How to pay for it all

[fin1exp]

I want to know how you guys do it all. I have a couple of friends that all want to race endurance, but there is an issue with what happens when the bike is wrecked? Who pays? How is maintence done, and who pays?

Its pretty easy to just say, Bring tires and some money for entrance fees, but that does not cover everything. Opinions? Who have you guys done it? do you use your own bike?

Thanks,
Eric

[JBall]

One opinion...
All race expenses are split evenly, gas, tires, entry fee, and an oil change and set of brake pads. If someone has some sort of sponsorship they can bring that to the table. Beyond that if you are really worried about someone totaling your bike, you should not be endurance racing. You could end up with a pile of junk that is not the riders fault, just the fortunes of racing. I would not expect someone to come up with another bike if that happened. If team members are willing to switch bikes from weekend to weekend they can share the risk, but only one guy ends up paying the price. Hopefully they would help out with minor repairs, like a lever or footpeg.

[JBall]

Oh yeah, I forgot, the owner also gets all the income, to dole out as you see fit. Now if you are going into this to MAKE money, you really have a problem....

[Zanyeights]

Your the man Joe. Man, we need to run again next year!!

Ryan

[JBall]

Planning on it. VIR, Cycle Jam if it is at Putnam, and Road Atlanta. Big gas tanks rule. And you know my bike philosophy. Like at VIR, the temp gage was pegged... just run it until it blows up!

[cb500]

that scared the hell out of me.
but had a blast.
we definitley need to do that again.

[Lizard 1]

Basically, you need a plan of attack. You need to ask yourself just how serious do you want to get? How dedicated do you want to be towards the series? Serious? Expect to put in at least $40,000.00. That's not even Archlite, that's like MWSB top three and MWSS top placers. If you want our take on how we are doing it, please e-mail me back and we can talk. We are always looking for more teams on the grids at the track. If you're out for fun like the above guys, I really don't know how much. I'd suspect with the cost of a competitive bike and tires, you'd still have to expect about $15-$20 grand. Maybe I am wrong. In any case, most teams that say they don't spend a whole lot aren't looking at every dollar spent. It's more than a bike, tires, pads, oil - don't forget hotel, entry, gate fees, fuel, travelling expenses, food, canopy, spares, and a bit of cash left for when you do crash. Every team pays these expenses. There's more if you're going serious, but add all these mentioned things up and multiply it times the # of rounds you want to race and there's your minimum answer. Don't want to scare you, just want you to see the reality and hope you can come out and play.

[fin1exp]

I appreciate the response. For the first year, I really just want to have some fun. I want to do the endurance to get my strength up, and get some really good track time in so that hopefully, my learning curve will be stronger.How many people do you put on a team? Should we have about 4? If thats true, than most of those expenses would be split. Anyway, I am going to have to look at it further, check out the schedule and see what I can put together.
Thanks,
Eric

[RTR 137]

Does every rider on the team pay an entry fee to WERA or is it one fee you can split up?

[WERA]

Endurance entries are one fee for the team - the split is up to you. All members must have their own license though...

[RTR 137]

Thanks,I`ll put something together for at least one endurance this year,it will be my first full-year effort in H/W twins.Feb. can`t get here soon enough. http://www.wera.com/ubb/smile.gif

[vlwebdesigns]

RTR,

Since we live so close and have a common sponsor, I'd be willing to help where needed. I have myself, two committed riders, and two maybe riders for the 2001 season. So, if you need anything let me know.

[JBall]

To Lizard,

I guess I resemble the remark that we are just doing it for fun. When we run, it is a serious effort even if it is only for a couple of races.

There were only eleven teams which actually ran the whole series and if those were the only teams that raced it would be a pretty poor series. I have run a five and six race summers and know the committment of time and money it takes but 40k is overstating it a bit.

My advice is to pick two or three races to really get your feet wet and get a feeling on what is going on. People will be glad to give you advice and moral support. Start with the tracks closest to where you live which will give you an advantage when you go back to sprint race and helps to keep the driving time in line.

Although it certainly helps to be in shape you don't necesarily need to be superman, a resistance to heat does help in the summer races. My favorite training example is Dan Schmidt of Team Chicago who is older than me by a fair bit (I'm 43 and can run it to the reserve no problem). Dan starts his day with several cups of coffee, grabs a smoke or two before he goes out, and then runs with a video camera strapped to his head. At the 24 hour race in the heat of the day he relaxed by taking his dirt bike out for a little trail riding in the desert, it was only about 105 deg. F. at the time. He's my hero!

[Lizard 1]

JBall-

I understand that every team that goes out and races the endurance, races with a serious attitude. If you are just going out and acting like a stooge and goofing off, please don't race. However, I am actually more understating the cost of an ENTIRE season than overstating. Sure, there were 11 +- teams that dedicated themselves to the entire season, but there were 20 - 40+ at each event. I am not making those other teams or even those of the eleven teams that ran the entire series feel lesser than us if they didn't spend 30-40K for the season, but the top ten overall probably spent 30-40K easily. What you have to remember is that all of those teams were on new machines that had to be purchased and most had at least two bikes in their pits. They may have been picked up by sponsors and if you re-read my post, I think that I said that the cost of running the series was 30-40K. That means that if you are lucky enough to get a sponsor to cover any/all expenses, then your out of pocket costs are less. Sure, if you run an older 1 bike team, stay in a campground, run the same tires for a few rounds and practice, etc., a team can get away with lesser expense. However, you are not going to finish in the top ten overall. Not even close. Yes, we all want more teams to run the entire season. Seeing the same faces race after race is more comforting. However, I want to encourage teams to come out even if it is just for 2, 4, whatever # of races. I just took the original person who posted as if they were interested in what the costs were and from a team that runs the entire season, I gave him our view.

[13x]

I concur with the Lizard man. I forget exactly but I think AOD spent less than 20K (split three ways) the first year or two I was involved. It’s gone up every year since. But who’s counting.

If you have Glenn Szarek riding for your team you can win the overall for less than $20k. Otherwise it will cost you 30 – 40k. Split three or four ways (less contingency and or sponsorship) it really isn’t that bad when you consider the amount of riding and the quality of the competition. I’ve been spanked by some of the best riders in the country.

Start out hitting a few events that aren’t too far away. Get all of your friends hooked. Go for broke the following season.

In regards to the original question AOD had a very loose arrangement at the beginning. It was sort of a ‘you crash it, you buy it’ deal. But as we got to know each other and realized we were not hacks (well, not complete hacks anyway) it became a true team effort. I tested that team spirit when I threw our A bike into the bridge at Road Atlanta (back when the dip was still there). It was a practice day before the GNF and I was there without the team. They arrived to find me on crutches and the bike a write off. To add insult to injury it was stolen from the paddock the next day while we were racing. I thought I would have to replace it but my teammates helped me out. Needless to say I don’t borrow team bikes anymore. And I don’t turn my back on one in Atlanta.

Jim

[hazbin1]

get it right jim we spent 25,000.k but won 23k back and still cant frickin afford to race that means szarek cost me atleast 2k ha ha ha.. he made all but $6000 in the beginin of aug SPRINT racin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Knob]

Here is the best advise i can give, take 30k and give it to Glenn Szarek, take the other 10k and put into race expenses and youll have yourself an endurance championship.