I would love to race, but I am scared... (Page 2 of 2)

I've always thought that the words "parked" (as in "ran when parked"), "rare" and "must" (as in "must sell") to be good words to search for when looking for a Lemons car. Or you could just do what we did and search for "Peugeot" and likely hit on the other three words at the same time :-).

You know finding a car is really not all that hard, getting in the event you have targeted will probably be OK too, what comes as a shock is how much $$$$ the initial build /entry / some spares / tires / incidentals are. 

If you and your team haven't budgeted about $5K or AT LEAST $4k for your first time out, then you are in for a real eye opener.  Each event does get cheaper, but the initial acquisition of the car, the build-out and the actual race gets costly.  When I read about "a baby coming" and "college" in your OP, I was wondering if you realized how expensive Lemons can be - esepically the first event. 

I know people have done it cheaper, but not a LOT cheaper than $4K, though I could be wrong, I just don't  think you can find, build, equip, enter and race a decent and reliable car for "a couple of grand". 

Just count the cost.  There are a lot of threads in this section you really need to read to get a grasp of the event.  Good luck!!

If you guys can do all the prep work yourselves you can do it pretty cheap. New brake pads and bleeding the brakes with new high temp fluid is cheap and will help keep you on track. Ford brake fluid or Wilwood 570 is cheap. If you can weld the cage yourselves (make SURE to follow the rules to the letter here) you can get a 4 point ERW cage for dirt track racing (from Day motorsports I think) complete with gussets and nascar type door bars, already fitted and coped for around $300 to $350. Get a few more pieces of ERW for a diagonal and two rear supports and you might be able to do the cage for real cheap. My father and I did this on a Volvo. He's also a highly experienced welder and racer. race gasoline and towing gasoline are fixed expenses and vary depending on any number of things. I think for a 14 hours Lemons race you can probably figure around $400 in race fuel. Lemons might not require a racing seat but you can get a plastic dragster seat model G1100 or G2100 from summit racing for $50 to $60 shipping included. For another $15 you can get a padded seat cover. Again did this on a Volvo. You can get a good 5 point harness for less than $100 most places. A good kill switch with alternator protection (make sure you wire it up for alternator protection) will cost you $50 max. If you can get your race tires used you can sometimes get a deal. But if you picked up two sets new race tires you could probably do so for less than $600 shipping included. Look at Vulcan tire, tires easy and tire rack. An extra set of wheels at a local PickNPull shouldn't cost you more than $100. If you're frugal and good at race car prep you probably won't need to spend 4k to 5k on the car. If you need all of the incidentals for the whole team it could get close to that. You may need to buy a transponder at about $400 (or just rent one for your first race). Personal driver safety gear can cost you a few bucks. But search like crazy for deals on ebay and closeouts at regular online racing shops. you can modify regular 5 gallon fuel cans that you buy for $12 a piece at walmart but a good idea is to just buy 4 scribner fuel jugs from saferacer (with fill tubes) for about $130 with shipping. I raced with Brian Pollock of property devaluation racing at Nelson Ledges last year and he put together a highly competitive car for way less than 4k to 5k. He knows even more than me about keeping costs down and he's a real good fella. I'm sure he'd be happy to give you advice. He posts as BTP76. I can get you in touch with him if you like. If I can help you in any way my email is Radarjocky@aol.com. Hope to see you on track.

I'm with Rob.  That Vega would be awesome!!

I would be VERY skeptical of a "team" that could put on a race weekend including build a NEW car for less than $3k....I just don't think it can be done....

WHY you ask.....BEEN THERE DONE THAT.....

When "we" built the 928 Estate....there was SUBSTANTIAL help in terms of free labor that most teams can't expect......  For example the cage (all 7 points) would be around $1500 minimum at any race shop....its was MUCH less than that...not to count the HUNDREDS of hours of labor to get the car ready-theme etc..not counting little expenses like spray paint, welding materials, brake clean etc....this adds up VERY quickly...  Even with the SUBSTANTIAL deals I got it still cost $3900 to complete (almost anyway) the 1st race......  Yes they get cheaper after that....but if you plan on racing a serious gas guzzler yank tank..it could cost $1k just in fuel...especially if your "stock" engine requires 100+ octane...

Our 2nd race was right at $3600

My $3900 figure DID NOT include room and board for all the drivers...everyone paid for their own...  OR drivers safety equipment.... 

I think a $5k budget for a 1st time event is a good idea...if you are extremely frugal + lucky...when its over you can give all the drivers a REFUND...vs a bill

The breakdown for a Volvo 244DL that we built for a full 24 hour race for "that other series" is more or less as follows (That other series has almost the same rules for car prep as the Lemons event you guys are prepping for):

$100 1989 Volvo 244 DL with 300k miles, not road worthy, good engine and tranny
$60    seat and seat cover new including shipping
$10    grade 8 hardware for mounting seat (buy grade 8 by the pound at Tractor Supply)
$200  brake work, new fronts plus extra pads, spare used calipers and master cylinder
$100  spare parts for race, used fuel injection computer, radiator, tie rod ends
$100  parts for suspension repairs and drive train repairs to make it roadworthy + water pump
$600  for two sets of new 14" tires including shipping
$40    for a spare set of  14" wheels
$80    5pt harness
$20    roll cage padding
$300  ERW cage kit shipped, self installed, racepartsusa.com has these kits.
$30    extra ERW for finishing cage
$45    FIA kill switch with alternator protection
$20    driving lights kit from Wal Mart
$100  estimate for little extra crap like, spray paint, duct tape, bolts, rivets, liquid nails etc...
$20    windown net
$60    consumable fluids, motor oil, diff oil, clutch oil
$100  estimated towing fuel, the race is only a 3 hour tow one way
$400  estimated racing fuel, around 1200 to 1400 miles including practice at around 10 mpg

TOTAL $3085

A new team might need to add $50 to rent a transponder and $50 per driver for racing licenses. But I'm sure there are guys who could do the same thing I did for less money. Although probably not much less. In some cases it will cost more. Anyhow these are some of the main expenses.

This is why I didn't major in accounting. If you add up the numbers as I wrote them down I think they are actually $2185. Not the $3085 I have listed as the total. That's because I forgot to list the $900 entry fee. If you add the $900 entry fee to the itemized list it should still total $3085. Thanks, my bad.

That is the most optimistic (unrealistic) budget I have ever seen.  I could argue with most every line in it, not to mention the issues you will find with a $100 car to begin with.   If you're a noob, plan $4,000 for your first race, minimum.   If you do things right and don't go cheap on risky things like a $60 seat! or $80 5 FIA point harnesses (show me where you find these), it could cost you $4500 or more.  Your second race will likely be significantly lower in costs. 

If you really do your first race for 3K, I would wager money the car won't last an hour.  maybe you get lucky, but the odds are stacked very high against you.

The out of work guy can do more leg work and more work on the car. Lemons is about NOT Spending money and finishing. So aim for that.

Get the wives to support you with dinners and track support, its a great way to get everyone together for some group events, build a team deeper than just 4 drivers.

This forum is here to help people like you.

Ask your questions. Any question, like:

Where to get a cheap legal roll cage made
Can you weld it your self
Cheap racing seats (see craigslist Los Angeles for a pair of cheap used sparco seats)
seat adjust-ability? (someone just recomended Volvo sliders)

Seat back attachment to roll cage
seat belt age
seat belt routing

How to get free tires and brake pads
Cheap drivers gear - rules and regs for drivers gear

net cost for a weekend

Tools to bring

Good car choices (see the previous suggestions, but leave that Toyota Celica alone, its in too nice condition).

Start asking your questions and answers will be provided.