Actual drive time is cheaper now if you add in the consumables for that many minutes of auto-x...So a track day versus the 20 or so auto-x events you would have to do to equal the drive time. 1 track day about $200 and you only drive to the track and back once compared to the 20 times you drive to the auto x site and back. $50x20 autox events is $1000. Lets just say the wear and tear is equal and the gas difference equals a hotel room. Theres still $800 left. I can do new tires, alignment, and front brakes for that. This is just if you want to go and have fun, if you are competing its a completely different world!!!! The real kicker, if your time is something thats super valuable, you spent one day on track and you spent 20 autoxing to get in the same amount of drive time. Your regions, locations, situation could be different but this is my reality living in NJ. There is a dumpy track where they run a track day from 11-5 for $125 and you get good amount of drive time but I went for what a day at NJMP usually costs.

Lets be clear, no one drives the shit out of their car because its cheap. You do it for fun, and I highly doubt either one will end up being significantly cheaper in the end. Do the one you enjoy or do both. That's all there is to it.


And I have seen plenty of people fubar their car on the Ax course. Just depends on the location, just like the track. A track like VIR would be hard to wreck on (other than hog's pen)...but You go to RA and most turns will destroy your car.

Agreed, save Hog Pen. At speed I think the Climbing Esses are way easier to ball your car up at.(though in general VIR's has lots of runoff room)

Hey dudes calculating costs to the very last penny in order to make an argument that autocross or track is cheaper: You're the kind of person that makes motorsports unbearable.

If you want to do a Cost Benefit analysis for autocross, go work for an accounting firm or play EVE.

I should have used more sarcasm, I just found that reply to be unfathomably incorrect. Motorsports is a money dumpster no matter what you're involvement at the participant level. Just don't say some dumbass thing like I spent a nickle 5 times and it was cheaper than you spending a quarter once.

Even if that participation level is flagging. White coats still need scca memberships that they pay for, though at least some regions and the national office have a small payback scheme for them.

Real dangerous if you wife finds it.

I have been having all my packages shipped to my work so she doesn't give me grief. Then smuggle them into the garage under cover of darkness.

Edited due to reading comprehension fail on my part.

SCCA's volunteer system is actually pretty good. I forget how many events it is, but if you volunteer for enough, you can end up getting your membership for free. as well as being reimbursed for most of your expenses to get there for that weekend.

From the SCCA website, dues are $65 + region dues ($0-25). Assume that I volunteer for a single day for 10hrs and get awarded free dues, I got compensated $6.50/hr, BUT you say it takes multiple events to get free dues...that's a pretty piss poor compensation to me, BUT then again, it beats PAYING to sit around 9hrs 45minutes only to get 5 runs.