What's The Annual Cost of Tracking Your Mustang

[Paddles]

After reading and following so many of you track guys, I'm now curious. What's the annual cost of tracking your Mustang? Including tires and maintenance and track fees and transport and insurance and anything else.

And, did you have to invest anything into modifications before you could even begin? Like cooling upgrades? How much $$$?

And, how many sets of tires do you use per year?
How many track days do you get per year for your money?

Any other expenses crop up over time that a new track driver should consider?

I'm trying to get a gauge for what one has to spend to get started and also what one has to spend to keep going.

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[KilgoreLSU]

It depends on what your trying to do.. I bought a Mach 1 with the intention of doing some sort of track events. It came with extra oil cooler, differential cooler, and transmission cooler. It's in the cost of the vehicle. I did not have to add them.

I'll outline my first full year and move from HPDE1 to HPDE2... I'll probably be in HPDE3 after next weekend at Eagles Canyon...

Brakes.. I'm not as hard on brakes as others.. But.. I am sure that will change..
Hawk DTC 60 in Front and DTC 30 in back. I've gone through 2 sets.. About $500 a set.. $1000 for year..
Rotors.. I did buy a set of Front Rotors.. but I have not used them yet. Again.. depends on how hard your heat up your brakes as to how fast you need to replace.

Camber Plates - Gotta have them.. I bought Vorshlag $600 for Front.

Tires - This is the big cost.. I buy Nankang CRS-V2.. about $500 ea so $2k per set. If you keep an eye on them and flip them as you wear the outer edges.. You can probably get 1.5 to 2yrs out of them.. Track Dependent. I corded my rears after 1 year.. I was not keeping my eye on it.

Oil Changes, Differential Oil Changes.. I do oil every other track event.. Differential I do 1x a year.. Transmission.. about to do it..1x a year..

Alignment - My guru does them for $150.

So.. I'm at about $4000 in just maintenance and basic upgrades...

Weekend events run me $600 per weekend and Insurance is $300 or so.. you can shop it around.. I do about 1 a month until it gets too hot. I do about 6 to 8 events a year.

I recently bought Steedas Suspension Upgrades for my Magnaride.. Springs, Sway Bars, Stop the hop, etc.. About another $2k... But I did this to help with my rear camber and help prevent me from cording rear tires as I learn how to throw the car around.

There are a lot of cheaper ways to go about tracking a car.. SCCA Solo events are also a lot less to get into.. $50 per day.. Your car is given a category it falls into and a multiplier for your time. Runs are a minute or so.. I just enjoy the 20 minute runs that HPDE allows for. It's very Zen and relaxing.

My son tracks a 2000 Miata.. It's way cheaper on the expense side.

 

[RTR077]

Kilgore is spot on.

That said, you don't need to do anything to your car to get started. Just find an event and have fun. I often do tracknightinamerica events and they are $170-190 a day. usually mid week mind you. This is a good site to find events: https://www.motorsportreg.com/

If you enjoy it, slowly start to do the add ons mentioned.

 

[WItoTX]

A lot. But I'm also kind of far down the path.

But to add to the comments above which are spot on. Tracking a car, every bit of that car becomes a consumable. So how long should you expect a motor, or trans, or diff to last? I had started budgeting for a new motor for my car early on. It failed a year earlier than anticipated.

So I would add, you should budget some amount you put away every month, or whatever interval, for those inevitable failures. Because they are absolutely coming, and track days are like playing with fire.

And they are an absolute blast, and don't let the coat deter you, just know the cost going in.

 

[NightmareMoon]

It depends, but at minimum i’d say about $1000 per two day event is what I expect. Its probably more.

For an out of town event, entry fees, hotel, gas, tires, brake pads, brake fluid, trackday insurance, etc.

Im not counting things breaking, new wheel, or optional “upgrades”, tools which are nice to have, toys like cameras or professional photos, safety gear for the driver, or other wear and tear on the car.

 

[Roadsign]

Best advice,
Don't ever ask that question in this hobby(especially if you run wheel-to-wheel)

Sorry, couldn't resist. Above advice is good as usual.

 

[SBR70.3]

I agree with Kilgore, but I'd add Castrol SRF brake fluid. Thankfully it is a once per year expense and runs about $70.

Regarding tires, brake pads, other consumables, I would wait on those for now. Drive what you have and see how you like the car and doing track days. It is not for everyone, but for those of us who love it, the experience can not be beat.

If you are new to track days, just make sure you have fresh brake fluid (Can do Motul 660 since it is cheaper than SRF), brake pads, and oil. If you get the bug, then go down the rabbit hole. Just don't do what I initially did and think "I need to do A, B, C, D, E, X, Y, and Z before I track it"......see my 2016 GT build in sig.

