The hidden costs of Challenge competition.

Sad to say I will not be bringing Jean Clyde Damn Van this year. I had not planned well for the "non-challenge" costs of fuel, lodging, food, etc. and it has caught up to me. Throw in the costs associated with rehabbing my rotator cuff and I'm spent. I make this promise to bring him next year come hell or high water.

I think a short article on the costs associated with attending the event would be interesting. Factors like travel to and from, lodging, etc might save another unfortunate soul from diving in the deep end before reality sets in. I am sad not to be going, but I am on the verge of having an awesome tow rig and trackside support vehicle. Without the Challenge I never would have even done that.

Thank you GRM, Patgizz, Dusterbd13, et al for your knowledge and support.

It's just like going on vacation unless it's local and you can drive back home.

In my previous race years I have done a race weekend on for less than $400 including entry fees and fuel. But then again I went with a group of racers and we camped or crammed 10 people into a double twin bed room.....

Yes it is a factor. I'm only 1.5 hours away but I'll have close to $500 into the weekend with gas, food, lodging, and event registration.

In reply to vwcorvette:

I'd contribute to a go fund me for you to go, because I firmly believe in the awesomeness of your van

And you're welcome.

In reply to Dusterbd13:

I considered gofundme and other sites but couldn't bring myself to ask others to fund my hobby. I appreciate the sentiment. I will take the year to get the van right and regardless of soccer mom catagory compete next year.

We typically burn 181 gallons of fuel on the trip. When it was over $4 it was $750 hit.... no hotel, no food, no nothing....

You have a van! That's your lodging! And I'm sure no one at the event will let a fellow American starve. So there's the food. Cheeseball it FTW. Then Pay it forward on the next years event.

Maybe along the way you can convert it to a pickup truck for the $2017 pickup class.

Yes, the cost associated with getting there is generally as much as the car costs me or more. Typically I've always been able to sell more off my cars than I have been allowed to use for recoup and that has always helped fuel the hobby.

Andy Neuman wrote: Maybe along the way you can convert it to a pickup truck for the $2017 pickup class. Yes, the cost associated with getting there is generally as much as the car costs me or more. Typically I've always been able to sell more off my cars than I have been allowed to use for recoup and that has always helped fuel the hobby.

That's a good plan. But the van had nothing to give up. Might try getting a few parts vehicles to sell off and build a cash reserve for next year though.

Don't forget the cost of sticky rubber. The key is to keep developing the car that you campaign year to year.

I'm sorry to hear that you are not going to make your goal this year. But, I would like to say that if the my Lincoln project goes well, I will be looking forward to meeting you next year!

Two entry fees plus hotel for three nights. I am 800 in already. Hopefully i will make that much off van when i am finished. I made 900 last year off the Lincoln, which just about covered it...

I feel your pain as well. 2k I can spare, but the drive from PHX is well over 24hrs. Would need a week off work, a ton of gas and a much, much more understanding wife (soon to be ex as I am tired of the not understanding).

It is a fact of many forms of armature racing. When I was rallying, the 1k ish entry was not anything near the cost of a weekend. 5 guy, tow gas, tow rig, repairs due to me not knowing how to fix something right the first time, tires, beer, ect. A weekend could touch 3k without an issue and 5-6k if repairs where needed and I know I played in the somewhat shallow end of the pool.

Now that I am done playing the small fiddle for myself, I would be in for a go fund me site. My best chance to go and play is through the act of others, the only thing I would ask from a go fund me donation would be a full picture and narrative thread on GRM. DO IT, DO IT, DO IT, DO IT...

I'm coming from north idaho.2700 miles one way and 15 days total. On the plus side the caprice has logged 25.7 mpg and 31.3 mpg somehow the last 2 trips.

Its still not a definite on me coming down but I'm trying. Car won't be totally done regardless but the important bits will be.

It would be stellar to have a west coast version of this......

My first several chalenges I would arrive on Thursday and leave on Saturday. To keep room costs down and be at work Monday.

