What do you do about non-contributing team mates?

I maintain that car prep and team participation (and even race weekends) should not be (or feel like) a forced march. So, I try to go with the flow somewhat. That attitude serves us well and the team is productive.

Not everybody can contribute consistently due to distance, work, health, competing interests...heck, a variety of things. We just keep our heads down and keep trying to advance the cause. We often have just two guys working on a car. Some days we have 8 people working on two cars at different garages. Any help is welcome at any time. Can't make it? Then we hope you can make it the next time. It all works out in the end.

I admit to getting angry with a team mate who hadn't shown up or called. But I get over it pretty quickly. No point in harboring resentments. In the end we all have the same goal--have fun playing with cars.

--bb.

75% of you regularly contribute?  I'd call that a win.

If it bothers you, maybe treat the fourth person like an arrive and drive.

I absolutely agree with everything you guys have said, our goals as a team are purely to have fun but we've started developing some animosity towards this fourth member and we're trying to figure out how to nip it in the butt. It sounds like this is pretty common so the solution is probably just to live with it and look forward. Our core team of three is pretty solid so I'm really thankful that we have that. At this point, we are keeping an eye out for someone reliable for our fourth spot, but certainly aren't holding our breath haha... and in the mean time we'll just roll with it. It sounds like we should be happy that we've got 3 reliable people, and a fourth that's willing to contribute to the costs. Thanks for all the input, it definitely helps as we figure out how all this works.

We treat all our team but me and the other co-owner as modified arrive and drives.  They show up when they can for build days or not.  They pay their fees and consumables cost.  The two of us are judge, jury and execution on what we build next or improve next.  If they do not like which car we are racing that race...don't pay and feel free to be crew or spectator.  Works well for us.

some guys work more, the others pay more.   When i ran a team,  my main mechanic did 90% of the work, and paid $0 for anything.  Other guys that did less work paid more.  The other guys paid admission, upgrades and gas and consumables.  We all put in the same amount.  Some paid with time.  Others paid with the wallet.  If he will not put in the time, he has to pay a higher price.  Dont make it punishment.   Make it fair.

We charge everyone the same.

Our team is likely different from one coming up from the beginning because we have been at this since like 2012.  We build a new IoE'ish car every year or two but also have a "fast" car.  Because we are always building, it is hard to seperate those that come to build days because they love the weird and wacky fab from those that want to make sure the car we are taking to the track that month is ready.

You have "meetings"?

Cheaters.

everyone's team dynamic is different, hard to apply one approach to another team universally.

Decide if his inconsistency is really affecting anything. If he's a benefit when he does show up, maybe stop giving him things to be responsible to bring, and just count it as a bonus when he does show. That way you don't get hosed by things not showing up, but it's better when he does. Up to you if something that that works for your team dynamic.

My original team was super one sided. I did 90% of the work on the car, with help from my dad when it worked for him to drive up and help, and the other team members made it to like 1 work day a year, otherwise just showing up on race weekend, often not until Saturday morning. We split race fees evenly, but I ended up covering most of the upkeep costs. This was unsustainable. Finally, when the Daytona was near end of life and we were talking about a new car the other team members suddenly had a problem with how I ran things and demanded all these sweeping changes to how the team was run, even though they had refused to be more involved previously. So I stopped racing with them, because I'm in this to have fun, not stress myself out with people who are no longer enjoyable to be around.

Now the team is all immediate family, and our approach is much more laid back. Work days are attended by those that can make it that day and no one sweats those that miss one. Money is fluid, those that can afford to pay cover costs, others contribute as they can. None of it is held against the others because this is just a fun family hobby and not something to be taken that seriously. I'd rather pay more of the costs myself if it means a fun weekend with my Dad and siblings.