Driving a professional grade race car comes with all types of thrills and rewards, however, have you ever wondered just what it takes to be one? This article will tell you just what a race car driver needs to do to prepare, along with how they got there.

Race Car Driving Isn't for Everybody. Is It for You?

Some people want to be a lawyer. Some people want to be a teacher. Others, they want nothing more than to sit behind the wheel of a high-powered race car and drive their hearts out! Those are the people we know as professional race car drivers, and what a job they have! If you have ever wondered if you have what it takes to be a race car driver, or are interested in knowing the steps to become one, Bill Rigdon AMSOIL Dealer has just the post for you!

Stop Reading This and Get Behind the Wheel of a Car

Okay, maybe not stop right now, but you get the idea. Race car drivers often start their path at an early age. Often, it’s their parents who recognize the talent and offer the direction. Of course, if you’re past your teen years, don’t discount yourself. The main benefit of starting at a young age is practice. That means not only driving your own car, driving your friends’ and their friends’, and then their friend's friends’ cars! The more cars you can drive, the better your driving experience is going to be.

Pop the Hood and Take a Good Look Around

What you’re looking at is the very thing that’s going to get you around the track. Get to know it intimately, because when you’re on the track and can’t constantly monitor the dials and sensors, how well you know your engine is going to make the difference. Of course, doing your own mechanic work also helps to keep your costs down while you’re just starting out. While it can be tempting to focus on the end-goal, where you have a team working for you, if you’re interested in starting out, you had better be interested in learning about your engine and general racing mechanics and maintenance. The first real lesson to learn is how non-interchangeable the products you likely use in your everyday car actually are. A standard motor oil isn’t going to cut it in a racing car. Instead, do some research on products like AMSOIL’s DOMINATOR® 15W-50 Racing Oil from Bill Rigdon AMSOIL Dealer’s online store, or give them a call at (503) 329-9004 to find out just what is needed to keep a racing car in top shape.

How's Your Head?

And we aren’t talking about your brain; we’re talking about your mind! It can be easy to dismiss the mental impacts felt by race car drivers as they race, but the truth is that race car driving is mentally exhausting work. Similar to the first tip, practice is going to be key for strengthening your mental ability. While you aren’t going to see amazing progress overnight, each drive you do will help to make you more mentally astute.

Of Course, There's Also Your Physical Condition

The idea seems easy enough; sit down for hours on end while you drive around in circles. The truth of the situation, however, is quite different. Just as it takes a toll on your mind, driving for extended periods where temperatures in the car reach extreme conditions, along with stifling, yet very necessary, safety gear. For this reason, race car drivers need to focus a lot of their off-track time to maintaining high levels of fitness, including strength and cardio training. In addition, breathing techniques are also learned to help manage stress levels on the body, along with keeping calm when the heat really gets going.

What Did You Say Your Name Was?

This is something you never want a team selector or racing manager to say. The best way to make sure it doesn’t happen is with publicity. This doesn’t mean hiring a publicist, but it does mean setting up social media accounts which are separate to your personal feeds. Keep these accounts updated with the latest in your driving career path and encourage your family and friends to follow and share your journey. The more you can do to get your name out there (in a positive way, the better. Speaking of getting your name out in a positive way, this means that you should consider limiting what you share on your personal account, also. Getting signed means sponsors, and the last thing that a sponsor wants their customers to see is their representative performing less-than-professionally on social media.

Charity Events Are Great Exposure and Can Help Great Causes

Have you ever watched a charity race and wondered what was in it for the drivers? Apart from the great feeling of raising money for great causes, charity events also provide an excellent platform for upcoming drivers to get exposure. Also, given that professional and established teams also attend these events, it’s a great way to rub elbows with other drivers and their managers with the possibility to get your foot in the door. It’s all about networking, and charity events are one of the best places for it.

Startup Capital

When you finally make it to the professional circuits, your sponsors are going to take care of you and your team financially. Until then, it’s up to you as a solo driver to take care of your expenses. This definitely shouldn’t turn you off going down the path of becoming a race car driver, but it is a point worth noting. Buying your race car, maintaining it, along with anything else you need such as safety gear and promotional material all costs money. If you are looking to walk (or drive) this path, it’s a good idea to have a side job to help get you through.

If You're Going to Race It, It's Going to Need a Synthetic Oil Change in Clackamas

There isn't a simple list that can take you from regular driver to racing car driver, but this one is a good place to start with the basic information on what 's needed from professional grade drivers. No matter which car you drive, whether it's a racing car or your everyday sedan or even minivan, how well you take care of it decides how well it performs. To get the most out of your engine with high- performance products, speak with Bill Rigdon AMSOIL Dealer at (503) 329-9004 and ask about how a synthetic oil change in Clackamas can not only protect your engine from wear and tear but help you get the most performance out of it.