Okay, since I don't want any of you to be 'hit up side the head' in the middle of the night by the SO, please do not get out your receipts. Just trying to get an idea of how much it costs PER RACE to run.

 

Run what? There is a significant difference.

 

Per race?

Depends on two factors.

1) What car you race? 944 spec vs GT3 cup and everything in between
2) How you go to the track? Drive the car to tow a with 40ft RV and stacker trailer with paid pit crew.

On the very low end you can figure maybe 700 weekend (with entry fees, but no travel/transport) for 944 spec car to multiple thousands for well prepared cup or GT style car.

Remember the faster the car the more money you will spend to put tires on it and to keep it fast. If you can find a slower, spec type cost restricted class where the cars are mostly stock you can limit the costs alot and still be competitive if your skills allow it.

As for costs you need to figure

1) Entry fees... Assume first that you will need to pay them. However depending on the organization you may be able to mitigate these costs if you work for them in some capacity. You need to know the organization to work something like this.

2) Tires... Racing requires running on tires that work well. So most racers will not race on old tires that cost them time. Why race if you are handicapping yourself on crap tires? That means you will settle on certain replacement rate. The harder you drive and sticker tires you use the faster the replacement rate. Also fast cars use wider more expensive tires. So wide, sticky rubber is also more expensive. Some classes can use 2-3 sets of tires for an entire season. Some classes need fresh tires every weekend or even every race if you want live at the front end of the grid.

3) Routine maintenance... Every time your race you run the car hard. Shifts at redline. 1 g cornering loads, bouncing off curbs. In general the faster the car more maintence that is required. If you need to rebuild the motor every 50 hours that will be expensive on fancy high strung motor. Other cars you may be 4-5 season on fresh motor. Then there is replacement of consumables like brakes, rotor etc.

4) Travel/Transport costs. Hotel rooms? Camp at the track? 400 mile tows at 10 mpg for the tow vehicle? etc... this could be small part of large budget or large part of small budget.

5) Hey I did not even mention non-planned costs like crash damage or mechanical failures. These can happen even in 13/13 racing so any proper racing budget needs to take this into consideration.

Racing is always more expensive than you think. So take your "budget" of what you can spend and try to plan to spend 1/2 to 2/3 of that. Then go racing in that car and realize you will overspend your plan by 50 to 100% and if you planned on spending less than you could you just might be ok.

So if you know you can spend $1500 a race weekend and budget for car that takes you to $1500 you will probabyl find yourself spending $2000. So if you can afford $1500 plan to spend $700 to $1000 and leave the rest for all the stuff you forgot. So basicly race a slower cheaper car than you think you can and you just may able to afford it.

 

Lots.

 

Put it this way...when you add it up:

 

The cost of racing hasn't increased in the last 30 years.

Back then, it took everything you had.

Today it still does.........

 

Yes...a very large portion of my discretionary spending $$ fund my weekend outings!

 

I can tell you what I spend per DE weekend.
$365 Registration
$100 to $250+ for Tech Inspection and Car Prep (Oil, Brake Bleeding)
$250 Weekend Trackside Track Support from Mechanic (provides tent, food, repairs if needed during weekend)
$200+ Fuel at Racetrack (buying the good stuff)
$50 Misc Items, Food, etc
$0 Lodging (I go home since I live close).

Not Included per event - but should be factored into overall costs.
Track only Tires ($1400 - 10 events??? Not sure yet)
Track only Wheels ($750 - should last 4 ever)
Brake Pads ($?)
Brake Rotors ($?)
Other wear & tear items ($?)
Nomex Pants
Nomex Jacket
Nomex Undershirt
Helmet
Nomex Gloves
Nomex Socks
GoPro Camera
Harry's Laptimer Pro

Eventually:
Harness Bar
Harnesses
Dedicated Race Car

 

Ok I gotta ask; I saw another question you posted about the amount of time it takes to get ready for an event?

Money + Time = UH OH....

Did you get whacked by the SO?

 

$12.95

 

I use one set of brake pads and one set of tires per season.

I use a bunch of gas and split a hotel room with a friend, entry fees are covered as I work for the organization, but depending on how far away the event is, I figure on it costing $500 for the weekend if I have to stay in a hotel.

That doesn't count the incremental cost of tires and brake pads though.

 

That's the correct number.

 

Less than a mistress and less than a golf membership.

 

"Less than a mistress"

The all time best answer!

ROFL

 

Don't have one to get whacked by
WOW!! The ex would be one rich guy