After the BRZ?

[RT-BRZ]

Originally Posted by series.trackday

Sorry, my comment wasn't meant to prove the point that it's cheap, but rather to point out that even the "cheap" version isn't cheap.


And, A=after you install the roll cage, you need a fire suppression system, a full-vehicle electrical cutoff (interior and exterior-accessible), a race seat, belts, restraints, etc. You're looking at 4K minimum.

No problem. You were making a very valid point. Knowing people that are already involved in some way is a good way to help reduce the costs. The old "I know a guy" model does help for sure.

[foshjowler]

Even "cheap" racing isn't cheap. Just to do some Lemons racing you're looking at probably $5k+ just for the car once you get it running ok and minimum safety, plus another couple thousand in personal safety gear, plus entry fees. All in, you're probably looking at close to $10k to do the first race. After that you can amortize the initial costs, but it's not exactly cheap to keep whatever piece of garbage car running.



You can casually autocross for relatively cheap (I typically account $100 - $150 per local event), but to be nationally competitive, it's still expensive. When I've done the math, I spend somewhere in the neighborhood of $10k a year on it.

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by series.trackday

Depending on the area of the country you live in, you may be able to find a "cheap" cagebuilder who'll do a spec-compliant cage for $2500-3000. Or you can get a multi-series compliant cage by a very reputable builder and only be out $7000.

I was quoted $4K for cage only if I prepped the interior like 4-5 years ago. That was a decent deal by a known builder in my area. I could probably have done it myself and had one of my high end manufacturing welder/fab buddies help me but I don’t think the cost offset was really that much different and being such a safety item, I didn’t want to mess around when it comes w2w.

Originally Posted by foshjowler

Even "cheap" racing isn't cheap. Just to do some Lemons racing you're looking at probably $5k+ just for the car once you get it running ok and minimum safety, plus another couple thousand in personal safety gear, plus entry fees. All in, you're probably looking at close to $10k to do the first race. After that you can amortize the initial costs, but it's not exactly cheap to keep whatever piece of garbage car running.



You can casually autocross for relatively cheap (I typically account $100 - $150 per local event), but to be nationally competitive, it's still expensive. When I've done the math, I spend somewhere in the neighborhood of $10k a year on it.

Yeah, Lemons is pretty pricy, especially knowing you have 50/50 odds to even finish the race in whatever hooptie you come across. I still want to try it, just a big back burner item. Plus some track days orgs won’t let people run lemons cars

$10K a year is what I used to spend playing paintball lol

[rice_classic]

Originally Posted by NoHaveMSG

Yeah, Lemons is pretty pricy, especially knowing you have 50/50 odds to even finish the race in whatever hooptie you come across. I still want to try it, just a big back burner item. Plus some track days orgs won’t let people run lemons cars

$10K a year is what I used to spend playing paintball lol

There's always the CAPEX vs OPEX argument too. When I raced an ITA spec CRX it was cheap from CAPEX stand point (sold it for 6k in 2019) but OPEX sucked because it was operated way outside of design tolerances AND the rules allowed for expensive stuff that required development: Splitter, final drivers, spherical bushings, .020 motors and the wear items were crazy- brakes, hubs, ball joints replaced OFTEN. Average all costs across weekends was $1500/weekend at 2018 prices. Meanwhile the CAPEX on the FRS to race in T4 was much higher ($25k all in) but the OPEX is much less. I'm at about $1100/weekend at today's prices (tires and gasoline are much more expensive now).



To comment on the original topical request - moving on from a BRZ: my daily driver is a Ford Ranger and a Volvo C40 Recharge (EV), so I've already "moved on" even thought the FRS is still my Racecar. The Volvo is one of the best vehicles I've driven and has radically changed how I view cars/trucks. The replacement for the Ranger will absolutely be an EV or EV with range extender. I like the excitement of 3 pedals and a stick but power, simplicity and "zen" of an EV is my new favorite - which is more of a reflection of where I am in life.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by rice_classic

The replacement for the Ranger will absolutely be an EV or EV with range extender.

The upcoming (VW) Scout may be something to consider. I have a deposit on one.

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by RT-BRZ

As was already said, I think that things like Track Events/HPDE/PDX events and even Time Trials are the sweet spot for most of us. Autocross is also well worth it if you like to have fun on the cheap but still have a safe-ish environment. All of those things don't have such a steep entry point but are still a lot of fun.

I thought TT was going to be the sweet spot for me along with doing HPDE. But if I was going to build a TT car it wasn't going to be for "fun."

It was going to be to build it to the limits of whatever class I chose and go for class wins. Otherwise, just do what you'd like and stick with HPDE.

I'd like to take the BRZ out for an HPDE at my local track, but the fact it's my only car that I still pay on (trust me I know all about track insurance from places like Lockton), plus oil pressure stuff makes me hesistant.

[RT-BRZ]

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

I thought TT was going to be the sweet spot for me along with doing HPDE. But if I was going to build a TT car it wasn't going to be for "fun."

It was going to be to build it to the limits of whatever class I chose and go for class wins. Otherwise, just do what you'd like and stick with HPDE.

I'd like to take the BRZ out for an HPDE at my local track, but the fact it's my only car that I still pay on (trust me I know all about track insurance from places like Lockton), plus oil pressure stuff makes me hesistant.

Oh, fun and class wins are still the same thing to me. When I say "fun", I really mean "not winning anything of substance". All of this is for fun even if I manage to win the class. As a friend stated to me "Ferarri won't be scouting the event for the next 50+ year old driver". That pretty much sums up what I meant by "fun".

You're making the right choice. Don't take a car to the track that you owe money on and/or are dependent on as a daily driver. That's when the bad things happen and you're stuck. If you don't care to be stuck then the conversation is different.

[rice_classic]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

The upcoming (VW) Scout may be something to consider. I have a deposit on one.

I'm conflicted on the Scout; to EV or to Range Extend, to Truck or SUV... The current direction from kumquat Pol Pot to defund new charging stations means the range extender probably is the right decision. If the Scout existed today, there would be one in my driveway - I love the direction they're taking.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by rice_classic

I'm conflicted on the Scout; to EV or to Range Extend, to Truck or SUV... The current direction from kumquat Pol Pot to defund new charging stations means the range extender probably is the right decision. If the Scout existed today, there would be one in my driveway - I love the direction they're taking.

I will likely get the extended range one, mainly for towing and off the main path type purposes. I've driven my LYRIQ up and down the East coast and never had an issue with charging, but I've always stuck to main path stuff, with no towing.