Since mankind has driven cars (and horses) we’ve felt the need for speed, the urge to race. Are you ready to make your racing dreams a reality? Here’s how to get started as a brand new racing adrenaline junkie.
Step 1: Choose Your Racing Event
There are many kinds of racing, but we bet one will get you going more than the others.
In general, as an amateur racer, you’re looking at a few racing options:
- Autocross: This is a great place to get your bearings as a new racer. Autocross, or Gymkhana or Autosolo, can be set up on any open paved spot. An old airstrip, a big parking lot, wherever you’ve got the space. You can bring your daily driver and get your first taste of racing with a solo time trial. But be warned, that first taste will get you hooked!
- Drag Racing: You’ve probably already experienced this a bit for yourself. That local stretch of road, the straightaway that demands you put the pedal to the metal, the challenge at the stoplight from another driver. That’s all well and good, but there are more organized drag groups that won’t find you with a ticket or hospital stay. Turn that need for speed and acceleration into something more productive with amateur drag racing.
- Rallying: Point A to Point B, that’s rallying in a nutshell. Beyond that, rallying takes many forms, from paved public streets to private dirt courses in all sorts of weather conditions. Take your love of the Fast and the Furious’ streetracing into a legit competitive organization with some of the highest racing standards and skills.
- Track Racing: Your local track likely has a bunch of track days where you can test your ride where the big dogs play. There’s nothing better than tearing up a track you’ve seen in a video game or televised event or just the one you used to go to as a kid. Get to know all the turns at your local track.
Step 2: Be Prepared To Race
First of all, if you’ve never been to a local amateur racing event, GO! Just being around the racers and other enthusiasts is a great way to get your feet wet, to understand the world of amateur racing with all your senses.
From there, the best way to learn is under the guidance of experienced professionals. Your local racing school is going to get you further than reading about racing on the internet. Racing is all about pushing the limits of speed and power, but don’t be an idiot, driver skill is what really matters.
Driver skill comes first, but the car comes in a close second.
All cars are not created equal and that’s why Racing Classifications exist. Your suped-up ‘07 hatchback isn’t in the same category as a new Bugatti, but that’s okay. All that really matters is beating your best time (or the other hatchbacks in your class).
Choosing a car to be your racer, or modding an existing ride, can be the best part. You’re pining after that new engine mod or finding a gem at the used car lot. You’re building a Frankenstein monster of raw speed. The possibilities are endless and totally up to the individual.
Odds are your daily driver is about to get a whole new look.
Step 3: Refine Your Racing Ride With Cerebrum
Cerebrum is a Smart Tire Sensor that can be retrofitted to any ride to track and log your tire efficiency and more. Tires can make or break even the best racecar and this is an easy way to keep you in top shape. Cerebrum took second-place at SEMA 2019’s Best New Performance-Street Product.
Unless you’re only racing once after all this prep (who does that?!), you’re going to want to get better, faster, stronger. That means tracking your times, researching new mods, and getting closer to peak performance.
Get your own Smart Tire Sensor kit (or a set of pre-installed Smart Tires) at Cerebrum-Sensor.com