Race Car Entry Costs

[C-Clark1964]

I know the circuits and the clubs have to make money to balance the cost of running an event, but I do find certain circuits put a premium on competing or using their circuit. One in particular is Goodwood Circuit. It cost an eyewatering £600 for a short days track use.
Have other club members and competitors have the same feeling that circuit entry costs should come down and what circuits have best cost value.

[C-Clark1964]

mcflurry said:

How much would you think was fair, to cover the costs of staff, utilities and maintenance?

A fair price would be in the region of £350 for a days testing at Goodwood, Brands and Silverstone. £275 for a days testing at other circuits such as Mallory, Castle Combe, Snetterton 100 and 200.
Blighton is very fair in their costing at £135 to below £200.
Goodwood for example charged us £595 and the marshalls for fire at points around the circuit was less than some of the restricted speed events held there that charged £280 for the days event.

[C-Clark1964]

SimonTheSailor said:

Why should the prices go down ?

(But yes, 600 quid seems a bit rich to me but it seems Goodwood always charges a premium over others)

Several reasons for places such as Goodwood. These extortionate high prices of £600 a day can be afforded by wealthy competitors and sponsored teams, but for the ordinary club competitor it is a shame it is too expensive. He may go out on the circuit and manage to have a first lap terminal car fault and he has just suffered the loss of £600, with no refund, but that is motorsport.
You would expect that the facilities would be superior at Goodwood, but they are not compared to say Brands. There is also a bare minimum of marshalls at strategic safety points around the circuit, especially during the week days on Track and Testing days. This is due to many healthy fit marshalls having to work during the week. So it leaves many of the marshalls on the day being retired or unemployed persons and many to old to run a hundred metres with a fire extinguisher to put out a fire, quickly. Where as a younger person with experience gets there quicker to save a life.
This is the circuiits fault not the marshalls who do a fine job, many unpaid and with whom there would be no motorsport without them.

[CoolClarky64]

Draxindustries1 said:

Pay per hour would be fairer. £50 ph would be a fair rate.
I'm not sure what the situation is now but Snetterton used to have days with hourly rates available but that was before MSV's takeover..

Edited by Draxindustries1 on Tuesday 15th November 11:54

That is a good price guide, as long as they monitor the time you spend on track, not from signing on, as that would be a very expensive breakfast.

Places like Lydden and Brands, one circuit hour equates to approx 60+ laps. Super Great value.