Cost Of Racing.

[GORDON STREETER]

OK guys this is the thread that most racers will probably fight shy of.
I know that we all spend money on all sorts of things (that's what it's for).
However how much does a seasons racing cost you ? From fuel (transport and race) all paperwork (licence and entries) plus the cost of running the car
normal spares etc. Not counting the original cost of the car or major prangs or blow ups. This is actually the money you shell out, money from sponsors is not counted. I know its difficult but a rough estimate. I will start with 10 to 15K . I am a cheapskate and I do get a fair bit of outside assistance !

[AndyV]

I'm an even bigger cheapskate, £4K-5K for 10 races including a bearing/ring refresh at the end of the year. All work done by myself. Triumph Spitfire in TR/TSSC Championship.

Andy

[Teddington Ted]

I always said I would never do the maths but your post has prompted me to do it after all. I come out at £13k for 10 races. That's using outside help entirely as I am a muppet when I have a spanner in hand.

The part that is scary is not the costs during the season but the cost of the Winter preparation. My £13k includes a sort of average that I hope will be the case if my current engine holds together but I fear the reality is much worse. And no I am not going to go back and check all the invoices ! That would be far too depressing.

[Alan Cherry]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

OK guys this is the thread that most racers will probably fight shy of.
I know that we all spend money on all sorts of things (that's what it's for).
However how much does a seasons racing cost you ? From fuel (transport and race) all paperwork (licence and entries) plus the cost of running the car
normal spares etc. Not counting the original cost of the car or major prangs or blow ups. This is actually the money you shell out, money from sponsors is not counted. I know its difficult but a rough estimate. I will start with 10 to 15K . I am a cheapskate and I do get a fair bit of outside assistance !

Depends on what you count - they've changed my company car since last season, and the new pile of ****e won't tow a trailer, so I've had to shell out on a transit.Also I've moved house, and the old trailer wouldn't fit down the driveway, so I've bought a new trailer - looking at it that way, I've probably spent more than my years budget already.
However, if the wife is in earshot, everything is ridiculously cheap

[andy97]

£400 per race - all in , and I mean all in to run a Formula Vauxhall Junior 16V in a mixture of Monoposto 1800 championship and BARC-SEC Single Seater races on the Stowe circuit.

That includes the cost of a minor winter re-build and some cosmetics and a suspension repair after an off at Oulton, sharing the cost of a mechanic to help run me & another guy but I don't test much (if at all), try and stick to the midlands to save on overnighters and use second hand tyres.

I now have a Formula Vauxhall Lotus (Monoposto 2 litre) and a Fiat Uno (CSCC Tin Tops) and I would anticipate the costs of the FVL being about the same (despite another cosmetic winter refurb) but the Fiat being a bit cheaper. The costs of running these 2 cars in the Classic Sports Car Club's "Formula Free" & Tin Tops might even be slightly cheaper due to the low entry fees for these two series'.

[Al Weyman]

Too much and I would rather not count it!

[AU N EGL]

$3,000 per race.

Big HP cars eat fuel( car and tow vehical ) and tires like crazy

[terence]

Probably 10-20k,Oh, did I actually write that down

[Notso Swift]

I have a deal with the wife and that allows AUD7200 pa, so that is GBP2850, She gets the same in "luxuries"
That excludes Fuel, Food and Accom when away but does include car prep, if I have major blow up's I don't race, otherwise up to 8 events per year (3 race/event), 95% my own labour. The average in our series is about AUD10000 and the cheapest you could do it for would be AUD1000 standing costs (Licence/memberships that sort of thing) plus AUD600 per event (entry is about $300)

[zefarelly]

I reckon an average of £1k to 1500 a race for the long weekend away at Spa/Chimay etc, 750-1000 over here

thats doing everything ourselves and with no sponsorship, which is why only do 2 or 3 a year.

[Peter Mallett]

*sob* £13,600.00. That includes general running costs, 6 events 7 races (all between 30 and 60 mins adding up to 5hrs racing time plus practice) and the new trailer amortised over five years, fuel based on previous experience, tyres and a rebuild. *sob*

I did get someone interested in sponsoring me but he blanched when I said it would have to be more than£100.00!

[Pensioner]

As a marshal my projected costs for 2007 are 4100 miles at whatever mileage I can coax out of the car and 15 nights at Pub B&B when visiting Pembrey.
But then again I'll probably add a few more days

[leonidas]

I'm thinking in terms of a general running costs budget of £5k for this year - I'll stop when the money runs out or something goes bang in an expensive way! But this is rallycross which overall tends to be a bit cheaper. Its a niche sport and not to everyone's taste but its decent value with reasonable TV coverage and most people have some sort of sponsorship.

[zefarelly]

but you probably spend the difference in jetwashing, panel repairs, and punctures !!!

[leonidas]

Originally Posted by zefarelly

but you probably spend the difference in jetwashing, panel repairs, and punctures !!!

Yeah - you got it!

[Peter Mallett]

Gawd this thread is costing me a fortune in "compensation" so better double my original figure.

I'll get you for this Streeter, as long as you slow down a bit.

[chezza]

Originally Posted by Pensioner

As a marshal my projected costs for 2007 are 4100 miles at whatever mileage I can coax out of the car and 15 nights at Pub B&B when visiting Pembrey.
But then again I'll probably add a few more days

I'm not adding up my marshalling costs...I think it would scare me.

[Tim Falce]

I have a budget of £19-2s 6d and I'm already up to £25-10s and the car hasn't turned a wheel since last October.

[rcarr]

At most £2k a year per car for entries and fuel etc, ie everything.

We live 15 miles from Knockhill, we can't afford to travel anywhere else.

[AU N EGL]

How long do a set of new tires last ppl ?

I go one weekend, with a qual and race each day, then the set gets religated to warmups, practice sessions and lapping days.

[rcarr]

1 set every 10 years maybe?

[Notso Swift]

Originally Posted by AU N EGL

How long do a set of new tires last ppl ?

I go one weekend, with a qual and race each day, then the set gets religated to warmups, practice sessions and lapping days.

That happens when you do the V8 thing.
Mine last about 4 events, at $1200 a set, the top RX7's go through 4 per event at $1000 a set and the top V8 guys use 6 per event at $1800 for 4, but they could use 2 rears for every race. Myt old Suzuki used 6 tyres for the whole year at less than $1000.
Under our rules I could put a lower wider tyre on my car, but I can't see the value in a small performance increase and a big cost consideration, the car has enough grip as it is and the bigger tyres and wheels would just mean I have less money in the kitty to race.

[Joest956]

Well i have a small amount of sponsorship in that my entries are paid for so my total outgoings for 8 races last year was about £2k.

It was only my first year of racing though and i raced the car as i bought it with 4 year old tyres and a shoddy paintjob, i am now building a 16v engine and respraying the car completely, also the championship is changing tyre manufacturers so my outgoings in the off season have exceeded last years already.

[Peter Mallett]

Which championship are you entered in?

[Chris Y]

Originally Posted by AU N EGL

How long do a set of new tires last ppl ?

I go one weekend, with a qual and race each day, then the set gets religated to warmups, practice sessions and lapping days.

I've made a set of Yoko 032s last since 2001!

Bought some 048s in 2005, but to be honest, the 032s are still grippier