how much $ for road racing?
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From: ca
how much $ for road racing?
on top of just the entrance fee to race, how much extra dollars do we need to spend for thigns such as, food, gas... do they allow us to bring our own food in? i seriously have never been to a track race before and i just want to get a general idea of the budget.
here is what i am concern about:
- entrance free $75-110 for a day
- gas to race all day (excluding the gas for commuting)
- food if i were to buy it there. that would be 2 meals or 3 maybe.
- helmet rental
- any other equipment that i MUST get at the track ( like a suit? i don't know if they require it or not) minus stuff on my car already like tires, brake pads, engine maintainence... etc
- do i have to pay for teching?
i am not renting a hotel, or do i plan to camp out. i am just planning on driving there early in the morning, race, and drive home. simple, clean, easy.
i hope it is some where between 100-200 bucks. ( that includes the gas for racing)
Modified by tekstyle at 9:22 AM 7/3/2004
here is what i am concern about:
- entrance free $75-110 for a day
- gas to race all day (excluding the gas for commuting)
- food if i were to buy it there. that would be 2 meals or 3 maybe.
- helmet rental
- any other equipment that i MUST get at the track ( like a suit? i don't know if they require it or not) minus stuff on my car already like tires, brake pads, engine maintainence... etc
- do i have to pay for teching?
i am not renting a hotel, or do i plan to camp out. i am just planning on driving there early in the morning, race, and drive home. simple, clean, easy.
i hope it is some where between 100-200 bucks. ( that includes the gas for racing)
Modified by tekstyle at 9:22 AM 7/3/2004
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From: Snellville, Ga, USA
Re: how much $ for road racing? (tekstyle)
Oooohhhh I get to be the first this time.
<Standard reply> if you have to ask, you can't afford it </standard reply>
Seriously, I have found that I can't race for less than $750 a weekend, and that is if I am lucky. Averaged out over a season, I expect to pay an average of about $1000 for a double race weekend, everything included, from starting getting the car ready through the final checker.
Add to this payments and upkeep on the truck, upkeep on the trailer, upkeep on the spouse/girlfriend, etc.
Of course it could be higher now, with inflation and all.... i haven't been able to afford to race a real season since '02. (ok, I couldn't afford it then either, but I did it anyway.)
Bowie
<Standard reply> if you have to ask, you can't afford it </standard reply>
Seriously, I have found that I can't race for less than $750 a weekend, and that is if I am lucky. Averaged out over a season, I expect to pay an average of about $1000 for a double race weekend, everything included, from starting getting the car ready through the final checker.
Add to this payments and upkeep on the truck, upkeep on the trailer, upkeep on the spouse/girlfriend, etc.
Of course it could be higher now, with inflation and all.... i haven't been able to afford to race a real season since '02. (ok, I couldn't afford it then either, but I did it anyway.)
Bowie
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From: RIP Craig Jones
Re: how much $ for road racing? (RacerBowie)
And that $1000/weekend is after you've built the car...
More if you like to break alot of stuff. Even instructing DE events (not racing) I'm coming out between $200-$300/weekend. Food, gas, hotel, pads/tires, etc...
More if you like to break alot of stuff. Even instructing DE events (not racing) I'm coming out between $200-$300/weekend. Food, gas, hotel, pads/tires, etc...
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From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Re: how much $ for road racing? (MaddMatt)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MaddMatt »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Q: how much $ for road racing?
A: All of it.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Plus an additional couple of grand each year on the Visa.
We apparently ain't finance majors.
Seriously, I think the cheapest HPDE weekend I have gotten away with is $450. An average HPDE weekend $600 and a bad one $800. That doesn't include the cost of wear items like brake pads and tires. I don't want to think how much an actual race weekend costs.
All tracks will allow you to bring food & drinks. Some tracks will allow you to camp out. There are ways to save money, but it still turns out pretty expensive. I was never able to rationalize camping on track to save $50-$70, but that's probably why I can't afford to race.
Event fees (~$250)
Gas to get to/from track. (~$60)
Gas on track. (~$30)
Food/drinks. (~$30)
Hotel (get a roommate) (~$70)
I think someone was foolish enough to put together a pretty complete cost list before, so Iwould search on that. We tarred and feathered them quickly afterwards and ran them off.
A: All of it.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Plus an additional couple of grand each year on the Visa.
We apparently ain't finance majors.
Seriously, I think the cheapest HPDE weekend I have gotten away with is $450. An average HPDE weekend $600 and a bad one $800. That doesn't include the cost of wear items like brake pads and tires. I don't want to think how much an actual race weekend costs.
