joining something like spec miata?
07-12-2004, 09:34 AM
#11
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Well, it depends
If you are pretty serious about it (as Mark and NASA racer are) yes, you should get a trailer, and then you need either a garage or some big open space to do constant prep work.
If you are really serious like Ken Dobson, you'll arrive and drive in a top-notch-prepped rental.
If you are just in it for occasional fun like me, Spec Miata can work cause you can have a street-legal one to drive to the track, and overall maintenance is relatively low. Have a good shop look at it once a year, do occasional minor maintenance, set the ride-height and alignment for something sane and have fun.
If you are really serious like Ken Dobson, you'll arrive and drive in a top-notch-prepped rental.
If you are just in it for occasional fun like me, Spec Miata can work cause you can have a street-legal one to drive to the track, and overall maintenance is relatively low. Have a good shop look at it once a year, do occasional minor maintenance, set the ride-height and alignment for something sane and have fun.
07-12-2004, 09:43 AM
#12
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a)
not really. The IRS has cracked-down on tax deductions for hobbies. You can take a SMALL portion of the expenses as a legitimate advertising expense for your business (like you bought a newspaper ad or something) but in order to LEGITIMATELY deduct the bulk of your racing expenses, your business would have to meet a reasonability test for the benefit you'd get from the racing expense.
ie, if you sell fire-suits and race car parts...it's a pretty legitimate deduction. If you are a computer consultant, it's not gonna work heh.
Some people set up side corporations with websites selling brake pads or duct tape or whatever and they run the racing expenses as deductions against that. More hassle than I ever tried to do but some folks do pretty well that way.
ie, if you sell fire-suits and race car parts...it's a pretty legitimate deduction. If you are a computer consultant, it's not gonna work heh.
Some people set up side corporations with websites selling brake pads or duct tape or whatever and they run the racing expenses as deductions against that. More hassle than I ever tried to do but some folks do pretty well that way.
07-12-2004, 10:42 AM
#15
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Re: i read
Like I said, it's not for the serious racer, there are disadvantages...
>brake pad hassles
I drive my Hawk Blues to and from the event. Everybody says they eat rotors, but I use them gently and they've been o.k. At worst, replace the rotors a bit more often.
>rock hard suspension to and from the event
True. And noise - you may want earplugs. But isn't that half the fun? :-)
>and you can't use less restrictive mufflers?
You could switch back and forth at the track. Else you lose a HP or two. And your alignment is subobtimal, there goes another half a second.
So the question is, would you rather move up 10 places in the race finish, or save tens of thousands of dollars on a trailer, tow vehichle, garage space, etc... No "correct" answer here, to each his own.
>brake pad hassles
I drive my Hawk Blues to and from the event. Everybody says they eat rotors, but I use them gently and they've been o.k. At worst, replace the rotors a bit more often.
>rock hard suspension to and from the event
True. And noise - you may want earplugs. But isn't that half the fun? :-)
>and you can't use less restrictive mufflers?
You could switch back and forth at the track. Else you lose a HP or two. And your alignment is subobtimal, there goes another half a second.
So the question is, would you rather move up 10 places in the race finish, or save tens of thousands of dollars on a trailer, tow vehichle, garage space, etc... No "correct" answer here, to each his own.
07-12-2004, 11:17 AM
#16
AudiWorld Expert
Coupla comments
Since I have a Spec Miata...and keep it at my house...(most of the time)..I feel qualified to comment on this subject.
You need to check with your tax accountant to see if you can write off..some or all of your expenses...I am thinking that you cannot.
As for your region and races during the summer..it all depends...here out west I could reasonably attend about 12-14 races in that period..especially if I do SCCA and NASA races. I have Sears Point, Thunderhill, and Laguna that are close....the schedule is pretty busy here.
Regarding rentals..I have seen Larry Oka rent the same car to one guy over the last two years..and if you commit to using him for a certain number of races..he may give you the same car. However, YMMV..I would assume that you would get different cars each time (it all depends on who you are renting from though). Good luck with that one.
Let me know if you have any other questions..feel free to email me privately.
You need to check with your tax accountant to see if you can write off..some or all of your expenses...I am thinking that you cannot.
As for your region and races during the summer..it all depends...here out west I could reasonably attend about 12-14 races in that period..especially if I do SCCA and NASA races. I have Sears Point, Thunderhill, and Laguna that are close....the schedule is pretty busy here.
Regarding rentals..I have seen Larry Oka rent the same car to one guy over the last two years..and if you commit to using him for a certain number of races..he may give you the same car. However, YMMV..I would assume that you would get different cars each time (it all depends on who you are renting from though). Good luck with that one.
Let me know if you have any other questions..feel free to email me privately.
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