If you haven’t already found out, I’ll tell you: Racing is stupid expensive. The old saying goes, “If you want to make a million dollars in racing, start with $10 million.” Unless your dad owns a tech company, then you are probably looking for a few ways to save some bucks when you are at the track. If you have ever listened to financial conservative Dave Ramsey on the radio then you know his answer would be, “Don’t own a race car and don’t go to the track!” Well, that’s no fun.
I have an alternative solution to ol’ penny-pinching Dave Ramsey. Pair up with a friend, share the costs of the car and go endurance racing. It’s that simple to cut your car expense by 50 percent. Your towing budget and workload is cut in half. You can share in the car-prep duties, freeing up time for you to go make more money for racing.
The first step is finding the right person to partner with. Are they as insanely passionate about racing as you? Do they have skills that you don’t, like welding, painting or engine building? Do they have a 401k? Do they crash a lot? Do they nuke engines? Do they like doing late nights in the garage? These are just some of the questions you want answered before you and your new car partner walk down the aisle of racecar ownership. You are literally about to get “racing married,” and it’s pretty tough to cut a racecar in half if you later get divorced, though sadly it has been done before.
Every potential partner comes with strengths and weaknesses. Some folks are gifted mechanics. Others prefer electrical work. Some just sit in the shop, drink all the beer and tell funny stories. Don’t discount the last guy — he keeps things fun when the sun sets. The goal is to find a partner who fills in the gaps. Maybe he or she is great at alignment and car setup while you’re great at body work. Try to find the puzzle piece that fits with you.
Another thing to consider when partnering up is who has what with regard to infrastructure. Who owns a good trailer? Who has a vehicle to pull it? Who owns an RV to camp in? Who has a bank of radios or alignment tools? Who has a golf cart? If your new partner fills in some of the infrastructure blanks for you and vice-versa, you are stronger together.
Similar height and weight, specifically inseam length and hip width, does pay dividends during pit stops, so it helps if your racing partner is shaped like you. Race seats, even when installed on sliders, are notoriously difficult to adjust, especially with a back brace. Foam inserts for seats are often cumbersome and challenging to remove or install during a fast pit stop. If you can find somebody the same stature as you, that makes life easier and quicker during driver swaps.
Once you have found your racing “spouse,” it is time to find events. Although it can be done during a NASA race weekend, sharing a car is tough in sprint racing (25- to 40-minute races). One person can take the driving duties on Saturday while the other races on Sunday. However, endurance racing is where teaming up really makes sense. The long races, which are typically three to six hours long, but can go up to 25 hours, provide lots of seat time for both partners. You get long stints where you can share in the fun and in the costs.
Endurance racing is fun because it involves strategy as opposed to all-out speed. Good pit stops, a reliable car, staying out of trouble on track and good old-fashioned racing luck all can work in combination to get you on the podium. All the strategies listed above are essentially free. You don’t need the latest blueprinted rocket-ship engine to win in endurance racing — another cost-saving benefit.
Teaming up with somebody to go endurance racing is a great way to save money and get on track, but like any marriage there must be good communication. Discuss how the partnership will work when bad things happen. Face it: This is racing – bad situations happen. This way, when somebody tosses a rod out of the side of a block, there is no confusion about what happens next. Maybe normal wear and tear is a shared cost, but the driver pays for an error or money shift. Have these scenarios worked out before the incident occurs, because it will.
So, save yourself some money and find a buddy to go endurance racing with. Work out a deal that seems right for you and your friend. Every partnership is different. Some people have places to store cars and trailers. Others are gifted welders who are short on cash, but have time to maintain cars. Not everything is 50/50. Figure out your own partnership, find the puzzle piece that fits with you, pair up for success and go win some races.
Rob Krider is a four-time NASA Honda Challenge 4 National Champion, the author of the memoir, “Cadet Blues,” and is the host of the “Stories and Cocktails” podcast.
