Quit the Track - Now nothing but money!

[CCM911]

Has anyone else quit tracking their car? I spent five years tracking my car, and now I have so much money in the bank. I guess constant tire and brake purchases take their toll.

Now my car is perfect, and I am actually spending my time on "improvements" as opposed to "maintenance".

Has anyone else gone this route?

[McLaren-TAG]

You'd have even mo money if you sold the P car!

[CCM911]

No way! The P Car stays! Even though some folks on this forum vehemently dislike our Targas, mine will stay put in the garage for many years to come. These cars cost very little to keep in good nick. Unless you go to the track, LOL!

[SiberianDVM]

By going to the track, do you mean HPDEs? Yes, I thought that was expensive, too. Then I started building a race car. When I got the CC bill this month, I had to sit down and have a beer while I thought about it a while.

[Flojo]

well... a beer only... some need a bottle of canada goose to calm down emotions ;-)

when I did my summing-up excell sheet after 2 years (and still not done 100%) I just had a cup of coffee and felicited myself for all the hard work and the nice car I now own.

guess its a matter of point-of-view...

[Geneman]

Chris spend the money at gap on beer and that silly wrist rocket ducati...if you live here long enuf on the mainline yu will have no $$ at all...:d:d:d frank

[safe]

Originally Posted by SiberianDVM

By going to the track, do you mean HPDEs? Yes, I thought that was expensive, too. Then I started building a race car. When I got the CC bill this month, I had to sit down and have a beer while I thought about it a while.

+1 on that!

I track my -77 Targa and alongside that I build my -69 coupe to be my next track day weapon, that is expensive!
But the cost for the Targas track days is not that high in parts and maintenance, brakes lasts forever and a light car isn't that hard on tires.
When I can, I buy used track tires from race teams.
Most of the cost is gas, hotels, food and beer... and that counts too.

I don't want to think about the cost for the 69, I had a generous budget, but that has gone through the roof....

[SiberianDVM]

I dropped my 84 Targa off at Autometrics a couple of weeks ago for a transmission rebuild and LSD install. The CC bill will look even worse next month.

Screw it. In a few years I will be too old to do this stuff; I'll pay for it then.

[CCM911]

You guys have some totally entertaining stories. But I see that beer is a common thread. I guess it makes everything look better.

[safe]

Originally Posted by CCM911

You guys have some totally entertaining stories. But I see that beer is a common thread. I guess it makes everything look better.

Beer makes everything better. If it can make and ugly woman pretty, it can do the same for a CC statment!

[shadowjack1]

At one time I tracked my car, it did not take me long to figure out that I could not afford to do it.
A set of tires lasted kissing time and brake pads were always in need of replacement. It was lots of fun but I could not play with the big boys.

[jackb911]

This is what I tracked back in the '80's - not very fast but it was a ton of inexpensive fun and provided lots of great memories. And it's still out there 20+ years after I sold it.

No way I would beat up my GT3 on a race track. Yes, I know that's what they were made for but I'm keeping it nice since a new or newer one is way outside my retiree's budget. DE's and HPDE's can lead to huge expense - trailer, tow vehicle, spare wheels & tires, pricey suspension mods, roll cage and on and on. Just can't afford that nowadays.

Then (1989) and now (2012, I believe)...

[diverdan]

Way to go, Jack! Pretty cheap fun.

Diverdan

[vash]

I quit when my wife got laid off.

Now I started bow hunting. I'm really broke now.


Sent via Jedi mind trick.

[CCM911]

I like Jack's car! Inexpensive is my mantra.

[MrBonus]

I used to do a ton of HPDEs but after running in advanced for a few years, I realized that the next level was going to be competition (expensive) or going to instructor school and just kind of quit cold turkey as the cost mounted and the events, to some degree, started to become repetitive.

It's a fantastic hobby and if money was no object, I certainly would do more but I got tired of the cost and struggled to find the time to do proper prep for events with a normal work schedule.

[CCM911]

That's funny MrBonus. Same thing happened to me. As soon as I made the black group it all stopped being fun. Like I really want to go out and buy a pickup truck and trailer? And the brakes and tires were eating me alive.

So now I jump in the Targa every now and then, and administer a slower, cheaper beating on the back roads by my house.

[JeremyD]

This is like saying I stopped banging my wife but I am getting a lot more sleep these days.

[flat6s]

What makes the old Harley keep going .... $
What makes my airplane fly ... $$$
What makes my 80 targa last so long and look and look so good $$$
What makes my race car run so fast $$$$$$$
What makes my wife feel so good and look so pretty $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
What keeps my kids at purdue .. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
How much do i have left over after all of this ...... Beer

It's a good trade

[Halm]

Interesting comments on the cost of HPDE’s. I guess I have taken a different approach. Back when SC’s were affordable, I bought one, and immediately dumped $6k into to make it reliable and fun. It is not very fast and the closing speeds by GT3’s the first couple of times was unnerving. I drive my car to the track on street tires and then drive it home. Bridgestone RE-11’s will go better than a season. A set of track pads will last me a couple of seasons. So unless I get stupid, the cost is not too bad.

I guess it is why one goes to the track. For me it is knowing that I am improving my driving skills. And I like the sights, the sounds, and the smells at the track. And best yet are the people. Over the last 20 years I have not met a better group of folks.