What a track day really costs:

[Mr Bogus]

Ok this is on another thread but figured I would get input here:

A track day may cost $175 average but that is only a fraction of the costs..

But I need a realistic budget... it is easy to bury real costs but you gotta be realistic and honest with yourself when racing...

Figuring my closest track is say 150 miles away...

$150 300 miles at $.50 a mile
$300 1 set of tires on bike
$80 hotel (just one room)
$50 Food for 2
$50 Fuel for bike
$300-400 Entry Fee for 2 days
$?? Wear and tear on bike
$35 Leathers/helmets/gloves/boots (subject to big difference)

maintenance and upgrades are subject to a lot of variance here but I did not include them

 

[99'busa]

Good question. I've wanted to do one for awhile now. Didn't know how much to expect to save for.

 

[BA BUSA]

It ain't cheap brother

 

[busaMD]

****, I just find abandoned, out of the way places and race there and risk the ticket...

 

[99'busa]

300 for tires. so your buying new ones just for the track day? Is that norm.? I would just use what is on your bike unless that's not a good idea.

 

[UncleSteve]

a day at the track will smoke your tires. Used up in a day is what he means.

 

[gtrpimp76]

Trackday costs for me:

w/Trackdaz dot com=$150 @ Big Track Willow Springs and Buttonwillow, $110 for Streets of Willow

w/Fastrackriders dot com=$269 @ Auto Club Speedway AMA Course, $160 @ Big Track Willow Springs, $120 @ Streets of Willow

w/ Apextrackdays dot com=$240? dunno. it was a group rate thru ORG. Miller Motorsports Park Full Track

gas=market price, but this year I would normally spend $70 just for the Gixx

gas for car=usually depends on the distance to the track. Fontana being closest; $75 to fill up my Hemi Charger and $600 for a round trip going to Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele. I think I spent almost that much going to Reno/Fernley as well

tires=$350/set Bridgestone BT-003 race tires. Depending on the track surface and temparature, they'll last me anywhere between 3 to 5 trackdays. mounting and balancing if FREE if you buy thru the trackside vendor, otherwise they charge $20 to mount/balance a different brand tire

gate fee=sometimes $10, sometimes free. Depends on the track

food for 1=$20. I just bring a couple of pre-prepard salads, energy bars, and trail mix. It was $100 at the hayabusa.org trackdays @ Miller Motorsports Park Labor Day 2008

oil and filter=$50. 4 qts of Motul synthetic and K/N oil filter

EZ-UP or quick canopy=$80 @ Wal-Mart. These last 4 trackdays b/c of the ferocious Willow Springs Winds that put alot of wear and tear

Fire extinguisher=$15. you're dealing with hot engines and flammable fluids. you just never know. Plus for club race events, it's mandatory and must be visible within your pit.

Pit bike/scooter=$2000. I'm looking at a 09 Yamaha Zuma 50cc pit scooter. walking around in the paddock in full leathers can get pretty exhausting, especially in hard core summer and winter months.

misc parts/lubes/etc=$500

Suspension trackside service=$30 to $40/day. Free if you bought components or had some fork rebuilds thru them before...ie. Elka shock thru Catalyst Reaction Suspension.

Action photos=$60 for all photos on CD/day

Action Video (if applicable)=$60-$70

Laptimer: $100 for used XT timer

generator to power tire warmers: one time cost of $200. The "Kragen special." But working on getting me a Honda EU series quiet as hell generator.

Tire Warmers: one time cost $500 Chicken Hawks. Brings out the absolute best in DOT Race tires.

 

[Lamb busa]

GGOODDAAMMNN! Did it cost that much? Holy moley!

Lamb has 4 days on his BT002rs's and they look about half worn. That's part of the beauty of a 600 as a track bike.














WORTH EVERY PENNY?...........................................DAMN RIGHT!

 

[kairles]

300 for tires. so your buying new ones just for the track day? Is that norm.? I would just use what is on your bike unless that's not a good idea.

It really depends on how hard you ride. I know people that get a couple trackdays and a couple thousand miles out of a set of tires, then some that have tires just for the track and get about 2 trackdays out of them.

 

[GoFaster]

****, I just find abandoned, out of the way places and race there and risk the ticket...

Sorry, but that makes sense!???

Just be careful

 

[HillbillyTom]

My projected trackday expenses..
$130 for the first trackday, H.A.R.T. class included, at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit $90 for trackdays thereafter.
$20-$50 for my cut of the fuel to get there depending on how many are going.
$40 max, for food.
Approx $12 for bike gas.
$280 for BT-016 tires I got online and had mounted locally. Dunno how long they'll last.
Price not important for gear that i wanted and wear on the street anyway.
Dunno about transponder costs, not important on first trackday.
Already got stands, tools, etc.., will be able to use buddies' canopy, advise, etc.. for free.

Worth every penny just to get to go to the track after wanting to for years.

 

[Lamb busa]

Hillbilly Tom just about nailed Lamb's expenses too. Doing it on the cheaper is doable.

 

[runeight]

Get a sponsor Randy!

r8

 

[Aquaman]

If you got decent tire tread left, you wont need tires. I got 3 trackdays on stock tires on my gixxer and still plenty of meat. And I ripp around pretty good.

 

[BusaWhipped]

Last year I went through a Pilot Race in a day and a half, but I think it was too soft a compond. I replaced it with a medium Pilot Race and got 3 days out of it.

 

[Mr Bogus]

Get a sponsor Randy!

r8

you applying?

 

[Over_Easy]

I have a place nearby with two makeshift tracks...one maybe two houses on it and I can go and drag my knee around. From what I've gathered the people that do live there don't mind and come out to watch me run, not come screaming at me out of their house and/or call the LEO...probably just WAITING for me to wreck.