| Author | Message | ||
     Wolfridgerider |
I was hard at work.... when I thought "Just how much will racing cost me next year?" Its a big mistake to put it down on paper... All I plan to run next year is the 3 Hour Iron Butt Race with Fasttrax So far this is what I have come up with.... B.Pads $80.00 License $100 Entry $1400 Tires $1200 4 sets for 7 races only Gas $700 Food $280 Gate $70 1 day gate fee at Nelson = 10 bucks Oil $112 = $3942 X 1.10 for what I may have missed $4340!! Thats just to run 7 races.... and lets not talk about fixing the bike if something happens.... What did I miss? (Message edited by wolfridgerider on October 08, 2008) | ||
| Sd26 |
Racing license Tires seemed cheap Brake pads Gate seemed cheap Extra things...knee pucks, gloves, rain suit. Do you have everything you need? | ||
| Jaimec |
What about regular maintenance costs? A bike used for racing is going to have higher maintenance than one simply used for putting around the street, I would imagine... Engine tear down/rebuilds, clutch abuse, etc... | ||
| Paint_shaker |
My plan is to race the WERA North Florida Series (6 races) with includes JenningsGp, Carolina MotorSports Park, Roebling Road and Road Atlanta. My figures for a typical race weekend; Fuel: $380 (Cheaper for Jennings & Roebling Road) Entry Fees: $190 Transponder: $60 Gate x2 peps: $50 Food x 2 pep: $80 Camping: free Total: $760 per race weekend, not incuding tires, oil changes, etc.. I am HOPING to get 3 race weekends and MAYBE one practice day per set of tires. I am also looking at the same intervals for oil/tranny fluid changes. I still need a steering dampner ($500), front stand ($90), and tire warmers ($300)before my first race. It's only money and I can't take it with me!!! LOL | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I am HOPING to get 3 race weekends and MAYBE one practice day per set of tires  Once you start getting "Fast" you will go thru tires like Oprah at a all you can eat buffet... I'd figure at LEAST 1 set per weekend. | ||
| Benm2 |
Tips: 1. Take-off's. If its your first season, you can probably get one race weekend in on someone else's takeoffs. I got three trackdays from one set of takeoffs, but they were gettin' sketchy on the third day. 2. Steering damper - WERA or CCS bulletin boards. If you've got moderate fab skills you can adapt one to fit. You can probably pick up someones stock gixxer or R1 damper for $40. I've fabricated a lot of brackets & things with a hand drill, some files, and a hacksaw. 3. Don't count food. You've got to eat anyway. If you ARE going to list it as an expense, treat it that way: buy an igloo cooler and pack. 4. I wouldn't run anything other than 93 octane pump gas, but I'm both slow and cheap. Maybe if I was fighting it out for first or second in class where the contingency money is big, I'd go race gas. I'm with ya on the camping. Buy an ez-up & put the bike under that, most people drop the canopy as low as it will go at night to protect it a bit better. With that done, the trailer floor makes a welcome bed. Buy a good therma-rest pad or air mattress. Oil: I've let the engine oil go for three trackdays, but usually like to drop it at two. Primary oil is one-day (or one weekend). It gains clutch quickly. If you keep a sharp eye on the WERA and CCS boards, you can find used tire warmers & front stands too. They disappear fast though. Keep a reserve for bodywork, pegs, handlebars, clutch & brake levers. | ||
| Slaughter |
I budget $2k per month for all costs rolled-up. 4 races, one venue, 2 days with a FULLY prepped bike ready to race. Crashing and med adds to it. Adds up to about $20K per year - and I live LOCALLY to the race track - travel expenses are nearly zero. (Message edited by slaughter on October 08, 2008) | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I hope my wife never sees this thread..... | ||
| Paint_shaker |
Wolf, Like I said HOPING!!! LOL I am still on street/track sport tires. Ben, Food is included as I will be eating out some of the weekend meals, where I would otherwise be eating at the house. Fuel cost is Diesel to get up and back plus 93 octane for the bike. Got the cooler, air mattress, ez-up and I just picked up a "new" race hauler...  Well, new to me anyways!!! 1993 E-250 with 190,000 miles. Oh yeah, add to the cost $1000!! Holy crap!!! Anyone got some duct tape so I can fix the hole in my wallet where my money keeps falling out???? LOL | ||
| Benm2 |
I've always been a proponent of "don't look directly at the sun, you'll burn your eyes out". The same applies to racing: I'm glad I've never added up all the money I've spent on my competition habit. | ||
| Gearhead |
A lot of your expenses and maintanance will be directly related to how much you plan on modifying your bike. Unless you're running 9 pistons in a 12 or a higher compression 9, stick to pump gas which was the advice that Henry Duga gave me, it works great, plus a lot less expensive. I use BP/Amoco fuel. I can get 2-2.5 race weekends and practices out of a set of Pirelli medium compound race tires with plenty left for an occasional track day. I only run 3 races per weekend though. I've also been selling my take-offs to a drag bike friend of mine which has also helped the bottom line. | ||
