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General Topics => General Discussion => Topic started by: MurrayPeterson on December 22, 2016, 02:03:16 PM

Title: Autocross -- the "cheap" motorsport
Post by: MurrayPeterson on December 22, 2016, 02:03:16 PM
I added up our costs for autox for the last year -- you *really* don't wan't to know how much Jo and I spent in 2016.  However, one interesting item was that we spent just over $2200 in Motorsportreg fees this year.  Cheap sport -- yeah, right :)
Title: Re: Autocross -- the "cheap" motorsport
Post by: Stuart on December 22, 2016, 04:19:49 PM
That is pretty cheap for motorsports.  I figure those MSR fees would have covered roughly one race weekend for me...when things don't break...like the engine and transmission that I destroyed last year.  But in the end it's only money and there is so much enjoyment that comes from racing at every level.  ;D
Title: Re: Autocross -- the "cheap" motorsport
Post by: nnywg on December 22, 2016, 04:35:35 PM
And you guys take things quite seriously Murray - how many events does that 2200 cover?  The nice thing about AutoX is that you can be on most any budget - it's a bring-what-you-got thing.  Certainly if you love it and want to take things further, then costs do add up, as they would in any sport.  What I really want to know is the ratio between MSR and Halfshaft replacement costs.  :P

Stuart, just come back to AutoX again.  No exploding mechanicals, just exploding cones.
Title: Re: Autocross -- the "cheap" motorsport
Post by: Midnightsky on December 22, 2016, 08:13:23 PM
Could be worse, like Rally :o now that's an expensive hobby especially if you have an "off"
Title: Re: Autocross -- the "cheap" motorsport
Post by: JamesTCallaghan on December 22, 2016, 08:43:41 PM
Everything costs money, it's just some things bring more joy for the money.
Title: Re: Autocross -- the "cheap" motorsport
Post by: MurrayPeterson on December 22, 2016, 10:40:34 PM
And you guys take things quite seriously Murray - how many events does that 2200 cover?

21 events (that is splitting Jo and myself out a separate events)

Quote
What I really want to know is the ratio between MSR and Halfshaft replacement costs.  :P

The $2200 in MSR fees ratio adds up to a lot for the year.  I don't have exact numbers, but my guess is about $20000 :o  Tires ($5000), hotels(unknown), fuel ($2000), car maintenance and repairs ($6000) , meals when travelling (unknown).  And, of course, beer (known but silly) :)

Stuart is right though -- it is cheap for motorsports.
Title: Re: Autocross -- the "cheap" motorsport
Post by: MurrayPeterson on December 22, 2016, 10:44:40 PM
BTW, I should make it very clear here -- I am not complaining.  It really is worth every penny I spend, and I have found that travelling to events that are "away" might be expensive, but well worth the time and money.  It is so much fun to see how other clubs run their events, and even more fun to compete with new people. 
Title: Re: Autocross -- the "cheap" motorsport
Post by: PedalFaster on December 23, 2016, 12:51:14 AM
That is pretty cheap for motorsports.  I figure those MSR fees would have covered roughly one race weekend for me...when things don't break...like the engine and transmission that I destroyed last year.  But in the end it's only money and there is so much enjoyment that comes from racing at every level.  ;D

^^^
Seconded. I road race a Spec Miata for a few years back in Seattle, and I found that it cost about as much to road race seriously at the local level as it did to autocross seriously at the national level (including doing several out-of-town events and Nationals). And that was in a relatively cheap class too...
Title: Re: Autocross -- the "cheap" motorsport
Post by: Sprockett on December 23, 2016, 08:28:23 AM
I've said it before...many of you likely have no idea how much some of us spend and have spent on this sport even if you think you do.

Murray's a brave man for even trying to add it up.
Title: Re: Autocross -- the "cheap" motorsport
Post by: Reijo on December 23, 2016, 11:00:30 AM
Yep....some summers I have wondered where my money went.  However I was not as brave as Murray to add it all up!  hahaha   :)

Something else is the time involved.  How about a vacation to Lincoln for a week and a half (or a bit more)?

A one-way trip to LA or Lincoln is about 20 hrs of driving time (not including breaks) ... and that is in my S2000 ... not wasting any time. 

Packwood is much closer and is in the order of 12 hours of driving.  Sometimes I have spent the week in between at Packwood hiking and even working (if I have reports to write or minor design to do).  Saves me the 12 hrs. each way to return the following weekend but I'm lucky in that I can work on the road (sometimes anyway).

Reijo
Title: Re: Autocross -- the "cheap" motorsport
Post by: MurrayPeterson on December 23, 2016, 12:05:14 PM
Murray's a brave man for even trying to add it up.

