Topic: Realistic cost of starting from scratch?

I picked up a 97 Ford Escort station wagon and was wanting to get it set up for one of these races. As an estimate, how much are we looking to spend to get it to pass inspection?

Re: Realistic cost of starting from scratch?

$3500

30 entries since 2009
#39 & #53 Overengineer'd Racing - Wilton, NH
http://www.facebook.com/nhlemons

Re: Realistic cost of starting from scratch?

$3501

"We Got Screwed" NHMS 2017, 4th NHMS 2020,  4th NJMP 2021,
"Judges Choice" NHMS 2021,10th NJMP 2022, 3rd Thompson 2022
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Re: Realistic cost of starting from scratch?

There are a lot of these threads floating around with all kinds of answers.

I always say expect to spend $5k from the purchase of your car through the end of the first race. It can be more, or less depending on a million factors. But assume $5k and you'll be pointed in the right direction.

20+ Time Loser FutilityMotorsport
Abandoned E36 Build
2008 Saab 9-5Aero Wagon
Retired - 1989 Dodge Daytona Shelby 2011-2015 "Lifetime Award for Lack of Achievement" IOE, 3X I got screwed, Organizer's Choice

5 (edited by bilcoh 2018-09-19 11:26 AM)

Re: Realistic cost of starting from scratch?

We are a total noob team here in Seattle.  We bought a car, rather than build one, for under $2K with spares, roll cage, seat and belts.  We'll probably be between $4-5K by the end of our first race, not counting entry fees and travel to that event.  In our case, that does include $1,000 for a cheap trailer, but not a tow vehicle, which someone already had.

Re: Realistic cost of starting from scratch?

Thanks for the info guys, I didn't realize how in-depth some of the safety rules are. We were hoping to be race ready for about $2k so I guess i'll just turn this thing into a desert junker.

Re: Realistic cost of starting from scratch?

Lots of good info and perspectives here:

https://forums.24hoursoflemons.com/view … p?id=36498

Re: Realistic cost of starting from scratch?

It''ll be at least 5k before your first race IMO.  You can't believe how many times you'll spend another $20 on things you'll never remember.

"We Got Screwed" NHMS 2017, 4th NHMS 2020,  4th NJMP 2021,
"Judges Choice" NHMS 2021,10th NJMP 2022, 3rd Thompson 2022
#847 Batmobile  aka-"Beulah"  search Squidrope Racing on Facebook

Re: Realistic cost of starting from scratch?

building a car now and 5k is in the ballpark. I have 3500+ just in the roll cage.

Team Safety 3rd Racing.
1985 Dodge Daytona Turbo-currently being lemonized.
https://www.facebook.com/TeamSafety3rdRacing/

Re: Realistic cost of starting from scratch?

2 divorces and an alimony payment.

Tunachuckers: 15 Years of Effluency
'08 - '10: 1966 Volvo 122, "Charlie"
'10 - '18: 1975 Ford LTD Landau --> 2018 - current: Converted into 1950 "Plymford"
'22 - current: 1967 Volvo 122, "Charlie ]["

Re: Realistic cost of starting from scratch?

Safety3rdRacing wrote:

I have 3500+ just in the roll cage.

  What?  Is it made from 14k gold?

30 entries since 2009
#39 & #53 Overengineer'd Racing - Wilton, NH
http://www.facebook.com/nhlemons

Re: Realistic cost of starting from scratch?

n0m4d wrote:
Safety3rdRacing wrote:

I have 3500+ just in the roll cage.

  What?  Is it made from 14k gold?

I believe they've had to do the cage twice. First guy made a lot of mistakes.

20+ Time Loser FutilityMotorsport
Abandoned E36 Build
2008 Saab 9-5Aero Wagon
Retired - 1989 Dodge Daytona Shelby 2011-2015 "Lifetime Award for Lack of Achievement" IOE, 3X I got screwed, Organizer's Choice

Re: Realistic cost of starting from scratch?

we started about 4 years ago smh ---> we are in at $6,343.07 (that's including car prep + purchase + 2 track days + 3 trailer rentals + gas + theme prep) currently and our first race is in November. looking through all of our expenses there is just a lot of little shit that adds up. hardware - paint - fasteners - trailer rentals - gas - shop towels - and a ton of oem parts - hoses - belts - . we have bought a few expensive items need to sell / return - an OMP seat for 600 we didnt end up using - a momo steering wheel with too deep of a dish for 200.   

im pretty much constantly shaking our team down for money - - - not super fun but my team is pretty good about being fair when it comes to donating money and time. thank god.....

Re: Realistic cost of starting from scratch?

