Arthur

Many serious racers quote the cost of racing their cars. Aside from the obvious brake fluid, gasoline, brake pads, and tires, what other things are factored in?I don't have a car committed to racing only, and would like to know what I'm getting myself into by purchasing a race car. So far, I've been using my daily driver for DE events and the costs for each DE event are just the tech inspection, brake fluid, and gas.

DJ

Let's see:

• tires
• brake pads
• brakes rotors
• brake fluid
• tires
• fuel
• motel
• track food
• tires

Oh yeah, and tires.

RSRRacer

Arthur:

For what you have in the 996 you coul have a nice race car, and the budges leftover for 5 or so heavy seasons of Drivers Ed.

Start racing and all bets are off.

I will be glad to review my budget with you at year end. Usually you will want to boil it down to operating costs per hour. Drivers Ed cost per hour usually runs $75 - $100 for a mild race car, up to $500 or more for a factory GT3RS (not that you should go there)

I encourage you to ride in a few prior to buying one. Of course I am good at giving advise that i didnt follow <img src="graemlins/soapbox.gif" border="0" alt="[soapbox]" />

Chris

E. J. - 993 Alumni

[quote]Originally posted by Chris Brown:
<strong> Of course I am good at giving advise that I didnt follow</strong><hr></blockquote>

That's funny Chris. You are doing it right now. Guess what's finally in my garage? Roll bar and two seats. Cant wait for Mid Ohio.

Hey DJ - I think you forgot to mention tires. <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" />

E. J.

Greg Fishman

[quote]Originally posted by Arthur:
<strong>Many serious racers quote the cost of racing their cars. </strong><hr></blockquote>

This topic hurts! What DJ and others list is not quite complete. You have to figure in how long your motor and tranny will last. Then you have to figure out what you need to make you go faster (new suspension, the lastest this or that) because you and I know that it can't be the driver that is making you slower than the other guys.
Basically the race car is a money pit and you can never get ahead. You have the repair items, the doesn't need replacing but I better items, and the I want to go faster so let's change to this items. It is tons of fun but lots of $$.
Greg

Greg Fishman

[quote]Originally posted by DJ:
<strong>Let's see:

• tires
• brake pads
• brakes rotors
• brake fluid
• tires
• fuel
• motel
• track food
• tires

Oh yeah, and tires.</strong><hr></blockquote>

If you lost a few hundred pounds (car not you!) your tires would last a lot longer. I got my car down to RS weight and the difference is very pronounced. Brake pads, tires seem to not wear out as quick, plus it feels like I picked up 30 hp.

DJ

[quote]Originally posted by Greg Fishman:
<strong>

If you lost a few hundred pounds (car not you!) your tires would last a lot longer. I got my car down to RS weight and the difference is very pronounced. Brake pads, tires seem to not wear out as quick, plus it feels like I picked up 30 hp. </strong><hr></blockquote>

I could probably stand to lose a hundred myself: then I'd be down to average weight for a driver. How much does your car weigh now? Mine is 3011 with no driver and no fuel.

Dbltime

3011? I just reinstalled my interior panels and rear speaker deck, no cage (bar), carbon hood & wing, light wheels & hoosiers, no mufflers, race seats and I am 2900 with 1/2 tank fuel.

I was keeping track of the cost in the beginning. Now I just got a great deal on a shreader from some accounting firm. I feel much better.

DJ

[quote]Originally posted by bill walczak:
<strong>3011? I just reinstalled my interior panels and rear speaker deck, no cage (bar), carbon hood & wing, light wheels & hoosiers, no mufflers, race seats and I am 2900 with 1/2 tank fuel.</strong><hr></blockquote>


Uh, yeah... but mine is my daily driver.

Greg Fishman

[quote]Originally posted by DJ:
<strong>

I could probably stand to lose a hundred myself: then I'd be down to average weight for a driver. How much does your car weigh now? Mine is 3011 with no driver and no fuel.</strong><hr></blockquote>


Same here. My car weighed 2820 with maybe a quarter tank of fuel.
Greg

DJ

[quote]Originally posted by Greg Fishman:
<strong>


Same here. My car weighed 2820 with maybe a quarter tank of fuel.
Greg</strong><hr></blockquote>

So, what's the easiest (read: cheapest) way to lose 200 lbs. off the car?

~DJ

Greg Fishman

[quote]Originally posted by DJ:
<strong>

So, what's the easiest (read: cheapest) way to lose 200 lbs. off the car?

~DJ</strong><hr></blockquote>

I don't think there is one thing that will help you lose this much weight. I put a light weight front nose and rear bumper as well as a RS Club Sport rear spoiler.

A friend of mine just put headers on his car and he probably lost close to 80 pounds off the best place on the car. Since this is a race car he wasn't concerned with having heat or noise. The kit did come with a muffler but he isn't using that. Replace the sunroof with a carbon panel and that would help you lose 20 lbs or so.

Convert your car to a Carrera S and you probably would lose the 200 in one shot. You don't need AWD anyway, it just keeps you from getting the tail out
Greg

pig4bill

If you're going to run out and buy a race car, a formula car or sports racer can be cheaper to run in some ways. Consumables can last longer because the cars are so lightweight. Even engines and trannies sometimes last longer because they are designed for track punishment.

DJ

[quote]Originally posted by Greg Fishman:
<strong>

A friend of mine just put headers on his car and he probably lost close to 80 pounds off the best place on the car. Since this is a race car he wasn't concerned with having heat or noise. </strong><hr></blockquote>

80 lbs. just for headers? On a 993? Really? That's definitely on the list.


[quote]<strong>
Replace the sunroof with a carbon panel and that would help you lose 20 lbs or so.
</strong><hr></blockquote>

Hmm... I was just thinking of stripping the guts out of it, and welding it shut. I didn't think of a carbon panel...


[quote]<strong>Convert your car to a Carrera S and you probably would lose the 200 in one shot. You don't need AWD anyway, it just keeps you from getting the tail out
Greg</strong><hr></blockquote>


Sacrilege! It doesn't keep me from getting the tail out, it just makes it quicker to drive *with* the tail out. In the rain, it's like cheating...

Greg Fishman

Dj,
80lbs is what my friend quoted I don't know if that was the difference or just what the stock exhaust weighs. Either way he said it was very heavy. Isn't there like a 25-30 lb saving just switching to the Super Cup exhaust?

MA shaw has the carbon panel but I think DC Lee has another one or two laying around. He did the crazy thing and just cut his roof off and welded a non sunroof top on.
A 4S in the rain is cheating, they should be banned.
Greg