What did it cost?

Okay,

I did 4 races in 2009, Finished 3 (DNS at 2nd NH race).

So what were the damages?

No engine rebuild, No tranny rebuild, 1 accident with damage.

Dues and license fees: $206.00
Shop supplies (welding tank fee and trailer tax) $110.00
Gas for Race Car: $105.00 - (used mostly track Cam II)
Entry Fee: $990.00
Parts - including normal wear and crash damage: $679.00
Tires: (Really got off cheap -used up old rains and bought old tires) $125.00
Gas for Truck - $120.00
Motel - $0 (raced near home or slept in trailer)

Total - $2,335.00

Take out the crash damage and it would be under $2000.

$500 per race.

Now figure the engine rebuild at $1600 and divide by 14 races on engine (probably could go longer but has not see engine builder in 4 years - falling behind in technology....)
$115.00 per race

Now there are other misc expenses and I would not need a truck if I didn't have a race car, but figure another $100, per race misc costs.

So racing FV for under $750 per race is possible, once you own the car.

Now notice, with the exception of the Cheap Date at NH ($275 for 2 races) the entry fee is more that 50% of the cost of racing!

Soon I will be posting my (proposed) budget for 2010.

ChrisZ

NARRC Runoffs Pictures

Thanks to John Stofka for taking pictures at the NARRC Runoffs:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24267254@N07/sets/72157622511402358/

Lime Rock Day 2

Rain, rain go away, come again another day.

Well the story of the NARRC Runoffs was rain - or rather, the off and on rain. Let me just tell you about the FV race. It stopped raining the race before ours, the track was drying. I had rain tires on in anticipation of a wet track - change to slicks just before going to grid. Get to the grid - starts raining - mad dash to put rains on, get back to the grid - no rain! Well the first few laps would have been tough with slicks, but the track did dry out. Some just hurt their rain tires, I did a number on them. However, this did allow me to make it up to 2nd place, even led some laps. Dan Grace did a great job of managing his tires and took a well deserved win, but not without me pushing him. He never made a mistake but did get put off the track once but quickly recovered. Thanks to Justin for helping with the multiple tire swap and to all the FV drivers who pitched in to put on a great race. More to follow.

ChrisZ

1st Day Lime Rock

Friday was interesting - Tony had an oil cooler fail before he ever got on the track, Anthony found out the tire wall is really a car eater.

First session I was plagued by understeer and could only do mid 1:03's. With a change of tires and some slight alignment adjustments, the second qualifying went well and I was able to get into the low 1:02's - good for 5th on the grid, but way behind Dan and Dan Jr. Michael Sampson was 3rd with a 100:6 which will be very hard for me to do. Andy Pastore is closer at 1:01.1, but that is still 1 second over me. If we have a dry race, the idea is to stay in the draft as long as I can.

The weather is for rain, or at least a wet track - while this might help level the field, it is still a problem because the cars with more horsepower still have an advantage. The race becomes a series of drag strips, and it is tough to pass a faster car.

ChrisZ