Amanda Balson is Canada’s first female Late Model stock car racing Champion. She has a natural born ability to race and she wants to share what she’s learned on the track with the next generation of young women. SeeWhatSheCanDo sat down with Amanda to find out what it will take to get your daughter behind the wheel and racing just like she does.

Amanda has made a name for herself in the Canadian stock car racing world. Check out our story “Race Car Driving: Amanda Balson races cars and proudly drives like a girl” to see how she got her start in the fascinating world of racing.

For beginners – Arrive and Drive programs

A good place to get started – without a big financial outlay – is the Arrive and Drive program, also known as the Canadian Rookie Karting Championship. It’s house league program that provides equipment including the High Performance Racing Kart, licensing and training, tires, fuel, crash damage and the mandatory safety equipment. There is racing for all ages – 7-12 years; teens 12-18 years; and 19+.

Goodwood Kartways, located north of Toronto in the hamlet of Goodwood, is an excellent example of what this rookie program is all about. They have an FAQ that explains the Arrive and Drive program. Many other karting tracks in Ontario have similar programs – Mosport, Innifil, Hamilton, Peterborough. Other provinces have the rookie programs – simply google Arrive and Drive along with your province to find one near you.

Check out this video of a 2015 Canadian Rookie Karting Championship to get a feel for what it’s like out there on the track.

Equipment

When you’re getting started – if you’re involved in an Arrive and Drive program – all you need is some personal equipment. The bigger, more expensive pieces are provided by the program. Here’s a list of what you will need:

• Shoes – closed toe shoes are required. A good pair of runners will do to get you started or racing boots can be purchased.
• Dress – one-piece karting suits are required since no skin can be exposed when driving. Suits are provided by the program.
• Helmets – must have full-faced visors and be Snell Approved. Helmets are provided by the program.
• Gloves – must be worn by all drivers.
• Neck support – drivers must provide their own neck supports. Must be used for all racing activity.

When Amanda started, it was hard to find equipment that fit properly – most pieces were made for male drivers. But now, with younger participants involved, smaller sizes are more readily available making it easier for women to suit up without the cost of ordering customized equipment. The engineered pieces – like the 5-point safety harness – are not likely to change to be more comfortable for the female driver. There are drawbacks for the men with this piece of equipment too – so maybe we call that one a draw.

More serious progression means serious dollars

Straight up, this sport – for the serious racers – revolves around money. When someone asks “How do I get into racing”, the question right back is “How much money do you have and how much do you want to spend?”

To put the cost of the sport in perspective, the three most expensive pieces of equipment you will be looking at are a car, and a truck and trailer needed to pull the car. Then there is the fuel you need to race, good tires, your safety equipment – suit, helmet, harness, boots, and gloves. And of course, there is the cost of repairs because there will be a few bang ups.

A basic car can start at $2500 – that is front-wheel drive, not modified, without racing tires. You do need to know what you are buying – or you need to have someone to tell you what you are buying.

And very quickly, your safety equipment costs can add up to more than your car:

• Head and neck restraint = $1000
• Helmet = $600 to $1200
• Firesuit = $400 to $2000 (for custom suit)
• Fuel for car = $5/L (for racing fuel)
• Gloves = $120 to $200
• Racing Boots = $200 to $300

Set a budget

Racing is an expensive sport so the best way to manage that is to set a budget and stick to it. Know how much you have to spend and understand that when the cash runs out it’s time to call it quits. With racing, it can be easy to get in over your head. The adrenaline rush can be addictive so it’s important to know your financial limits.

Find a sponsor

Sponsors are a good way to help defray the cost. For someone new to racing, it’s likely to be hard to find financial supporters. It’s a little bit like asking for donations. Start with people you know – those who are more likely to sponsor you. Then as you race and post good results, the sponsors are more likely to come to you. People in the stands – if they like what they see you doing on the track and off – will start coming to you with sponsorships.

When looking for sponsors, be creative but always be honest. Don’t tell local businesses that by sponsoring you, they will see more business. Tell them that you can draw attention by bringing your car to their place of business for an afternoon event – and coordinate your event with a sale they may be having. Suggest they bring samples of their wares to the track. Again be creative but be realistic in your conversations with sponsors – don’t promise them the world to get their support.

Seek out the right kind of sponsors. You are more likely to get support from someone if they are already interested in the racing industry. A good fit is important and is more likely to result in a lasting relationship that is beneficial to both parties.

A good piece of advice is to set your budget and race on your own money. Use money from sponsorships to go towards the extras. If you rely on sponsorship money to race, and it dries up, then you can’t race.

Making your move

Today is a lot different from when Amanda got her start. She went to the track with very little in her pocket and worked her way up. She found sponsors, she had help from others at the track that knew her and she worked hard – every weekend. There were a few things she did that gave her a leg up and helped her get to where she is today.

Videos: Find out who you are racing against. Watch videos of races to see what they do on the track – see if they know where they are, figure out when you can push them out, and what they do in key situations. Video-tape your own races. Watch your driving and learn from your mistakes.

Relationships: Amanda was and is good at building relationships. The racing community is friendly and you will likely find someone to help you. Making a good name for yourself – a good reputation – is worth every bit of effort. Racing is a gentlemen’s sport that is built upon mutual respect. Know your place, be respectful, know where you can go, who you can push and don’t go out there wrecking stuff. You will earn a reputation that will win you respect and attention from supporters.

Natural instinct: Having an aptitude for racing is a key to progression. Having money to spend can be a definite advantage – but it doesn’t necessarily mean everything. Having money to buy the best equipment may seem like a winning strategy but without an aptitude for racing it isn’t likely to do you any good. A driver with natural instincts and average equipment is more likely to succeed than a less capable driver with the most expensive equipment. Talent can take a driver farther than a big budget.

SeeWhatSheCanDo

Find Goodwood Kartways in our Athlete Advisor – your online business directory for all things active. Rate and review your favourite Arrive and Drive program. See what others have to say about ones you’d like to check out.

Find racing leagues. Start a group. Visit our SWSCD Hub.

Find fresh thinking, inspiring articles and advice on how to keep active. Check out our Auto Racing activity page to see what other women like Amanda are up to.

If you race cars, share your experiences directly on our Discover blog or by using #seewhatshecando through social media. You just may be the inspiration someone else needs to give it a try.