What's the REAL COST to go Pro Racing? Radical Cup Road America with IndyCar

[@JackieDing86]

One thing I'd like to make clear: the COST that we are talking about here is more than just dollar dollar. It's also an incredible amount of man hour, effort, late nights to early mornings, cross country transport, fuel, etc etc etc, all before the race car rolls onto the track. It takes a lot of time, and a lot of heart as well. Along with those dollar bills, of course.

[@soserious4738]

Love the videos, Jackie. What did it cost you to run the s2000 that season(s?) in time attack when you were driving to events and stuff? Curious what it takes to run street class solo. Keep up the great work, good luck on the track and off!

[@e.r.6147]

Good job

[@DallinFelton21]

Thanks for making this video and doing an inside look into the steps to professional motorsports. I work in the industry working with GT3/GT4 cars and some Formula cars. It ain't cheap that's for sure and skill/talent these days is getting harder to go farther with. Being in the right place at the right time for those that don't have the funds, but have the skill is almost like winning the lottery. Hope to see you around at an event one day or be driving at a Gridlife event with you!

[@Vittinable]

Whenever someone says that money isnt all and that you need talent and what not, I'll send them here. Tell them to get a loan for a couple of millions to come show their talent, see how taht goes. Racing is, sadly, a rich people sport now. Has been for a while, but now more than ever.

[@AndyFuntown]

Check out NASA/SCCA club racing, b-spec or Formula Vee, etc if you're into w2w. There are lots of still approachable racing series that you don't have to sign away your life for. Also as Jackie and company are always demonstrating, there are a million flavors of TimeTrials you can join in on the fun RIGHT NOW with whatever you're driving. Still too much risk and investment for where you are in life right now? AutoX has your back and is a ton of fun. Get out there and drive something.

[@Vittinable]

@@AndyFuntown Oh i know this. I do time trials myself. Im speaking more of the pro-level series. Amateur or pro-am (grassroots if you will) motorsports can be found "affordable" but the moment you want to step into pro motorsports (beyond basic entry level), you are in for a lot of money per race, assuming nothing goes wrong.

[@AndyFuntown]

@@Vittinable Yeah, understood at the Pro-level, but are they having more fun than us? Probably not (well besides being rich)! :) What're you driving for TT?

[@keyboardracing]

maybe unpopular opinion, but any form of sports at PRO level cost a load of money.

[@Vittinable]

@@AndyFuntown Scion FRS. I just did an LS swap this spring and in the process of shakedown so no videos yet, but my channel has some videos before the swap (the more recent, the better driving, im still improving).

[@ScottSchubel]

Cool the see the old Stevenson Motorsports hauler. The USA eagle is iconic

[@roblogan6703]

What a cool inside look video! Really offers a realistic perspective for anyone looking to start their own team. I love Road America, so I enjoyed the race footage. Well done, Sir!

[@keyboardracing]

Racing is never cheap, and probably will never be. But a good team will help you go further and achieve more with the same amount of money compared to a bad team.

[@JackieDing86]

100000%

[@Clint_Moto34]

Jackie. Visit Germany and Race VLN its cheaper and really intense!! Its a whole new World of Motorsport on the Nordschleife.

[@tedbear631]

40 hours that's insane! I don't think my car has had 40 hours worth of work done to it in its entire LIFE as a car x'D Thanks Jackie and Co for sharing this. I'm not super into Open wheel racing but Gridlife and events like that and I'm loving it. This was so interesting thanks guys!

[@derekyam1805]

like you said jackie, racing is a rich man's sport lol. the closest thing we can get to with wheel to wheel racing in a "racecar" are champcar, chumpcar, lemons, etc. with a bunch of friends splitting the cost.

[@LetsGoECU1]

Racing is a rich man's sport but the engineer sounded like he was from the southie projects lol. Guess that explains why he is the engineer and not the driver lol

[@BoostdPanda]

@@LetsGoECU1 But how much time & money & effort did the engineer spent got there? Probably still a sizable amount.

[@lentumenas5552]

@@LetsGoECU1 Close, I did grow up in Allston, part of Boston not Southie. Drove race cars many years ago . Engineer and all crew members are paid and fly to race weekends .

[@roadracerron3145]

Good show of what it takes and what’s really going on to get the racers on the track. It can be done a little cheaper but not much if you want to win you need all the guys working on your car.

