If you have been out of the sport for a while, and are feeling the old desire pulling you back in, be prepared for sticker shock! The old days of driving your MG to the track, unhooking the muffler, and letting your scarf fly are unfortunately gone. $350 entry fees, $8/gal race fuel, $800/set racing tires, they are now a fact of life. But don’t let that keep you on the sidelines, there are still ways to play part-time even if a full-time effort is not in a retirement budget.
- Sharing a Ride – go in on a car with a friend, share the driving and the expenses
- Renting a Race Car – some rental groups even provide gear, transportation, and pit crew. Not really cheap, but a one-time expense rather than a recurring monthly one
- Fantasy Race Camps – again not really cheap, but a fun one-time expense
- Instructing – now here is a great way to get back in the game. Clubs are always in need of ground school and track instructors to work at their licensing schools. It’s a great way to give back to the sport
- Mentoring – find a young, local racer and teach him how to weld, or how to corner weight a car, or maybe even how to tune those pesky SU carbs
- Corner working – now standing by the side of a racetrack all day in the hot sun or cold rain might not be everyone’s idea of a good time, but you get to see all the best action, and maybe even get a free lunch ;-)
Still got an old race car out in the barn? Go dig it out! What may have been a late-model race car 20 years ago probably qualifies for Vintage or Historic racing today. There can’t be a better way to create some family fun then to get your kids or grandkids into the project. Replace the old tires and fluids, upgrade to the current safety requirements, let someone pick a cool, retro paint scheme, and take it to the track.
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