[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

[StanIROCZ]

You might want to consider getting some budget friendly Hooser Grand Am Cup scuffs. They are dirt cheap and last a long time. In fact, you probably won't wear them out before they get old. They are far from being the best performing tire (so I'm told), but for track days who cares. I can't afford to use street tires for what I pay for them ~$250 a set. I even get them mounted by the team that I get them from for $20 / set.

I've have 3 track days on my set (that’s it?) and I really can't see much tread loss, except a little on the corners since I have them squeezed on too small of a rim. Another guy that has gone to the track many more times than I in the last 2 years is still using the same set on his mustang. I'm guessing that he has 8-15 track days on them and they were scuffed when he got them.

If you are competing you might want to pay the extra coin for something better, but for OT I don't see why you'd want to. There are some people that say they suck, which is fine, but they grip better than street tires and cost a lot less. I've never tried anything else, so maybe I'm really "missing it", but I can't see spending 1k on a set of tires for what I do at this point in time.

And they are pretty light. My 275/35/18's weigh 44 lbs mounted on a 20.5 lb wheel

As far as my track day costs go:
$150 3ballsracing.com or waterfordhills.com I haven't tried NASA yet mostly because I'm finding cheaper events and I'm waiting until the car and I are ready for TT.
Gas: $163 driving a car w/o OD getting 15 mpg on 93 octane to and from an event that is 2.5 hours away. MPG w/ tuning will get better, but I was also babying the motor at the last event since it is "off".
Brake pads: $180/5 I must be babying these things b/c I have 5 events plus street miles on XP8's and they are still half there. C5 rotors are holding up fine so far.
Tires: cheap, see above
Food: $6 one meal. 3balls gets pizza for lunch
Hotel: none
Incidentals: who the heck knows. $112 for a WBO2 sensor this last time.

[TrakCar]

You might want to consider getting some budget friendly Hooser Grand Am Cup scuffs. They are dirt cheap and last a long time. In fact, you probably won't wear them out before they get old. They are far from being the best performing tire (so I'm told), but for track days who cares. I can't afford to use street tires for what I pay for them ~$250 a set. I even get them mounted by the team that I get them from for $20 / set.

I've have 3 track days on my set (that’s it?) and I really can't see much tread loss, except a little on the corners since I have them squeezed on too small of a rim. Another guy that has gone to the track many more times than I in the last 2 years is still using the same set on his mustang. I'm guessing that he has 8-15 track days on them and they were scuffed when he got them.


And they are pretty light. My 275/35/18's weigh 44 lbs mounted on a 20.5 lb wheel

Ok heres a good change to the thread. You are getting hooser grand am scuffs, which are 18". How about 274/40/17's (that what I run on stock 2000 SS wheels now) I have upgraded to 18" rims for the street but ASSuMEd that the 17" rims would cost me less for open track tires.

so here are some ?'s

1) where/ how did you find your source?
2) does any series run 17" tires that can be gotten for cheap?

I'd love to find someone to beg used tires from, that is one of (but not the most) expensive parts of the budget.

[StanIROCZ]

so here are some ?'s

1) where/ how did you find your source?
2) does any series run 17" tires that can be gotten for cheap?

I'd love to find someone to beg used tires from, that is one of (but not the most) expensive parts of the budget.

I get mine from Dean Martin at Rehagen Racing. I can get you his email address tonight. If you can find a local source you won't have to pay for shipping which will be roughly $25/tire.

They used 17's on their older mustang. I'm not sure if they still use them or not, but he charged more for 17's since there was more demand for them. The 18's were cheaper.

I have them squeezed onto a 9.5" rim now but they call for a 10-10.5. I have 10.5" Z06 wheels in the basement waiting for tires.