Package includes a parade lap for one person in Chili Pepper Racing/Remote Area Medical driver Ken Dobson's #7 BMW 325ci at the Monterey Sports Car Championships at the Mazda Speedway Laguna Seca on Sept 5-7th, 2003. Package also includes weekend passes for 4, 4 t-shirts, and 4 Ken Dobson signed trading cards. You'll have a chance to team up with Ken and the Chili Pepper Racing crew and meet other drivers in the World Challenge Touring and GT series and even stay on Sunday to watch the American Le Mans series in action. Chili Pepper Racing was formed in 2002 to serve as a vehicle to raise monies and awareness for charities at no cost for them through racing. To learn more about our team and the charities we support, visit our web site at www.chilipepperracing.org

Ken Dobson ride in car package on e-bay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2190370770)

Haha Ken Dobson trading cards wtf. I wouldn't pay 1000 to drive his car, let alone ride in it.

A parade lap? Weeeaaaak.

For a thousand bucks, I want a couple of hot laps. Maybe they can track down the guy that almost wiped out the Bugatti there a few weeks ago. :D

-Charlie

I'm pretty sure this is the first time they've tried something like this, so they'll have to go thru a little trial and error to see what works for them (starting bid, etc.).

He has a very high opinion of himself and his car.

For a grand I could do a track day at Laguna in a rented car and have waaaaay more fun and maybe even learn something.

I will say this - for the right person this could add some more fun to the weekend. Say for a racing fan that isn't active on the track and is looking for a charitable write off.

If it was 1999, I could have used a write-off of that size myself. Oh well, the bull market will return one day.

Originally posted by nsk223
I wouldn't pay 1000 to drive his car, let alone ride in it.

Interesting, since an average weekend ride would be $15K and up in a competitive car.

Hey give em credit for offering the opportunity. It would probably be a fun weekend for the winning bidder.

nsk223, Charlie, and LmtdSlip...
If any of you had bothered to read the last line:

"Chili Pepper Racing was formed in 2002 to serve as a vehicle to raise monies and awareness for charities at no cost for them through racing. To learn more about our team and the charities we support, visit our web site at www.chilipepperracing.org"

....you'd realize this is not about what you can do for YOURSELF with that money....

Damn I would never pay 1g for a damn ride

Damn I would never pay 1g for a damn ride

Because you're all show and no go.

Went to the Laguna Seca race and got to meet Ken and the team, but did not get to do the ride (team was very busy dealing with some problem to get the car ready). Earlier in the day I got to talk to him about the ride (btw he seems like a great guy)

As I looked in the car I asked him where someone would sit.

The rider would sit on the battery box and hold onto the roll cage. :eek:

Originally posted by FiKtIOn
Because you're all show and no go.

Ahhh...and you must be 'go' with your clutch stop :biglaughb

Respectfully, track/test days in a competitve World Challenge Touring car will cost you WAY more than 1G and you have to have a pro SCCA racing lic.. Tires and track fees alone cost more than 1G for either a practice or test day.....but it is a nice thought.

Essentially, the 15-20 G's per weekend you are charged for a rental covers Test and practice days and they "give" you the use of the car for the 50 min race. It is not only because the cars cost nearly $150,000 each to build but because of the complexity you have to have a full crew to run the car and they expect transportation, food, lodging and some sort of reimbursement for their time. Don't forget gas @ $4+/gallon...you get around 8 miles+/- per gallon. You also have to haul the car to the track in something...it isn't free either. Racing of any kind is expensive but at a Profession level it gets crazy........rent a car in NASCAR for a weekend it will cost you $200,000 and you can only turn in one direction.

Basically it is not like track days in IT car or driving school car. Generally speaking the World Challenge drivers get 3 20 min sessions on test day and 2 20 min sessions on Practice days.......pretty anemic isn't it.


Check out the issue of Grassroots Motorsports coming out later this month. They have a little blurb in one of their articles on the cost of racing n the World Challenge.

Originally posted by LmtdSlip
I didnt say in a race. I said a track day. Thanks for paying attention. :orangesle

I believe YOU might consider paying attention, as my response was to a DIRECT quote from someone other than yourself. Thanks for coming out... :rolleyes:

"Interesting, since an average weekend ride would be $15K and up in a competitive car."

For one run? A PARADE lap? I find that hard to believe.

Anyways, there's not even a harness or seat for the passenger. Why is that allowed when they are generally so safety-oriented?

Like sex, some things are hard to explain. Come to Road Atlanta for Round 9 of the World Challenge Series with AMLS Petite Lemans and see what you think. Sebring is not too far from you either and March is always the season opener with the 12 of Sebring.

BmwracerITS. You're right about that, I meant to say that I wouldn't pay 1k to drive the car for the 'parade laps,' let alone pay to ride in it.

Originally posted by stjobs
For one run? A PARADE lap? I find that hard to believe.

Anyways, there's not even a harness or seat for the passenger. Why is that allowed when they are generally so safety-oriented?

A) No, I wasn't referring to a parade lap...I was referring to the person who said that wouldn't pay $1000 to drive the car. By "drive", I assume he meant for a race.

B) Parade laps are at low speed to show the cars off before the race. Often, a crew member gets to ride around as reward for his effort for the weekend...or maybe a sponsor. Ken is simply auctioning off a ride in the parage lap as a way to raise more $$ for the charity he supports...why is this such a big deal?

C) As for safety...why do you think it would be a safety issue to ride around for a parade lap? They aren't racing, just cruising around the track, getting the car to operating temp, and showing the car/sponsors off to the fans.

Here's an interesting pic from www.TheRaceSite.com

http://www.theracesite.com/index.cfmpagetype=3&template=event2.cfm&fei=290

http://216.219.236.142/photos/03wclstcj-18.jpg

but mom, i wanna ride the bright yellow one :(