Who was it that said (paraphrased): "Sure you can make a small fortune racing. You just have to start out with a large fortune to begin with!"

:-)

-b

The one I recall goes "In order to make a small fortune in racing first you must start with a large one".

Then there's "Speed costs money. How fast do you want to go?"

Still my favorite quote from an announcer (I can't remember who) said about a driver who had just slid off the track and destroyed his car in the wall "He got into the corner and ran out of talent". Ouch! :eek:

Well it's in Carroll Smith's book, I don't know if he said it first???

Actually, Mazda, Khumo, Hoosier and other's have strong contingency programs. Also are SCCA division gives you tow money for the runoffs. It's about a grand.
To get tow money you have to just be in the top 3 cars in your division that actually go to the runoffs.

Will you make any money, NO but you can pay for a small part of your expenses.

I like this one "If you can't afford to push the car off a cliff and build another one, without thinking about it, then you can't afford to go racing"

Can someone explain to me just how being a "professional race driver" can make one money?

Is the professional part simply the driver being paid by the sponsor (and maybe a little prize money), who is in it not to make back money from the winnings, but simply to advertise?

So I guess the whole point of professional racing (well, the racing part, not the watching part) isn't to make money from winnings, it's to provide an advertisement medium, plus make money from merchandizing... hehehe...

I guess it's not like the people who put on events could make money if their profits were everything they made from ticket sales and entry fees minus prize money...

my last kart racing season (first year running Rotax) went something like this:

- bought kart for $4k
- $50 raceday fees - 10 races
- $35 practice day fees - 15 practice days
- 2 sets of slicks all season - $300
- gas: ~$20 per day
- rebuilt motor cuz it blew midseason $1k
- about $100 on carb cleaner, lube, brake fluid, zip ties and shop rags

i think that was it. Previous season was 3rd season running KT100 with kart/motor package purchased for $2k used.
- motor top end refresh $800
- clutch rebuild $30
- 2 sets of slicks for $300
- about $100 on carb cleaner, lube, brake fluid, zip ties and shop rags
- $50 raceday fees - 10 races
- $35 practice day fees - 15 practice days
- gas: ~$20 per day

Lots of bang for the buck in kart racing!

Yep. Its a form of marketing. The racing is pure competition, but it really an exercise in marketing for the sponsor....

Marcus

I don;t know the price for the old mazda tranny's. Lot's of used parts out there though since the new cars have come out. I'm thinking the older Mazda is the car to have these days though. Used ones are selling cheap and fast. The new tranny (which I am accustomed to) is around 6 grand with gears (six speed sequential)

Yah the pro car changed things abit....racers are still getting used to the cost. But that only makes the older cars more affordable. Let me know if you want to go rent someones car for a weekend. Maybe I'll give up some setup sheets in return for rx-7 tips.

My dream project is dropping a Renesis into a 3rd gen with the motec racemap/ecu(traction control=) from the new formula mazda....I know the racecars well but still learning the streetcars.

which is the most economical class

Your first mistake
 

Is ever adding up the cost, thats for the obsessive compulsive, you could/should spend more!
JLS

Your first mistake
 

Is ever adding up the cost, thats for the obsessive compulsive, you could/should spend more!

Its like adding up the cost of children, SH-T makes my racing budget look puny, lets see full time wife, food, cloths, health insurance, private schools...makes me tired just thinking about it!



JLS

what do you guys do for jobs:) Im not sure Ill be able to make enough welding:( Ill only be able to attend 2-3 time trial events a year:(

I sell Invisible Fence™ Systems and build race cars for people to afford mine...

Well if Im able to possibly start my own fabrication business someday, Id love to build race cars. I will be starting with a spec miata team this winter, so Im hoping the experience will help with the money making factor in the future

Most economical class? ITC or some regioanl offshoot- Pro7 for norcal.
What do I do for a living? Data Operations Manager for a Financial Services company. (Google- Master Data Management)
My costs have gone way up.
I built the ultimate killer ITA First gen; ~15K; wrecked it and sold it. I now have a Spec Miata. Basic 1.6 car, wiht some demon tweaks on their way. I predict spending about 20K on it next year.

Still have my Pro7; its gotten a new windshield and run a couple events this year. I've given up adding up costs. lets just say "a lot"

M.

my take on the phrase is:
dont race anything you cant afford to push off a cliff...and make it strong enough that you survive if you do.......
how about: *hit happens...and on a race track *hit happens quickly.....

PS: i would be real happy if i only spent $1000-1200 per race for my ITS car.....

You got it. People around me never seem to understand that. If my pro7 or SM was crushed into a 3X3X3 cube tomrrow, I'd shrug....

oddly enough, this thread made me want to listen to montly Crew, lol. "Kick start my heart..."

anyway, im a bit evnvious of people like Yamada-San, and Nobuteru Taniguchi who get $$$$ fo just being there, lol.

So true, by the time you realize you messed up it's too late.

I looked at what I spent in 2005, and it's crazy. I'll get it in a presentable form one of these days and post it.

Don't ever add it up. If you are married this tabulation will haunt you forever. I can tell you I have spent in excess of 50% of my gross income in some years. I work hard and live modestly to go racing. The true costs are staggering and if you can market yourself then you can offset some of your costs. Marketing and promoting yourself can only go so far in amatuer racing. Study hard and get yourself a good paying job with flexible hours is how most of us have done it.

Im getting married this spring, and Ive just finished the car for the season. Im afarid for the next 10 years, ill only be able to attend 2 events a season. Maybe some small autox's

That's cheap. A Porsche DP 935 twin turbo has to be rebuilt every 30 hours at the cost of 50,000. That's just the engine.

If my job paid a 1/2 million a year I would probably race a car needing a new $50,000 engine every 30 hours. Unfortunately my job pays a bit less at the moment :)