All tracks will allow you to bring food & drinks. Some tracks will allow you to camp out. There are ways to save money, but it still turns out pretty expensive. I was never able to rationalize camping on track to save $50-$70, but that's probably why I can't afford to race.
Event fees (~$250)
Gas to get to/from track. (~$60)
Gas on track. (~$30)
Food/drinks. (~$30)
Hotel (get a roommate) (~$70)
I think someone was foolish enough to put together a pretty complete cost list before, so Iwould search on that. We tarred and feathered them quickly afterwards and ran them off.
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Re: how much $ for road racing? (tekstyle)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tekstyle »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">on top of just the entrance fee to race, how much extra dollars do we need to spend for thigns such as, food, gas... do they allow us to bring our own food in? i seriously have never been to a track race before and i just want to get a general idea of the budget.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Have you been to a regular, non-race track event, like an HPDE drivers school? You might want to start there, such as one held by NASA or BMW CCA. That way you will get a better idea of the ancillary expenses (hotel, food, travel expenses) as well as the car-related ones (registration fee, gas, brake pads, tires) before getting into actual competition.
As you can see from the figures above, food is a very, very small part of the overall cost. But the answer is yes, you can bring your own food in.
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From: Murphy, Tx, USA
Re: how much $ for road racing? (nsxtasy)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Have you been to a regular, non-race track event, like an HPDE drivers school? You might want to start there, such as one held by NASA or BMW CCA. That way you will get a better idea of the ancillary expenses (hotel, food, travel expenses) as well as the car-related ones (registration fee, gas, brake pads, tires) before getting into actual competition.
As you can see from the figures above, food is a very, very small part of the overall cost. But the answer is yes, you can bring your own food in.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Food and hotel is a small cost, but in my opinion worthy to save. I bring food and camp at the track. This saves me about $150 a weekend. True, that is not alot but multiply that by 8 weekends and the equals a set of race tires and brakes. So, for me it does pay to cheap out and camp/BBQ at the track.
Have you been to a regular, non-race track event, like an HPDE drivers school? You might want to start there, such as one held by NASA or BMW CCA. That way you will get a better idea of the ancillary expenses (hotel, food, travel expenses) as well as the car-related ones (registration fee, gas, brake pads, tires) before getting into actual competition.
As you can see from the figures above, food is a very, very small part of the overall cost. But the answer is yes, you can bring your own food in.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Food and hotel is a small cost, but in my opinion worthy to save. I bring food and camp at the track. This saves me about $150 a weekend. True, that is not alot but multiply that by 8 weekends and the equals a set of race tires and brakes. So, for me it does pay to cheap out and camp/BBQ at the track.
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Re: how much $ for road racing? (davidnyc)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by davidnyc »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Food and hotel is a small cost, but in my opinion worthy to save. I bring food and camp at the track. This saves me about $150 a weekend. True, that is not alot but multiply that by 8 weekends and the equals a set of race tires and brakes. So, for me it does pay to cheap out and camp/BBQ at the track.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I bring my own food in, but I share hotel rooms usually with 3 other people. So its $35-$40/weekend for me. How much have you spent on camping gear? What if you need a hotel room if the weather is bad?
I bring my own food in, but I share hotel rooms usually with 3 other people. So its $35-$40/weekend for me. How much have you spent on camping gear? What if you need a hotel room if the weather is bad?
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From: Arlington, VA
To get through HPDE, work. I've put in a lot of time but I also know the ropes better than every other person I'm on track with. I get away with HPDE weekends with this:
$50 gas (max, including the trip to the track)
$25 in tires
$25 in brakes
$25 in food
Those are all very generous figures too. Comparatively, a Summit weekend (close to home) costs me around $50.
No, I'm not factoring in engine wear, but I don't really consider that a "weekend expense," as it is stock and not really wearing at the rate of a race motor.
$50 gas (max, including the trip to the track)
$25 in tires
$25 in brakes
$25 in food
Those are all very generous figures too. Comparatively, a Summit weekend (close to home) costs me around $50.
No, I'm not factoring in engine wear, but I don't really consider that a "weekend expense," as it is stock and not really wearing at the rate of a race motor.
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Re: (MichaelJComputer)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MichaelJComputer »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">$50 gas (max, including the trip to the track)
$25 in tires
$25 in brakes
$25 in food</TD></TR></TABLE>
Hotel? Tire wear? Maintenance?
The figure I quoted isnt just what's spent at the track, it includes to my best estimate the cost of wear items and maintenance too.
$25 in tires
$25 in brakes
$25 in food</TD></TR></TABLE>
Hotel? Tire wear? Maintenance?
