is how our team got its start.  It may be a better plan to attend and HPDE event before trying this, but it is a very viable path if you wish to try your hand at racing as a first step.  We did discuss several other types of racing, but they are not typically open to a first time driver and are more of a goal to work towards.  Identifying a potential series of interest is a good way to focus on the car or cars that you look to get for racing.  Cost estimate :  varies pretty widely but $100 or so up to ~$750 or more per day (for the team) to enter plus significant car and safety equipment expenses etc.  More advanced races can be significantly higher cost to enter and prepare for.  There are rental options for an entire car or just for a “seat” to share the race with others.

7)  Also, don’t ignore (go) karting.  It can be indoor or outdoor and electric or gas powered karts.  It is a great way to whet your appetite without having a car or even if you aren’t old enough to drive a car on the street.  A lot of the skills and approach crosses over to whatever type of racing you may wish to try.

GHIT 0182: Racing 101 Part 3: Easy Entry Points to starting Performance Driving

GHIT 0181: Sponsorship with Brian Bohlander

Returns to the Podcast to Discuss Seeking and Working with Sponsors and Sponsorships

Brian Bohlander with John Force Racing
This group knows a bit about sponsorships

When Brian was on with us last year, we started talking about identifying sponsors, working with potential sponsors, and how to get and treat sponsors to assist with the expenses related to racing.  Since then, Brian has given several talks on this topic, as well as appearances on several podcasts.  As always, our goal was to provide a complete summary of the area of sponsorship and allow you to be able to identify potential sponsors and find a way to help their business and your racing.  If you use the strategies Brian covers and understand that it is not all about you, your speed, and your race wins, you should be able to start or grow your current driver/team/car sponsorship program.  So technically, our podcast is not only free to you but may actually make or save you some money.  

There is no Dominating with Dawson on this episode, but we will double up next Monday. 

You can subscribe to our podcast on the podcast provider of your choice, including the Apple podcast app, Google music, Amazon, and YouTube etc. 

Also, if you could give our podcast a (5-star?) rating or even better, a podcast review, we would greatly appreciate it and it would help us to grow the passion and sport of high performance driving.

For instance, leaving an Apple Podcast rating is very easy.  If you go to your podcast library, under shows and click on the podcast you can leave a (5?) star rating and enter your review. 

We hope you enjoy this episode!

PS  Please don’t forget that if you are looking to add an Apex Pro to your driving telemetry system, don’t forget to use our discount code for all Apex Pro systems you will receive a free Windshield Suction Cup Mount for the system, a savings of $40.  Just enter the code “ghitlikesapex!” when you order.  We have two systems for our team and Bill is looking to add a third for this season, pending CFO approval from Vicki.  They are a great system and truly invaluable in safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross etc.

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training Podcast and Garage Heroes In Training racing team drivers

Highlights from this episode on Sponsorship include:

1)  Bill establishes his wish list for a dream sponsor and Brian quickly dashes it against the rocks and we move to the reality of the current sponsorship and business climate.

2)  Brian defines exactly what should be considered to be sponsorship and provides several examples of how these relationships start and develop.

3)  Sponsorships are sometimes monetary but can also be discounted goods or services.

4)  When approaching a sponsor, the key is to try to determine what the sponsor is looking for and how you can help them grow their business.  Try to look at it from their perspective before thinking of what you can give or what you want from them.

5)  Advertising and media exposure should not be the focus of your pitch.

6)  What are the three components that make the strongest proposal to a potential sponsor.

7)  What is a potential sponsorship program, how to prepare one, and how to increase your likelihood of success.  We also go into the importance of having an internal champion is getting the traction needed to start the relationship even before you have a sponsorship program.

8)  We even go into an area that is often overlooked by our racing friends:  what does the business want in return from the sponsorship.

9)  We even go through a scenario using an example business and product with an amateur endurance racing team as a worked example.  Just for instance.  Hey, it’s our podcast, lol.

10)  Tips and guidance on how to approach your first sponsor that you probably already know within your personal social network.

11)  Getting, maintaining, and growing a sponsorship relationship is a significant investment of time and effort by your team or at least one team member and can really be a near full time job.

12) Brian also goes into several examples of sponsorship deals that he has witnessed during his professional life.

13)  How to present you and your team to the sponsor and what you should do before even sending them any information.

14)  As many would have guessed, Bill tries to get Brian’s help with his dream Slurpee sponsorship.  And then we walkthrough a potential path to Vicki’s dream sponsor of Flyin’ Miata for her baby.  The thought behind these would be to show a worked example and what factors and approaches that may be helpful with trying to prepare for and start the conversation.

15)  How and where to start your first steps towards working with a sponsor.

16)  UPOD – Under Promise and Over Deliver.  Words to live by in racing and in the real world.  (Meat Space).  Its right up there with “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth overdoing”

17)  Brian was also kind enough to offer several additional potential models that can be pursued instead of, or in addition to, seeking sponsorship.

18)  Vicki goes off program and starts talking racing EV’s in endurance racing from out of nowhere.  It is kind of like the line from the Talking Heads “Well, How Did I Get Here”

GHIT 0181: Brian Bohlander Returns to the Podcast to Discuss Seeking and Working with Sponsors

GHIT 0180: Easy Entry Points to Performance Driving and Racing

Racing 101 – So You Wanna Racecar – Part 3

gateway arch

This is part 3 of the series (of ~10) we go over several of the easiest and most popular paths to get your start performance driving and/or racing journey.  This should be considered a starting point to work from and not an exhaustive, detailed list as there are many other potential paths and organizations available across the globe.  We have already talked through several of these entry points in prior episodes and will continue to cover each of these areas in future episodes.  As always, each if us if forever “In Training” no matter what our current level of performance.

