How did you get involved in Motorsport?

Daniel S

Whatever you are involved in (actually racing, engineering, maintenance etc), how did you get involved?

I'm more interested in the engineering side of motorsport than actually racing the karts/cars myself (although I do love that too ). I got involved through my university and have some very extended family in racing. As of now, I'm on the UL Formula Student team and do a small bit of karting.

What's your story (even if you're just a fan of F1/WRC and have no other connection!)?

tonytoc11

Join your local motorclub and get involved in marshalling and take it from there or go to a few rally events and get talking to people. You could contact these people also: http://www.motorsportireland.com/

Daniel S

tonytoc11 wrote: »

Join your local motorclub and get involved in marshalling and take it from there or go to a few rally events and get talking to people. You could contact these people also: http://www.motorsportireland.com/

It's a bit of an old thread now, but I was just asking how other people got involved out of curiosity.

KenSwee

Brother was a mechanic and he used to have Autocar lying around for years. They used to have a really comprehensive sport page unlike nowadays. Eventually I stared buy it every week and added Autosport. Had Sat TV early on so got to see a lot of European races.

I've never had the chance to drive a single seater or racing saloon/sportscar and I guess I never will but I love a lot of different forms. Not a motor cycle fan at all and don't really go for Rally but the rest is always interesting.

KenSwee

LIGHTNING wrote: »

You are never too old to start!

I wish my age was the only thing stopping me.
Not enough financial clout.
No mechanical background.
Little one on the way.

I did try the racing school in Mondello about 15 years ago but I couldn't get comfortable in the car and I was only driving a few years so it's something I'd rather forget. I wouldn't be into trying it again to be honest. I have never had the time or interest in doing marshal work either.
A close friend was heavily involved in motor racing here and he always promised me a ride but sadly he passed away before we got a chance to do it. I don't know anybody else so I think my chances are gone.

frostie500

I was unemployed and wanted something to pass the time until I got a job and I started writing about F1 without really thinking anything would come from it. Then I managed to get a column with my local paper and turned that into a chance to get to races and I've been able to get to loads this year. I always wanted to be involved in the sport and have loved it since I was a kid (my earliest memories are of racing) so once I got a job I kept writing as a part-time.

There's loads of different ways to get into the sport depending on what you want to do. I wanted to write about it and managed to get a couple of lucky breaks and I've been able to do some things that I never thought possible.

freestyla

Well, never got involved properly into significant motorsport events (finance problems/lack of showing off opportunities etc.) but this is how I discovered thrill of speed and got hooked up into motorsports, at age of 14, in early 1990s.
It was school camp in a village/big farm. Boys and girls in separated dorms. A friend of mine and me sneaked in to girls dorm during night but a teacher interrupted the fun and we jumped out of a window and hide under a Saab which was parked just under the window.
Few minutes later we discovered that Saab is open and it has keys inside and it's automatic
An hour of joyride thru forest gravel roads with pretty powerful car.. this was in Finland and those roads offer a lot of butterflies in your stomach. I got convinced - this is what I want to do more!

Since then, I follow motorsport, and drive something as much as possible - occasional track days, back roads attacks, karting, snowmobile, jet ski... I do enjoy longer road trips a lot as long as have decent car to drive. Would be a dream to participate in Dakar Rally or similar...

Nicole22

rallying im at now started out in local hot rod club never dreamed rallying would come knocking on my door doing navagating for a friend to give it a go few rallies later still going and completly hooked

Daniel S

LIGHTNING wrote: »

You are never too old to start!

I always seem to be to young to do everything... :rolleyes:

Kind of like the old catch 22:

"Can't get a job without experience, can't get experience without a job".

Or

"Can't get cheap insurance without a no claims bonus, can't get a no claims bonus without cheap insurance".

Nicole22 wrote: »

rallying im at now started out in local hot rod club never dreamed rallying would come knocking on my door doing navagating for a friend to give it a go few rallies later still going and completly hooked

This is the plan my brother and I have, get started in hotrod/autocross/autograss or something, then move to either single seaters (my preference) or rally (his preference). Never thought of doing navigating, that might be a good place to start.

Nicole22

yeah the navagating aint cheaper but a lot cheaper than if your driving and running the car
cost of a days rally i bough my own fire proof underwear and navagators bag approx 200 euro murray motorsport. suit and boot hire for day €60. helmet intercom and hans device (hans head and neck support) €75 each. then rally entrance fee 245 euro each. plan on buying my own suit and boots shortly but so far spending money that could be spent on buying stuff spending it on entrance fee,s instead. dont think ill be stopping any time soon.

se conman

Started off going to watch the brother hillclimbing , then started machining engines which lead to building race engines (porting ,balancing) Did a lot of work on the F Vee engines and worked on the original Audi engines for F Sheane. Did a few hills in a class 5 single seater and finished up with a couple of years karting , then left it all behind me. Still give the brother a hand when ever he gets out for a bit of roundy roundy. I even did "The Park" once in an A40.