Estimated cost for season of Ferari Challenge

That is a lot of $.

What does the $25k get you? ( no hotel, food and plane tickets...).

Gas, entry fee and ?

Do you have to pay a yearly fee or can you just race per week end ?

How many races per year ?

 

cool, thanks. i'd agree, even at 3350# and smaller tires at a guess i would think it would dominate.

yup.

 

You can do one or all races is you wish (Challenge)

The F430C has just recently become eligible for SCCA

Tucker will test the 360 against the 430 to see which is the best option for SCCA.

$25K a weekend gets you entry, hospitality (at track which is spectacular - done by Premier Services out of Grapevine TX), Set of rains, set of slicks (any tires other than the free set are purchased by the driver) Not sure how tech and transportation (for the car) are included yet. Pretty sure that is an additional expense from your club or dealership. Plane tickets, hotel, and rental cars can either be handled by you or your club/dealer.

 

....I, like ChallengeHauler, am a crew member for the Boardwalk Ferrari Challenge Team. We both are also friends with the "rookie sensation" (direct quote from Ferrarichallenge.com) Steve Hill, #33.... he originally was going to try to run his Challenge Car in both SCCA and FC, so he spent a great deal of time with SCCA in KS. The end result was this: Yes, you can run your 430CH in T1 in 2009, but you will have to add 300lb of ballast, run 360 wheels/tires and BRAKES. Other than the obvious stress and exposure to running in two series, the changes to the car were not deemed worth it in the end. Challenge Series it was/is...

...and Rob, I got a giggle out of your statement earlier about Steve being a driver "enjoying retirement"....thank you VERY much for that, such good material for me (Steve and I have been close friends for a long time)....now, I know you are aware that he isn't in retirement, far from it, as you ran into him on Saturday at MSR for the Driver's Edge DE...just thought I'd let you know I enjoyed your comment!

_ND

 

as we discussed via email....thanks for setting me straight on who it was he talked to ...and....I agree...he is not using this series as a stepping stone....it is for pure entertainment value, he is defnitely getting his money's worth, having an absolute blast. That's what it is really all about in the end, isn't it? No matter what you chose to do, be it: DE, Member Day, SCCA, NASA, or any other various form of club racing...as long as you get to the track and drive SOMETHING like you stole it....the common thread exists, and has much in common with one another....

 

Wow. Cant believe Ive missed this thread and missed it for several weeks.

Cost. Costs have gone up since. I paid dealer $15k a weekend, FNA about 4k depending on venue. Additional 4k in extra tires and spares. 2k ish for travel.

My cost for 2000 was about $200k. 2001 was over $400k due to a blown engine and someone wiping me out at Watkins Glen.

Drivers in the Challenge series. Don't follow it now that well. Back in 2000 - 2001 the best drivers were all basically pro drivers. Several raced in many different pro series. They would have done well at any SCCA/NASA run event.

Europe has always had much better drivers than us. The Italians are nuts in particular. When I was at the world Finale in Mugello in 2000, there was a German who died in a Challenge car and so all Germans parked their cars. I can't tell you how much better they were but the rest of the European field was comparable to the US grid. I had 1 race with French/Dutch/Spanish/Japanese drivers and finished 5th in that race. Italians are a whole different story.

 

Let's not rehash this old argument, shall we?

CW

 

Actually I was thinking of Lucio Nicalodi and Darius Grala. Doug Peterson has done very well too. But I was only thinking of how well they have done or would have done in NASA or SCCA Nationals/Pro races and not turning them into F1 drivers

 

Except for the fact you can't VIEW the Challenge as comparable to a stepping-stone series. It is NOT where drivers who have aspirations go. Those with massive talent at a young age don't go into the Challenge. First, it's expensive. REALLY expensive, and most starting out don't have that kind of bankroll. And, if they did, they'd be in open wheel cars getting noticed, because that's their objective and where it could happen. Second, it's where guys who have a lot of money and want to have FUN go, yet be competitive with others and themselves. It's not a job. It's not the difference between eating and starving. That's not how you develop nascent talent, though, or instill a sense of urgency into developing drivers.

However, none of this diminishes the argument that IF some of these drivers had good talent, started at the age of 6 or 8 in karting and moved up in the ranks, they might have developed the talent to have professional careers. Just because they may have had other, better and/or more lucrative careers and chose that path (as opposed to one in which they're laser-focused on getting a professional ride from the time they were a sperm), doesn't mean they don't have talent. But, all this has been said, and I don't expect that you'll see any "legendary" drivers come from the ranks of the Challenge series. Ever.

CW

 

a little self absorbed in my opinion..
and i completely agree with Rob..

 

Thanks.

 

Wow. I just saw this. Rob, if I had the dough (which I don't. I can't even do SB any more.), I'd do FC in a heartbeat.

What's not to like for a over-50 fat guy? I'd get to race against guys who have more to lose than I do, instead of young punks who think that living is for sissies. I'd hire Risi Racing so I'd get to feel like a real race car driver, even though I'm not. Best of all, I'd get to race a Ferrari on some of the best tracks in the world. (Even if you're not driving, you should attend the Challenge and Historics races at Mt. Tremblant. It doesn't get much better than this.)

Unfortunately, my net worth doesn't allow for such a fantasy and probably never will. But, I don't begrudge those who do. In fact, when I was at Montreal, I found the FC race more fun to watch than the F1. (It didn't hurt that Dr. Earle won.)

Dale

 

I love the Ferrari Challenge. It is awesome to see all the cars pretty much the same. Come on, a full field of Ferrari's. How awesome is that?

 

The Season Championship Entry Package is a comprehensive package that enables a driver to score and accrue Series Championship points. The cost for this package is $26,000 US, which includes entries into four (4) races as well as the items below.

You may add a 5th and/or 6th race for an additional $4,000 US per race and will then be entitled to score points in those races as well.

* Championship fee (enables drivers to earn series championship points)
* Fuel (per series regulations)
* Pirelli Tires (per series regulations)
* Ferrari Challenge memorabilia
* Trophies for 1st, 2nd and 3rd finishing positions
* Special race, season and year-end awards
* Two (2) VIP Hospitality Package passes to each race: one (1) for the driver and one (1) for a guest.

 

Spot on Rob.
That $26K basically just gets you on the registration list (entry fees, fuel & tires) but does NOT include the car, its maintenance, repair, prep, etc. etc., much less all the other expenses that people who've not been in racing rarely or don't think about:
Travel & lodging for all involved, as well as meals
Transport for the car and crew equipment

I could go on, but the gist is clear... $26K is an ante, then you really start to play.


Cheers & C U @ d'Track!!
C

Chuck Hawks,
Pro-Driver, Coach, Instructor & Facilitator
DreamsFulfilled, LLC & rEvolution Performance Driving System ©

 

Last season I was thinking about buying a friends 430CH and race the series. It seemed doable until I was quoted $25,000 per race from FNB to drag the car out to the race plus having to pay for all of the damages that the crazy drivers in the series do to each others cars (some of these drivers literally are crazy!) I figured it would cost about $500,000 per year not counting the purchase of the car.