Cost of racing

mxracer239
Posts
174
Joined
12/19/2009
Location
Delaware, AR US
Edited Date/Time 2/19/2013 5:28pm
I was wondering how much most people spend on racing, we have 3 racing every weekend an practing @ our practice track almost every day in the summer between parts,gas, gear, entry fees we put out alot of $$$

yz 85
yz 125
crf 250
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thehuck.0
Posts
600
Joined
8/21/2012
Location
Mountain Home, AR US
12/4/2012 10:31am
too much.
GuyB
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35722
Joined
7/10/2006
Location
Aliso Viejo, CA US
12/4/2012 10:33am
It's all relative. I race RC cars on Wednesday nights, and people complain about the cost of those.
EastFlorida
Posts
2334
Joined
7/31/2010
Location
Merritt Island, FL US
12/4/2012 10:40am
This past weekend Hare Scrambles:

truck gas $120 (a LONG drive)
Gate fee $10
Race fee $50
Burger $5
Tacos $8
Drinks $8
Pre-Mix $8
Bike Gas $25
Transponder rental $5
Parts $135 FMF Sparke Arrester
Didn't break anything needing repair! $0
Suspension base line settings $25

Got to ride almost 2 hours - priceless
Barrett57
Posts
2270
Joined
8/31/2010
Location
GB
12/4/2012 10:44am
I think that with everything, it costs me £100 everytime I go riding.

The Shop

12/4/2012 10:44am
GuyB wrote:
It's all relative. I race RC cars on Wednesday nights, and people complain about the cost of those.
my uncle stopped racing race cars and picked up racing rc cars...then went back to racing full size race cars because the cost of rc was getting out of hand lol
nb11
Posts
107
Joined
12/5/2011
Location
Marietta, GA US
12/4/2012 10:50am
To go practice at the nearest track:
$20 Truck gas
$20 Practice fee

To go ride trails:
$25 Truck gas
$20 Entrance fee

HS this past weekend:
$25 Truck gas
$15 firewood (camping was free)
$10 gate fee
$25 race fee
$10 to ride the rest of the day after the race (I opted out of this, though)

Typical Moto race:
$25 Truck gas
$10 gate fee
$30 first class
$25 second class

Realistically, I only burn about $10 of gas through the bike a day.
12/4/2012 11:08am
GuyB wrote:
It's all relative. I race RC cars on Wednesday nights, and people complain about the cost of those.
I wouldn't mind seeing a write up on one of your typical RC race nights. Get someone to video your race, we have a paved RC track here, not sure about a dirt track.
Boarddesign
Posts
1112
Joined
12/13/2010
Location
Fallbrook, CA US
12/4/2012 11:50am
Last weekend TWMX series at Glen Helen
Cobra CX50 King
Ford F250 7.3liter 260 miles round trip

$100 gas
$18 gas/2stroke oil
$18 breakfast
$25 gate fee
$40 50cc 4-6/50cc open
$10 tranny oil/misc spray items
$20 Hotdogs/drinks
$25 dinner driving home/coffee

$256 total, I'd say that's pretty normal for us.. plus practice/bike maint.
activeMX
Posts
325
Joined
7/19/2011
Location
Long Beach, CA US
12/4/2012 12:04pm
I've spent just over $15K on direct cost for riding this year, including a new 450.....and I only raced twice.
burn1986
Posts
12246
Joined
4/16/2010
Location
bossier city, LA US
12/4/2012 12:09pm Edited Date/Time 12/4/2012 12:14pm
When I lived in West Texas, near Midland-Odessa (prior to '08), I could ride from my house to one track and had about 4 others within 10 mins from my house. Of course the cost of racing was a little more, but we had a group of guys who I could race against every weekend.

$10 gas, truck and bike
$8 premix
$10 to ride (if I rode at the Outback track, the others were free).

