How do you guys do it???

[bdawkins20]

I have to ask how you guys make racing possible. Trackdays, practice, bike upkeep, racing fees, etc.... How does everyone keep it going??? Credit cards? Do you guys budget? How is it possible to race and own a house??? Most guys must have a pretty darn good job but I see some young guys racing that can't be out of college.

Soooo....how do you make it happen?

[OreoGaborio]

I live with my parents & buy my father's old cars

[Doc]

I am old, with a good job, a wife that makes more than I do AND I have NO debt. (She owns the house). Went over seas for a year, got out of debt and have built a nice nest egg. (again I am old)

I also do limited racing (3 weekends last year, 3 planned this year, 6 my first year) and I race an Ultralight Superbike (i.e. CHEAP)

A 3 day race weekend (friday, saturday, sunday) with gas to and from (Burlington, VT to NHMS and back) and 2 races costs me $3-500 depending on if I buy tires or some other large expense. Usually $300 or so. (I sleep in my trailer and chop for food at Walmart)

I did not have the funds, ability or know how to race or do trackdays until I was about 34.

Hanging with friends doign something you have a passion for with like minded people.... PRICELESS.

[R7]

Now that I own a house, I can't afford to race and can only do a few trackdays a year. Had planned to race this season but just couldn't make the numbers work. I'm anti-credit card, as in if I know I can't pay it off when the bill comes in, I don't spend.

When I lived at my parents though, I didn't care about anything and spent every dime I made, before I made it

[GixerJockey]

I steal from my kid's piggy bank.

[lrrs699]

i basically barely eat, cut every corner/pinch every penny i can....that reminds me, work is having a cookout tomorrow, ya-hoo!!!

[bdawkins20]

I agree, its something I hope I can do for a very long time. Ill tell ya what though, my girlfriend doesn't really like the money that I have already spent. I think the last weekend I kept it under $400

[Pittenger5]

I live with my parents. I dont owe anyone anything except for my street bike and I have enough in the bank to cover it. All winter long Ill try to put aside 100-150 bucks a week into a savings account and thats my racing budget for the season. This winter didnt work that way since I bought a new race bike and a trailer, but I still havent had to dip into savings to pay for racing, so Im doing good.

[KB]

I am a pimp and my ho's give me 100% of their money.

It's not easy really. I don't make a ton of money but I make a good living that allows me to race. I am slow and the bike I run an sv650 is easy on tires if you are slow. I think I'll make it through a year on 2 sets of tires.

You just have to live within your means. If I couldn't afford to race I certainly would not.

KB

[daviid]

last year was pretty easy since i was banking a fuckton of money [traveling came with a higher rate of pay to cover things such as hotels, food, mileage, etc]. I generally found places to stay that were free [parents house] or hotels on the cheap.

this year not so much. i took a promotion [which technically came with a paycut due to lack of traveling]. So instead of racing every weekend like planned. im only following one region.

one of the key things is to not spend unneccessary amounts of money. i only buy tires when i no longer trust them. so i can get about 10-12 races out of a set. 2-3 weekends. avoid buying new parts as much as possible. scour the internet for good deals. and obtain sponsorships. every little bit helps.

[brewmaster]

I make beer!!!! Oh and I stretch my parts, tyres and equipment (old car, used bikes, open trailer, etc) as far as I can. I also do almost all of my own work. Did I mention I make beer?!!!

Oh yeah I also budget for all of this. Once the budget is gone ... the season is over.

[b0xmonkey]

I race an EX500, tires should last me all year, I think it gets about 120 MPG at a race pace and I cornerwork for 1 day, which covers my gate fee and they pay me $50. So if I just do 1 race I'm paying for food and gas and about $10 for entry fee....makes for a long day but if you're looking to pinch pennies it works....

[butcher bergs]

I moved in with a roomie effectively cutting my rent in half, sold some things and found ways to decrease the amount of money I was spending on certain luxuries such as multiple street bikes, hookers and coke.

[senecak19]

No doubt, this sport is not for the faint at heart. If you got someone nagging at you about cost (especially if your keeping it under $400 per weekend) quit while your ahead because it only gets worse.

Surely, not spending money on "non-essential" items is key to success. Simple rules everyone seems to abide by. Get every lap out of your tires. Don't buy parts you don't need. IE: if you can fix it, do it. Duct tape, duct tape, duct tape.

I see too many people out there trying to look pretty and as most of us know... there's only two good looking bikes out there; Experts that never crash and rookies that think they'll never crash. You want to look good, leave your bike at home.

I unfortunately, do not ride one of those bikes that's easy on tires. I chew through a set of tires per weekend more or less and it still gets worse from here. Budget, there's no such thing. This year I'm paying in cash hoping to make it through the season without any debt. Knock on wood, my days of paying out have subsided a bit. I've destroyed some serious hardware to get where I'm at today. In hindsight, all I can do is say, it could've been worse and it could've been better.

