What do you racers do for a living????

[widavenp]

emergency physician. former nurse.  There are plenty of healthcare jobs that pay well and provide flexible schedules for racing and any other pursuits, with training only 2-3 yrs. in duration.....

[dragonfly]

There are a few finances issues I guess I should make lite of...

I also currantely breed and raise reptiles. We are currantly getting into some very neat and rare species that will begin to bring some extra cash, starting somewere in the next year.

My Fiance read my last post and said she is more than mostly supportive about this "dream".
I am very lucky to be marying a well educated woman (Bachlers in Material science/enginering)
And has been open to sharing it as something we can do together......

Thank you guys for all the excelent input! I will keep much of what has been said so far for a long time. Its very nice to have an outlet to find this info... especially in the middle of winter.

As far as the credit issue, I had absolutly no intentions of doing everything via credit/debt.
Dosent sound fun.

bring on as much input as you want!!!
Thanks
Micah

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

My Fiance read my last post and said she is more than mostly supportive about this "dream".

As far as the credit issue, I had absolutly no intentions of doing everything via credit/debt.
Dosent sound fun.

     Great to hear that your fiance is supportive, that will prove extremely beneficial to your racing effort in the long run. I have personally known several racers who had to quite because their 'other 1/2' didn't see the purpose in racing. Just like with marriage, if somethings not acceptable before the marraige it will only get worse, not better. It would be a good idea to establish ahead of time what your commitment to this sport will involve both time wise and monetarily. Following an entire season along with the Race of Champions (ROC) will require quite a few weekends away from home and work which can be stressful on a relationship if she chooses not to come with you. The people that you will get to know thru racing are generally great people, this also includes the very valuable 'support staff' of freinds, relatives, and/or pit crew that you may have and meet at the track. Many of the wives that accompany their husbands to the track develop great relationships with the other wives and 'support staff' that are there also.

     If you want to get up front consistently it will likely require that you run at least 3 or 4 classes at each event you attend. Track time under racing conditions is very valuable and will help you to get faster in itself. I would also suggest seeking quality instruction from someone who can work with you and provide accurate advice and instruction, like SuperDave here on the board. You've probably heard the phrase 'bad habits are hard to break', this applies to racing too. There are many bad habits that you learn while riding on the street that don't apply to the track and also some bad habits that can be learned on the track as well. Getting quality instruction to teach you the right way to do things, before you develop too many bad habits, will be one of the best things to catapult your racing in the right direction.

     Another issue common to new racers is what to invest money toward on their bike. Absolutely without a doubt this would be suspension! If you did nothing more than have your bike set-up for you as a rider it would prove to be a very wise investment. Too many new racers worry about shaving weight off the bike or big $ improvements to the engine or light weight wheels when they should be concentrating on how the bike handles instead. This is where a qualified instructor can be of great assistance in getting you to a point where your bike handles properly. The money that could have been spent on motor modifications would be better spent on suspension set-up and qualified instruction. Be cautious though of who gives you advice, because there is alot of bad advice floating around out there as well.

     When I cautioned you about credit I should have elaborated a little bit more. Most people don't go into racing wanting to do it all on credit cards, but things happen and that trend too often becomes a reality. If you can start out correctly and continue doing it all with cash then you shouldn't ever have to experience the debths of credit hell due to racing expenses. I have been there, as my freinds know, and to this day I am still paying for some of the racing expenses I incurred in the late 90's! This also forced me to leave the sport for a couple years, but I returned a much wiser person. If you keep your eyes open to this you will see many racers leave the sport throughout your racing career due to massive debt.

     This sport will most likely become like an all encompassing drug for you which you won't have any real control over, which often times leads to the credit card use. You will also learn that alot of people outside of the sport won't want to hear you constantly talk about racing, some because they don't 'get it' and others due to jealousy. But that's what forum's like this are for, like minded racers! :)

[kz2zx]

dragonfly,

I'm new at this racing thing, too.

To answer your first question, I'm an engineering manager helping a software requirements group for a tiny electronics shop based in Schaumberg, Ill. I live in Phoenix.

I'd like to lay out my expenses and budget for racing for ya, in broad strokes.

Bike:  '94 ZX-6E, $700
Race-Tech Springs and Emulators: $210
Tires: Michelin Pilot Powers (for cold winter tracks) - $230.  I expect to lay out $230 every third month for Pilot Race or Pilot Powers for the season.
Mods to bike in prep for racing:
Swingarm lugs to accept spools: $80
Spools: $20
Race stand: $85
spare bodywork of ebay and levers/shifter: $140
specialty tools (like hex-bit sockets for the axle): $35
Safetywire, oilfilter, oil, tape, misc: $90

That's just the bike.