Racing
$20 gas truck and bike
$8 premix
$10 gate entry
$25 per class entry
$20 to eat

That was pretty much it.
104Dad
Posts
24
Joined
7/22/2012
Location
Thicket, TX US
12/4/2012 12:16pm
mxracer239 wrote:
I was wondering how much most people spend on racing, we have 3 racing every weekend an practing @ our practice track almost every day in...
I was wondering how much most people spend on racing, we have 3 racing every weekend an practing @ our practice track almost every day in the summer between parts,gas, gear, entry fees we put out alot of $$$

yz 85
yz 125
crf 250
We spend about 50k a year NOT including Bikes kx 85 stock, mod, local race, pratice, and supper mini,Also not including gear or trailer
chain/spk
top end each bike every 10hrs
tires
clutch
race gas
bars grips
oli
race, gate,pratice
truck/ genrator gas
food
serv, on forks
spending every weekend racing with my all worth it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Big
Posts
1006
Joined
10/18/2010
Location
SE
12/4/2012 12:21pm
mxracer239 wrote:
I was wondering how much most people spend on racing, we have 3 racing every weekend an practing @ our practice track almost every day in...
I was wondering how much most people spend on racing, we have 3 racing every weekend an practing @ our practice track almost every day in the summer between parts,gas, gear, entry fees we put out alot of $$$

yz 85
yz 125
crf 250
104Dad wrote:
We spend about 50k a year NOT including Bikes kx 85 stock, mod, local race, pratice, and supper mini,Also not including gear or trailer chain/spk top...
We spend about 50k a year NOT including Bikes kx 85 stock, mod, local race, pratice, and supper mini,Also not including gear or trailer
chain/spk
top end each bike every 10hrs
tires
clutch
race gas
bars grips
oli
race, gate,pratice
truck/ genrator gas
food
serv, on forks
spending every weekend racing with my all worth it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wait and see when they start racing big classes and national level.......ktjing!! Whistling
Miscreant317
Posts
45
Joined
11/22/2011
Location
Hedgesville, WV US
12/4/2012 12:28pm
my 2 little 50 riders myself and my wife (only the kids are riding right now)
In our 15 race series some of the race dates are at the track close to my house but the rest are 300-400 miles round trip
We usually try to leave Thursday night and get home late sunday night.
At an away race:
Fuel for box truck (1989 17' old Ryder with a 460): $130
travel food/coffee/restaurant: $40
cooler food/drinks: $60
Beer: $30 (I have like 4, the wife drinks the rest =)
Daddy can I get a (insert junk food/toy/candy/whatever): $20
Gate fees for 4: $60
Sunday race entries for 2: $60
Saturday practice fees for 2: $30
Misc oil/fluids/etc: $15

$385??? I wish I hadn't added that up damn


Most of last year it was just one of the kids but now the crazy little 4 year old has started racing. No clue how the hell I'm going to afford it. Last year I parted out a couple blown up 2-stroke craigslist specials to help fund racing those are getting harder to find cheap around here.

Kids mentioned Disney last week. I told them if we didn't race all year we should be able to save up for one week at Disney vs 15+ weekends of racing. What would you rather do? Neither the 7 year old daughter and 4 year old son hesitated in saying racing.
Miscreant317
Posts
45
Joined
11/22/2011
Location
Hedgesville, WV US
12/4/2012 12:29pm
104Dad wrote:
We spend about 50k a year NOT including Bikes kx 85 stock, mod, local race, pratice, and supper mini,Also not including gear or trailer chain/spk top...
We spend about 50k a year NOT including Bikes kx 85 stock, mod, local race, pratice, and supper mini,Also not including gear or trailer
chain/spk
top end each bike every 10hrs
tires
clutch
race gas
bars grips
oli
race, gate,pratice
truck/ genrator gas
food
serv, on forks
spending every weekend racing with my all worth it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jesus 50K a year? Thats all I make a year!
Team Ideal
Posts
1169
Joined
9/22/2008
Location
Ste. Marie, IL US
12/4/2012 12:47pm Edited Date/Time 12/4/2012 12:57pm
I don't want to know, bet it would scare the jahebas out of me. I know two years ago when we raced a whole year without injury I spent the cost of damn near a new bike on keeping 2 running strong all race season, this was just thru stock replacement parts bought at dealership, doesn't include stuff bought thru mail order, chains, sprocket, air filters, grips ect... in the past 6 weeks we've been traveling a lot getting back into race pace and we have spent over 2000 on just gas for the vehicle to travel in. this counts both a RV getting an average of 7 mpg and a van getting around 16 mpg.
P
Posts
6054
Joined
11/21/2006
Location
Greensboro, NC US
12/4/2012 12:51pm
mxracer239 wrote:
I was wondering how much most people spend on racing, we have 3 racing every weekend an practing @ our practice track almost every day in...
I was wondering how much most people spend on racing, we have 3 racing every weekend an practing @ our practice track almost every day in the summer between parts,gas, gear, entry fees we put out alot of $$$

