"Ike" (untitledcarshow)
07/02/2014 at 16:31 • Filed to: None
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"Ike" (untitledcarshow)
07/02/2014 at 16:31 • Filed to: None | 0
| 8 |
One of my good friends is huge into racing (mostly go-kart NASA events)and is thinking of moving up to spec miata; he can't afford to do it now, but I keep telling him to run a kickstarter or fund any thing or alike fundraiser to get the funds.
Do you all think that's a feasible way of raising the start up money to enter spec miata racing?
GhostZ
> Ike
07/02/2014 at 16:33 |
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I have no idea how racing works, but with most fundraising, don't you want to start with local advertisers or private funding as an investment?
Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
> Ike
07/02/2014 at 16:36 |
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I don't think kickstarter would work but maybe talk to local smaller businesses into sponsorship. Worth a try.
Spaze
> Ike
07/02/2014 at 16:37 |
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Racing is a money pit, that even if he raises enough to buy a car, he'll never be able to afford the consumables let alone the other stuff that comes with a SM (truck, trailer, etc).
Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
> Ike
07/02/2014 at 16:38 |
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Sponsors are huge, so out to every big building and strip mall and ask people if they want to put their brand on a car, every little bit helps. Biggest thing I found was work your tail off until you can afford it. For the Hare Scramble dirt bike races I was into when I was in my teens I worked like dog at the auto shop I was part time at and mowed lawns every night. I bought a 5 buck case of Ichiban and ate that for a week so I could afford a lift for the maintenance area. Its all about how bad you want it.
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Ike
> Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
07/02/2014 at 16:39 |
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that's way he's planning on going; problem is no one wants to give up front cost (buying the car really) now most company's will pay after this is already taken car of. So operating cost are taken care of but not up front cost
Durty
> Ike
07/02/2014 at 16:39 |
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I've seen a few people try it. To get started from scratch the investment is pretty big. A built car will be between $6-$10k for a running, nothing special spec miata. Then $1.5k for safety equipment $700 for an SCCA weekend racing school, money for consumables, and hundreds in entry fees to other events.
Does your friend have either a blog or something with lots of traffic or very rich friends who could chip in big bucks for no return on a spec miata racing effort? It may be successful in that case. Rich daddies help a lot in racing.
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Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
> Ike
07/02/2014 at 16:46 |
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Not much to do other than take out a loan or save in that case. Kickstarters tend to be for stuff the contributors get a kick out of like an item or something charitable, you'd struggle to get people to contribute for something like that.
theBKA
> Ike
07/02/2014 at 17:00 |
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Crowd funding isn't a good idea for this. I ran a successful Kickstarter campaign and it took an entire year to prep for and it was a ton of work. Here are some better ideas for this.
Local sponsorship: like a lot of people are saying this is a good way to get into it if you can sell it.
Car share: get others to buy into the costs of a car in exchange for seat time. This works great, but unless you live in an area where there are a lot of spec events you're more likely going to outfit the car for multiple classes and series. That means you won't be as competitive as you could be, but more seat time is better than a slightly faster car. This is how I got into racing. Check your local forums and ask around at events. There's probably an open car out there already.
Whatever you do don't build a car from scratch. Buy a sorted backmarker that you can improve and save you're pennies for tires and all the stuff that's going to break.
Spec Miata is a very competitive series with some wonderfully awesome people. Good luck wherever you and your buddy land.