No bravery involved.  I retired this year, so we are on a fixed income; you would be amazed at how that makes you look at your expenditures :)
Title: Re: Autocross -- the "cheap" motorsport
Post by: Locotoy on December 23, 2016, 01:40:57 PM
To borrow a quote from Team CIPHeR (http://teamcipher.tripod.com)…

"Racing is an addiction that can only be cured by poverty." :P

I'm not proud of it but not having competed in an Autocross event since 2012, I can say that I am fucking cured, being flat broke and all. :(
Title: Re: Autocross -- the "cheap" motorsport
Post by: Wayne Dyck on December 23, 2016, 07:32:03 PM
I've said it before...many of you likely have no idea how much some of us spend and have spent on this sport even if you think you do.

No matter the passion... It's Time and Money well wasted.

Mario Andretti summed it all up, for me at least... "If you wait, all that happens is you get older!"
Title: Re: Autocross -- the "cheap" motorsport
Post by: zero10 on January 10, 2017, 08:54:23 AM
Those numbers can be pretty intimidating for somebody trying to get into the sport.  I'd like to speak a bit about my financial adventure in the world of autocross.

I compete in a car that I paid $1040 for 3 years ago, and before that I was racing a $700 RX-7 that I bought in 2011.  In both cases I had to put a few hundred in parts into the cars to make them safe for competition before I could run them but total investment in each car was well under $1500.  I do all my own work so labour costs are not a problem and I find working on cars to be relaxing (generally).

I usually set aside $500 for car repairs/upgrades each year.    Typically this gets me something like wheel bearings and bushings, camber plates, or (maybe next year) adjustable control arms.  With such a small budget this means that I must try to work on perfecting my control of the car I have rather than making radical changes each year.

I also usually spend about $500/year on tires.  Looking back the receipts I can find look like this: (those 2012 RS3s really did last me until partway through 2014)
2011 - Sumitomo all-seasons: $190
2012 - RS3s: $480
2014 - 4 BF Goodrich Rivals: $450
2015 - 2 RS3s for the front $360
2016 - 2 RS3s for the front again: $320
2017 - 4 Bridgestone RE-71Rs: $560

I then budget around $500 for fuel and entry fees.  I leverage volunteering with the CSCC to help reduce the cost of the events and the focus is pretty economical, only using about 35-40L to drive round-trip to Red Deer and compete in an event.  For 2017 I am increasing this part of the budget so I can attend some Fort Macleod and YYC events but I am hoping to stay under $1000.

Adding this up, a year of competition costs me between $800 and $1600 depending on how much travelling I do and how hard I am on the tires.  2017 may be a bit more expensive but I might give up the planned car upgrades to keep the cost under control.


One final thing: I almost didn't post this because I don't want to come off as being smug.  This isn't meant to be a "hey, I have just as much fun as you do for less money" post, what I want to do is encourage people to come out and enjoy themselves!
Title: Re: Autocross -- the "cheap" motorsport
Post by: 94boosted on January 10, 2017, 10:11:00 AM
My Hoosiers cost me $0.66/second (of running time) last season, don't ask why I bothered to break it down like that but I did haha. Purple Crack.

I'd rather not think about the costs, just focus on the fun and enjoyment it brings.
Title: Re: Autocross -- the "cheap" motorsport
Post by: PaulT on January 10, 2017, 06:44:54 PM
Ha,so Tom by my reckoning I owe you $33.00. P.
Title: Re: Autocross -- the "cheap" motorsport
Post by: zero10 on January 11, 2017, 06:41:53 AM
Ha,so Tom by my reckoning I owe you $33.00. P.

And by that reasoning, it gets cheaper if you drive faster!
Title: Re: Autocross -- the "cheap" motorsport
Post by: MurrayPeterson on January 11, 2017, 08:12:35 AM

Adding this up, a year of competition costs me between $800 and $1600 depending on how much travelling I do and how hard I am on the tires.  2017 may be a bit more expensive but I might give up the planned car upgrades to keep the cost under control.


How many days of racing was this?  Instead of total cost, it would probably be best to estimate cost per person per day.

Jo and I race 40 to 60 days per year, so with two of us, our total cost isn't unexpected or unreasonable.
Title: Re: Autocross -- the "cheap" motorsport
Post by: 94boosted on January 11, 2017, 10:25:50 AM
Ha,so Tom by my reckoning I owe you $33.00. P.

haha no way Paul, the fun I had driving your GTR more than made up for any tire wear.   :D
Title: Re: Autocross -- the "cheap" motorsport
Post by: zero10 on January 11, 2017, 02:58:58 PM

Adding this up, a year of competition costs me between $800 and $1600 depending on how much travelling I do and how hard I am on the tires.  2017 may be a bit more expensive but I might give up the planned car upgrades to keep the cost under control.


How many days of racing was this?  Instead of total cost, it would probably be best to estimate cost per person per day.

Jo and I race 40 to 60 days per year, so with two of us, our total cost isn't unexpected or unreasonable.

Good point.  Last year I managed to attend 14 events, the year before was similar.  I don't have a count for previous years but I would say between 9 and 18 events a year.