yz 85
yz 125
crf 250
Are you seeing results from all of the time and effort that you are putting out?


P
dsmith
Posts
4560
Joined
3/29/2011
Location
way north, IN US
Fantasy
12/4/2012 12:55pm Edited Date/Time 12/4/2012 12:57pm
my guess....at least $100,000 a year.......had 7 r/c cars..sold 2 of them for funds to buy a 2004 kx...lol
reded
Posts
3682
Joined
3/26/2011
Location
KS US
12/4/2012 1:11pm
104Dad wrote:
We spend about 50k a year NOT including Bikes kx 85 stock, mod, local race, pratice, and supper mini,Also not including gear or trailer chain/spk top...
We spend about 50k a year NOT including Bikes kx 85 stock, mod, local race, pratice, and supper mini,Also not including gear or trailer
chain/spk
top end each bike every 10hrs
tires
clutch
race gas
bars grips
oli
race, gate,pratice
truck/ genrator gas
food
serv, on forks
spending every weekend racing with my all worth it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jesus 50K a year? Thats all I make a year!
I'm right there with ya brother. The rising cost has forced many to hang it up, especially in the last 3-4 yrs. When I quit 10 yrs ago a hundred dollar bill would cover an entire weekend.
12/4/2012 1:32pm
When I lived in North Carolina I considered racing amateur day at the Budds National, which usually runs one four-lap moto.

Between gas, entry, hotel, and everything I figured the race weekend would cost $400.

So if I raced one moto that came out to $100 a race lap, and $50 per race lap if I did two classes.

I left the bike at home.
DW324
Posts
32
Joined
12/4/2012
Location
Clinton Township, MI US
12/4/2012 2:02pm
Hey guys... Been lurking for a while but had to reply to this topic. So this is my first post.

For me in Michigan its about $40 in gas to get to the track. $20-$25 to ride for the day (open practice). $45 if I race one class, $65 if i race two classes on race weekends. Throw in $10 bucks for some food and water. On average i rode 2 times a week from March thru this past weekend.

I used to boat race for the last 9 years and the cost of that sport would make your head spin!!!! About $5000 per weekend for entry fees, rooms, fuel for boat and fuel for the truck. That's not counting boat repairs when you break the thing!! Try that at 7 races per year.

I can race all year on my own with no sponsors for what it cost's to run one race with the boat!!!

In my eyes this is the best sport ever with a very low cost to get into at a local level.
jleews6
Posts
2304
Joined
8/3/2008
Location
Hardy, VA US
12/4/2012 2:26pm
I try not to think about how much I spend on my sons racing because it gets depressing. This winter we are planing three or four trips to Florida so he can ride and Im sure it will be atleast a grand per trip.
The good thing is that I get to spend allot of time with my son and to me that is well worth the price that I pay.

My other son is into Mustangs and does a little drag racing. I also help him just as much with that as I do with the Motocross.

