So some track days have opened up for 2014 and its been rumoured that pricing has increase by 260%. Days that used to cost $200 are now in excess of $400 for the day. At these prices I think I will be sitting out another year or just forgetting about track days and do something else.

But hey the new track looks awesome.

 

Ouch. That's a big increase for not a lot of extra track.

thewird

 

Add another $100 and thats what we pay for a race weekend on the big track. I heard that prices were going to go up at the DDT because the rent has gone up almost double with the new facilities, but I thought the longer track would allow for more cars.

It all comes down to track rental costs versus number of cars. To keep event costs the same, you need to add a lot more cars. Maybe some of the lapping day groups may need to combine events to double up on the cars.

If it makes you guys feel any better, I have heard that race weekend event costs are going up substantially soon as well. We could be looking at $700 race entry fees soon. That is way higher than almost any event I have seen at other facilities and almost getting into the range of what you pay to race at the Toronto Indy or Montreal GP track event where the race rentals are around $50,000.

Eric

 

That's a big increase on top of what already seemed like a high price. I could just about rent our whole track for that. Good reminder not to take what we have down here for granted.
We have nowhere near the level of facilities of a Mosport, but, the last lapping day I did at AMP was, I think $80, and that was 2 run groups each with about a dozen cars.

 

Well we will find out more as we get closer to the 2014 events. I wonder how much Sigma Time Attack events will be at this track. The didn't use the track for last year.

There still is other tracks like shannonville etc

 

Too high man.. Heard from a local that is actually true. I actually wanted to try the GP track but now its just out of reach for now

 

Holy thats pricy!! How can people afford that on a regular basis? I cant even afford to do that once. Add up the cost to get your car ready, the cost of transport to get your car there and back, registration, all the fuel that a thirsty racing rotary will use, and the inevitable wear and tare on expensive tires, brakes, clutch, etc. and im sure there are more costs. And thats all for one day! Thats why my PLANS for my car have gone from track car, to track and road car, to road car that makes a track day a year if i can afford it. Then i remember my car isnt even tuned and has a number of other problems and the chances of driving/racing it anytime soon get push even further away.

 

Thats what people don't realize. For me to run my car at a Regional CASC Race it costs me avbout $300 in fuel for the tow vehicle, $475 Entry, $150 fuel for the car, amortized brakes, tires oil, etc... say another $300. Add in food, sunscreen, etc.... plus the investment in pit support equipment, drivers equipment, race license, you are looking at about $1500 to do a weekend of racing.

If I run the Cougar, you have to double the fuel, and cosumables and you end up around $2300. Thats why I don't run the Cougar very often.

Not a cheap hobby at all and thats why I am totally amazed when we still get between 100 and 140 cars out for a weekend. Thats a lot of cash to be spent for a bunch of plastic trophies and chest pounding.

Eric

 

Cause it's fun and you can't do this on the street. With the amount of money still required to put my 10th AE back together not sure how many track days will be on for me in 2014.

 

It's all supply & demand, if people stop going for track days prices would tumble. But on the other hand tracks would close, not be maintained or updated as with the DDT. Newer tracks like Calabogie are big bucks for a day of lapping compare to say TMP, so you get what your willing to pay for or can afford. It all relative or that up knitting, it a hobby as well. knit one pearl two

 

Calabogie is quite reasonable. I've seen lapping days listed for under $200.

 

I hope the new track is worth it. It would be a pity if lapping and racing became too expensive for amateurs in this area.

 

And Calabogie is an amazing track - long.

 

i might be heading that way once the car is done. I'd like to do Calabogie, and if I'm going to spend that kind of money on a track day, i'd rather do a whole weekend and put the extra towards lodging and fuel. There's a few guys in the TLMC that do at least one a year, which means going with other racers as well. I might be getting ahead of myself though. I have to get the stupid thing back together first.

I've talked to a couple of people that usually organize lapping at the DDT a few times per season. I don't think they're having any trouble filling their schedule even at those prices. One guy said they only had one day available for him to choose from for the whole season. I'd imagine rather than just using it as a rental track and for the bridgestone academy, they'll be running more race events there.. other than a sigma date and some larger auto slalom events.

 

That is insane, thats almost the same as going on the big track. I hope it goes down, or i wont be able to check out the new track...and rick, i knitted up a sweater for you.

 

I've been told there are some improvements to the DDT and the facilities – it makes sense to put together larger groups and longer lapping sessions to reduce the individual cost.

 

Shannonville FTW... Always best price and most enjoyable.
For anyone paying too much for club organized grip days, you should come out to a drift/grip day.
Usually around $120 bucks for full 8 hour day. Usually more drift than grip, but everyone is very easy going and usually quite experienced.

Mosport is a great track to play on if you're going to be paying that much aswell.

 

Guys the DDT is entirely new with far better facilities. It has almost been doubled in length, widened, has a proper pit lane and new buildings. It will also be a faster track with tighter corners than a lot of tracks, so it will be more technical and taxing on the car than the previous DDT facility. It is a better racetrack by itself than most other tracks in Canada.

You will be able to hold club races on it along with Time Attack and Drifting. I believe that it will be a better facility than Shannonville and closer to Toronto without all the different track variations that Shannonville can offer. As well it is going to be a lot more expensive to rent.

It will be a cool new facility and I can hardly wait to test it out this spring.

Eric