The outline for the series is:

Part 1:  Building Your First Racecar (and options to not)

Part 2:  Safety and Safety Related Equipment Needed

Part 3:  Best Entry Points To Start Performance Driving

Part 4:  Buying and Selling Cars (With Special Guest Lara Vernon)

Part 5:  Expectations between Going To and From The Event/Track 

Part 6:  Paddock and Pit – Best Practices

Part 7:  Perspective of a New Driver (With Guest Adam Owens)

Part 8:  Tools, Spares, Supplies Needed for a Race Weekend

Part 9:  Common Issues All Drivers Will/May Experience in When On Track For the First Time

Part 10:  Miscellaneous Topics (& Things We Forget to Mention Earlier)

Continuing with our racing 101 Series within our Dominating with Dawson segment, we go over a condition that is to be avoided.  It is commonly referred to as the “red mist” when racing or driving.  This is somewhat like road rage and not only negatively impacts your performance but also increases the risk of damage to you, your car, and your fellow drivers on the track.  Being cognizant of the red mist is often the biggest step to avoiding it by early recognition before becoming fully “mystified”

You can subscribe to our podcast on the podcast provider of your choice, including the Apple podcast app, Google music, Amazon, and YouTube etc.

Also, if you could give our podcast a (5-star?) rating or even better, a podcast review, we would greatly appreciate it and it would help us to grow the passion and sport of performance driving.

For instance, leaving an Apple Podcast rating is very easy.  If you go to your podcast library, under shows and click on the podcast you can leave a (5?) star rating and enter your review. 

We hope you enjoy this episode!

PS  Please don’t forget that if you are looking to add an Apex Pro to your driving telemetry system, don’t forget to use our discount code for all Apex Pro systems you will receive a free Windshield Suction Cup Mount for the system, a savings of $40.  Just enter the code “ghitlikesapex!” when you order.  We have two systems for our team and Bill is looking to add a third for this season, pending CFO approval from Vicki.  They are a great system and truly invaluable in safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross etc.

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training Podcast and Garage Heroes In Training racing team drivers

Highlights from this episode include:

1)  After some initial recording issues, …….

2)  Attending an amateur driving event is a great way to start learning a bit and feeling comfortable with going to a track or racing event etc. 

3)  We often joke about autocross being the “gateway drug” for performance driving and racing.  It is easy, requires very little equipment and preparation for your car, and is one of the most inexpensive entry points to start performance driving.  Budget requirements are usually well under $100 or so for the day.

4)  If autocross isn’t appealing to you because you always had the dream or desire to drive on a track, then perhaps SCCA’s Track Night In America is the best of the potential entry points for you.  You take your daily driver or your fun road car to a local track during the week and race it at the local track.  This costs a bit more but is still usually less than $200 for the evening.

5)  If you are looking for a bit more hands on coaching and structure, we always recommend attending an HPDE event.  These can be at a track or even focused on autocross, depending on the event organizer and location.  It is usually a blend of in class instruction and track time, often approximately 50/50 split, but the class time is very helpful and valuable.  Budget around $500 or so for a two-day event.  If you are looking of an HPDE targeting autocross, we enjoy going to the EVO School that costs about ½ as much for each day. Both are great entry points to start with.

6)  If you want a bit more track time and a bit less instruction, there are several track days at local tracks with a bit less structure and instruction, but usually a bit more time on track.  We would recommend starting with an HPDE event, especially as a first time.

7)  Road Rally events aren’t really racing but a great way to get started and meeting your newest bunch of friends to be.  Rally events are not a speed event but can be timed or can be based on finding checkpoints or completing challenges.  These can be a single day or multiple days; costs vary greatly from $40 to much more and are often used as a charity fundraising activity or to help the local community in some way.  These are usually on public roads and are often relaxed.  Not every rally is like the Burt Reynolds movie Cannonball Run, lol.

8)  We started by entering a race as our first event. Looking back, not the best of the entry points for our team at the time.  It is another potential entry point.  We would recommend at least one HPDE, but several series cater to first time race drivers and are set up to help you achieve this goal.  The cost of entry can be low for an autocross event or over $1,500 for an endurance event to enter.  There is also a higher level of car preparation and safety equipment involved.  The shortest races would be an autocross where the races are usually under 1 minute each.  Then there are sprint races where the race can be for a single stint searching for your one best lap (usually called Time Attack) or for some short wheel to wheel races the race can be 20-40 minutes or so.  Endurance races usually start at 4 hours and can be single 24+ hour events or multiple days of multi hour races.  Costs can vary from a less than $100 for an autocross race to over $1,000 and up for endurance races.  Budgets can also grow dramatically depending on the event and the cars being used. 

9)  An alternative to racing your own prepped car in a race is to either rent a car or a seat in a car to try your hand at racing.  The costs again can vary depending on the car and the race, but with this option, you do not have to purchase and prepare the car.  This reduces the start up costs and effort required to get out on the track and that is the most importance thing to getting started.  You will still need a helmet and the required safety equipment, but he car and associated supplies, tools, etc. are usually covered.  Pricing can vary dramatically from a few hundred dollars minimum to several tens of thousands of dollars for high level events in semi-pro and professional events.  NOT recommended for your first time, lol

10)  At many events you will need to either bring a racing helmet or rent one on site.  Always make sure to contact the organizer for their specific requirements and if there are rentals available ahead of time.

11)  We did neglect to mention going on track with an “experience” type of event where you can drive on a real track in some very fancy car or race cars.  These are usually lead follow and you get to go up to the speed that you are comfortable with a pacing guide ahead of you.

GHIT 0180: Racing 101 – Easy Entry Paths to Performance Driving and Racing aka So You Wanna Racecar – Part 3