[@CncptNn]

been going to indycar weekend at RA ever since they came back, super cool to see the other side of things thank you for this perspective

[@tdfferr8423]

1:13 what a wholesome moment

[@giacomogozzi5071]

Thanks for sharing this video which well explain how expensive motorsports can be ! anyway really enjoy your channel , would love to see you racing in a Radical - for sure you will do very well ! Ciao from Italy

[@JohnZhu1988]

Great video. Radical isn’t pro racing but it’s really close. For the cost it’s the best unless you’re doing f4 which i think you’ve done as well.

[@stevejenks7630]

Really well done guys…. I watched you film it and really fun to see such a great final product. Wish I had given you a better ending.

[@JackieDing86]

Youre still #1 in our hearts

[@joseacuna3239]

Very insightful view of this beautiful sport.

[@JackieDing86]

Thank you!

[@bobbyrios2k223]

So much awesome in a video. I love it! Racing is so pricey.. shit just daily driving and going on canyon runs in my car is pricey and it holds nothing to these on 1 weekend

[@driftorcircuit]

Fantastic insight and great content. Thanks Jackie.

[@noceilingsmotorsports]

Needed this. I wanna race in IMSA one day. It's gonna be a while but I think I can make it happen😂 WEC is lil ambitious

[@e3k701]

Good luck bro 🙏🏼

[@Rockit181]

IMSA is def doable if you find a way to get the funds

[@tomashton1781]

This is for you guys that race, ever tdc no,1 and 4,check and adjust valve clearence when hot?

[@ryanwagonerracing]

Awesome content!!! Keep it coming

[@surgicalmotorsports]

Gret video. Well done!

[@CARLOS62B]

Great video and very interesting info.

[@e.r.6147]

Good job guys 👏

[@izzdin6228]

If everyone is driving the same Radical car, why are Max and Steve driving left and right hand drive configuration? Is it personal choice? Also, when you mentioned racing became a game of survival during rain, i recommend you to watch the 3rd round of British GT for this season. Half the field caught in random fender benders in broad daylight and in the end half the field finished the race. It's total mayhem.

[@JackieDing86]

The radicals can be ordered with left and right hand drive config, and even a center drive! Center drive costs a bit more but it does look cool tho. Lol

[@JohnZhu1988]

Center seat has slight performance gain. Right hand has slight performance but not as much.

[@josearmida8109]

Group A rocks

[@JackieDing86]

Haven't seen you for a quick second, teammate ;) Hope you're doing well Jose!

[@GroupARacing]

Miss you Amigo!

[@Daze_Jinsei]

19:17 yo are they sponsored by McDonald? lol

[@e.r.6147]

Man . Max was doing great, but he definitely clicked that brake too hard and there is no ABS…. 🤦‍♂️

[@e.r.6147]

Wait. Is Steve from Singapore or something? Why is he flying with KPH. That confused me 😂 let me get my calculator lol

[@oliw5963]

This is no pro racing, these guys are gentlemen drivers. A pro racer does not pay a shit, he does not get payed maybe, but as long as you are a pay driver, you are not a pro. The definition is soooo simple! Rich dads kids having fun it is not more. When you look at the level of body fitness, it is a joke to call yourself a pro with slight adipositas and a belly. Nice cars, great fun, but don't talk shit.

[@antoniomccartney1461]

Many F1 drivers pay to drive, are they pros?

[@oliw5963]

@@antoniomccartney1461 No, a PRO is a person that can live from its profession. This is the sheer definition. You don't like it, yes. These kids are the joke of a clown behind the wheel. I was semi pro I did not have to pay and could drive for free. I never made it to a PRO which f...kn simply means being payed for it. But I can live with it, and anyone who pays is just simply not a PRO. FACE it! And to compare an F1 driver to these guys, Jesus Christ.

[@oliw5963]

@@antoniomccartney1461 I gonna be precise now, a PRO is a sportsmen who can live from its sport alone. Either payed by the scuderia, or the prices he wins or by a third party that hands over the money to see him just doing his sport (commercial partner or something). This third party, in case of a PRO, is not allowed to be a relative like father oncle, a partner in live, or something like that.

[@Rockit181]

so basically, as was alluded to in the video, if you don't have rich parents to get started you have no chance lol

[@keyboardracing]

Or make enough money and buy yourself into it.

[@Rockit181]

@@keyboardracing yeah but, you gotta get going as a teen or you fall behind if you want to get to the top. I race, I make my own money to fund it. but 18yos aren't making high 6 figures.