| Nukeblue |
i'd say you need seven sets of tires & more brake pads. nelson will eat a set of tires doin the 3 hr! oh and those should be slicks... | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Slicks it is for next year.... I am going to quit buying Pirelli's and go with the Bridgestones... I can't make up my mind if I want to put the 9 pistons in or not. I'm in the 16's and 17's most of the time now and I don't know how much time that upgrade will cut off of my lap times.... if any... The Indian may just need to get better and quit mess'n with the bow and arrow..... (Message edited by wolfridgerider on October 09, 2008) | ||
| Sethbuchbinder |
Gear head has it rite, if your bike is not modified, there is not need to run race fuel. 92-93 pump will do just fine and save big$$. Id also skip the steering damper if your organization will allow. On a stock Buell, I never felt it was needed. As far as tires go, you can either go with reputable take off's( most big teams only put 8-10 laps on sprint tires) and usually sell them for $100-$150 a set or just use Pirelli DiabloCorsaIIIs same as the OE 1125 tire BTW. If you feel the need to run race tires you might also want to look in to last years(design, not age) race tire, the Dragon Supercorsas. They can be had for about $100 less per set than the new Diablo Supercorsa pro and you wont notice the difference untill you get quite a bit faster. I have been running Pirellis for a while so im not familiar with what the others brands have currently. Are you planning on doing six events with one race each, or six events with six races each? if your only going to be competing six times, then one set of HH compound EBCs will more then cover you. If your going to run a few races per event then id run the race compound Nissins, they really last and have great bite. Iv been on the same set for the last three events with 7 races and 5 practice sessions per event plus a track day this past Sunday at New jersey Motersports Park tacking on 160 or so moderate paced laps on the same pads. I think im finally ready for a new set for this Sundays Inside Pass event. Remember if you use less brakes, youll go faster and save money too..... The best investment you can make during your first race season is LOTS of seat time. as long as the bike is safe and legal. the rest is up to you learning to rider the bike to its stock potential before spending $$$$$$ on fancy race parts. As it sits now, your bike has more than you can use. Good luck out there and be safe. FWIW, Every time I finish a sighting lap and pull up to the grid before the start of a race, I take a minute and say out loud to myself in my helmet. "You have to go to work on Monday" This really helps me stay calm and not make stupid turn one over competative descisions. Some times Ill even remind the person gridded next to me the same notion. At the amateur level, were all out there to have fun. Seth | ||
| Nukeblue |
i'd leave the bike alone, engine wise. i bet better riders than us could have that thing doin 12's the way it is. i know i had to keep teachin myself technique all year! heck, sv's can do 12's, we can do 10's!! lol | ||
| Paint_shaker |
My plan is 6 race weekends consisting of 2 sprints and 1 endurance or solo race each weekend. The motor will stay stock and run on pump gas. I will keep the belt drive. Buell race pads on the front. I also share the same "gotta work on Monday" thoughts. As for seat time, JenningsGP offers a deal: any 10 track days for $1100. That's a $200 savings! | ||
| Eboos |
$1640 race fees (8 rounds. 2 sprints and one GT per round) $400 pit passes ($25 each for me and my wife) $1140 tires (3 sets should be good) $115 license $480 fuel for travel $100 fuel for bike $840 new rear shock $230 new shift drum $270 cams $5215 total. This is where my tax returns are going. | ||
| Gearhead |
Yep, Seth, you're SO right!! I forgot to tell myself that I needed to go to work the next day in one piece while at Hastings last month. I'm pretty lucky with just a broken wrist and some bruised ribs, it could have been so much worse.  The price we pay to have our fun! | ||
| Skinstains |
I hate to admit he's right as his mellon is already too big, but, Seth makes a lot of sense. I know that he takes a stock bike and picks the contingency money out of the pockets of people on very modified bikes as he passes them on his way to the line. | ||
| Trojan |