If you do find it is what you want to do, then I'd suggest upgrading tires and brakes (pads, rotors, lines, deflectors) first. After that, start on suspension components. Unless it is an E85 tune, power adders should be the last mod you make. Your car has plenty of power for most tracks as it is and seat time>>>power.

 

[screaminrevs]

Kilgore is spot on.

That said, you don't need to do anything to your car to get started. Just find an event and have fun. I often do tracknightinamerica events and they are $170-190 a day. usually mid week mind you. This is a good site to find events: https://www.motorsportreg.com/

If you enjoy it, slowly start to do the add ons mentioned.

I agree, this is the best way to start, and no mods, just make sure all maintenance is current. It is more fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow if you don't know how to get the most out of it due to lack of experience. Start off with high tire pressure to reduce wear at the shoulders. Ask the organizers for tips and advice, they are generally very helpful and knowledgeable. Go have fun!

 

[HKusp]

Great topic.

 

[GTP]

Here is what I spent last year. (I spent much more on mods in previous years to make my car better.)

4 weekend events at Road America, NCM, Gingerman, Putnam.

I expect the travel expenses and race gas to be much higher this season.

 

[Paddles]

Thanks for all of the great answers everyone. There's some good knowledge and wisdom here.

 

[GTP]

Adding to my post# 10, I should mention that I buy lightly used take-off tires and brake pads. Trying to get a full 8-day season per set of tires.

Also, I keep my hotel expenses down a little by leverage hotel credit card points.

Call it $8k (the "keep going") for expenses over 8 track day.
That averages $1000/day, or $500/hour actually on the racetrack.

 

[Lorne34]

Great advice here.. the more events you do in a calendar year and how you drive will affect wear and tear on consumables; I only do 2-3 HPDE a year.
I am in the intermediate class and prefer to stay towards the back of the pack to begin with and drive at lower than 10/10. I run at Road America which is a 4 mile track with big straights which is perfect for a higher HP vehicle. I choose the less aggressive braking zones and just try to relax, go fast, and have fun.
Insurance is an absolute must because there are factors out of my control that can affect safety.

 

[GTP]

Great advice here.. the more events you do in a calendar year and how you drive will affect wear and tear on consumables; I only do 2-3 HPDE a year.
I am in the intermediate class and prefer to stay towards the back of the pack to begin with and drive at lower than 10/10. I run at Road America which is a 4 mile track with big straights which is perfect for a higher HP vehicle. I choose the less aggressive braking zones and just try to relax, go fast, and have fun.
Insurance is an absolute must because there are factors out of my control that can affect safety.

Good advice, Lorne.

How fast have you taken the kink? That was the one turn that I knew I had to be conservative. On my first time (my only time) at RA I worked up from 80mph to maybe 105 there. At the end of the day a modest powered BMW had wrecked there.

 

[Lorne34]

Good advice, Lorne.

How fast have you taken the kink? That was the one turn that I knew I had to be conservative. On my first time (my only time) at RA I worked up from 80mph to maybe 105 there. At the end of the day a modest powered BMW had wrecked there.

Yeah, the problems/wrecks I see at that turn are a puzzle to me because I've never had an issue going through that portion. I'm definitely never in the 3 digit range. I love my 350 and just don't have the desire to do anything (at least in my control) to damage it. I'd say 75-80 at tops.
It's actual a pretty easy corner if you are going under control, using the proper line, and within your limits. Obviously weather can play a factor, but most guys are wise enough to slow down in the rain and take an alternative line.
I attend a lot of the RA sponsored track days and the kink is actually closed as they run the little motor cycle loop to the left. This is due to the beginner novice class that runs at the same time. I actually enjoy that portion as it gives me a chance to slow down, regroup and then hit the exit hard for the final stretch.
I have attended club events where the kink is open and I just keep my speed down to a reasonable level. I have to say things get a little more "wild west" out there at some of the club events because you have guys signing up in certain groups that shouldn't be. With the RA sponsored events it seems a lot more controlled and monitored by the RA staff and guys seem to be in the appropriate run group.
I'm just grateful to be able to get on that historic track and put my 350 in 4th and 5th gear over 6k rpm. There is just no where else I can go with my car and experience that feeling.
My wife and I were on HWY 41 here in WI and a large SUV blew past us at 85+MPH in the middle lane and cut back between the car in front of him and us in the right lane like he was on a crotch rocket. I looked at her and said "that is why I feel safer at RA then on this Hwy......

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