Running the Numbers: My AutoX and HPDE Costs 2015 Edition

"BREADwagon" (BREADwagon)
11/09/2015 at 16:43 • Filed to: None

As the end of the Autocross and HPDE season draws closer with each fallen leaf, I decided to run some numbers. I went through the results of my past autocrosses, ran through my DE videos, and logged the run times into an excel sheet. At first I just wanted to figure out how much seat time I actually had behind the wheel since this was my first real season, but then I added the cost info... I started to get a little carried away with all the possible metrics, but I discovered some interesting stats.

In my case, AutoX is almost twice as expensive as HPDE track days in terms of time behind the wheel per dollar, but is about a quarter to a third of the price per day. Autocross costs a little over $500 an hour, while HPDE costs about $275 an hour. I guess it’s cheaper to buy in bulk.

For what it’s worth, the Track day cost per minute for 2015 should be lower since at one event I had an issue with the FocuST. That day I decided to go home early after just one 15 minute run. If I was able to run the whole day (approx. another 45 minutes of track time), the 2015 cost per minute at HPDE would be around $4.25ish.

I didn’t include the cost of gas, tires or replacement maintenance parts for the Miata and FocuST mostly due to the fact that I don’t want to see how much I’ve actually spent.

Welp, time to save up for next season.

DISCUSSION (11)

Justin Hughes > BREADwagon
11/09/2015 at 17:07

Here’s some more food for thought for you:

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/how-fast-do-yo…

tl;dr: I came to the same conclusion. Autocross is much less expensive to enter, but track days are far more cost effective.

BREADwagon > Justin Hughes
11/09/2015 at 17:19

That was an awesome read! I never heard of COM before, I need to check them out next season. Do they run at NJMP or Pocono?

Justin Hughes > BREADwagon
11/09/2015 at 17:22

Thanks! I’m not sure all the tracks COM runs. They’re mainly New England based, but they do move around a little too.

BREADwagon > Justin Hughes
11/09/2015 at 17:26

And I completely forgot about Karting. I know englishtown raceway park has karting, but I don’t know if they have arrive and drive rentals. I need to look into this!

911e46z06 > BREADwagon
11/09/2015 at 18:04

My accountant has strict instructions to never tell me how much money I’m blowing on cars and car related things. But I know it’s a lot.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > BREADwagon
11/09/2015 at 18:11

The best advice I can give you is this: Get to be friends with the people who organize your local track days. Help them out as needed, and you usually get free or reduced price track time in return.

gamefreak32 > BREADwagon
11/09/2015 at 21:11

And mom complains my plane rental at $80/hr is an expensive hobby.

BREADwagon > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver
11/10/2015 at 10:06

I’m starting to recognize people, but I still felt too much like a newbie to volunteer this year. Probably next season I’d be comfortable offering help, because now I sort of understand the operational procedures.

BREADwagon > gamefreak32
11/10/2015 at 10:11

I think a track day rental for something like a spec miata, is around $1500 for the day. If you somehow get six 20 min sessions, that’s about $750/hr!

I remember hearing an old adage: “How do you become a millionaire racing cars? Start off a billionaire.”

BREADwagon > 911e46z06
11/10/2015 at 10:15

I need figure out how to make a race team as an LLC or something, then write off all of the track days as losses.

911e46z06 > BREADwagon
11/10/2015 at 13:36

Manufacture something simple and sell it online. Like shift knobs or something. Then write off racing as R&D.