[TrakCar]

Hey guys.

Since this month I've turned 36 and hit middle age, the one thing I have always wanted to do more and haven't been able to is run multiple track days per year, run Nasa TT events, and possibly get my instructors certificate. Over the course of discussions with my wife we both kept coming back to "understanding the costs". So I was trying to put together a "business plan" (for lack of a better term) that would capture the costs of multiple lapping days in my 1991 Z28 camaro. I've done 10-15 track events over the last 8 years but never have been able to do more than 1-2 in a calender year.

Here is what I have so far:

• Event Cost $250 per day (approx)
• Tires $600 set (how many events can I expect? My Nitto 555R2's have 3 track days on them and could maybe do 1 more)
• Brake pads $ 125 Front/ $95 rear (I've had my Hawk HP+ pads for 4-5 years (4-5 events +limited street use)
• Rotors $122 set front/ $196 set rear (C5 front/ stock 91 Z28 rear)
• Brake fluid $20 Liter 2 per year? (flush/ fill after every event)
• Gas for event ~8 Gal/ session @$4.00 (5 sessions per day) = $160.00
• Travel (Gas etc) Based on distance
• Food $25 per day
• Hotel if needed $100/ night (hope to do 1 day events close to home)

I'm trying to boil these costs down to a $ per track Day type of number.
I know most people don't want to know how much the addiction costs, but I need ammo to convince my wife it fits in the budget.

Thanks

[mitchntx]

I'm trying to boil these costs down to a $ per track Day type of number.
I know most people don't want to know how much the addiction costs, but I need ammo to convince my wife it fits in the budget.

Thanks

If you attempt to justify the expenditures, it is a futile effort.

Just do as I do ... be grumpy as hell a couple weeks before an event and when you come back, be relaxed, low key and very sensitive.

Your wife will ENCOURAGE your participation.

If that doesn't work, show her the cost of a new set of golf clubs, golf cart, lessons, country club dues and green fees. Don't forget the new Escalade required to haul all the equipment and the golf swag required to play. Include pictures of the hot girls that attend golf tounaments and follow the players around the course.

That should seal the deal ...

[rmackintosh]

I'm trying to boil these costs down to a $ per track Day type of number.
I know most people don't want to know how much the addiction costs, but I need ammo to convince my wife it fits in the budget.

Thanks

If you attempt to justify the expenditures, it is a futile effort.

Just do as I do ... be grumpy as hell a couple weeks before an event and when you come back, be relaxed, low key and very sensitive.

Your wife will ENCOURAGE your participation.

If that doesn't work, show her the cost of a new set of golf clubs, golf cart, lessons, country club dues and green fees. Don't forget the new Escalade required to haul all the equipment and the golf swag required to play. Include pictures of the hot girls that attend golf tounaments and follow the players around the course.

That should seal the deal ...

That works....... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif)

[JaredT]

IMO justifying a hobby just makes it more discouraging for you... Good luck tho! ;-)

[TrakCar]

IMO justifying a hobby just makes it more discouraging for you... Good luck tho! ;-)

I'm not really justifying it to me, just want to be careful about how it affects the household budget!

[cccbock]

IMO justifying a hobby just makes it more discouraging for you... Good luck tho! ;-)

I'm not really justifying it to me, just want to be careful about how it affects the household budget!

I think your tire cost is low. And a few of the others are a bit high...but that is all in the noise for planning purposes. The towing and perdiem is what kills you if you cant stay close to home. Plus you need to put something in for breakage.

Guess you wont be needin any beer... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/nutkick.gif) Can you say second job? Just kiddin.

What I do is secretly save up some money behind the wife's back. Then when i spend house money, I match it with the savings money and it looks like the racing is costin about half what it really is. Like when you get an expense check from work, just slip it in your savings account. This may not work in your situation, especially if the wife pays the bills.

The only other thing I can offer is to try to match up the racing with the cost of things that she may do as a hobby. Again this may not work too well, plus racing is notoriously expensive when comparing it to getting your nails done or buying a new purse or shoes.

You could also use your talents to find a sponsor! And Find a local racer to dump their 5 heat cycle tires on your doorstep.

Good luck. An inheritance from old Aunt Gertrude seems to work the best.

Bock