Can I afford to race?
The cost to own, operate, and maintain a 2005 21' bass boat per day and per year.
Registration: $15/year NC
Title: $35, one time NC reg.
Insurance: $250-350/year for a 21 ft. bass boat.
Fuel, tow vehicle: $20-$100/day
Fuel, boat: $40-$200/day
Parts: $300-800/year
Winterizer Kits: $100/year
Trailer: $90/year registration
Cost/day: $200 average
Cost/yr.: Maintenance cost, $1055/year average
The cost to own, operate, and maintain a 1939 modified stock car
Registration: O (free pit pass per driver)
Title: O, no NC law requires a title for a race car
Insurance: O no NC law requires insurance for a race car
Fuel, Race Car: $15-20 per 20-25 laps including practice, 93 octane, not race fuel
Fuel, Tow Veh.: $40-100/night
Tires: $40/used tire $100-150 new/tire/year
Parts: $300-500/yr.
Winterizer Kit: O-$12
Trailer: $90/yr NC reg.
Cost/day: $87 average
Cost/yr.: Maintenance cost, $900 average (Much less if you run used tires)
The next time someone says "I can't afford to race" ask them how much is cost to fish? Don't even get me started on the game of golf!!!
Of course these number can vary wildly depending on a hundred things that could happen, this is just a rough estimate if all goes well in one year.
Robbie, you are right, I think road racing costs are higher because of the radial tires needed and it's ill advised to run used ones. As for fishing tackle, hadn't even thought of it and yes, it can cost as much as the boat as a combined item. That just about doubles the cost of fishing. I love fishing, or use to but, just don't seem to have to time to wet a line like I did in the past. Of course all of my fishing experience was in a 14 row boat or canoe and the biggest cost was gas, sandwiches, and bait and we would fill a bucket of the freshest bluegill, perch, and crappie and cook em` that night. As for racing, a low budget race team, the costs are low enough to keep the missus OK, and I have just as much fun or more. However, it's nice to wet a line in the local beaver pond now and then.
Jim, well thought out and well stated! Somehow, though, that logic will never work with Ann. As I don't fish, play golf, or attend the outrageously priced USC football games, the only comparison I can make is riding my mountain bike on the weekends and as I bought the bike several years ago and maintenance is very low, I have no realistic comparison figure. Besides, I have officially retired from driving any race cars, even in parades. Long story there. But thanks for sharing your experience here.
Tim, I'd like to hear the parade story sometime...were you driving a Kiwanis Club go kart and ran over someone? Just a guess, wink!Some enjoy watching the cars, some enjoy racing them, am hoping to shed some light to someone out there in cyberworld that has a hint of vintage racing in their blood but don't think they can afford it. We are the baby boomers that refuse grow old.
Came across this article based on the same theme as the one written here however, not with the comparison as much it is the driver's perspective. Very entertaining and good to know that there's still folks out there that can scratch the itch to race with affordable racing. Enjoy! http://www.barracudamagazine.com/howtobeat.html