Long time USAC car owner Pat Patrick may have said it best: “I know there’s money in racing.  I place it there…”  That notion makes me appreciate grassroots racing opportunities all the more.  I’ve been thinking of blogging about ways to race on the (semi-)cheap and then Speed Sport Life went and did all the work (bless ‘em for that).  So here it is, as forwarded to me by NASA Spec Miata Media’s Rob Krider:

Calling all car nuts,

Instead of driving the couch in Gran Turismo, have you ever wondered what it would be like to participate in an actual sanctioned motorsports event?  The guys at Speed Sport Life have been entering every type of amateur motorsport they can find (from a weekend autocross, to destruction derby to the 24 Hours of Lemons, and have detailed what it really takes to participate in (and win) apiece race.

Every other week the boys go out and get involved in some sort of automotive shenanigans, photograph, write, and use a set of gauges on a dashboard to compare costs, time invested, adrenaline level, danger bourgeois and car wear.  The stories are filled with humor, great tips and useful links.

Kill some time at work (the links are safe) and window shop some of the recent “Racer Boy” articles listed below.  There is sure to be an event listed you have thought about entering.

The 24 Hours of LeMons:

http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/09/17/racer-boy-24-hours-of-lemons-or-endurace-racing-for-the-financially-and-mentally-challenged/

E.T. Bracket Drag Racing:

http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/08/31/racer-boy-e-t-bracket-drag-racing-or-how-to-actually-win-a-race-with-an-87-ford-taurus/

Slot Car Racing:

http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/08/11/racer-boy-slot-car-racing-or-how-to-race-door-to-door-without-worrying-about-your-doors/

Destruction Derby:

http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/07/24/racer-boy-destruction-derby-or-how-to-deposit-money-directly-into-your-chiropractor80%99s-wallet/

Time Attack:

http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/07/09/racer-boy-time-attack-or-how-to-race-on-a-real-track-without-totaling-your-car/

Rallycross:

http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/06/11/racer-boy-rallycrossing-80e299s-get-dirty-baby80%9d/

Autocross/Solo:

http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/05/26/racer-boy-autocrossing-101-or-how-to-kill-cones/

The Racer Boy overall column list on Speed Sport Life:

http://www.speedsportlife.com/category/dubspeed-driven-articles/racer-boy/

Enjoy the adventures and I’ll see you at the track!

http://www.speedsportlife.com/