Just read a big forum discussion about National Auto Sport Association's (N.A.S.A.) decision to eliminate the Spec Neon class from their lineup.
Are you freakin' kidding me?? I haven't even finished building the car, and the class has been killed?
Great. That's just great.
All ranting aside, the decision doesn't really affect me in the least. You see, the track that I'll be racing at (Waterford Hills) is THE Spec Neon motherland, and will continue as such because they run by their own set of rules - so I'll have a place to race for a long time to come.
I'm still upset by N.A.S.A.'s decision to kill Spec Neon because it means that if I should decide to race somewhere other than Waterford Hills, I'll potentially be "re-classed" into a class where I'm seriously outgunned.
If you consider the fact that the entry fees for a race at some of the national tracks can be triple that of a Waterford race, this reduces the "YIPPEEEE" quotient considerably. I can't speak for everyone, but I don't imagine spending $300-$400 a weekend in entry fees to helplessly trundle along in last place will be heralded as the "BEST WEEKEND EVER!!".
Spec Neon was conceived as a low-cost, entry level way to get racing. This latest move is a baby step away from that. We all know what happens after baby learns to walk....That's right - N.A.S.A.'s going to trip on the living room rug and hits it's head on the coffee table.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Friday, November 16, 2007
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Safety = Budget Killer
This weeks lesson is titled "Buying safety gear without going broke". For those that don't know, you can't just race a car in whatever clothes you like. There are numerous safety specifications that dictate what gets worn and where. Your 'average joe' club racer dons the following before each race: Socks (fireproof), long underwear bottoms (fireproof), undershirt (fireproof), 1 or 2 piece full body race suit (fireproof), gloves (fireproof), headsock (fireproof), and finally a helmet (also fireproof). I should point out that probably 80% of race events happen during the summer. That's a lot of layers. Layers of technical wonder fabrics intent on one thing; keeping you alive in a fire - that's it. They are not technical wonder fabrics when it comes to ventilation. Any hotter than say, 70 degrees and you are very uncomfortable in full race gear.
Another thing all that gear is not, is cheap. I'm not knocking the safety gear manufacturers, but I gotta believe that there's a little bit of fear mongering at work in the pricing structure - "Sure, you could pay less, but do you REALLY want to?". Be that as it may, if you want their products, you pay their prices.
Here's a quick layout of the safety gear essentials and their price ranges:
Helmet - $250 - $1300
Suit - $150 - $1500
Gloves - $40 - $200
Shoes - $60 - $120
Underwear - $100 - $400
Socks - $25 - $100
Balaclava - $35 - $120
This list assumes standard safety rules for SCCA style competition, and is by no means comprehensive, but you get the idea. As with all things, the sky's the limit in the upper ranges. A custom-molded helmet for a Formula One driver will certainly not be had for anything near $1300 - more likely $5,000 - $10,000.
The most pertinent fact is that the low prices that I've listed are basically the least you can expect to pay for the most basic no-frills safety gear. Do the math - it's damn close to $700!!
So, 700 bucks and you're getting the cheapest, most basic, entry-level gear - both from a construction and a safety standpoint. Everything will pass inspection, but the helmet's going to be heavy, the gloves will fit weird, the suit's gonna bunch up, the underwear will be ridiculously baggy and itchy. The socks & balaclava will probably be fine, but that's about it. Overall, you'll be wearing uncomfortable crap, and you'll look like it. Now, I'm no fashion snob, but I hate ill-fitting clothing, and you would too if your crappy glove seams were digging into your hands while you're concentrating on getting a 75 mph corner just right with a 'fast as shit' Mini Cooper on your ass.
With this, and the idea of increased personal safety in mind, I decided not to skimp on the safety gear. I won't buy the junk, but won't go nuts either. Unfortunately the price was going to take a jump - a big jump. Basically to get what I wanted, the cost nearly doubled - putting me at an estimated $1200.00 - Ouch!
There was no way I could put that kind of cash down and hope to have any budget left to race. Something needed to be done. As I mentioned in the Tools of the Trade post, I'm a damn good bargain hunter and I'm proud of it. Clearance racks, open box items, floor models, bring 'em on. I have no hang ups about buying used.
And ebay, You don't want to go head-to-head with me on ebay - your ass WILL get kicked. I bought most of my race gear on eBay, and saved a ton of money in the process. Furthermore, I was able to get everything new, and in it's original packaging. Here are some links to the equipment I ended up getting, along with the lowest current prices in red, and what I actually paid in green.
HJC AR-10 Helmet
$299.00 vs $152.00
G-Force 545 Race Suit
$450.00 vs $203.00
Oakley CarbonX Racing Gloves
$125.00 vs $56.00
Stand 21 Race Shoes
$259.00 vs $40.00 (!?)
