DE Budget
#62
First mistake was negotiating a budget!
I do as others have mentioned, or used to before instructing and attending events for free. Events are $xxx/ ea, and leave it at that. Once you catch the bug, you will be amazed how fast $ will leak out from everywhere. Maintenance, fluids, brakes, tires, event fees, modifications (hopefully safety mods), etc.
Whatever you're thinking for budget is low, and the first stepping stone. Good luck!
I do as others have mentioned, or used to before instructing and attending events for free. Events are $xxx/ ea, and leave it at that. Once you catch the bug, you will be amazed how fast $ will leak out from everywhere. Maintenance, fluids, brakes, tires, event fees, modifications (hopefully safety mods), etc.
Whatever you're thinking for budget is low, and the first stepping stone. Good luck!
#64
Rennlist Member
I’ve only been able to do half a dozen days a year and always figure it will be nearly $1k/day in total when considering total expenses over the year. I usually spend much less on the day of the event but then between events I might “need” the right set of low treadwear tires, refreshed brakes, a mechanical fix, a new upgrade for track duty, early fluid changes, etc., so when all things are considered, events need to typically have a direct cost of just the fee plus gas-and-go (which alone is $300-500) for the overall cost to be any kind of modest figure. If you do work yourself and count the labor cost as free that can help bring the costs down. But if you do six track days and don’t instruct, you’ll spend spend $2-3k on fuel and event fees, and if all the track related extra things you do to the car that year are only $3k, you’re kissing $1k per day. If you do track insurance and travel to events, it all adds up pretty quickly.
And, being completely honest, if you were not tracking at all, would you buy a different street car? Maybe, maybe not. It could be a significant indirect cost of tracking the car for some of us.
With the 986 SPB project (still on street tires) instead of a late model 911 or similar car my consumable costs for events are down noticeably but my overall spending is up anyway. Whatever money is earmarked for events and goes unspent just ends up going into the build. Any unforeseen expenses just get paid for, so there’s no over/under to average the costs out. And while I could certainly address that with a tiny shred of discipline, where’s the fun in that? If I really needed to spend less I’d have bought a cheaper project. At some cost level we can just gloss over the details. For a toy and an activity that amounts to play, that’s a good level to be at.
And, being completely honest, if you were not tracking at all, would you buy a different street car? Maybe, maybe not. It could be a significant indirect cost of tracking the car for some of us.
With the 986 SPB project (still on street tires) instead of a late model 911 or similar car my consumable costs for events are down noticeably but my overall spending is up anyway. Whatever money is earmarked for events and goes unspent just ends up going into the build. Any unforeseen expenses just get paid for, so there’s no over/under to average the costs out. And while I could certainly address that with a tiny shred of discipline, where’s the fun in that? If I really needed to spend less I’d have bought a cheaper project. At some cost level we can just gloss over the details. For a toy and an activity that amounts to play, that’s a good level to be at.
#65
Rennlist Member
The biggest problem with a budget is the visibility. I don't care how loving/understanding/supportive your significant other is, prepare to have that number thrown back at you like a weapon at least once a month.
Which leads me to the bigger point.....the real budget isn't $5k. Think closer to $10-15k when wifey compensatory spending is included.
(retaliatory spending is vindictive and would suggest only benefits the wife. Compensatory spending is for the supportive wives that leverage the track days to get better stuff....dinners out, vacations, upgrades, etc. In the immortal words of Teri Hatcher: [these costs] are real and they are spectacular!)
Which leads me to the bigger point.....the real budget isn't $5k. Think closer to $10-15k when wifey compensatory spending is included.
(retaliatory spending is vindictive and would suggest only benefits the wife. Compensatory spending is for the supportive wives that leverage the track days to get better stuff....dinners out, vacations, upgrades, etc. In the immortal words of Teri Hatcher: [these costs] are real and they are spectacular!)
#67
I'm still working negotiations with my wife on the upcoming season. Just wondering, have any of you added up the money you spend on a season? I'm trying for a modest three event season "ticket" and am thinking a $5k budget. She is very concerned that I have a "money is no object" type of attitude with the car, and I think a budget limit would help her agree. All events would be at VIR, so < 1.5 hour drive.
In round numbers, a $500 event fee & $500 insurance takes up $3k. Plus hotel, food, gas, brakes, tech inspections...
In round numbers, a $500 event fee & $500 insurance takes up $3k. Plus hotel, food, gas, brakes, tech inspections...
Take heart in the fact that just about anything that's cool to have/do tends to cost a lot of money. Back in the 80s I bought an original Gibson Les Paul guitar; cost me $5000 which was a hell of a lot of $$$ at that time.....same guitar today, $200k+. Wish I still had it.....who am I kidding? If I did I'd sell it in a heartbeat!
Get out there, spend what needs to be spent, and enjoy!
Gary
#68
Rennlist Member
My budget is entry fees, and gas and general maint items. ( oil and brakes) Been doing that for over 20 years now. Camping on the track saves dollars too.
#69
Rennlist Member
Exactly what I did, sort of. Bought a $8K 986 and put another $8K in to safety, reliability, suspension, brakes, tires etc. I only buy insurance for tracks with no run off, the Glen and Palmer. With a new GT4 I'd assume insurance is a must everywhere, but you can save a lot in a backwards way by doing 2 or 3-day events, the entry fee is usually not double/triple and insurance is only charged per event, not per day. If you catch the DE bug (you will), get your wheel camber pushed in to the negative #'s and you won't burn up $1,500 tires in a weekend. My street driven 986 has -2.6 F, -2.3 rear with Continental Extreme Contact Sports (street tires), did 10 track days last summer in yellow/blue run group, the fronts are at 80% and rears at 60-70%. Those things wear like steel and have 95% the grip of Michelin PSS and are 30% cheaper.
A 2-day event at the Glen costs me $1,100 all in. Entry, insurance($10K value), Seneca Lodge, gas, food, tech inspection. As someone else mentioned, make $5K your hard budget for the season and see how many days you can squeeze in there while being frugal with expenses you can actually control.
Call me a hater but just think what your DE budget could of been if it hadn't all been spent on the car.. But then you wouldn't have such a fantastic car.
Have fun on the track, you'll love it!
A 2-day event at the Glen costs me $1,100 all in. Entry, insurance($10K value), Seneca Lodge, gas, food, tech inspection. As someone else mentioned, make $5K your hard budget for the season and see how many days you can squeeze in there while being frugal with expenses you can actually control.
Call me a hater but just think what your DE budget could of been if it hadn't all been spent on the car.. But then you wouldn't have such a fantastic car.
Have fun on the track, you'll love it!
But, I only live an hour away , so I would drive back and forth each day.
This coming May, I am going to stay at the Seneca Lodge instead of commute.
Factory in gas, it's only a hundred more.
#70
Originally Posted by LuigiVampa
It is somewhat less expensive if you are just starting out. As a newbie you tend not to thrash your car around the track the same way an experienced driver might so wheels and brakes are used less.
....
"retaliatory spending" is bad enough and she has no idea of the true cost.
....
"retaliatory spending" is bad enough and she has no idea of the true cost.
Another tip is to focus on two-day events, as you get more bang for the buck...and 2X track time for roughly the same "cost" in family capital.
"retaliatory spending" Love this term, which I'd never heard before. My wife does preemptive spending...and is mostly oblivious to it (...or so she claims).
#71
You only live once and can't take it with you. Do you really want to give it your kids as members of the lucky sperm club. Screw that - Work hard/Play hard(er).
#72
Racer
I can tell you from experience that is exactly what will happen. If you think a wife or ex-wife is bad, wait until you have experienced a retaliatory judge.