• Registered: 2012-04-20
  • Posts: 2

Topic: Greetings Earthlings

So I guess this is an introduction, and probably a request for beginner advice.

I'm an east coaster (Boston),  went to LeMons New England back in '10 and spectated the hell out of it. So, since then I've been asking myself — how the hell do I get involved in this thing?

My background is pretty limited — I managed to carry a 2000 Pontiac Grand Am GT to 250k miles with a fair amount elbow grease (and let's be honest, the internet). A year ago it went to car heaven and my driving is limited to my wife's Ford Focus (I know). Last summer I bought a 50% restored '78 Honda CB 400, got it up and running, and put a few hundred miles into it. I'm really too broke (it comes with the profession) to have racing experience beyond my high school days of being an idiot and racing my other idiot friends on the Mass Pike in my '90 Ford Taurus; top speed 85. 

I'm thinking about selling the aforementioned bike and picking up another hopeless heap on four wheels just to have something to yell at in-between the brief moments of functional use. The more time I spend working on cars the more I realize I know nothing about working on cars.

Should I just scrape up $700+ and hope someone foolish enough to enter LeMons is foolish enough to let me behind the wheel? Should I start getting into karting and stick with that for a while before I ask someone to trust me with their precious jalopy? I have no idea where to begin with this stuff. Unfortunately I know exactly zero people who share my enthusiasm for terrible, terrible, cars - so I've come here.

Hi!

2 Reply by Mike98036 (edited by Mike98036 2012-04-20 08:24 AM)

  • From: Lynnwood, Wa
  • Registered: 2011-06-16
  • Posts: 370

Re: Greetings Earthlings

Arrive and drive is probably the best way to get started; best bang for your buck.  That's not the way I went, but then I'm a dummy and had some spare-ish cash laying around.  If you can find a local team and they have an opening, I'm sure they'd love to have the extra hands.  That way, you can learn from some folks that have already learned some of the hard lessons.
 
There are bunch of other threads where we've described ad nauseum what you can expect if you want to start your own team from the ground up.  Search around and you'll find them.

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
  • From: San Diego, CA
  • Registered: 2011-11-26
  • Posts: 490

Re: Greetings Earthlings

+1 on the arrive and drive and helping out an existing team.

There are teams like mine that will allow people with limited to no exp drive on their team. You just have to convince them that you are not the wrong kind of crazy, will contribute, and understand that it is not a sprint race and wont ruin their car.

When someone tells me they are experienced with "real racing" in a high HP car in short sprint races it puts me off. It makes me believe they do not understand the complexity of endurance racing crap cans with 100+ cars on the track, and that it is give and take, very heavy on the give side especially in a car like ours.

Colin - Team Sex Pistons Craptain
5x losers - God Save R Spitfire
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socal.colin's Website

  • dsycks
  • dsycks
  • LeMons Staff Stalker
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  • From: Logan Ohio
  • Registered: 2011-02-04
  • Posts: 1,770

Re: Greetings Earthlings

Arrive and drive is going to get a lot of votes. Rent equipment for your first race or two unless you are sure you want to get in long term.

As for driving a focus, at least its not a taurus.

Daniel Sycks
Muttonheads!, nee Focke-eWe190 85-86-87-88 GTI
A Division of Cosworthless Racing. Sponsored by Marlburro!
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  • From: Lynnwood, Wa
  • Registered: 2011-06-16
  • Posts: 370

Re: Greetings Earthlings

dsycks wrote:

As for driving a focus, at least its not a taurus.

Anyone know anything about the new Taurus?  Commercials make it look like a beast, tearing up Sears Point.

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
  • Mick25
  • Mick25
  • Ripened LeMon
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  • Registered: 2009-09-20
  • Posts: 264

Re: Greetings Earthlings

If you have no money, stay away from karting.  That is one thing that will eat a hole in your wallet.  You run out of money, you run out of speed.  What, no tires set up for slightly tacky, fast tracks?  You finish 14th....  The new clone motors are cheap, right?  All I gotta do is hit the Harbor Freight $99 sale, slap it on a kart, and finish in the top 5...  Not a chance in H E Double Hockey Sticks.  Yeah, you will learn incredible amounts about driving and traffic and racing stuff, but only if you are competitive, which costs money.

Arrive and Drive:  Pay the money, have the safety gear, and have a bunch of fun with new friends.  What is not to like??  Your family will not have to step around the blown tranny in the kitchen, and the bedroom carpet is clean since there is no trashed motor sitting on it.

#7 Team SOB (Screaming On Boost)
  • FJ40Jim
  • FJ40Jim
  • LeMons Staff Stalker
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  • From: Lancaster OH
  • Registered: 2009-05-02
  • Posts: 1,118

Re: Greetings Earthlings

Mick25 wrote:

Your family will not have to step around the blown tranny in the kitchen, and the bedroom carpet is clean since there is no trashed motor sitting on it.

Perv!
You've been peeking in my windows.  AGAIN. wink

Jim C.
Muttonheads!, nee Focke-eWe190 81-85-86-87-95-97 GTI
People wonder why I'm obsessed with cars.  I wonder why they are not.
08TMS45/52.09NL78/122.10GM16/51.10SP17/86.10NL3/13.11SP16/102.11NL28/74.12SP20/117.12VIR25/108.12NL12/47.13GM41/68

FJ40Jim's Website

  • Registered: 2009-11-24
  • Posts: 717

Re: Greetings Earthlings

dsycks wrote:

As for driving a focus, at least its not a taurus.

Harsh!

My HPDE track toy is a Focus. lol

Lorin Mueller
Team Haulin' Ass - 83 Plymouth Scamp
Team Soccer Moms - 93 Dodge Caravan
  • From: Van Nuys, CA
  • Registered: 2011-02-11
  • Posts: 2,609

Re: Greetings Earthlings

Did my post get deleted for being too rude? or did it never get posted?

Constructor/Owner/Driver - Billy Beer Ford Futura

Parkwod60's Website

  • From: Van Nuys, CA
  • Registered: 2011-02-11
  • Posts: 2,609

Re: Greetings Earthlings

I clicked the wrong button I think, so here goes again,

If you want to start your own team and be captain you need to bring 1 of 3 things to the table: 1) Mechanical skills/know-how to make it happen 2) a big garage or empty driveway & tolerant neighbors 3) money burning a hole in your pocket. From you post I would guess you don't have any of these. My team works because I provide 1 & 2 (though my wife wishes I would stop providing #2) and the rest of the team makes more than I do, and is willing to learn the mechanical stuff.

Keep your eyes peeled on the Human Resources part of this forum and see if you can find a team in your area looking for members. It can be just as cheap to join a team in need of a 4th, 5th, or 6th guy as it is to do a 1 time arrive and drive. You can also consider the arrive and drive option, those are posted in the same place. Check the other area and you may just find a slightly used fire suit and gear for 1/2 the price of new.  Or you can rent from various places online for less than $200 for the weekend.

Constructor/Owner/Driver - Billy Beer Ford Futura

Parkwod60's Website

  • From: Oregon
  • Registered: 2011-06-27
  • Posts: 342

Re: Greetings Earthlings

+ 11ty billion for arrive and drive
Join a team, if you're really committed buy a share in the car, learn from others' mistakes, have fun!

& Omnilith your Focus is no normal Focus tongue

Putting the "dirty" in Dirty Little Freaks Racing
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