Our 2006 race costs (including buying the bike and tuning) for the UK Thunderbike championship would have come to around GBP20,000 (at the time around US$40,000!), or to put into context around GBP15,000 more than our competitors were spending racing their big bore SV700 Suzukis. We were lucky to receive some product support from generous sponsors such as Free Spirits, Hot Performance and Hals, so our actual bill was less. The Buell was slower on most 'fast' circuits but was a match on the more demanding ones. We had a few technical challenges over the year but got a couple of 3rd places and numerous 4th & 5th spots. We ran Pirelli slicks (Much better than 'over the counter' customer Bridgestones but not as good as more expensive Dunlops) and expensive 109 octane race fuel, which added to the costs of course, but had no accidents or major rebuilds to contend with. We were very lucky to secure the services of a top flight rider in Phil Read Jr, and at least we didn't have to pay him! Racing a Buell over here is very much a solo effort, as there is no support whatsoever from the distributors or dealers, although Henry Duga and Terry at Hal's were extremely helpful and patient on the telephone as always, so is much more 'character building' than racing one in the US. Despite all of the above, would I have swapped to race another bike? Absolutely not! Our bike was always teh crowd favourite and invariably surrounded by well wishers and fans in the paddock. As the only Buell racing here it attracted massive publicity and was a breath of fresh air after watching 4 races of identical IL4's in an afternoon. We could have raced Kawasakis for much less (we were offered free bikes by the importers), or Suzukis as the well trodden path with heaps of technical backup, but racing the buell was so much more satisfying and exciting for all concerned except the bank manager   | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
 and lets not talk about fixing the bike if something happens....  Besides working on dropping a few pounds this winter.... I have another winter project... | ||
| Slaughter |
Yeah - the $2k per month doesn't count what the cost of doing this: .jpg) To this:  | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Looks good! I think I'm going to put Flying Tiger teeth on the front end.... | ||
| Sethbuchbinder |
Ouch! Ralph, At least youll have the whole winter to rebuild your bike, heal your wrist and re-grow los cajones. Maby this year you and the rest of the Buell Alley crew can make the road trip out and visit us East coast Buell racers. Oh and be sure to Bring Blake and his check book.... Shaker, There is one place on your bike that is worth spending $$ at this point in the game. Chain drive is a must at any track with decent length straits. I havent been to Jennings or CMP so I dont know if youll run out of gear with the belt, but even as a beginner you dont want to be sitting on the limiter going down the strait while the competition is still accelerating.. grrrr.. All youll need is one tooth taller than the stock ratio that the belt has. I use a www.grandstanddesigns.com chain conversion kit and it has served me well for almost 3 years. At Summit Point Raceway with the belt on my XB12 I used to hit the limiter about 6 seconds before it was time to hit the breaks down the front strait and everyone else would just drive by. with the chain I have clean power rite to the breaking zone without giving up too much low end. .02 Seth | ||
| Slaughter |
Interesting about gearing... what about lightening/balancing flywheels/rods/pistons and bumping the rev limit up 300 RPM? Keep the lower gearing (still want to switch to chain for the versatility). Maybe get a teensy more "pull" and be able to get some top speed? Don't know what your rules will allow but the 3.125 stroke motor WILL turn 8000 (200 more if you have "staff" to work on it a few times a year) | ||
| Rocketsprink |
Damn Ralph! I had no idea! | ||
| Sethbuchbinder |
Hey, if you got the $$$ then more power to ya. Any time you talk about splitting the cases or going in to the engine at all your talking bucks. I haven't changed the plugs in 7500 miles. forget splitting the cases, hehe Steve, you want to sponsor a East coast Buell racer???? If so, im, in. Seth | ||
| Slaughter |
Awww geeez Seth... I can't sponsor the racer who wears my hat! If you use your swingarm to split your cases like a dull can opener, everything else gets easy. | ||
| Gearhead |
Thanks for your concern, Seth and Rocco! The whole story in on my blog at www.racingwithralph.blogspot.com This is why BadWeb is the greatest resource on the web! Everyone here really wants to help each other ! Here's a couple of more thoughts... You've already seen the wide range of budgets to get into this sport so figure out how big a fish you want to be in the pond, first. I had a great season, dispite my late season get-off by racing just a few races at each event and racing at CCS Twin Sprints and double points weekends, I would have liked to race more often but it still worked out pretty well. Do you have a generator? If not, spend the $$$ and buy a Honda or visit with your local rental place and convince them to be a sponsor so you can have access to one each race weekend. Lastly, I'm a big believer in a good nights' sleep if you want to be at your best on the track. Unless you've been a camper all your life, skimping on a decent hotel room might keep you from being your best. Just my 2¢... | ||
| Slaughter |
Sleep - that was a big topic of discussion a few years back on a few racing boards. The agreement seemed to be get really good sleep the 2 nights before - since the night before you may be restless and if you already need sleep, you can be lacking so SLEEP on Wednesday and Thursday nights - and if you CAN, sleep on Friday. Additional note to hydrating: start the 24 hours before, NOT the morning of your practice/racing. |
