It is one of the undeniable laws of Sod that the bigger the mistake the more people will witness it. And so it proved while testing at Donington. A high-speed moment resulted in an accident of such epic proportions that the six fellow competitors who witnessed it had enough time to return to the pits, have a cup of tea, and then place bets as to which gravel trap I would eventually end up in. Fortunately there was no damage except to my ego, and my wallet breathed a sigh of relief. It’s taken a bit of battering, you see…
Motorsport is not a cheap, so if you’re thinking of living the dream, have a look at these costs first before you remortgage your house. Your car can cost anywhere between £9000 to £35,000 depending on spec. Getting your license, BRSCC racing membership and VW Cup registration costs the best part of £1000, and then you’ll need another £1000 for a decent suit and bash hat.
A basic two-race weekend - there are six double-header weekends in the championship - costs at least £1000. That’s £450 for race entries, £250 for test entry and at least £350 for a pair of spare tyres. That’s just for starters. Add £750 for insurance if it’s needed, and then the consumables – fuel, spare parts, transport, accommodation and food. And if you crash, you’ll be facing a massive repair bill.
Taking the plunge to self-finance my racing career on the hope that support would eventually be forthcoming is probably not the brightest thing I have ever done, but it was the only way to guarantee a drive this year. And at my age I couldn’t afford to miss another season. Having said that, if race day at Donington goes no better than testing I might not have to worry about getting too much older!
Money And Motorsport
