Annual Track Expenses

[SQ13]

How many years do you figure NT01s last? I don't track my car enough (1-2 events a year) so my NT01s have plenty of life but they're early 2022 code. Full time garaged car.

I think the oldest NT01s I’ve run were around five years old. No issues for me personally. Might not have yielded lap times similar to new NT01s, but I was able to run them down to the cords.

[D-O]

I don’t keep track of it because I’m not a masochist.

This would be the preferred method. I have a similar attitude with my house. I could add up the purchase price, interest, taxes, insurance, upgrades, maintenance, and repairs, but I prefer the fantasy that it has been a good investment.

At the very least, the car is fun.

[Obioban]

Mostly tires/gas/hotel.
Entry: generally free
Tires: 1 set every 1-2 years. I mostly use NT01s because they last and last compared to anything else I've run
Rotors: FCP
Pads: FCP
Brake fluid: FCP
Misc upkeep: FCP
Hotel: Drive home for 3 local tracks, or split with a friend if further away

A nice thing about having owned this car for 20 years is I've purchased most things from FCP at some point by now

[Obioban]

This would be the preferred method. I have a similar attitude with my house. I could add up the purchase price, interest, taxes, insurance, upgrades, maintenance, and repairs, but I prefer the fantasy that it has been a good investment.

At the very least, the car is fun.

House I track, because any money you put into can be subtracted from capital gains if/when you sell it (however far into the future).

All car related expenses, I also prefer not to track. That said, I'm pretty confident they're cheaper than "normal" people with car payments and leases.

[bigjae46]

FYI...I run Apex 17x10 wheels. Not sure how much longer they will be available but Falken RT660s are about $100 less than an 18" tire. $50 less for NT01s. For me, tires are the biggest consumable.

[D-O]

House I track, because any money you put into can be subtracted from capital gains if/when you sell it (however far into the future).

All car related expenses, I also prefer not to track. That said, I'm pretty confident they're cheaper than "normal" people with car payments and leases.

Oh I have records for every nickle I have spent on my house, I just have no intention of adding it all up.

[liam821]

I race up here in the PNW in time attack (~500hp Honda Civic EG Hatchback) and my biggest expense is gas. I run a mix of 110 and 92 octane (50/50), which comes out to around $7/gallon, at ~2-3mpg or about a gallon of gas every other lap, I burn through around 30 or so gallons in a day (I generally bring 40 gallons of fuel with me). Plus a tank of diesel in the X5 to tow to and from the track.

I do oil changes every track day and tires last me about 6 events (Falken RT660s). Tires are pretty cheap though (245/40r15 front, 205/50r15 rear). Brakes every other year (AP racing BBKs). Lastly, I rebuild the engine every 3 years (full inspection, new rod/main bearings, water pump, oil pump, timing belt etc etc) as preventative maintenance - but I do the work myself and it only costs a few hundred bucks and a weekend of my time - that Honda life.

[CrookedCommie]

If you track the expenses you won't end up doing it. I'd be able to retire had I saved and invested the money instead of tracked over the last decade+.... but I'd still do it again.

[D-O]

If you track the expenses you won't end up doing it. I'd be able to retire had I saved and invested the money instead of tracked over the last decade+.... but I'd still do it again.

As Yogi Berra once said, "If I had to do it all over again, I'd do it all over again."

[George Hill]

I think there is a difference between tracking expenses and being worried about the total costs.

I have a fixed track budget and if it costs me $225 to go to every event, even if I shave $25 off that allows me to go to more events over time. Same reason people DIY repairs vs taking it to a shop. Same reason I might over spend on something to keep from wasting a weekend at the track from a dumb failure. I had to buy a spark plug once, that cost me $38, boy did that hurt my feelings lol.

IF we were talking about saving money vs the total cost of our car hobby then we should all be driving around in Model 3s lol

[Slideways]

I think there is a difference between tracking expenses and being worried about the total costs.

I have a fixed track budget and if it costs me $225 to go to every event, even if I shave $25 off that allows me to go to more events over time. Same reason people DIY repairs vs taking it to a shop. Same reason I might over spend on something to keep from wasting a weekend at the track from a dumb failure. I had to buy a spark plug once, that cost me $38, boy did that hurt my feelings lol.

IF we were talking about saving money vs the total cost of our car hobby then we should all be driving around in Model 3s lol

I feel like the insurance premium on a new car versus old one would be more than your event budget every month lol, assuming you did 12 events a year. Even better if you don't need insurance on your track car.