The figure I quoted isnt just what's spent at the track, it includes to my best estimate the cost of wear items and maintenance too.
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From: Arlington, VA
Re: (.RJ)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Hotel? Tire wear? Maintenance?
The figure I quoted isnt just what's spent at the track, it includes to my best estimate the cost of wear items and maintenance too.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Hotel? Camp or sleep on floor with other workers.
Tire wear? Factored.
Maintenance? What maintenance? I included brakes, and I guess you could tack on another $10 for an oil change.
Hotel? Tire wear? Maintenance?
The figure I quoted isnt just what's spent at the track, it includes to my best estimate the cost of wear items and maintenance too.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Hotel? Camp or sleep on floor with other workers.
Tire wear? Factored.
Maintenance? What maintenance? I included brakes, and I guess you could tack on another $10 for an oil change.
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Re: (MichaelJComputer)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MichaelJComputer »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hotel? Camp </TD></TR></TABLE>
If you buy a bunch of camping gear for say, $200 and use it for 10 weekends then your camping gear cost you $20/weekend, for example.
Its really easy to ignore some of the costs, as we're all in denial about how much we spend anyways
If you buy a bunch of camping gear for say, $200 and use it for 10 weekends then your camping gear cost you $20/weekend, for example.
Its really easy to ignore some of the costs, as we're all in denial about how much we spend anyways
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From: Arlington, VA
Re: (.RJ)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
If you buy a bunch of camping gear for say, $200 and use it for 10 weekends then your camping gear cost you $20/weekend, for example.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I camp regularly so I already have all the gear, it wasn't bought for track camping. Sooo, that isn't a track cost. My figures stand, you can easily keep the budget to around $100 a weekend.
If you buy a bunch of camping gear for say, $200 and use it for 10 weekends then your camping gear cost you $20/weekend, for example.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I camp regularly so I already have all the gear, it wasn't bought for track camping. Sooo, that isn't a track cost.
My figures stand, you can easily keep the budget to around $100 a weekend.
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Re: (MichaelJComputer)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MichaelJComputer »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you can easily keep the budget to around $100 a weekend.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I spend that much in gas on a weekend
I spend that much in gas on a weekend
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From: Arlington, VA
Re: (.RJ)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I spend that much in gas on a weekend</TD></TR></TABLE>
Sucks to have VTEC and weigh more than 2000lbs.
I spend that much in gas on a weekend
</TD></TR></TABLE>Sucks to have VTEC and weigh more than 2000lbs.
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From: South Carolina
Re: how much $ for road racing? (1stgenboy)
I used to run my Formula Ford on $500 a weekend, including a $150-200 "engine/crash fund" (I would put whatever was left after the weekend, but not over $500 in the bank.
I would not eat out, and i could feed myself and a couple of crew for $40 a weekend, grilling, cooking..etc. No hotels..I would stay at the track.
Tires...at the time i was buying take-offs for $200 a set and running them 3 weekends.
Now I am running a Formula Continental..buying a new set of tires every two weekends, and with engine fund/breakage i am running at an average of $1050.oo this year for double race weekends.
i also have an SSC Neon, and after building it, I can run that one for 300-400 a weekend. its not competitive....even in regionals. The engine is 80k miles old, and if it blows i will put some other junk engine in it....
new set of tires every three weekends..
driving it to the track (tires in the back, changing them there)
At Road Atlanta last year I slept in it.
But... In a pinch it puts me on track.
Jon K
http://www.seat-time.com
I would not eat out, and i could feed myself and a couple of crew for $40 a weekend, grilling, cooking..etc. No hotels..I would stay at the track.
Tires...at the time i was buying take-offs for $200 a set and running them 3 weekends.
Now I am running a Formula Continental..buying a new set of tires every two weekends, and with engine fund/breakage i am running at an average of $1050.oo this year for double race weekends.
i also have an SSC Neon, and after building it, I can run that one for 300-400 a weekend. its not competitive....even in regionals. The engine is 80k miles old, and if it blows i will put some other junk engine in it....
new set of tires every three weekends..
driving it to the track (tires in the back, changing them there)
At Road Atlanta last year I slept in it.
But... In a pinch it puts me on track.
Jon K
http://www.seat-time.com
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From: Murphy, Tx, USA
Re: how much $ for road racing? (.RJ)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I bring my own food in, but I share hotel rooms usually with 3 other people. So its $35-$40/weekend for me. How much have you spent on camping gear? What if you need a hotel room if the weather is bad?</TD></TR></TABLE>
I pay for myself and my crew chief. I will not race without guaranteed wrenching support. So my lodging and food costs are double.