[apollomx681]

broke ass college kid

[senecak19]

Oh... one more thing... If I had to start over... as long as your not turning times below 1:19's... buy used tires. I've spent so much money on new tires over these years and I haven't really been able to justify it until this season.

[KB]

Oh... one more thing... If I had to start over... as long as your not turning times below 1:19's... buy used tires. I've spent so much money on new tires over these years and I haven't really been able to justify it until this season.

Yeah I agree with senecak...........I only ever in 4 years bought 2 sets of new tires.

Make friends with a fast guy, offer to take em out to dinner, buy him some beers, give em a handie, and he'll just drop tires in your garage after he changes them.

Then when he has a kid and stops racing you have to repeat the process. I need to find a new fast guy this year.

KB

[butcher bergs]

I see too many people out there trying to look pretty and as most of us know... there's only two good looking bikes out there; Experts that never crash and rookies that think they'll never crash. You want to look good, leave your bike at home.

For the most part I agree but let's not forget the "100 feet or 100 mph" rule......or in the case of my particular machine "1000 feet or falling off a cliff" rule.

[Paul_E_D]

I lived in a 400 dollar a month all inclusive apt for 6 years with my wife while I raced. When I quit, we bought a home. The home is cheaper than racing, but I couldn't do both. Now I have some walk around money and a nice place to live. Its a trade off. Race BEFORE the house is my advice.

[DucDave]

I sell my body.
I dont race anymore.
Didnt work out.

[JudyGT]

I moved in with a roomie effectively cutting my rent in half, sold some things and found ways to decrease the amount of money I was spending on certain luxuries such as multiple street bikes, hookers and coke.

from what I hear you guys take your bikes to bed and snort race fuel .
(can someone tell me at what point that happens cause ours are still in the garage,although they make it into the cellar for the winter )
just a hint of what I'm in for thats all!!!

[slammp]

Here in lie all of the reasons that I do not race. I can fill my tank whenever I want and just go at it on some nice twisties for free. My wife is good to me and allows me that time (usually one day every weekend for a long tear). If I tried to race that would be the end of it. The cost for gas is minimal and thus accepted. But I know not to push my luck.

I'm trying to butter her up for an MV Agusta Brutale (why would I F(*&(*& that up for a race day?)

[mzdagrl]

last year was pretty easy since i was banking a fuckton of money [traveling came with a higher rate of pay to cover things such as hotels, food, mileage, etc]. I generally found places to stay that were free [parents house] or hotels on the cheap.

this year not so much. i took a promotion [which technically came with a paycut due to lack of traveling]. So instead of racing every weekend like planned. im only following one region.

one of the key things is to not spend unneccessary amounts of money. i only buy tires when i no longer trust them. so i can get about 10-12 races out of a set. 2-3 weekends. avoid buying new parts as much as possible. scour the internet for good deals. and obtain sponsorships. every little bit helps.

Haha, you forgot borrowing parts off cornerworkers' streetbikes

From an outsider perspective it sounds like the bike you choose and the way you stay at the track (camping vs. Red Roof....packing and grilling food vs. eating out/Checkered Flag) are the biggest ways to keep costs down.

In addition, if you cornerwork during your off-times, when you are not racing, or work in the morning one or both days, you not only can make a few dollars, you also get in without paying gate fees, and can eat at the cookout for free. Not too much savings there, but every dollar helps. Rob and I (cornerworkers only, no racing for us) used to spend almost $100 a weekend just going to hand out, now we come back with more $$ than when we left. I know some racers cornerwork to pay their entry fees, and they only race as much as they work, limiting their race time, but also seriously cutting their racing costs.

[brewmaster]

Here in lie all of the reasons that I do not race. I can fill my tank whenever I want and just go at it on some nice twisties for free. My wife is good to me and allows me that time (usually one day every weekend for a long tear). If I tried to race that would be the end of it. The cost for gas is minimal and thus accepted. But I know not to push my luck.

I'm trying to butter her up for an MV Agusta Brutale (why would I F(*&(*& that up for a race day?)

I understand your perspective.. But once you hit the track and get a taste of racing....YOUR HOOKED! Whatever you do, do NOT ever ride the track or race, your current life WILL be over.

[Rambunctous]

I don't go out to eat. I grocery shop wisely. Do not drink nor smoke. I get a discount at the gym and the health plan pays some towards it. The gym is my only extra spending but I justify it by saying that it improves my racing. I really only pay my bills and all the other leftover money goes towards racing. I cannot find a job though. My income is my retirement check. That extra income would help get me tires every weekend instead of crap tires most of the time. And more race stuff. It takes hard sacrifice and dedication to what I love.