Cost of Competing: JekylHydeRacing 2004 year-in-review

[JekylandHyde]

I decided to make this post to do a final review of Jekyl Hyde Racing for the year and specifically to share the actual costs of a racing an MR2 for a full season. Granted this is only one persons expereince and granted there was a lot of "first year costs" that will not be repeated ... regardless, I thought this may help others put thing into perspective. I hope this information my have some use to someone.

Jekyl Hyde Racing 2004

Expenses:
Fuel: $465.91
Hotels: $250.37
Race Fees: $1,303.00
Safety Equipment: $1,470.32
Parts & Labor: $7,823.05
Misc.: $1,000.05
Total: 12,312.70

Income:
Sponsorships: $1400.0
Winnings: $500.00
Sales: $1410.00
Total: 3,310.00

Now the year is not over, I am expecting at least another $1,250.00 in sponsorships to come in and I am expecting at least another $1,100 in expenses. I may do one more open track drag racing event before I close the books on this year.

Events:
13 events entered:
2 SCCA Solo II Autocross Events
3 SCCA Solo I Hill Climbs
1 IDRC Drag Racing Event
2 NOPI Drag Racing Event
3 NHRA Drag Racing Event
1 Summer Slam ~ National magazine sponsored drag event
1 Open track day ~ Fabi Circuit @ the Kingston MR2 meet (only event for Jekyl)

Results:
Two 1st places
Three 2nd place
One 3rd places
Three 4th places
One 5th places
That's 11 top 5s out of 12 events (the Fabi Circuit had no "places" since it was an untimed event).

What did I get out of it?:
*Set the SM2 Hill Record at the Weatherly Hill Climb
*I collected 4 or 5 trophies
*$500 in winnings
*One drag run on ESPN2
*Two pics in Turbo Magazine
*Lots of coverage from "Internet Magazines"
*A lot of smiles and expereince!
*A lot of new friends

Problems/Breaks:
*Line Lock stuck on ~ resulted in brake fire. Replaced front rotors and pads. Rebuilt calipers.
*Dipstick tube broke off, sprayed oil on fire wall ... smokey finish, but no major problems.
*Yanked brake boost line off of the intake manifodl on drag launch resulting in no brakes ... was able to stop the car.
*Over heated a few times ~ suspect radiator fans were not coming on ~ unplugged sensor, fans on all the time now
*Major gouge in a drag radial ~ tire replaced.

Looking to 2005:
I am planning on entering:
3 NHRA Drag Events
1 IDRC Event (if they still exist)
6 SCCA Solo I Hill Climbs
4 SCCA Solo II Autocrosses
2 Track Days

I know I have learned a lot over the past year.
I would like to thank the entire board for the help, knowledge and support you gave me all year (and years past).

I would like to specifically thank:
ATS RACING for being my primary sponsor.
World Motorsports, Fisher's Metal Finishing and Turboforums for their sponsorships.
Bryan "NoShoes" Moore for all he has done for me this year and in the past
Peter Doane a new great friend, mentor, source of inspiration and a source of support I could never have imagined.
Fabio Vlacci for motivating me to do the Hill Climbs!
All of the NY/NJ/PA crew for all of the support they give me at events and fixed flat tires!
My parents for everything they do for me.
Cindy Foley... last, and certainly not least for being at every event she could have possibly been at ... for videotaping and photographing my events ... and especially for being my much, much better half.

Thank you everyone.

[HighRev87]

Wow I always heard it was hard to have a race team, but didnt believe it until I compared your income to expenses. If I wasnt 17, and I owned a company I'd sponser you. Good luck for the future of your racing!

[MR2Driver]

Excellent post Jeff, dont quite know what else to say...

[10sec-Hopeful]

That was beautiful man (sheds a tear). Mad props to ya. I have some friends out here that own a pretty big shop called Ground Zero High Performance. I will personally let them know about you. Perhaps you will have another sponsor hehe. You have been a source of inspiration to all of us here, and we love when you succeed. The ESPN coverage is definitely a booster as well.

Hopefully Hyde gets fixed in due time, and I'm sure we would all love to see you compete in more events, but time and money can be a problem.

Good luck with next year's racing, and you know we will all be here supporting you.

[Mediocrity]

Good luck man, we'll be watching you.

/bigbrother

[Underground_Killah]

same here, good luck man

[LjasonL]

How do you make a small fortune from racing?

Start with a large fortune.

[PWRDbyUNCLEbens]

Nice post your an inspiration

My year in review isn't near as impressive

Income
Jack In the Box
Winnings
-$250 speeding ticket

Total :Jack $hit

What did I get out of it
My car stolen
Toasted clucth
A huge financial headache

[allthrottlenobottl]

Originally Posted by PWRDbyUNCLEbens

Nice post your an inspiration

My year in review isn't near as impressive

Income
Jack In the Box
Winnings
-$250 speeding ticket

Total :Jack $hit

What did I get out of it
My car stolen
Toasted clucth
A huge financial headache

lol my years been about the same
income: lowes about 180 a week
winnings: ticket 85 in a 45 -342$
15 hours of communtiy service, defensive driving, they really dont like it when ur going 40 mph over

[JekylandHyde]

PWRDbyUNCLEbens ... excellent post

10sec-Hopeful , you said "Hopefully Hyde gets fixed in due time"
Hyde's not broke... perfect shape ... Jekyl is who got wacked the other day. He'll be fixed next week.

[YogsVR4]

That was an interesting read. I did wonder about the expenses/income ratios for people who put in so much time and effort. Seems like its the intangibles that make it worth it.

[10sec-Hopeful]

My bad, I get em mixed up sometimes. That's what happens when you post at like 8 in the morning.