Whats the average amount of $ you spending on racing each year?
<3
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,503
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From: Va Beach
Re: Whats the average amount of $ you spending on racing each year?
Instructors do run for free with NASA but it takes years of regular full price HPDE weekends to get to that point. And once you're an instructor, that's your job for the weekend. You have very little time to deal with your own car, you will probably miss some of your own track time, and you're still staying to help your students all weekend even if your car explodes on your first lap. There is no "Hey Mr. Chief Instructor, I need to replace my broken widget valve so I don't miss any more of my track time - can you find someone else to deal with my students while I turn wrenches?" And you will be on the track 2-3x as much as usual, which will wear your ass out. 
If you're instructing just for the free track time, you will very soon be saying "gosh this was so much easier and less stressful when I just paid and drove." But if you're doing it for love of sport... it will make you a better, faster, safer driver in the process. And once you've been doing it for a while you might actually get paid to instruct on a special-request basis.
Jon
If you're instructing just for the free track time, you will very soon be saying "gosh this was so much easier and less stressful when I just paid and drove." But if you're doing it for love of sport... it will make you a better, faster, safer driver in the process. And once you've been doing it for a while you might actually get paid to instruct on a special-request basis.
Jon
Obviously it's not just to run for free, but it is a nice perk.
Needs more poke.
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,413
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From: Brunswick, ME
Re: Whats the average amount of $ you spending on racing each year?
Im 18 and make 6.50 an hour. I try and do and lest 3-5 events a year if not more. After just going to an event (not running) i was hooked. Now thats really all i spend my money on, because its just that fun. If you go try it you will laugh at the idea of spending money to go fast in a straight line for a 1/4 mile.
Mad Scientist
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 101
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From: Richmond, VA
Re: Whats the average amount of $ you spending on racing each year?
It helps if you have a cheap, light car too... I only did a few events in my '91 Civic Si, but literally track prep for that car consisted of
1- check and add oil as necessary
2- install track brakepads
3- open hatchback, load track chair, some tools etc, drive to track
4- unpack
5- drive all weekend
6- repack and drive home.
I had 10ish hours of HARD track time on the brakepads and they still had 50% material left when I gave them to vbspec. Not much in the way of tire wear either. I had a fair number of go-fast goodies on the car, but they weren't necessary to get out and run events. Minor maintenance stuff beforehand like a fresh waterpump, coolant, sparkplugs, brake fluid, decent street tires...
The WRX on the other hand used to eat chew up and spit out brake pads/rotors/expensive parts at an alarming rate.
1- check and add oil as necessary
2- install track brakepads
3- open hatchback, load track chair, some tools etc, drive to track
4- unpack
5- drive all weekend
6- repack and drive home.
I had 10ish hours of HARD track time on the brakepads and they still had 50% material left when I gave them to vbspec. Not much in the way of tire wear either. I had a fair number of go-fast goodies on the car, but they weren't necessary to get out and run events. Minor maintenance stuff beforehand like a fresh waterpump, coolant, sparkplugs, brake fluid, decent street tires...
The WRX on the other hand used to eat chew up and spit out brake pads/rotors/expensive parts at an alarming rate.
¿Señor Member?
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Yorktown
Re: Whats the average amount of $ you spending on racing each year?
I was averaging about $1.2k per event in the EVO, but that car required a lot of maintenance between events(it never broke though so I guess it was worth it). You can do it a lot cheaper. Get a honda or miata and camp instead of hoteling it up saves a lot.
Registered Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 375
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Re: Whats the average amount of $ you spending on racing each year?
The civic is pretty good for the track. I have 3 weekends on it. The key problem is that as you start moving through the groups you start spending money to make the car work the way you want. I have changed to expensive brake fluid, rotors, still deciding on pads, oil cooler, wheels/tires, etc. Like it was stated earlier, the investment depends on how far you want to go. During the winter break I am going to at the minimum drop the gear box, rebuild it with a new final drive and reinstall it with a new clutch. I would like to build an H4 spec engine and by the end of the summer it should have a full cage/safety system.
But in the end the cost should not stop you. I know that I will spend 8-10k on the car in the next year but that is a small price to pay for fun.
--Doug
But in the end the cost should not stop you. I know that I will spend 8-10k on the car in the next year but that is a small price to pay for fun.
--Doug
I Roll Fenders
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,083
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From: Chesapeake
Re: Whats the average amount of $ you spending on racing each year?
I know for drifting it is usually ~150 for the event and another 1-200 for tires and shit. It could easily spend over 500 an event though. I'd imagine Rich spends more then most people I could be wrong. You can opt not to stay in a hotel (sleep in the car), or do a one day event, lots of cheaper ways around things.
-DMD-
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,526
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From: Chesapeake
Re: Whats the average amount of $ you spending on racing each year?
I know for drifting it is usually ~150 for the event and another 1-200 for tires and shit. It could easily spend over 500 an event though. I'd imagine Rich spends more then most people I could be wrong. You can opt not to stay in a hotel (sleep in the car), or do a one day event, lots of cheaper ways around things.
I Roll Fenders
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,083
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake
Re: Whats the average amount of $ you spending on racing each year?
If you drive your car to the track, sleep in the car, and don't eat anything but a sandwich your still going to spend $500 to go to a DE. That's not counting spending any money for track tires/ brake pads, or safety equipment. I wouldn't recommend doing DE's in a car that doesn't at least have 5 pt harnesses with a roll bar. You can't drive a car to the limit while you are trying to hold yourself in place with the steering wheel.
Registered Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 228
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Re: Whats the average amount of $ you spending on racing each year?
Im 18 and make 6.50 an hour. I try and do and lest 3-5 events a year if not more. After just going to an event (not running) i was hooked. Now thats really all i spend my money on, because its just that fun. If you go try it you will laugh at the idea of spending money to go fast in a straight line for a 1/4 mile.
Show-lo car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,493
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From: NC/WA
Re: Whats the average amount of $ you spending on racing each year?
is this question including the price to rebuild your car wrecked from the track? :P
no, lol not trying to discourage you... but my figure was under $500 for a weekend HPDE. @300 for the event it self. a tank of gas both days. i roomed up with another driver and saved 50%. you can even camp there at the track to save more money.
the money to improve your skill and abilities with YOUR car far exceeds the benefits of a $500 exhaust system for your car. IMO
no, lol not trying to discourage you... but my figure was under $500 for a weekend HPDE. @300 for the event it self. a tank of gas both days. i roomed up with another driver and saved 50%. you can even camp there at the track to save more money.
the money to improve your skill and abilities with YOUR car far exceeds the benefits of a $500 exhaust system for your car. IMO