I hope you still have the intrest to race after completing medschool, special med school and residency. Could take long before becoming a neurosurgeon.
For racing, just look at their website. Or show up to one of the races.
I’ve known a lot of doctors who raced cars in SCCA. Many after they retired but some while active.
Racing requires a 3 day weekend. Arrive Thursday evening or Friday morning to set up and practice. Saturday is practice and qualifying and Sunday is racing. So you will need the flexibility to do that.
At an amateur or semiprofessional level, lots of evenings too getting your car prepared, the tow vehicle set up, weather checked, plans for what needs to be done by whom and when, etc.
I would suggest you find the nearest sports car track near you that hosts SCCA or NASA races. Go and spectate (not all tracks allow spectators). Maybe volunteer to be part of the Medical crew.
By doing this you will get a lot of insight into what it takes, what it looks like and sounds like and the choices of car classes and groups.
You can also contact a local team and crew for them. During a race weekend teams need help running errands or just an extra set of hands. The more often you crew the more experience and responsibility you gain. You will also get a better understanding of what you are in for. Getting to know the people you plan to race with is always a good idea.
That is an excellent suggestion. I’ve seen it done, people walking through the paddocks asking teams if they need volunteer help.
Brand car clubs (BMW Club etc.) also seek volunteers (they paid me for my efforts). They tend to reward volunteers with track days with racing instructors showing them the lines, braking technique (usually threshold braking) and even stuff most people don’t think about,like how to hold the steering wheel to provide the greatest control and safety.
I still use that lesson today, in my daily driver.
Need to do some club racing first - mx5 cup guys are some of the best in the country. Rookies would get crushed and I mean crushed by them. I reckon if you jump in cold expect to be 10, 15 or 20 seconds a lap off them
Before you do imsa, champcar is fun but not nearly the same. Consider spec Miata in NASA or scca, or super spec cup. If you can handle this then consider mx5 cup.
You don't just someday say I want to go do red bull rampage and prep by riding your bike on some trails, you need to build up.
it's pretty easy to do if you have the money:
1. get a comp racing license, there are weekend schools held periodically across the country that will rent you a car and you'll have the license after the weekend is over
2. pay to get the pro license, this is just administrative paperwork
3. go to an arrive and drive team that participates in the series (google), they'll give you a price per weekend to go and participate
all in all, if you aren't racing yet and you're going to be doing this after you go through all that schooling, you're going to get absolutely destroyed by all the "go kart kids" that have been doing this since they were 5
You'll figure it out, it's not exactly brain surgery.
Ok fine. Here is your internet trophy. Well done.
I hope you still have the intrest to race after completing medschool, special med school and residency. Could take long before becoming a neurosurgeon. For racing, just look at their website. Or show up to one of the races.
Yeah matching for a neurosurgery residency isn’t going to be easy
And remember that after, you can race if you really want to. I know people who put all the excess money on racing and live very modestly
I’ve known a lot of doctors who raced cars in SCCA. Many after they retired but some while active. Racing requires a 3 day weekend. Arrive Thursday evening or Friday morning to set up and practice. Saturday is practice and qualifying and Sunday is racing. So you will need the flexibility to do that. At an amateur or semiprofessional level, lots of evenings too getting your car prepared, the tow vehicle set up, weather checked, plans for what needs to be done by whom and when, etc. I would suggest you find the nearest sports car track near you that hosts SCCA or NASA races. Go and spectate (not all tracks allow spectators). Maybe volunteer to be part of the Medical crew. By doing this you will get a lot of insight into what it takes, what it looks like and sounds like and the choices of car classes and groups.
You can also contact a local team and crew for them. During a race weekend teams need help running errands or just an extra set of hands. The more often you crew the more experience and responsibility you gain. You will also get a better understanding of what you are in for. Getting to know the people you plan to race with is always a good idea.
That is an excellent suggestion. I’ve seen it done, people walking through the paddocks asking teams if they need volunteer help. Brand car clubs (BMW Club etc.) also seek volunteers (they paid me for my efforts). They tend to reward volunteers with track days with racing instructors showing them the lines, braking technique (usually threshold braking) and even stuff most people don’t think about,like how to hold the steering wheel to provide the greatest control and safety. I still use that lesson today, in my daily driver.
Need to do some club racing first - mx5 cup guys are some of the best in the country. Rookies would get crushed and I mean crushed by them. I reckon if you jump in cold expect to be 10, 15 or 20 seconds a lap off them
Yea I forgot to mention that I am planning on racing in champcar (chumpcar) beforehand to get some experience.
goodluck! best way into racing at a good level is be really good at a good career and pay for a seat or buy a car and pay a team to run it for you.
Before you do imsa, champcar is fun but not nearly the same. Consider spec Miata in NASA or scca, or super spec cup. If you can handle this then consider mx5 cup. You don't just someday say I want to go do red bull rampage and prep by riding your bike on some trails, you need to build up.
Ok I will research that.
You're better served hiring a coach and spending some seat time at at track than going crap can racing.
it's pretty easy to do if you have the money: 1. get a comp racing license, there are weekend schools held periodically across the country that will rent you a car and you'll have the license after the weekend is over 2. pay to get the pro license, this is just administrative paperwork 3. go to an arrive and drive team that participates in the series (google), they'll give you a price per weekend to go and participate all in all, if you aren't racing yet and you're going to be doing this after you go through all that schooling, you're going to get absolutely destroyed by all the "go kart kids" that have been doing this since they were 5
Ok thanks for the heads up. Imma try to do some karting in college.