Garaging/Parking/Camping for LRRS 2012

[tsorfas]

I know its a little early considering we are in December and there not even snow on the ground ( THANK GOD ), but I am trying to plan ahead my entire season for next year.
It will be my first year racing so I will be starting as a Novice and have 0 experience with Racing and LRRS. Just to be clear about that I do not know fees or spot availability, etc.
I will be coming up from Worcester-Shrewsbury, MA and I am planning on attending EVERY weekend for the 2012. With the exception of the first weekend that I will have to be there Friday in order to do my required Penguin School, Obtain Licensing and CCS Number, I will usually be going up either Friday night after work or very very early Saturday Morning.
If anyone wants to share the ride and/or a garage/spot + whatever other fees we have to pay, even food or a hotel room feel free to let me know. If it is your first season I guess we ll have to go through it together, if you are experience you can make my life a lot easier.
Any kind of advice/suggestion/proposal is always welcomed so feel free.

P.S. one of my sponsors is a local Pizza Restaurant so I can guarantee you ll never be hungry, if you ride with me or the first night of the weekend, LOL

[wheelieman14]

PM Sent.

Garage# 22 North for 2012.

[Kurlon]

I highly recommend camping.

A) It's CHEAP compared to a hotel, and no matter how much contingency you budget for, you'll find yourself spending more than planned on last minute oh shit items.

B) No travel time in the morning or evening, tada, you're already there!

C) Built in alarm clock, assholes on bikes going out for practice instead of giving you your beauty sleep time.

D) Pit camaraderie, being able to stick around and chat with other racers after the day is done is a great way to make friends, tell lies and get valuable insights and tips. Plus the occasional camera phone gems...

[Mr. Kurtz]

I can't agree enough with Kurlon. I really like the vibe of being at the track, I don't think I could go back to staying at a hotel.

[KB]

I can't agree enough with Kurlon. I really like the vibe of being at the track, I don't think I could go back to staying at a hotel.

I will give you some vibe!

KB

[tsorfas]

Thank you kurion! I was thinking of getting an enclosed trailer and using it as my "tent"? People do that at all? Just throw a mattress in there and call it a night!

[OreoGaborio]

I remember when garages were for prissy rich racers

Thank you kurion! I was thinking of getting an enclosed trailer and using it as my "tent"? People do that at all? Just throw a mattress in there and call it a night!

Absolutely.

Hell, I just put a mattress in the back of my Pathfinder.

[mzdagrl]

Thank you kurion! I was thinking of getting an enclosed trailer and using it as my "tent"? People do that at all? Just throw a mattress in there and call it a night!

People do that all the time. They also buy shitty, stripped, $100 campers, or sleep in their cars. Or, they have rolling mansions. All walks....

[mzdagrl]

I remember when garages were for prissy rich racers

From Cheap Bastid to fast guy in 5 years.

[OreoGaborio]

It's amazing what a shitty economy can do

[tsorfas]

People do that all the time. They also buy shitty, stripped, $100 campers, or sleep in their cars. Or, they have rolling mansions. All walks....

Sweet! I guess we can take the hotel expense out of the budget! Or should I keep it in because I have either def forgotten something or something will pop up!

[The Snowman]

I concur with the rest about camping. A huge bulk of our last year's racing expenditures were due to hotel stays. Thankfully, I used some hotel points from various travel that I do for work. But, it still equated to hundreds of dollars I really didn't need to have spent, had I picked up a trailer for a one-time fee.

We will be looking for one in January.

[mzdagrl]

Sweet! I guess we can take the hotel expense out of the budget! Or should I keep it in because I have either def forgotten something or something will pop up!

keep it in as "other"....weather has been known to be really shitty by times. snowing in april, pouring rain and 40 degrees in october (and that was just THIS year)....the kind of weather where you might want the option of a hotel. and, you never know when something will break.

[OreoGaborio]

WTF is a "budget"?

[tsorfas]

WTF is a "budget"?

lol I have set a bank account with the money I want to spend on racing this year, and I am sticking to that number. When I was asking all those questions about how much every little thing costs I was trying to come up with an average per weekend, that will include everything from the moment I load the bike up on my driveway until the time it is back in. times 7 thats what I "want" to spend for the year.
I know that it costs whatever you got plus more, or whatever you thought double that, etc... but i am trying to do a lot of things in 2012 and budgeting is kind of one way street for me.
so if i calculated $80 a night hotel x 2 per weekend x 7 per rounds = $1120 that I had in mind for that which I dont any more..

[tsorfas]

I concur with the rest about camping. A huge bulk of our last year's racing expenditures were due to hotel stays.

but you guys are an actual TEAM. so that number that I came up with around the 1200$ for the year its more like $240 for you guys ( you are 5 right, about to be 6?) so its not that big of an expense. on the other hand a trailer/rv to fit all of you would still be much cheaper split 5 ways.
I guess its a case by case scenario. But if I my hotel would cost 1200$ for the year and I have nothing in the end why not spend $2000 and get a trailer that I can use for other things as well and I will be able to resell if anything happens. Thats just how I see it though

[OreoGaborio]

F math in the A

And since you brought it up, what ECK Racing members choose do in regards to hotel/camping is entirely up to them.

[The Snowman]

And since you brought it up, what ECK Racing members choose do in regards to hotel/camping is entirely up to them.

What he said. Every team member camps in a different place:

Pete in his Path Finder
Gino in his trailer
Christian in his new trailer?
Jake/Jeff in their camper
Me hopefully in a trailer this season.

As for garaging, 4 of us (Pete,. Gino, Christian, and Me) will probably be in the same garage, as we were during 2011 (I was not a team member in 2011).

In 2011, I stayed in hotels 65% of the time. This was 6 of 7 race weekends and for 6 of 15 NHMS TTD events. I was able to get 5 free nights (either Marriott, Hilton, or Red Roof points), so this left 14 nights I paid for at an average of $80/night. That's over $1100 in hotel fees. It adds up.

[Chippertheripper]

Buy yourself a Honda element. Cheap, reliable, hotel.

If you plan on camping, stay the F outta t1. Those cats are loud.

[tsorfas]

Very helpful info thanks a lot guys! If u catch a cheap enclosed trailer anywhere feel free to share cheapest ones I have found are up in vt and I don't have the time to go there now hopefully end of January but I know a lot of you are following other sites and browse craigslist so just keep me in mind if you through anything decent please

[mzdagrl]

If you plan on camping, stay the F outta t1. Those cats are loud.

Hey, I resemble that remark. I also sleep very soundly, which is why I don't understand how people have issues sleeping near them. I been doing it for 5 years, never had a problem, and I am usually the first to bed and the first awake in the AM (making sure you knuckleheads stay safe), after Rob anyway.

That being said, stay away from t1, if you know what's good for you.

[CBR929RE]

I always stay in a hotel but I don't do it on Saturday nights to save money. If I had made the last weekend I think I have enough points for a free night. so under $600 for the year. I plan on doing the hotel again next year so I'll probably have an extra bed assuming I always get a double.

not really sure what I'm doing for a garage yet but I know I want to be in one.

[KB]

Yeah fuck turn1a fuckin clark and his goddamned bass til 2am


KB

[Rada]

That's over $1100 in hotel fees. It adds up.

Exactly! That is just half of what I paid for the Towed Inn. I figure after this season I will have a free trailer.

I may be looking for garage space to share. I only plan on 4-5 race weekends though. I might play it race by race and see.

[csmutty]

Buy yourself a Honda element. Cheap, reliable, hotel.

If you plan on camping, stay the F outta t1. Those cats are loud.

But when I sleep I like sawing logs at 1am

Get it? Hah.