I have invested ALLOT of time and ALLOT of money in both of my kids but Im very lucky because I have two great kids that work hard and respect mom and dad.
12/4/2012 3:45pm Edited Date/Time 12/4/2012 3:46pm
For me a racing season (about 35-40h on the meter) is around $7k on average, not counting the actual cost of the bike or the van. This includes regular fuel for the van, race fuel, gear, parts for the van and bikes, entry fees and such. That means about $175 an hour on average.
Roscoe33
Posts
942
Joined
12/10/2009
Location
London CA
12/4/2012 4:00pm Edited Date/Time 12/5/2012 6:33am
One of the shops I ran the owner ( made his money in trucks) used to joke about how do you make a million dollars in motocross racing, you start with 2 million.
I have 26 National titles you can't put a price on, you race for the expriences of life,
The cost in dollars is only a very narrow focus on the true impact of racing.
mx5471
Posts
986
Joined
7/10/2008
Location
AL US
12/4/2012 4:05pm Edited Date/Time 12/4/2012 4:07pm
Wow. I need a job like you guys got. We had wonderful sponsors, free gear, tires, oils,suspension, even goggles. So i won't go into bike costs, because we were very fortunate to have them. But here's what it cost me in '04 to go to an LL Regional Qualifier. Keep in mind, gas has doubled in price. My old junk camper, pulling the trailer was lucky to get 8 miles a gallon. I also won't add in gas for the bike. We only had one, so he rode it in all the classes, or food, because you have to eat anyway. It was 600 miles round trip.
gas= $150
gate fee, ( 3 days@ 10 a day each) = $90
practice fee, ( $25 for each class you qualified for, ( 3 laps), but you don't have to run them all= $100
Race fee, ( $35 dollars each class), = $140
There's always something you need, or a problem when you're there, so add that in. So that comes to about $500, 8 years ago. We were happy with it then, as it was only a 5 hour trip. Add another $150 for gas today, and it's $650, if other fees haven't gone up. Then we had to go to Loretta's, and it was about 3 grand for that. I don't know how people do it these days.
MR. X
Posts
6913
Joined
6/24/2010
Location
North Tonawanda, NY US
12/4/2012 4:09pm
Just add it to the question of why we do it . When people ask what the attraction is of racing a dirtbike ,they arn't even talking about hundreds of dollars spent just to break even .
chump6784
Posts
1770
Joined
5/9/2011
Location
AU
12/4/2012 6:34pm
With my wife and I riding it usually breaks down to
$50 - $60 for race fees
$20 in bike fuel
$5 in premix
$10 in food and drinks cos we take our own, maybe buy a Gatorade or something.
Don't pay for fuel to get there cos I have a company ute with fuel card.

Was talking to my dad about this the other day and he said when my brother and I raced 10 years ago it would cost him on average $200 a day. That's taking into account local club days and far away race meets. That's if nothing broke. We did 32 weekends a year so that's $6400 plus 2 new bikes a year at 7k each for a 125 and that isn't taking into account gear or maintenance.

It isn't a cheap sport but hasn't got any dearer in the last 10 year's other than fuel and bikes
jndmx
Posts
9691
Joined
1/20/2008
Location
South Kingston, RI US
12/4/2012 7:25pm
2012 was the first season in 9 years that I didn't bring a bike to the line......
My son has started working and is going to be going to college and decided to take a break from riding/racing to focus on that.

Every penny that gave us time together was well spent.....I miss it.
activeMX
Posts
325
Joined
7/19/2011
Location
Long Beach, CA US
12/4/2012 7:48pm
I'm really looking forward to the day my riding takes a third row back seat to my son's. Even if he's a horrible rider I imagine going to the track will be some of our best memories and I will spend every penny if he wants to pursue it. Without a doubt that's how I think of time spent with my dad.
mxsuzuki831
Posts
156
Joined
7/28/2009
Location
Axton, VA US
12/4/2012 8:39pm
I made up a BASIC expense sheet on what it is going to cost me to race the East coast rounds this year, I would post it up here but I know how some of the people are on here. I am 100% on my own this year and trying everything I can to get a few companies to help but its hard in todays economy!
racin mason
Posts
877
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Long Beach, WA US
12/4/2012 9:13pm Edited Date/Time 12/4/2012 9:14pm
Long gone are the days when a kid could earn enough money from a summer job and go racing.
Im damn glad I got to be one of those kids

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