What do you typically spend to attend an IRL Race?

Question

Just curious about what kind of expenditures are made in the name of IRL Fandom. I ponder my travel, hotel/motel costs, ticket prices and souvenir/memorabilia collecting all winter long, and wonder what others spend.

Answer 1

Last year, I went to seven (7) races.

The only race I flew to was Homestead-Miami.
* Ticket: $60
* Flight: $175 (got bumped off my original flight, so I got a voucher for a free one - BONUS PLAN)
* Hotel: $120 ($60 x 2-nights)
* Car: $50 w/ Tax ($20 / Day - Priceline)
* Gas / Food / etcs.: Figure $300 (I went to Key West the next day)

All other races I attended, I drove to:
* Mid-Ohio: 3 tanks of gas + Gen. Adm. Ticket @ $40. Program, souvineer, food $40
* Michigan: 2.5 tanks of gas + $40 Ticket. Program, food: $25
* Kentucky: 3 tanks of gas + $50 Ticket off eBay. Program, food, souvineer: $40
* Chicagoland: 1 tank of gas + $50 ticket off eBay (for 2 tix). Program, food, souvineer: $40
* Nashville: 4 tanks of gas + $60 ticket (went with parents overnight - they went shopping, I went to races). Program, food, souvineer: $40

Indianapolis is a different beast for me:
* $50 entry fee + 1 tank of gas - 500 Festival Mini-Marathon
* $100 Bronze Badge (access to Gasoline Alley - free admission to all days but race day)
* $65 tickets (x5) - G-Stand for race day (reimbursed for 4)
* $20 parking (church parking lot - good donation, I think, rather than seeing the $ go to beer)
* More IMS souvineers - figure $150. I have my office nothing but IMS stuff.
* Food: mostly brought my own. Conservative guess: $100
* 1/2 tank of gas per round-trip to IMS x at least 7-8 round-trips.
* Donald Davidson's "History of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway" course through IUPUI in April: $60 + 2 tanks of gas (4 round-trips to Speedway Hotel)


I'll let you do the math for all the races. A lot of gas used, but well worth the travelling. I had a blast at all of the tracks - 5 of which I attended my first race there (Mid-Ohio, Homestead, Chicagoland, Kentucky, & Nashville).

Answer 2

Well - as opposed to nas88car300 I'm not that unhappy that the Indy Car series isn't coming back to an oval in the Chicago area... it's nice to see them turn both left and right! But I am disappointed that they're not coming back to Road America. So I guess, other than doing a little racing myself - I might be going to see ALMS and a few vintage events at Road America.

Answer 3

I went to Maple Grove top fuel last summer in my motor home and spent around $1000 between fuel and stuff,but i'm only about 150 miles from Lancaster Pa,right by the drag strip.You might spend more in the relm of up to $3000 cause when i go to FL in winter with my time shares thats around 3 ,so yeah i'd figure on that.

Answer 4

I can't really tell you when iwent to the race in texas this year i only spent maybe$100 at the most but of course i was staying with a freind so all i ha to do was pay for the tickets

Answer 5

when I am at home (miowaukee) around $250. But on the road it is more for Chicago this year I spent aroung $300 at te track $400 hotel (4 days), $250 of gifts and clothing, $200 meals.

Answer 6

Out of town $1,000 to $2,000 for eveything. Home in Texas maybe $200 at the most. It's a blast!

Answer 7

nothing but beer and food i fortunately live in walking distance from the Milwaukee mile and i get tickets from a friend on the safety crew but when i go to michigan for the cup race i drop 1000.00 easy

Answer 8

it all depends on each race, I normally have family or friends near races that I plan to go to, most of the time I'd spend less than 700.00..