NASA racer

"big money racing in asia with a bunch of hack drivers is a show".

That's too bad...I guess if you want to be a pop-star rather than a racing driver it's a good place to race.

I just can't get inside the head of spending a fortune (and we're talking 6 figures a year) to simply run around the track banging fenders with rich kids with no talent. Is that REALLY what you want to do with your life? In europe, those rich kids also have talent so the money thing is not as much of a factor as simply the minimum requirement to be there. And pure money drivers fill the back of the grid.

Is there a "living" in it?

Mark Dalen

If you can truly be paid to do this, and it is what you want to do, then the BS is worth it. I guess the real test is whether you can earn your living doing this (can you continue to find the money people to keep it going). Best of luck to you.

NASA racer

is the POINT. The other 90% is the BS. It's the "grunt work" just like turning wrenches for an amateur racer. Every activity is mostly sitting around waiting or doing something else. But the term for someone who simply occupies a seat without results is HACK...that comes from the term for a cab driver...ie a guy who simply drives to earn a buck.

Winning races is the point of being a racing driver. Simply showing up with a shiny car to run around waving to the crowd isn't being a racing driver. Racing cars against drivers as good and better than you and winning is what separates a racing driver from a rich guy in a driving suit.

The POINT is what happens inside the helmet during those races...you are talking to folks who don't understand the appeal of simply "being there" to "look cool" so we can't advise you if you want to drive shiny cars with big crowds and be lapped by pro drivers.

Drivers in the US go to NASCAR because in order to have a career, that's the only place they can do it BUT it's a competitive series with the best drivers and crews in the US...it's not because of the spectators and money...those things are there because of THE RACING.

If it isn't about the racing, then it really is just BS.<ul><li><a href="http://www.krosnoffscholarship.com/Career.htm">THIS is a racing driver.</a></li></ul>

funkadelic

aka automotive figure skating

wasn't sure what to expect. maked me laugh seeing cars go sideways through T2 and T3 and then doing it again in reverse. entertaining to say the least. the amount of burnt rubber was toxic...

<img src="http://www.carandmodel.com/albums/driftshootout20040501-track/agr.sized.jpg" border="1">

a 350z and S2k ended up playing bumper cars
<img src="http://www.carandmodel.com/albums/driftshootout20040501-track/aem.sized.jpg" border="1">

the winner Ken Gushi (#21) is only 17 years old..
<img src="http://www.carandmodel.com/albums/driftshootout20040501-track/aja.sized.jpg" border="1">

road &amp; track had a classic sports car show in the paddock...first time seeing a 959 &amp; bugatti EB110 in person (among other classics)

<img src="http://www.carandmodel.com/albums/driftshootout20040501-rtcscs/abx.sized.jpg" border="1">

there is supposedly a drift event coming to sears point either the week before or after the ALMS race.

Nogaro

Racing with rich people with no talent.. I could do that at SCCA for less.

Nogaro

But just how many in the world would call that a "bad" job?

Nogaro

Motorsport is popluar there and is already the 3rd most watched sport behind basketball and soccer.

Soccer is big because its big in the world and locals play it. Basketball is big because of Yao. Motorsport is uniqe as its very popular but Chinese are moster viewers of Euro racing. Local racing is very low level and grassroot. Grassroot as it maybe the amount of money that will move into it one can guess is much more then the amount going into road racing in the States.

I mean I can go compete with kids 5yrs younger in physical age but 5 older in driver age then I am. I'm most likely to get crushed and lets say I've superstar talent and I do beat them.. there is no where to go as a pro road racing in the States..

I can take my investment to Asia kick some rich kid's ***, make a name for myself, and have a much greater chance of being paid to drive something local. If you were single and back to 24yr.. what would you do?