YotesRacing wrote:

Thanks for the info guys, I didn't realize how in-depth some of the safety rules are. We were hoping to be race ready for about $2k so I guess i'll just turn this thing into a desert junker.

$2000.00 is tight for us and we can do all of the work ourselves. You might be better served to purchase an already made car with that budget where are you located?

1992 Saturn SL2 (retired) - Elmo's Revenge -  Class B winner, Heroic Fix winner x2
1969 Rover P6B 3500S(sold) - Super G-Rover - I.O.E Winner, Class C Winner
1996 Saturn SW2 - Elmo's Revenge (reborn!), Saturn SL1  Dazzleshipm Class C x2 and IOE winner
1974 AMC Javelin - Oscar's Trash heap - IOE,”Organizer's Choice" and "I got Screwed" award winner

Re: Realistic cost of starting from scratch?

It will be at least $5k to get you to the track for your first event. The low cost option in time, money, and sanity is to buy a second hand car that is ready to go.

16 (edited by bilcoh 2018-09-20 09:11 AM)

Re: Realistic cost of starting from scratch?

https://forums.24hoursoflemons.com/view … p?id=36689

Take the easy route. We are heeding all the advice ourselves, and if the damn car were close to us, we'd be at $2K just for the car.  I would guess it’s unpossible to build a car for $2k, but magically you can pay someone less than half that to do it for you. Bargain.

Just to be clear, is your budget only for the car or all the other things you’ll need, like fuel cans, extinguishers, tires, brake pads, etc?

Re: Realistic cost of starting from scratch?

The cheapest way is to actually buy a seat on someone else's team.

Re: Realistic cost of starting from scratch?

Yea, first cage was a mess. I had to cut it out of the car. The guy who built it wouldn't do crap to help me after the fact plus he had the car almost 4mo to do a BS cage out of the wrong material. Bought a Roll Cage Components kit and had a local speed shop install it....3500.00 later we have a nice cage in our car.  I will learn to weld over winter so I don't have to pay someone else....the time was expensive to say the least.

Team Safety 3rd Racing.
1985 Dodge Daytona Turbo-currently being lemonized.
https://www.facebook.com/TeamSafety3rdRacing/

Re: Realistic cost of starting from scratch?

rlchv70 wrote:

The cheapest way is to actually buy a seat on someone else's team.

And adviseable at least for one or two primaries on the car.  Seriously, Rich is one of my co-owners but he got the experience of my failing MISERABLY as a car owner before he came on.  Car was actually sound and tech-worthy...still cost a lot to get to race #2 due to my inexperience.

Re: Realistic cost of starting from scratch?

BUY A USED LEMON!!!!

This is probably the only way to spend under 2K any more, unless you do everything yourself on the super cheap.

Silent But Deadly Racing-  Ricky Bobby's Laughing Clown Malt Liquor Thunderbird , Datsun 510, 87 Mustang (The Race Team Formerly Known as Prince), 72 Pinto Squire waggy, Parnelli Jones 67 Galaxie, Turbo Coupe Surf wagon.(The Surfin Bird), Squatting Dogs In Tracksuits,  Space Pants!  Roy Fuckin Kent and The tribute to a tribute to a tribute THUNDERBIRD/ SUNDAHBADOH!

Re: Realistic cost of starting from scratch?

Sir Thomas Crapper wrote:

BUY A USED LEMON!!!!

This is probably the only way to spend under 2K any more, unless you do everything yourself on the super cheap.

THIS THIS THIS

Re: Realistic cost of starting from scratch?

Im new as well. I just got a 91 CRX from a friend for $50. We are building it with a bunch of left over parts form other projects iv worked on over the years. Were just about all a mix of mechanics, body repair guys, and fabricators. I have been doing car repair for friends for parts donations and just looking for hot deals. Today we got a junk yard Honda B20 engine for $65. Were just building it one part at a time.  Our biggest expense has been the safety gear. Most of us have done track days and tuns of kart racing and have a good amount of gear already.

Re: Realistic cost of starting from scratch?

Yes, the cost is not the car or the mechanicals.  It is the safety, tires, fuel and fees.  Many of of actually, per the rules, have honest to goodness $500 cars but might fudge a bit ignoring cost of belts and hose for instance.

Pre-bent cage in our case was $650 delivered (difference to use buying tube and plate at our prices was about $60) but probably more with current DOM prices.  Decent seat is a few hundred and bents are minimum $1000...I know.  so let call it $1000 just for the car unless you can find a used seat or get discounted tube pricing.

Tires can be cheap and you can have fun with cheap tires.  you cannot be competative ut who cares the first couple of races?

Fuel is a function of HP.  Our Saturn was $175 for a weekend...Dustbuster minivan $250....Supercharged 3800 in our 1947 Plymouth $425.