RJS 2-piece Nomex underwear
$84.00 vs $84.00
RJS Nomex socks
$18.00 vs $18.00
----------------------
$1235.00 vs $553.00
By my feeble math skills, that's a savings of $682.00 - or roughly 55%.
Not too shabby, not too shabby at all....
In your face, MSRP!!
Another thing all that gear is not, is cheap. I'm not knocking the safety gear manufacturers, but I gotta believe that there's a little bit of fear mongering at work in the pricing structure - "Sure, you could pay less, but do you REALLY want to?". Be that as it may, if you want their products, you pay their prices.
Here's a quick layout of the safety gear essentials and their price ranges:
Helmet - $250 - $1300
Suit - $150 - $1500
Gloves - $40 - $200
Shoes - $60 - $120
Underwear - $100 - $400
Socks - $25 - $100
Balaclava - $35 - $120
This list assumes standard safety rules for SCCA style competition, and is by no means comprehensive, but you get the idea. As with all things, the sky's the limit in the upper ranges. A custom-molded helmet for a Formula One driver will certainly not be had for anything near $1300 - more likely $5,000 - $10,000.
The most pertinent fact is that the low prices that I've listed are basically the least you can expect to pay for the most basic no-frills safety gear. Do the math - it's damn close to $700!!
So, 700 bucks and you're getting the cheapest, most basic, entry-level gear - both from a construction and a safety standpoint. Everything will pass inspection, but the helmet's going to be heavy, the gloves will fit weird, the suit's gonna bunch up, the underwear will be ridiculously baggy and itchy. The socks & balaclava will probably be fine, but that's about it. Overall, you'll be wearing uncomfortable crap, and you'll look like it. Now, I'm no fashion snob, but I hate ill-fitting clothing, and you would too if your crappy glove seams were digging into your hands while you're concentrating on getting a 75 mph corner just right with a 'fast as shit' Mini Cooper on your ass.
With this, and the idea of increased personal safety in mind, I decided not to skimp on the safety gear. I won't buy the junk, but won't go nuts either. Unfortunately the price was going to take a jump - a big jump. Basically to get what I wanted, the cost nearly doubled - putting me at an estimated $1200.00 - Ouch!
There was no way I could put that kind of cash down and hope to have any budget left to race. Something needed to be done. As I mentioned in the Tools of the Trade post, I'm a damn good bargain hunter and I'm proud of it. Clearance racks, open box items, floor models, bring 'em on. I have no hang ups about buying used.
And ebay, You don't want to go head-to-head with me on ebay - your ass WILL get kicked. I bought most of my race gear on eBay, and saved a ton of money in the process. Furthermore, I was able to get everything new, and in it's original packaging. Here are some links to the equipment I ended up getting, along with the lowest current prices in red, and what I actually paid in green.
HJC AR-10 Helmet
$299.00 vs $152.00
G-Force 545 Race Suit
$450.00 vs $203.00
Oakley CarbonX Racing Gloves
$125.00 vs $56.00
Stand 21 Race Shoes
$259.00 vs $40.00 (!?)
RJS 2-piece Nomex underwear
$84.00 vs $84.00
RJS Nomex socks
$18.00 vs $18.00
----------------------
$1235.00 vs $553.00
By my feeble math skills, that's a savings of $682.00 - or roughly 55%.
Not too shabby, not too shabby at all....
In your face, MSRP!!
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
State of the shop
Another non-car related post. I've been busy and or sick for the last couple of weeks, so very little has been done to the car. Fall is here and we've once again realized the penalty for all those nice trees. In the old neighborhood we could simply rake all the leaves to the curb. Not in the new neighborhood. No...I get to fill up thousands of those stupid leaf bags. Even in my silly little suburban lot, just raking out my flower-beds and some of the heavier areas of the yard can fill 20+ bags and take the better part of 6 hrs.
Since the shop hasn't been used for car building, it's become a haven for things that were just "in the way" somewhere else. In other words - my shop is full of crap and is completely useless until I clean it. And frankly, it's too cold out there. I haven't quite accepted the weather change yet, so I'd much rather goof around with my kid and hang out in front of the fireplace than put on some stinky coveralls and wait for my puny kerosene heater to heat the place up so I can clean the shop.
And that's why it looks like this:
Since the shop hasn't been used for car building, it's become a haven for things that were just "in the way" somewhere else. In other words - my shop is full of crap and is completely useless until I clean it. And frankly, it's too cold out there. I haven't quite accepted the weather change yet, so I'd much rather goof around with my kid and hang out in front of the fireplace than put on some stinky coveralls and wait for my puny kerosene heater to heat the place up so I can clean the shop.
And that's why it looks like this:
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