Learn
How to Start Racing
You don't need a race car, a trust fund, or years of experience. Here's the real path — from someone who started with a stock BRZ and brake pads.
The Real Barrier Isn't Money
Most people don't avoid racing because it's expensive. They avoid it because it's measurable. A lap time is black and white. A finishing position is public. There's nowhere to hide — and that's terrifying.
But here's what nobody tells you until you're actually there, trackside: motorsport isn't about competition. It's about collaboration. The driver who just beat you will walk over and tell you exactly how they did it. The crew chief from another team will help you fix your car in the paddock. The person you're racing against on Sunday is the same person lending you brake fluid on Saturday.
The community is what makes this sport sustainable. The lap times and trophies are just the excuse to show up.
Listen → Learn → Lead
Practice builds confidence. Confidence wins races.
Step 1: Get Coaching
Before anything else, get professional instruction. A half-day coaching session teaches you the fundamentals — braking points, racing lines, car control — in a safe, structured environment. You'll use your own street car and learn more in 4 hours than most people learn in years of casual driving. This is the single best investment you can make in motorsport.
Step 2: Drive
This is where most people get it wrong. They buy parts instead of buying seat time. Coilovers won't make you faster if you don't know how to trail brake. A turbo kit won't help if you can't hold a consistent line.
Focus on driving. That could mean track days, autocross, or both — whatever gets you more time behind the wheel. Autocross is a great way to start competing immediately with low cost and low risk. Track days give you more seat time and higher speeds. Either way, you'll think you're fast — and then someone really fast will hop in the same car and show you what's possible with the same equipment. That's the moment everything clicks. Learn to push your car beyond its limits and hold it there.
Step 3: Compete
Once you can drive, it's time to race. The beauty of motorsport is there's a discipline for everyone — and they're all legitimate, all competitive, and all worth your time.
How We Started
It started with a stock 2019 BRZ, fresh brake pads, new fluid, and factory tires. That's it. Dan watched a few YouTube videos of people taking their street cars to the track, thought "I can do that," signed up for an HPDE event, and had a coach ride along. No race car, no team, no plan — just the courage to show up.
From there, the BRZ kept evolving — parts added one at a time, more YouTube rabbit holes, each track day a little faster than the last. Watching channels like Mighty Car Mods, Speed Academy, Gears and Gasoline, and countless build threads made it feel possible. If those people could figure it out, so could we. Eventually the BRZ became a time attack car, then it blew up at Super Lap Battle. Instead of stopping, we pulled parts from the BRZ and a friend's GT86, rebuilt a FR-S in a weekend, and made it to the next event. That's where the name came from — 86 pieces from three different cars, held together by grit.
We're not a factory team with unlimited resources. We started exactly where you are — with a street car and a question: "can I do this?" The answer is yes. That's why we built our coaching and arrive-and-drive programs — to give other people the same path in.
Common Questions
Do I need to own a race car to start racing?
No. Arrive-and-drive programs let you race a team's car with full support. You can also do track days in your own street car — most tracks welcome stock vehicles.
How much does it cost to start racing?
Coaching starts at $500 for a half day. An arrive-and-drive endurance weekend is around $2,500 all-inclusive. No race car purchase required.
Do I need a special license?
For most club racing and arrive-and-drive, just a valid driver's license. Some series require a competition license — your team will guide you through it.
Is racing dangerous?
There's inherent risk, but modern safety equipment and well-run organizations make it remarkably safe. Roll cages, harnesses, fire suppression, and mandatory gear protect drivers. The biggest risk factor is preparation.
The hardest part is deciding to start. Everything after that, we can help with.