double drive speed events - your advice / expirience

[Norfolkandchance]

Hi,

As some of you will know, I am a reasonably experienced competitor in speed events and am thinking about changing car.

One option is to double drive, primarily with the aim of halving purchase, preparation and repair costs. Also having a friend (in this case an engineer) to help with said repairs. Also, guarantees I'll always have a competitor, even in poorly supported class or noncompetitive car (through I will try to avoid these!)

Car would be something relatively simple and easy /cheap to repair. Probably British classic or 7 type kit at a fairly low level of development.

I have some understanding of yachts being bought in consortium and have seen it work very well but also cause issues, though its never been terrible and people have been able to use boats that they would never have been able to have on their own.

My leaning, if we do go down the route is to do everything exactly 50/50. Jointly purchase car (I've already been clear that I can't share my current car, because its mine and only I should be allowed to break it. Maybe that's illogical but that is the way it is!)

So we'd pay 50% each to buy, modify and repair. If it broke when the other is driving, we still pay 50% (even if we suspect he over revved or missed a gear). If he drive it into a tree we pay 50%. If I drive it into a tree he pays 50%. Some kind of contract drawn up and agreed.

It won't be massively valuable - maybe £4-5k. I'd be more worried about losing one of my oldest friends in a dispute than £2k,

We have similar levels of disposable cash, so there won't be the situation of one wanting to go further than the other one wants to. We are both reasonable.

But I can still see potential problems. What are your experiences?

[fat80b]

Norfolkandchance said:

We have similar levels of disposable cash, so there won't be the situation of one wanting to go further than the other one wants to. We are both reasonable.

But I can still see potential problems. What are your experiences?

In general, I'd say don't do it but in practice, it is nice to have a buddy involved and if you have the right mindset it'll be fine.

I have run several cars double driving in Targa & autosolo events and my experience is that it will break after enough competition and there will be some fairly sizeable costs somewhere down the line. In my case, I bought, owned and sold the cars so in that sense, they were mine but in my head, they were shared (for the purposes of competition).

First: You need to have the attitude that the car is broken and not be concerned with who broke it. It's a competition car and is expected to break / crash. It really doesn't matter who was driving at the time.

We replaced engines, diffs and a whole load of other bits, sometimes I paid for stuff, sometimes the other chap bought bits and did most of the work.

I couldn't tell you who spent what as we didn't ever keep a list of spends (why ask for trouble) and both of us had the mindset to get what was needed done and it'll all even out in the end. If we were to count it up, I will have spent more money but he definitely did more work on it.

I think both of us would say it worked for us as we got to do a lot of motorsport. This is what really matters as it is only the photos & memories that you get to keep.

We kept a good few cars running this way and did a lot of competitive events in them until they finally died. We both now have our own competition cars and in some ways, despite being simpler, this is a lot more lonely.

Edited by fat80b on Saturday 1st June 10:14

[carl_w]

Keep a detailed spreadsheet of all spend and, as you say, split it equally even if one of you bins it. That's what we do.

However, be aware that whilst you're splitting the costs you're actually wearing the car out twice as quickly in terms of tyres, brakes, clutches...

[Norfolkandchance]

Thanks for the replies, I think it could work.

Carl,

Did I see yo are now competing in a Clio? I wasn't going to compete this year but am thinking of a couple.

Chris

[carl_w]

Norfolkandchance said:

Thanks for the replies, I think it could work.

Carl,

Did I see yo are now competing in a Clio? I wasn't going to compete this year but am thinking of a couple.

Chris

Yes, Clio 182. Not doing very well so far but starting to get the hang of it.

[andrewcliffe]

I would suggest getting some sort of bank account, and both drivers putting an agreed amount in this account per month - not to be spent on things like tyres or entry fees, but purely as an insurance policy in case of a big expense looming - engine rebuild, gearbox rebuild or bodywork. Then if the unthinkable happens you've got an amount set aside to hopefully cover repairs. If you both can manage £ 100 per month, by the end of a year there is £ 2400 in the kitty.

If you decide to stop racing, withdraw it, split the proceeds and close the account and you have a modest windfall.

[Norfolkandchance]

Thanks. Good idea.