Stop Dreaming and Learn to Race

If you like motorsport, be it cars, motorcycles or karts, you must have daydreamed about racing. While motorsport daydreams are fun, they don’t actually achieve anything. So, why not stop daydreaming and do something real, like finding out how to learn to race for yourself?

How to Learn to Race

If you want to stop daydreaming and are actually interested in how to learn to race, understand that motorsport has many forms; rallying, drag racing, circle track, karts, they’re all out there waiting for you to get going and learn to race. So, the first part of how to learn to race is… Decide what type of motorsport most interests you… Find out what motorsport is available in your area… and start to learn to race.

There is an old saying that goes, “don’t assume, check!” If you really want find out how to learn to race, just because you haven’t seen or heard about motorsport race events or a race car club in your area, don’t just assume they aren’t there. My work used to have me moving to a new area (and often new country) every 2- to 3-years. As a “car nut” really wanting to learn to race rally cars, this meant I had to find a new race car club after each move. Apart from keeping an eye on local advertisements, I asked workmates, neighbors, people in bars, and local car shops; all can be great sources of information about local motorsport events and local race car clubs. Nowadays, you also have that massive mine of information, the Internet. So, don’t be negative. If you have an interest in motorsport and really want to find out how to learn to race, get out there and find what’s available locally.

How to Learn to Race - You’ve found local Motorsports, What next?

If you want to learn to race, your next logical step is to go along to a few local motorsport race events – and if you really want to find out how to learn to race, go with your eyes and ears open. If you just turn up to a local motorsport event, watch the race then go home, you will find out very little of any use in learning to race. But, if you spend the whole day there, turn up early for the many race set-up activities, watch how the race is organized, and what happens after the race meet, and will really learn something worthwhile. How is this part of how to learn to race, well basically, you need to know more than just how to drive and control a car or kart, you need to understand what really happens at a motorsport race event. Keep your eyes and ears open and you’ll quickly learn this involves considerably more than you ever see on the race track itself, and this information is important in you want to learn to race yourself.

While at a local motorsports event, remember you’re there to find out how to learn to race, so never be afraid to ask questions. At local race car club events, most racers are more than happy to answer questions, as are most marshals, and other race officials. If you just turn up watch the race then head home, you’ll miss out on the chance to get to know some of the local ‘players’. If you want to learn to race, getting to know the local racers and members of the local race car club can give you a big advantage; for one thing they can answer your questions on how to learn to race - and may well be able to help you get started in local racing.

To give you an example, after I left the UK and set up home in Pampanga province in the Philippines, I soon began to have “speed withdrawal” (extreme boredom!) So, following my own advice, I looked around for a local car association or race car club in Angeles City. The only race car club I could find, (AHRA) specialized in drag racing – a type of motorsport I had never previously considered. However, I finally decided to take a “look-see” – and was hooked. Instead of the hugely expensive, massive engine, fat-wheeled drag-rail monsters I expected, in this local race car club I found people racing everything from souped-up old American Muscle cars to Japanese street cars to locally made ‘hot’ jeeps. Not only was I very pleasantly surprised, but by being there early, helping out during the set-up and talking to people, I was even given a few runs down the drag strip by a friendly drag racer. Since then, I have happily taken up this sport and become a happy drag racer myself.

How to Learn to Race - You’ve Found a Local Race Car Club, What Next?

The next logical step in learning how to race is to join your local race car club. Not only will this give you access to a whole host of people with the same interests, it can also save you money. You see, most clubs do not charge event entrance fees to their members (or they give large member discounts). In addition, you will have access to their rulebook and/or information defining the vehicle classes or types, and what is involved with competing in each class or race car.

How to Learn to Race – Understand You don’t have to Compete to be Involved

Another thing you can consider at this stage is whether you want, and can afford, to start racing yourself straight away, or whether you want to learn more about it first. It may be that you want to be involved, but not yet as a competitor. If this is your wish, you will find that local race car clubs and rally car clubs always need track officials, race and track marshals, and helpers. From personal experience I can guarantee that volunteering to help out will give you a very good grounding, and give you close involvement in whichever motorsport you have an interest in. It will also make you very welcome as a member or any race car club.

To give an example of what you can do, when I was a young man living on an apprentice’s wages, I didn’t even have the cash to run a road car. This was a major hurdle in learning about my then ‘favorite’ motor sport and setting up and racing my own rally car - even local club events involved traveling to the area where stages were being run. To get around this, I volunteered to marshal and, later, became a member of a rally rescue squad. Not only was I able to get to see local events, but I ended up being transported all over the country with the rescue ambulance, met many national and international drivers and became involved with many major events.

How to Learn to Race – You’ve joined the local race car club, what next?

If you’ve found the motorsport you like, joined the local race car club and want to start racing yourself, its now time for you to develop a working budget. Ask yourself, “What is a realistic figure I can afford”? This is the point that many people fear as they think that car or kart racing will cost them mega-bucks. Happily this is not true, you see when learning to race, you don’t start racing at the top level; you join the race class that best suits you - and your pocket.

I first began learning to race by setting up my old road car as a rally car, then racing it at local club level. My ride was little more than a standard road car (a 14-year old, Mk I Ford Escort). Back in 1982, it cost me the princely sum of £200 (about US$300). I spent another £60 ($90) on the required safety equipment (mostly second-hand or giveaways from friends at my local race car club) and went rallying. Not only was I moderately successful, more importantly I had loads of fun, learnt a lot - and did not break my bank.

You will find that many motorsports have a ‘sportsman’ or ‘street’ class, especially at local race car club level. These are classes of race car in which you can race using a standard road car (or one with slight safety modifications). I would suggest that you ‘test-the-water’ by trying out in a couple of local races using your road car. Not only will doing this quickly let you know whether you want to take up racing at a higher class, but you can do so very cheaply – while at the same time you have fun and gain some experience.

How to Learn to Race – Summary

So, to summarize, if you want to start racing

• Think about which type of motorsport you may be interested in, do you want to race rally cars, be a drag racer, kart racer or something else? 

• Find out where local racing events are held, what the local race car club is, and take a look. 

• Go to local race events with your eyes and ears open, and get to know the ‘local’ racers and how the race event takes place.

• Join the local race car club to build your knowledge base and give you plenty of helpful contacts. 

• Learn how to race by learning about how the events are run and the rules and regulations that apply.

And, very importantly, get out on the track and have some fun! 

Related Articles on how to learn to race, race car clubs and other motorsport and auto related topics:

Angeles Hot Rod Association (AHRA) 

Bracket Racing

Angeles, Philippines Motor City

Mad Dog Motorcycle Club