Costs of racing Options

[Brew]

I just finished reading about the 912 racer in Excellence, and was starting to feel inspired, thinking of ways to come up with the $$ to properly prep my 914 for the track.

Before I do anything drastic, I'd like to hear from the guys that track their cars regularly.

What type of racing do you do, and how much $$$ does a season cost you? What are the primary expenses?

[r_towle]

Time off (most good stuff is available on weekdays also)
Track fees
Tires
Suspension
Housing
Food
Transportation
Tow Vehicle

Rich

[d914]

Race fuel
new parts engine rebuilds
Tools and more tools
Canaopy
chairs
compressor or air tanks
extra wheels
sign up fees
possible sriver school to get license

etc..etc

figure a $1000.00 a weekend and you wouldn't be far off in either direction.

[DonTraver]

A weekend with POC running the Short Track Series at Willow Springs with everything runs me about $800 if nothing goes wrong.

That's track fee, transponder, hotel, gas, food, and tires. I get 4 days out of a set of tires, so I burn up one tire per day or $150 per day $300 per weekend just for tires.

That's running the 914-6, running the RSA takes it up to about $1200 a weekend, tires cost more.

Later, Don

[anthony]

If you've never been on a track, you might want to start off with DE (drivers education).

All you need is a good running 914, a helmet, and maybe $200-300.

[brant]

you can spend as much (ok... more...) than you can afford..
more than your wife is comfortable with
and more than your visa card is comfortable with...


but it doesn't have to be that way.
I know a lot of guys (myself included)
who got lots of seat time in DE and did just a few races a year and kept things under a tight budget.

I still see lots of guys who spend very little (couple thousand the whole year) to do fun racing in the stock-ish 914's

Take the plunge.
start doing drivers ed.
be armed to keep your Wallet defenses up and don't fall for the magical siren who calls out to buy that next part!

make a committment to your budget and don't get over zealous with tires or performance parts. Stay stock for a couple of years. Then if you decide to go modified or get a bigger motor or something, you will have a full understanding about what kind of $ that committment would take and what kind of classification you want to move towards.

brant

[Brew]

Anthony, that's the plan, and I've got one coming up in June. Unfortunately, I'm guessing it'll be pretty addictive!

All others, thanks for the input, and helping me gain perspective. I think I'll just go back to my original plan of making a nice street car with occasional track time.

I guess I'd better rewrite my sig......

[brant]

John,

PLEASE come to Lajunta (I hope thats the one you are referencing... and its actually MAY 20th)

I want to introduce you to Grant who club races a 914.

He is an inspiration....
I certainly don't know his bank account numbers, but he has a GREAT car and is FAST!

yet I'll bet that you could run a car like his for 1000 bucks a summer... maybe a little more!

There are ways!
and seriously, in colorado there are great resources to do this that no one else has access too... I know people in state that can fabricate things for half of the price most people pay.

I've been through all of this..
you'll have to meet grant and see
you will be so Addicted!

now I'm going to have to get Greg hooked too, so you can beat him and brag about it (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) (teasing greg!)

There are 3-4 guys in colorado running production classed (stockish) 914's in club racing right now and TONS of people to play with...

did I mention how hooked you are going to be!

what do you need still to make the lajunta event?
(I'm counting on you being there!)

brant

[campbellcj]

LOL, racing costs exactly every last dollar you've got...plus $1...

[Brew]

Brant, yeah LJ is the one I was referring to. I must have my dates messed up. I'll email you offline.

[brant]

QUOTE (campbellcj @ Mar 19 2006, 09:37 AM)

LOL, racing costs exactly every last dollar you've got...plus $1...

perfect answer...

short, direct and accurate
lol!


brant

[Trekkor]

I only DE. No racing here (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif)

It costs me about $300 per day in fees.( actually less )

Since DE's are not for competition you don't need the best track tires to have good time.

I run Kuhmo 710's. They are around $160 each.
I already have 14 hours on them and a few a/x's.
they look to be around half worn. Maybe.

I've done sessions on my street tires, too.
Not as fast, but still really fun.
It truly gives you an idea of the limits of your track/street car as you won't be running track tires on the street.

I use a full tank of fuel per day.
Most of the events I attend are 2-3 hours away.
Sears is twenty minutes (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/boldblue.gif)

Keep an eye on your brake pads and fluid.


KT

[SLITS]

If the first question is "How much?"....you can't afford it if you want to win.

In SCCA, we figured $1K per weekend race cost (tires, fuel, hotel, towing, food, entry fees, etc,)

Now if something broke...........

Now to the car........... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/sad.gif)

[Joe Bob]

Too rich fer me.....that's why I quit.

[TimT]

To get started, go take a few buckets of money, take them outside and light on fire! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/av-943.gif)

Cost me $1000-2000+ depending on distance, whether the venue is far from home (im in NY been to Road Atlanta etc), whether I use up the car, etc.

Then there are the at home costs prep between/before events.

I used to keep track of the costs, but it just depressed me at the end of the year so I stopped that practice.

I know when we run our GT3RS it will get silly expenive really fast

[JPB]

Does anyone know anything about the Summit Point race track in WV. It's like two hours from me and wished I could start racing there. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/popcorn[1].gif)

[drew365]

I figure $1,000 to $1,200 per weekend depending on which track and how far. That doesn't include major repair or maintanence to the car but does include running Hoosiers. Our last event at Las Vegas MS the track fees were $650 for three day event plus 4 nights in a hotel. It adds up quick. If I try to justify it I wouldn't race. So I just don't think about it.

[Joe Ricard]

About 300 this weekend. Stayed at a friends house over night. just autocross. 760 miles rounf trip. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/screwy.gif)

[alpha434]

Don't forget that your budget will have to increase as your class increases. If you stick to a street prepared four, you'll be classed with like cars, and you'll be competitive there at a fairly low budget. Get a six and a fiberglass body, and your budget (as well as initial costs) will skyrocket.

Low class is good. As you get better, you'll increase your classes slowly. And when you get to winning, and liking it, you'll come back to the lower classes, since that is where you can do it a lot with a small budget.

[jimtab]

Although I've never raced (except autox) I had a chance to talk to Peter Revson back when he was driving McClaren cars before he was killed and I asked him what it feels like to go racing on a "big track" he laughed and said I could duplicate the experience by standing in front of a big fan and throwing $100.00 bills into the air by the handful....he was a loss, good driver and very approachable.