Racing budget?

[gumbalaya]

I know most racers don't want to think about how much money they've spent on racing, but I could use some help!

As a newbie who wants to go drag racing, other than running the local TnTs with my daily driver, I'm trying to figure out a budget for my fledgling racing enterprise. I would like to start out doing brackets, and eventually move up to run Stock Eliminator at local divisional races.

I have a car for now, my daily driver, which isn't in the Guide, but I want to buy a race-ready turn-key car in the near future. I also need a tow vehicle & trailer.

I would like to know how you guys divide your dollars, as a percentage, between car, rig, fuel, parts, tools/shop/garage, etc.

Thanks!

Kyle

[Steve Williams]

Racing today doesn't cost any more than it did 35 years ago. All you got and then some at times.

[Robert Swartz]

Originally Posted by Steve Williams

Racing today doesn't cost any more than it did 35 years ago. All you got and then some at times.

x2x100x?$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Kyle,

Brother, if you're starting from scratch, just expect to need more than you can expect. If you have buddies that can offer hand me downs, that's a plus. If you can wheel and deal, that goes a long ways, if you can scrounge, even better. Never, never turn down an outright gift, but a caveat to that, always be willing to help that person out in return, you'll learn, simple help can be appreciated.

As far as a way to "simplify" a racing budget? Depends upon, A: the depth of your pockets, B: how you organise your expenses. New trucks, new trailers, they have payments, that's the major expense, maintaining them, at first is simpler. Used vehicles, still may have a payment, albeit smaller, here again, depth of pocket, ability to deal, maintenance will be more, on average.

Buying a used race car? A good one will cost a lot of money. A less good one, will still cost a lot of money. Still have to maintain it, one of two things eventually come to bear, either something breaks (more than likely) or you want to make changes (go faster). Here again, depth of pockets, re-read first paragraph!

I try to keep track of expenses, it's difficult to track every dime. I write a lot things in notebooks and keep folders with pertinent information and receipts. Trying to do proper accounting with drag racing, hope (unlike many guys today) you've got a lot of hair.

Hope I don't come off as too much of a smart *****, welcome to the asylum. Hope to see you in the lanes.

[Andys dad]

The quickest way for a racer to end up with a million dollars is to start with two million dollars

Seriously -
$35,000 for a car
$15,000 for a trailer and race track kit
$20,000 for a tow vehicle
$1200 every race
Plus expendables

For starters but after you get "hooked" plan on double that

It can and has been done for less - it is a constant hole which needs to be filled all of the time

Ron

[SStockDart]

Ron, You are pretty close. In my most "active" year of racing, it cost $235 for every trip down the drag strip....that included entry, fuel, tires, and other minor expenses for the car. Fortunately, we have not had a $20,000 engine catastrophe or significant transmission failure. I wouldn't do anything differently, but their is nothing cheap about racing a Super Stock Car.

[treessavoy]

What budget?

You just spend and spend until you're racing or you're broke or both!

JimR

[Mack Reeves]

Originally Posted by treessavoy

What budget?

You just spend and spend until you're racing or you're broke or both!

JimR

Well said.......

[gumbalaya]

As nice as it would be to buy everything new, that ain't happening! A new truck/van would be nice, but they're just as expensive as a good car now a days. It's ridiculous what they charge for them now a days!

$15k for a trailer/ race track kit? Wow! I figured I could get an open trailer, a van, load it up & go!

I knew racing wasn't cheap, but wow!!

[Dennis P Chapman]

Originally Posted by gumbalaya

As nice as it would be to buy everything new, that ain't happening! A new truck/van would be nice, but they're just as expensive as a good car now a days. It's ridiculous what they charge for them now a days!

$15k for a trailer/ race track kit? Wow! I figured I could get an open trailer, a van, load it up & go!

I knew racing wasn't cheap, but wow!!

Kyle........ You can use the van or pickup truck and and open trailer. Till this year I used and open trailer good way to start. Now the car is what you can afford to race good luck with what you choose to do.

[Michael Beard]

Originally Posted by gumbalaya

As nice as it would be to buy everything new, that ain't happening! A new truck/van would be nice, but they're just as expensive as a good car now a days. It's ridiculous what they charge for them now a days!

$15k for a trailer/ race track kit? Wow! I figured I could get an open trailer, a van, load it up & go!

I knew racing wasn't cheap, but wow!!

Kyle, you can get into racing with your daily driver if that's all you can afford (or want to), or utilize a small pickup and open trailer. I've had an '89 Ramcharger, a '00 Dakota, and an '04 Ram 1500 for tow vehicles throughout the years, each with the same EconoTrailer I've had since I was a kid. 3 World Championships and 2 Bracket Finals, et.al.

Your budget is what you make it. Race as much as you can locally on what you can afford in order to gain experience, do your research, and upgrade what you can (and want to) when you can. Just because somebody else has a half million dollar racing operation doesn't mean you have to.