how much does it cost to get into SCCA club racing on a fairly professional level?? how much capital investment??

One million dollars

http://images.gamedev.net/forums/one_million_dr_evil.jpg

If you have to ask, you cant afford it.

Are you asking about high level club racing, or low level Pro Racing? Either way it's a lot.

yea just curious to see what a ball part number would be

yea just curious to see what a ball part number would be

What series? What car? What class?

What series? What car? What class?

SCCA cr?

SCCA cr?

SCCA club racing is pretty broad.

Spec RX7 - $12,000 the first year and car less after that if you don't wreck too much

Spec Miata - $10,000 for the car if you don't care $20,000 if you want to win and then a few thousand per race weekend.

That's about as cheap as it gets. Want to win the runoffs in GT1 or GT2? You need hundreds of thousands of dollars.

first u gotta be sik wit it, ya herd?

I am thinking $200,000 for "fairly professional" for the first year's expense starting with nothing for car, transport, crew, consumables, equipment, travel, food, and lodging resulting in a "fairly successful" trip to the runoffs.

I am thinking $200,000 for "fairly professional" for the first year's expense starting with nothing for car, transport, crew, consumables, equipment, travel, food, and lodging resulting in a "fairly successful" trip to the runoffs.

I know that a few years ago when my buddy Mike won the runoffs in SRF, they spent $45K or so JUST for the runoffs. This counts an extra weekend at Mid Ohio (now Topeka).

I am thinking $200,000 for "fairly professional" for the first year's expense starting with nothing for car, transport, crew, consumables, equipment, travel, food, and lodging resulting in a "fairly successful" trip to the runoffs.

what kind of car would this include?

SCCA club racing is pretty broad.

Spec RX7 - $12,000 the first year and car less after that if you don't wreck too much

Spec Miata - $10,000 for the car if you don't care $20,000 if you want to win and then a few thousand per race weekend.

That's about as cheap as it gets. Want to win the runoffs in GT1 or GT2? You need hundreds of thousands of dollars.

good break down.

first u gotta be sik wit it, ya herd?

truth :)

what kind of car would this include?

Heck if I know....maybe a used T2 car or something? A WRX or Z car or E46 M3 (some listed aren't really competitive) or something like that. A buddy of mine campaigned a Z a couple of years ago and finished mid-pack at the runoffs. They burned over $70K. $200K should fund a potential winner if the right car is chosen and the car's driven very well.

The SECOND year could be done for a LOT less as much of the fixed costs would be covered in the first year (transporter, equipment, race car - assuming no big crash damage).

Heck if I know....maybe a used T2 car or something? A WRX or Z car or E46 M3 (some listed aren't really competitive) or something like that. A buddy of mine campaigned a Z a couple of years ago and finished mid-pack at the runoffs. They burned over $70K. $200K should fund a potential winner if the right car is chosen and the car's driven very well.

The SECOND year could be done for a LOT less as much of the fixed costs would be covered in the first year (transporter, equipment, race car - assuming no big crash damage).

true, is there a website ( besides the scca cr site ) that has information on what cars / engine configurations are legal?

thanks for the valid information!

true, is there a website ( besides the scca cr site ) that has information on what cars / engine configurations are legal?

thanks for the valid information!

Yes, but a more informative source would be to research results pages showing what cars are winning, not just what cars are allowed.

very true

Yes, but a more informative source would be to research results pages showing what cars are winning, not just what cars are allowed.

Worse you need to know that in some classes you are competing against semi-factory efforts. You are not going to out spend those teams. Ever.

Worse you need to know that in some classes you are competing against semi-factory efforts. You are not going to out spend those teams. Ever.


True fact. This is one of the reasons why I sort of question the OP's way of "backing into" what kind of car should be used. Figure out the car and class, THEN figure out if you can swing the budget.

True fact. This is one of the reasons why I sort of question the OP's way of "backing into" what kind of car should be used. Figure out the car and class, THEN figure out if you can swing the budget.

