By Ed Settle
There have been many people who have come to me to discuss their wish to “go racing” over the years, but for one reason or another weren’t able to. One of the big reasons people think they can’t go racing is because they (duh) don’t have a race car! I am here to outline for you some of the benefits of NOT having a race car. Of course you physically need a race car to get a license and actually go racing, but you need not OWN one, there are other options.
Many licensed racers rent their cars out to fund their own activities. There are also people who rent their race cars as part of their full time racing business. By asking some local racers, you should be able to come up with a few options.
Lots of people think they would like to experience the thrill and excitement of road racing, but they think there is no way they can get a taste of it without spending $50,000 or more on a race car, a trailer to haul it on, a truck to tow it with, etc. The list of required items adds up pretty fast and seems overwhelming. Additionally, as with any new hobby, you lack the details that only come from experience such as what kind of race car/trailer/tow vehicle should you buy. There are so many different classes and types of cars to race in the SCCA, how do I know which one is right for me? Even if you aren’t overly concerned with the expense, maybe you aren’t exactly Mr. Goodwrench or maybe you don’t really have room to park a race car on a trailer at your apartment complex.
Maybe you have the money, the mechanical expertise, and the big garage, but you simply don’t want the hassle, especially during a school where you want to focus exclusively on your driving, which is more than enough in itself!
I think the best reason to rent for the first few schools or races is that you aren’t tied to a car or a class and you can potentially try several race classes to see which you like best. By then you have gained the knowledge and familiarity of the sport and your potential future purchase decision will have been made based on better information.
Most of the people that rent their race cars do so to offset the cost of their own racing. Their car may be their pride and joy and it is likely that if you are going to be racing it in a regional event, they will be racing it in a national event, perhaps the same weekend. Depending on the vehicle, expenses will vary widely. Renting a Miata will be dramatically less expensive than renting a GT-1. If you are just getting started, start small and rent the less complicated, easier to drive vehicle. Comfort is critical and if you have your heart set on driving a Formula Atlantic someday, that’s fine, but I don’t know anyone who would recommend it as your first drive in a race car.
Now for the details, how much will it cost me to rent? Depending on the car, the event, and the expected level of service, it may vary from $400 to $4000. Let’s give some hypothetical examples. A “super school” has 6 hours of “track time” which is a lot of wear and tear on a race car, fortunately for the car owner, most of the time is not at “racing speed” so if you rented an IT car (or similar) for a school you may pay $1000-$2000 for the privilege. For a single regional race, you may pay significantly less, each car owner is going to be different. A regional race is only 30 minutes of track time and less “hassle” for the owner, but the risks are potentially greater. Most owners want some degree of security deposit, everyone is different. A rule of thumb might be that a cashier’s check for 25%-50% of the value of the car is required, some may agree to a handshake arrangement. What the owner generally wants is you to respect their investment by bringing it back in the same condition it left the pits in, minus normal wear and tear. The rental fee you pay covers “normal” wear and tear, but you should make certain that these are well defined in advance. If you dent a fender or flat spot a tire or ruin a good clutch, the owner will still have to fix it and the repairs will likely come out of your security deposit. What both of you want is to not cash the check for the security deposit. Most renters also want some level of assurance against litigation. You may be asked to sign a release waiver. Racing is dangerous and things happen, regardless of any “fault” on anyone’s part, yours, theirs, someone else’s, nobody’s fault, it doesn’t matter. The owner may want to limit their liability to just the race car and you can’t blame them for that.
I have seen cars rented for $300 per race on a handshake and I have also heard of $3,000 rentals for out of town executives who are picked up at the airport, chauffeured to the track to race and are back on the plane that evening. It all boils down to the old adage “you get what you pay for”. If you want first class treatment in a first class ride, be willing to pay for that service. If you want to have an incredibly fun experience as a first timer to see if racing is “right” for you, renting can also be done on a very modest budget.
That’s the beauty of the SCCA! There’s something for everyone!