How expensive is racing?

[Lucky13]

Where does it become expensive? Tires, Repairs, Fees?

It's something I've been thinking about trying at the very beginner level. I've been to the track and I've seen the spectrum of Honda's with a utility trailers with one bike to the huge campers with Volvo's parked in front of them.

Just curious..

[OreoGaborio]

how expensive? too expensive...

Originally posted by Lucky13
Tires, Repairs, Fees?

yes, yes, yes

I just wish i could tell you from experience

[SSearchVT]

Much like drugs, the cost goes up the more you do it. The general rule of thumb we applied to Motocross was to take your gross salary and double it. That was the cost for one season.

[odduc]

Very expensive!!!! I raced for two full seasons and never missed an event weekend.
Consider this:
1)Race School $250
2)Race License $110
3)Race bike $2000-$8000 or more...
4)Tires will vary depending the race bike you choose. If you run something like a EX500, tires will last much longer. If you choose a 600cc or higher, expect to replace your race tires every other weekend or more depending on the number of races you enter in a weekend @ $350 per set.
5)Entry fees $100-$400 in a weekend
6)Misc. parts including oil and filters which should be changed every other weekend...about $1000 in a season.
if you crash and need to replace many parts...$500 up
7)Leathers (good quality) $800 or more
8)Gloves and boots (again, good quality) $300 or more
9)Snell 2000 approved helmet (quality again) $200 or more

10)Fun Factor...PRICELESS

[odduc]

Since my hiatus from racing(I do plan on making a comeback at some point before I die) I have purchased a Ducati 748 with the money I saved. Yes, it is PAID FOR.

[Degsy]

Originally posted by Lucky13
Where does it become expensive? Tires, Repairs, Fees?

It's something I've been thinking about trying at the very beginner level. I've been to the track and I've seen the spectrum of Honda's with a utility trailers with one bike to the huge campers with Volvo's parked in front of them.

Just curious..

Open your wallet and start shovelling.

I spend about $800 a race weekend when I race.

Derek

















cue smartass comment from Kip and/or Gerard

[Lucky13]

I spend about $800 a race weekend when I race.

Yikes! I would think once all the one time expenses (bike, leathers, school) were done it would be so expensive..is there any way to do it cheap?

[odduc]

is there any way to do it cheap?

Yeah, limit your participation to watching.

[gmdboston]

Originally posted by Degsy
Open your wallet and start shovelling.

I spend about $800 a race weekend when I race.

Derek

cue smartass comment from Kip and/or Gerard

Actually thts what I say in the Penguin School

[Degsy]

Originally posted by gmdboston
Actually thts what I say in the Penguin School

That's where I got it from Peter.


Derek

[legalspeed]

To make it cheaper: go slow, don't practice, miss a few weekends.

I hear the lighter bikes don't go through tires as much, motards are easy to fix.

1st year incl. bike (42-4500), spares, trailer 3000, and racing (trip to Daytona) we spent 18k.

I don't know what we spent this year.

If you're worried about the money, get out now while you still can!

[Nikon]

if you have to ask - you can't aford it

that's 1 f because I am po - so po i can't even afod the 'or' in po.

[R7]

I kinda kept track of what i spent this year. I entered on average 3 races per weekend, and made all 8 events this year. Race entries, travel fuel, race fuel, track admission, food, tires, misl bike care and i spent about $4K. That's a average cost per weekend of $500 and doesn't include the bike, a trailer and any of the intitial start-up costs It's an expensive hobby but well worth the experiance IMO

[RSVMILLE661]

Put simply..


it is VERY expensive

"how to make a small fortune racing.. start with a large one"

-Roger Penske

[SSearchVT]

You can look at it this way:
If you don't spend it on racing, you will just end up wasting it on something else. And besides, it will give you higher highs then any drug around, and it's legal...

My father has a sailboat. He hates it when I describe it as the fiberglass lined hole in the water he keeps trying to fill with money.