Now I plan a full vacation arrive Monday And leave Sunday. Driving for 17hrs takes a lot more out of me now.

My beer budget alone would exceed the car budget, or no point in going.

We take a week and a half off work, load up kids and car, and turn it into our family vacation. I have a choice hotels reward card that i use for literally every purchase all year instead of my bank card, so i rack up enough points that most of the hotel nights are free. We used to vacation Christmas to new years, but challenge time is nicer because the ocean is still warm and you're not risking a cold snap ruining your fun.

So really we're turning 2 trips into one, so the entry fee and host hotel cost is moot to me.

Last year fuel was rough, the avalanche got 9 mpg with the enclosed trailer. This year I'm expecting to almost double that with the diesel

We always check groupon for restaurant or attraction deals as well, and do a different part of Florida after the event. Last year we did ormond beach, this year is gulf coast so the kids can see the manatees

Antihero wrote: I'm coming from north idaho.2700 miles one way and 15 days total. On the plus side the caprice has logged 25.7 mpg and 31.3 mpg somehow the last 2 trips. Its still not a definite on me coming down but I'm trying. Car won't be totally done regardless but the important bits will be. It would be stellar to have a west coast version of this......

Where in North Idaho? I'd love to see some UofI stickers in GRM sometime.

I plan to take off Thursday and Friday from work. I will leave very early Thursday morning with my Stanley full of coffee and drive the 800 miles from IN to FL alone, hopefully arriving in time for the hotel parking lot build party.

I plan to last-minute split a room with whoever will lend me a floor to set up my camping pad and sleeping bag. Plan B is sleep in the Challenge wagon in the hotel parking lot.

On the way back, I will probably leave Saturday night and stay in ATL since I have family and friends there, then finish the drive Sunday morning.

$350 in gas assuming 15 mpg. No idea what it actually gets since I keep tuning and racing it.

All of this assumes the Challenge wagon can actually handle a 1600 mile road trip. I only have 600 miles on the engine rebuild so far, mostly around town and my short commute, and my headers keep burning through plug wires. I THINK the wires are routed properly now...

With that said, anyone want to hitch a ride with me? I have plenty of seats. Even have room on the hitch for a Challenge car...

edit: Oh yeah, forgot all my tires are like 90% worn (both sets of wheels - stock and Corvette). So I plan to throw a set of used tires on the stock wheels for the drive, then swap the Vette wheels on for the race. Yes, I plan to be under budget including tires. All 8 of them.

patgizz wrote: this year is gulf coast so the kids can see the manatees

Are you going to see Captain Karl?!

If it makes you feel any better, I am two hours from gainesville and its extremely unlikely I will be there. Budgetary constraints and a lack of challenge car....

I hope you can bring the van some other year.
We live fairly close and split the cost between the two of us. We normally autocross the car during the rest of the year, eating up the tires we bought for "The Show", so it's not wasted money.
My first year I came alone, got 2 flat tires in the rain, and yes it was expensive. Now I think of it as a 3 day vacation that cost me about $350.
I will add that at that first event, as I pulled into the parking lot by myself, 3 people immediately stepped up to see if I needed help unloading. Imagine that, your competitors offering to assist without even being asked. Only at The Challenge.

In reply to spin_out:

I tell people a similar story about my first time last year to explain how cool the Challenge is.

In reply to alfadriver:

Priest lake area, close to the Canadian border

It's quite the commitment, both time and money-wise, to build and field a Challenge entry. Unless you live nearby, of course.

Our team is from New England. Most of us live in MA, and one of us lives in NH. Just to get down there, we need to take a week off from work (and our families) to drag our entry or entries down, compete, and drag it back. That costs a ton in fuel and travel expenses alone. We split two hotel rooms, and usually arrive on Wednesday.

Honestly, the best way to do the Challenge is to get a bunch of buddies and split the cost. Our team usually consists of 6 guys, and it makes things less daunting in the expenses department.