Trailer: $900 incl title/reg
Wheelchock/tiedowns: $180

This category is stuff I already have for the street, but some portion of it was due to planning for the track:
Leathers: $1540
Helmet: $410
Gloves: $165
Boots: $210
Back Protector: $90

This is before hitting the track ONCE with this bike.   Notice no money on exhaust (it's the stock for now), jet kits, ignition advancers, etc.  This is because I need to learn to make a slow bike go fast, and possibly learn racing while doing it. Think of it as a 'game-improvement club'... and after this season I'll buy a more competitive bike (or a slower one that will let me enter more classes).

California Superbike School: $620.  They taught me some things I didn't expect - the importance of very fast steering inputs and the ability to overcome poor damping therein (and reducing the need to hang off as far) for one. Also that the track was what throws the endorphin switch for me - much more than the street.  Lots of people try the School and decide the track is not for them, with me it was the opposite.

So, now, racing expenses I plan each month during the season:
Race entry fees, gate/pit fees: $160
Gasoline (pump gas for bike and tow vehicle): $55
Hotel, food: $70
Tires: $75/mo
Incidentals (brakes, sprockets): $40

But there will be big unplanned expenses, so I plan for the exhaust-scrapping lowside (don't think the bike will be too likely to highside, but a bad enough wreck will end the season) or the new helmet, and am trying to keep $500 in the 'crash' fund.

I don't think it's uncommon for racers to spend $15-$20k/yr on racing.  I hope to keep it down to under $400/mo for 6 months, and want to get out of the year for $3000 including trackdays.

Gsxr Mike has a really good point about credit.  I did/will do all of this in cash, and won't race if I don't have the money beforehand. I won't even repair the bike if I have not the money...

All I want out of this season is know-how and a white plate.  

[dwilson]

I'm a technologies technician (computers, networking, phones, etc...) for the state.  Pay is much less than when I worked for a company but work enviroment is rather "relaxed" here  :)
I sell used BMW car parts sometimes to fund my BMW car hobby too.

I don't race much but do a few race weekends each year for the rush.  I pay all my own racing bills, no one sponsors dead-ass-last...

[bsavoie]

I agree with the advice given in this forum on not using credit for racing.  I used credit cards this year, although I never charged more than I could payoff.
One bit of advice that hasn't been mentioned though, is MAKE SURE YOU HAVE MEDICAL COVERAGE PRIOR TO GETTING ON A RACETRACK!!!!
Even though I think your chances of getting seriously injured (and I meen life threatening/disabled) are higher when you ride your bike to work, the chance of having a minor crash is much higher on the track.  Minor crashes, and I mean stitches, broken fingers or toes, ect can put you in debt for years.  A ambulance trip to the hospital with a fractured leg can set you back 20 to 30 grand easily. Not to mention (God forbid) a serious injury.  Not only does the hospital trip cost a lot, but you also have to figure that a minor injury like a broken ankle can set you out of work for a while.

As for what I do, I am in the Navy, I am a Nuclear Propulsion Tech and serve on Subs.  For the next Nine months anyways.  Anyone here looking to employ me next fall? ;)

[deltadave]

You might do what Dave Estok does.  He has a successful racing career and still manages to operate a growing business. :)

[bigtuna]

I own a furniture store.  


Oh and being divorced helps the cause....nobody reminding me of how much money I am blowing

[Super Dave]

You might do what Dave Estok does.  He has a successful racing career and still manages to operate a growing business. :)

LOL!
 ;D

[Super Dave]

Mods to bike in prep for racing:

All I want out of this season is know-how and a white plate.  

Stock shock?

The geometry of the bike is ultimately the key to the bike's handling and how you are able to control it.

One can learn how to ride bikes that work "poorly", or one can learn to ride a bike that has the proper mechanical advantage of correct geometry...trail, anti-squat, etc.  

I don't know the GMD Computrack web link, but I know my shop's link...  http://4and6.com

Riding a bike that isn't set up correctly is like trying to do a paint by number painting with one color.  You can only do so much by watering down the color and all.  It won't be right, won't look right, and it isn't a reflection of what you might be capable of...but it does show that you're patient...but how much time does that cost?  And how much time, effort, and money does one waste as a result?  

Just a thought for you...

[kz2zx]

Stock shock?

I put in the race-tech, and cut the preload spacers, put a taller Michelin front (120/70) on the bike, dropped the triples on the forks about 10mm to slightly lower the front overall (installed F3 clip-ons along the way), then set the sag with the rear preload. That's all I can afford for suspension until March.

I hope to find a set-up guru to go over the bike with me at the bike's first trackday (next weekend). If consensus opinion is that the rear really sucks, I guess I'll be looking for professional help before the first ASMA race (conveniently located in March:D)


dave

[boo181]

i have a degree in architecture, that i rearly use. do some freelance drawings from time to time. my "real" job is i'm a home builder. make descent money at it, but i'm always looking for ways to make more ;D