How much does karting cost you?

[Mike Walpole]

In 1978 I made a run at the OVKA points championship in American Reed Heavy (McCulloch 9 series engines). I ran all but 3 races and finished 2nd in the points. (Missing the 3 races really hurt )

I spent less than $1000 for the year, which included buying a new kart. ($450 for a Hartman) OVKA gave trophies at each race back then and I would sell the trophy back to the club. Entry fee was $7 and 1st place trophy was $7, 2nd was $5. There were a few times that was gas money and a meal on the way home. I got a Mc93 at the end of the season at the banquet.

Times have changed.

[Doug Welch]

Last year we spent almost $60,000 running two boys both locally and on the PMT. that includes karts (4) all motors, rebuilds, travel, entry fees, tires. Just over half the costs were travel. One quarter of the total was for the new karts and the balance was everything else.

For our time, we were fortunate enough to win 2 local championships, one regional and one national. But more importantly, I have two sons that would rather spend Sunday with me at the race track than with their friends. How can I put a price tag on that?

Doug

[Kim Zobbe-Hogdal]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Doug Welch:
But more importantly, I have two sons that would rather spend Sunday with me at the race track than with their friends. How can I put a price tag on that?
DougQUOTE]

My girls have made racing friends all over the upper midwest who the keep in contact with via email. And you know teenage girls would normally never hang out with their parents if it wasn't for racing! So like Pat Calhoun said above it is indeed priceless.

[Jean Stafford]

Robert:

Just to put a few things in perspective, in 1978 I kept track of the expenses to race a full year, 22 races, for the Championship of the Ohio Valley Karting Association in Open class, a 100cc modified Komet K78. At the end of the year we won a jacket, and total cost for us was $32,000 give or take a little.

Karting is STILL the best "bang for the buck" in racing.

P.S. Don't tell my wife pullease.

[Paul Montopoli]

This year I spent 24,000 DM or about a little over $11,000 on karting excluding the purchase of a new chassis for a 7 race regional ICA series. This included 10 practice weekends with my mechanic. The overall costs were:

Entry fees: $700

Travel: $900 I drove home most nights as all but 3 tracks were within a 2 hr drive of my house (Germany is a relatively small country and there is no speed limit on the autobahns)

Mechanic: $5000 this included all kart preparation work (exc. engine), 3 days per race weekend at the track, practice weekends, kart storage and kart transportation.

Parts/Tires: $5000

Engines Rebuilds: $1000

I certainly spent less money than most of the racers in this series by using only 1 set of new tires per race weekend and trying to save in other place where possible. I would assume that most other spent 1.5-2x what I spent.

PM

[Deborah Davidson-Harpur]

Since I race solely because of Sponsors, Karting costs me in time, and not dollars.

Unless you count the 12 pack of Bud Lite I have to buy for my husband and teammate, and the case of gatorade I have to buy for Tim O.D. our crew cheif

THANK THE POWERS THAT BE FOR SPONSORS!!! (Don't want to get in trouble by doing a full on commercial right here )