[@BoostdPanda]

@@Rockit181 Seems true for most open wheels that you need to start young. But there are a lot of ppl got into touring car racing & rally racing with their own money in their 30s and 40s,

[@Rockit181]

@@BoostdPanda If you have money you can race anywhere you want lol, doesn't make you a paid professional driver. My point is even the guys in this video paying (who's parents are paying) $300-$350k/yr to run Pro Formula 2000 will most likely never become paid drivers in their careers, much less parents that can't even afford to pay for Spec Miata seasons

[@MadAdventure919]

For 25k per weekend I can do 40 full track day on my GTI turbo. Lol

[@JackieDing86]

I wonder how many track days you can do for the expense to run a single Indycar for a weekend

[@MadAdventure919]

@@JackieDing86 I know the game is crazy expensive and adds up very quickly before the car is even rolling. I used to race amateur superbike once a month and the cost of tires, entry fees, travel, fuel etc etc could cost upward 2-3k for the weekend. Now I am just do track days on my Golf Gti which cost me around $600 for one full day at my local track.

[@MH-bj8zb]

Speed costs money, how fast do you wanna go…

[@e36s54]

2nd

[@mcld4214]

5th

[@TripSkyWalker]

I guess i need to start selling my body & lots of drugs so i can go racing.

[@cloroxmints355]

It’s funny because that’s literally what people were doing in the 80’s to pay for racing except the body parts weren’t their’s

[@JackieDing86]

*OH SHIT THAT GOT DARK*

[@G.A.Ullrich_1Q84]

Hahahaha "they're built to drive on pavement, not the grass or walls" hahaha.

[@brianwhitley]

you cant hide money !!

[@ceremyjlarkson9475]

Shame I can't do any motorsports, have no ways in which is not fun.

[@Valendyn]

The cheapest way to get into it is autocross and karting.

[@SturdivantRacing126]

@@Valendyn This. I've done them both, and it is the most affordable way in.

[@JackieDing86]

Absolutely. Autocross, karting, and a few other avenues, do provide affordable ways for people with responsible spending habits to get into driving competitively on track.

[@ceremyjlarkson9475]

@@JackieDing86 Noted! I'll take your advice, if there's a local karting scene near(ish) where I live!

[@JB91710]

To become a professional race car driver you need The Three C's. Cash Confidence Contacts You don't even need talent. Think about it. How many drivers really have a chance to win a championship?

[@boostedoctane8041]

first

[@gerglmuff]

mx5 cup is cheaper.

[@JackieDing86]

And so is riding a bicycle

[@gerglmuff]

@@JackieDing86 that isnt pro racing.

[@BoostdPanda]

@@gerglmuff tour de france lets go!

[@chiamtutfu477]

Certainly a kid from a rich Chinese family.

[@JackieDing86]

Let's see, a Chinese kid with a history in racing before he even started working, with a flamboyant driving style and a questionable record behind the wheel, and pile on the facts that we did recently acquire a few new vehicles... I'm never gonna be able to distance myself from that claim, regardless of whether it's true or not, so I'd much rather try to make the most out of the opportunities I've been given and make something positive out of it. This comment will likely never get seen, and this won't be the last *uhh Rich Kid* comment I get, so let's just let this rant forever disappear in the poisonous space of KZbin comments. lol

[@justinvanover1508]

@@JackieDing86 Yo dude, solid response to someone holding animosity towards the individual and not the system that is responsible. Coming from someone who has been raised without the opportunities to race, it's good to see genuine people in the scene. Would have loved to and ripped Huron River with you back in the A2 and s2k days!

[@aisu8481]

@@JackieDing86 nothing wrong with being fortunate. Envy and groupthink try to tell you otherwise; but, what you do with your fortune is the true measure of an individual. I think the amount of support for your content speaks to that.

[@garagecedric]

Why care where the money comes from (unless drug lord money 😂), completely not interesting. We get so much interesting content for free from the phd guys, with hours and hours of time put into making all these videos.

[@ericb2726]

@@JackieDing86 can’t change the hand we are dealt in life. You have no control over it. Rich kid or not it’s what inside that counts. I made a random friend at a buttonwillow track day who told me “Jackie ding helped me modify my car” (it was cutting DIY aero into s2000) - that’s when I first heard of you and knew you were a good dude. (He gave me a ride along in his s2000 still the fastest around buttonwillow I’ve ever experienced)