"Hey Mom Look, I Am Driving A Race Car"
Actually it is really easy to find a ride in some of the road race pro series, that you see on TV, or may have watched in person, at some of the big name race tracks. The only thing you need is a bit of previous experience, and the money to put down up front, for one of the teams "arrive and drive" spare cars.
SCCA TA-2 happens to be the hottest race group right now, with the cars being fairly equal, and not too over the top expensive, compared to a Trans Am (GT-1) car. Many of the race buggies come from Howe Racing, in Beaverton, MI, and are an extension of the many short track stock cars, that the company has already build. There are some other "approved" car suppliers as well. When the series was first getting started, you could pretty much show up with an old ASA stock car, and get in the field, without any trouble. But them of course, the big money came in and took over, and the rules changed, which is so often the case, in auto racing.
The series does draw some big names, including Adam Andretti (a regular). Bill Elliott, and Paul Tracy, have made cameo appearances. You will have to behave, or suffer the wrath of those with highly proven driving skills, for any first laps bone head moves.
A new Howe car ready to dance will set you back something north of six figures, where as the old ASA stockers could be bought for less than $20K. The gap between the two is fairly wide, in terms of performance. You will still need a few spares, and a couple people to help out, who know what they are doing, and don't mind traveling, through out the summer.
This is a series for the wealthy sportsman racers, with the funding to buy 2 or 3 cars, and have at it. There are some very professional, and established race teams (eg: Mike Cope Racing) who bring cars in, as well. Be ready to spend large, in order to play with the "family money" guys, and otheres, who are out there for the most part, without aspiring to move to higher forms of racing, such as NA$CAR, or Indy Car.
The other option is to rent your seat time, and there are many teams that will be glad to work out the details with you on doing so. If the money comes from a sponsor, all the better, so check the TV schedule for next season, and drum up some viewership numbers, because that's what it's all about. Keep in mind that many of the guy and gals in the lower NASCAR series (Xfinity, Camping World Truck), or ARCA, are there on a "pay to play" basis. Plan on dropping somewhere in the neighborhood of $25K per race for a TA-2 ride, which does not include the extras, such as flights, hotels, dog sitter, etc. If you want to go full tilt, in a top level Trans Am car, get ready to drop some money large. It takes a lot, to keep one of those babies going. The money has to come from some where. See the sign below, which was on the windshield of a car, at the PRI Show in Indy, this year.
So now you know the rest of the story. Don't give up, or get discouraged. The best thing to do is get some seat time in something, and see if the whole thing is right for you anyway. Karts are not a bad way to get in the game. SCCA has many teams who rent cars, at the lower levels, for a lot less bucks. Look at some of the approved driving schools, as a quick way to get the necessary license to compete.
Sooner or later it's important to show up with money, but money without experience is a very dangerous combination, in the game of auto racing.