Yup. If you are starting out there is a long list of questions to answer.

1. What can I really spend in a year? Buying the car is the cheap part.
2. Do I want to race a sedan, sports racer, or an open wheel car?
3. Do I care if I race nationally, or am I going to be a local guy?
4. What can I spend in a year?
5. If I get divorced because of this, can I still spend that much? (Not kidding)
6. Am I going to do the work myself or pay someone else to do it for me?
7. Am I going to get the car to the track myself or pay someone to do it?
8. Why do I want to race?
8a. If technology and tinkering are the answers research C and D Sports Racers.
8b. If competition is the answer I'd start with Spec Racer Ford or Spec Miata. Expect to get your head handed to you for a while. The guy in 12th at a 45 car race is pretty damn good.

Yup. If you are starting out there is a long list of questions to answer.

1. What can I really spend in a year? Buying the car is the cheap part.
2. Do I want to race a sedan, sports racer, or an open wheel car?
3. Do I care if I race nationally, or am I going to be a local guy?
4. What can I spend in a year?
5. If I get divorced because of this, can I still spend that much? (Not kidding)
6. Am I going to do the work myself or pay someone else to do it for me?
7. Am I going to get the car to the track myself or pay someone to do it?
8. Why do I want to race?
8a. If technology and tinkering are the answers research C and D Sports Racers.
8b. If competition is the answer I'd start with Spec Racer Ford or Spec Miata. Expect to get your head handed to you for a while. The guy in 12th at a 45 car race is pretty damn good.


great information and list, wanna start slow and work up forsure!

Good thread guys. I keep toying with idea of racing, then budgetary reality sets in.

May try some AutoX, Solo II.

Good thread guys. I keep toying with idea of racing, then budgetary reality sets in.

May try some AutoX, Solo II.

Hold on there. You can go club racing and have a GREAT time for a hell of a lot less money than the numbers being thrown about in this thread.

Hold on there. You can go club racing and have a GREAT time for a hell of a lot less money than the numbers being thrown about in this thread.

Sure you can. The range is massive.

Regional IT racing is as fun as National whatever racing. You can do this on the cheap. What you need is the time to do a lot of work yourself, the mechanical knowledge to do the work, or friends willing to help. You will be happier if you have a way to tow the car to the track and back. Wrecking the car you were going to drive home sucks. I have been there.

I don't want to discourage anyone. My first race car was a Spec RX7. I built it myself, with a lot of help and advice from people who had gone before me. I bought the car as a street car for $900 and then put a cage in it .

I'd also say this, the more trick a race car is in terms of what you can adjust, the easier it is to screw things up. One of the advantages to the cheaper classes is that it is harder to screw up the car.

Lastly, RENT A CAR TO SEE IF YOU LIKE RACING!!!! The world is full of people who love cars, love driving fast and do not really want to race. The only way to know this is to try it. If you can try it without investing a ton of time and money you'll know if you should invest the time and money.

Sure you can. The range is massive.

Regional IT racing is as fun as National whatever racing. You can do this on the cheap. What you need is the time to do a lot of work yourself, the mechanical knowledge to do the work, or friends willing to help. You will be happier if you have a way to tow the car to the track and back. Wrecking the car you were going to drive home sucks. I have been there.

I don't want to discourage anyone. My first race car was a Spec RX7. I built it myself, with a lot of help and advice from people who had gone before me. I bought the car as a street car for $900 and then put a cage in it .

I'd also say this, the more trick a race car is in terms of what you can adjust, the easier it is to screw things up. One of the advantages to the cheaper classes is that it is harder to screw up the car.

Lastly, RENT A CAR TO SEE IF YOU LIKE RACING!!!! The world is full of people who love cars, love driving fast and do not really want to race. The only way to know this is to try it. If you can try it without investing a ton of time and money you'll know if you should invest the time and money.

very true good point