12-29-2011

Got some good info from Spank about the cost of LeMons racing...

Spank has been giving me hints along the way about how to survive in LeMons racing which I have been listening to but not had to deal with thus far. This is because I am spoiled by my dad who pretty much covers everything from the towing, food, new/used parts, and the team/drivers entry. I have just been handing him checks for the obvious things like my share of the entry fees and main costs like tires, and welding work at the track. Otherwise the only things I pay for are oil, spark plugs, and some fuel for the races. He has covered the cost of all sorts of parts I never kept track of or add up the costs. All of this is changing... I took on the responsibility to get our 4th driver for Infineon and I am forking out more money this time. We were not sure what to charge the new driver so my dad just said to ask for $400 which caught someone’s eye the day I posted the offer. The $400 is better then we normally would have to deal with which is a loss of $230 by only having 3 drivers. Though after this new break down of racing cost Spank sent me I am realizing we should be charging around $550. The driver we found has experience and if he drives well and pays $400 then we will be happy. The next race will be a different matter as we are upgrading from a 13” wheel to a 15” wheel and we’re picking up six wheels and tires before that race. This will end up costing us close to $1k  or if we risk it and go for just a set of four and save a few hundred dollars.  Now I have spent way to much time today looking at tires trying to figure out how much they will cost us and if we can run a 195/50/15 tire to have better prices and more variety.

Well I took the latest cost break down Spank sent me and modified it for my own team and this is how it breaks down for Infineon, haha break down...

$500 Car entry
$400 Driver entry ($100 x 4 drivers)
$390.00 Tow vehicle fuel (1028mi Round trip @ 10 mpg towing =  gallons @ $3.80/gal)
$240 for 60gal on track fuel of 91 @ $4.00/gal  
$35 Oil and filters  (6qts oil VR1 @ $5/qt & 1 Filter $5ea)
$15 spark plugs
$33 Brake pads - we have used the same set for 3 races @ $50 pair
$275 Tires ($500 for 4 tires $50 mount/balance and they last 2 races so price reflected is 1/2)

$1,888 Total
$472 per driver-- and that's just my obvious out-of-pocket expenses.

Hidden costs for a season of racing ???
These things I have no Idea what was spent or will be spent on them - Motor Seals, Gaskets, General sprays glues lubes cleaners, Brake Master cylinder, Clutch Master & Slave cylinders, Clutch Plate, Motor Work, Brake rotors, nuts, bolts and other random hardware....

So I am thinking we should be charging $500-$550 for the arrive and drive people depending on where the race is located and what we have done to the car.  For the other people that race with us it will all depend on how much work & money they put into the car, and what ever else they do for us like hauling spare motors and transmissions. But for this next race my dad is working out a deal with our other driver and we already offered this new driver the spot for $400. Oh well, no one said racing is cheap.

Time to go home and contemplate existence....