Getting started in dirt track racing

[Becker7011]

Just looking to get some advice on starting dirt track racing? I grew up kart racing but them left for the millitary and I am getting out and going home soon and would like to race at my local dirt track and I just want some knowledge. Thanks!

[Bubstr]

Best way is to find a good racer that needs help and you can get along with and take the fast track learning curve. You will not only gain the skills needed to maintain your car, but make valuable contacts for information and buying things you need to race. There are a lot of guys that need help if your not a smart ass and can be trusted to do something right. Good luck

[zaneaniven]

Where are you from? Maybe I can join you?

[Barbecueboy]

What part of the country do you live in? And what class are you thinking about starting with??...thanks for serving!......pm me

[Becker7011]

Right now I am in Arizona but I am from wisconsin and will be moving back there after my active duty is done. I would like to get into pro stocks or B modifieds. From the research I've done they are a little more affordable and my local track in wisconsin does not run street stocks or hobby stocks.

[i like racing]

Right now I am in Arizona but I am from wisconsin and will be moving back there after my active duty is done. I would like to get into pro stocks or B modifieds. From the research I've done they are a little more affordable and my local track in wisconsin does not run street stocks or hobby stocks.

what is your home track?

[Becker7011]

In wisconsin it is cedar lake speedway and the track in Arizona is cocopah speedway

[mudslinger47]

Do it the way I did it. By my self for the first few weeks and gained some friends to help figure stuff out and learned by doing from there. Doing stuff for other people is fine in its own right, but you learn from your mistakes. I think B mod is the hot set up for ya, get a crate motor and you'll have an abundance of time to work on the chassis....and learn.

[t.nie]

I'd agree with Duane on this one. Just get a car and get out there. B mod is a good place to start. It aint like you've never raced before.

[Becker7011]

Ok sweet thank you ill look into b mods more how is the up keep on a b mod through the season considering I don't wreck it haha

[Bubstr]

Oh Becker, there is no question of will you wreck it, it's when you wreck it.

It's not the initial cost that puts racers out of the business, it's the day to day expenses. Fuel, tires, a bent control arm, broken axle, trashed rim, crunched ball joint, and a few replaced bars and sheet metal. Getting out there and learning at the school of hard knocks is commendable but expensive. Every mistake you make costs money. If you can learn from others mistakes, it will save you a ton of grief not counting the money. Racing is a game of preparation. If your a Kart racer, you probably already know this. After you have been in it for some time, you will look back and figure out, you won more races in the garage than at the track. That is why I said helping someone else is the way to go. If you pay attention, you will know what gear to run. You will know how to set the car up for not only different tracks but the same track at different times of the night or different amounts of traffic on that track. Do you have to grind, groove or sype tires. How and what you need to keep the car cool on a hot night. Little things like how close or far away the oil pump pick up needs to be from that new fancy pan you picked up. The value of frequent valve lash checks. A multitude of little things that can cost you big on a weekly basis and cost you out of racing. Make no mistake, smart goes fast, Get as much free education as you can. A lot of racers will help you. They may want to kick your butt on the track, but they don't want to see you stop racing from mistakes.

Face it, if it was easy, everyone would do it. Your going to give up a lot of things to race. Dinners out, new cars even a relationship or three. Look at how many racers have been divorced. They all had a Mistress, it was racing. Find someone that has the same mistress is your best bet. Make it a threesome.

[t.nie]

Can't really say how much it would cost to run one week in, week out. That depends a lot on you and how you maintain your equipment, whether or not you buy new everything or race within your budget.

I always looked first at how much money I was willing to throw away racing, then figure out how to spend that most efficiently. I was always on a pretty tight budget racing though, I only had a couple season's where I was there most every weekend one way or another, and that was driving other people's cars too.

Racing hasn't changed, and it won't be any different than your Karting days. How fast do you want to spend? lol

[Bubstr]

Like the old Honest Charley Speed Shop adds back in the 50s. Remember the Decal with the woodpecker smoking the cigar.

Speed costs money, How fast do you want to go.

[LITE-INN]

Can't really say how much it would cost to run one week in, week out. That depends a lot on you and how you maintain your equipment, whether or not you buy new everything or race within your budget.

I always looked first at how much money I was willing to throw away racing, then figure out how to spend that most efficiently. I was always on a pretty tight budget racing though, I only had a couple season's where I was there most every weekend one way or another, and that was driving other people's cars too.

Racing hasn't changed, and it won't be any different than your Karting days. How fast do you want to spend? lol

he y todd I saw your car lol

[RACEMAN]

Get Help.

I disagree that you should try to go it alone as others have suggested. The more help you can get BEFORE you hit the track and while you're AT the track will go a long way to having a successful racing experience.