Typical Race weekend:
Food: $70 (buys burgers for two days, drinks, steaks or seafood for one night, breakfast, etc. etc.)
Camping: Tent cost me $100/8 weekends = $12 for the weekend
If I went to a hotel:
Room: approx $150
Food: $120
I save about $150-180 per weekend...not a lot but it adds up. I also like to sleep at the track, gives me extra time to sleep and it should be quiet (who knows, Hyperfest may be too loud to sleep early).
I bring my own food in, but I share hotel rooms usually with 3 other people. So its $35-$40/weekend for me. How much have you spent on camping gear? What if you need a hotel room if the weather is bad?</TD></TR></TABLE>
I pay for myself and my crew chief. I will not race without guaranteed wrenching support. So my lodging and food costs are double.
Typical Race weekend:
Food: $70 (buys burgers for two days, drinks, steaks or seafood for one night, breakfast, etc. etc.)
Camping: Tent cost me $100/8 weekends = $12 for the weekend
If I went to a hotel:
Room: approx $150
Food: $120
I save about $150-180 per weekend...not a lot but it adds up. I also like to sleep at the track, gives me extra time to sleep and it should be quiet (who knows, Hyperfest may be too loud to sleep early).
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From: Pickerington, Ohio, USA
Re: how much $ for road racing? (tekstyle)
Here is an example of a yearly budget for my slow (SCCA) ITS Civic EX:
$275.00 Entry Fee
$100.00 Race/Tow Gas
$100.00 Food/Beer
---------
$475.00 - Weekend expenses.
Not bad so far...
Add:
$300.00 Tires ($600/per set - 2 double weekends per set)
$20.00 Brakes ($140/for 1 set Carbotech per season)
$75.00 Misc. ($450.00/per season - misc. parts - it's a Honda...)
Tow vehicle = no cost (daily driver)
Trailer is paid for = no cost...
Camping in enclosed trailer = no cost...
(these "no cost" items cost plenty, but I don't include them in the cost for the weekend - see season totals below)
Total for weekends $870.00
Still not bad...
6 race weekends (double regionals) per year (average of the past 5 years)
$5220.00 per year (with no crash damage fund - I pay for that as it comes...)
Add $55.00 per month for trailer storage and insurance. ($660.00/per year)
Add $150.00 per month for additional payment for tow vehicle over 'normal' daily driver cost.
Add $250.00 per year in trailer maintenance.
$5675.00 per year for 6 double regionals.
now it's getting bad...
One Time expenses:
$8500.00 Trailer (Pace enclosed)
$2500.00 Tools/Garage stuff
$50.00 Scooter (Pit bike - hell of a deal!)
$150.00 Canopy
$150.00 Grill (for track use only)
(I'm sure there's more... but these should be the 'big' things)
$11350.00 = one time expenses (NOT including the car or safety equipment!)
Divided by the past 5 years = $2270 per year.
'Real' cost of racing for me = $7945.00 per year. (for the last 5 years)
Way more than I'd have guessed without putting it on paper...
$275.00 Entry Fee
$100.00 Race/Tow Gas
$100.00 Food/Beer
---------
$475.00 - Weekend expenses.
Not bad so far...
Add:
$300.00 Tires ($600/per set - 2 double weekends per set)
$20.00 Brakes ($140/for 1 set Carbotech per season)
$75.00 Misc. ($450.00/per season - misc. parts - it's a Honda...)
Tow vehicle = no cost (daily driver)
Trailer is paid for = no cost...
Camping in enclosed trailer = no cost...
(these "no cost" items cost plenty, but I don't include them in the cost for the weekend - see season totals below)
Total for weekends $870.00
Still not bad...
6 race weekends (double regionals) per year (average of the past 5 years)
$5220.00 per year (with no crash damage fund - I pay for that as it comes...)
Add $55.00 per month for trailer storage and insurance. ($660.00/per year)
Add $150.00 per month for additional payment for tow vehicle over 'normal' daily driver cost.
Add $250.00 per year in trailer maintenance.
$5675.00 per year for 6 double regionals.
now it's getting bad...
One Time expenses:
$8500.00 Trailer (Pace enclosed)
$2500.00 Tools/Garage stuff
$50.00 Scooter (Pit bike - hell of a deal!)
$150.00 Canopy
$150.00 Grill (for track use only)
(I'm sure there's more... but these should be the 'big' things)
$11350.00 = one time expenses (NOT including the car or safety equipment!)
Divided by the past 5 years = $2270 per year.
'Real' cost of racing for me = $7945.00 per year. (for the last 5 years)
Way more than I'd have guessed without putting it on paper...