Cost of Competing: Jekyl Hyde Racing 2005 year-in-review

[JekylandHyde]

Last year I posted a 2004 Year in review to offer some insight to the expenses and challenges of racing.
I decided to share this information again and I hope this is useful and/or appreciated. Looking at what
an entire season takes really puts perspective on things. Buying a trailer and tow vehicle, along with all of the breakages that occured throughout the season, made for an exceptionally expensive year because.

This thread is slightly premature as I am not quite finished racing yet. In two weeks I will be entering
one more SCCA Solo2 Autocross and I suspect I will hit the drag strip at least one more time
this year so there will be some more expenses and hopefully some more victories or records.
After that we pull out the 200,000-mile-miracle engine (anyone want to buy it?)

This was posted first one mr2oc.com so the links and board name references refer to that Site. Thanks.

Results:
14 races, 9 wins, 5 records and 1 FTD
5 SCCA Hill Climbs ~ 5 wins and 5 SM2 hill records
3 SCCA Solo 2s ~ 3 wins and one FTD
6 drag races ~ 1 win, two 3rds, one 5th, one 8th and one DNF.
New best drag racing time: 11.44 @ 120 mph
More in-depth results here.

Events:
14 events entered:
3 SCCA Solo II Autocross Events
5 SCCA Solo I Hill Climbs
3 NHRA Drag Racing Event
1 National Muscle Car Assn True Street Challenge drag race
1 Survival of the Imports drag event
1 Open track brackets @ Numidia Raceway

Winnings:
$300, 6 trophies, one commemorative umbrella and 2 glasses
<-- click to make bigger

Expenses:
Food: $394.06
Sales/shipping: $651.24 (fees associated with shipping & handling)
Fuel: $1204.67 (Hyde and the Tow vehicle)
Fees/Memberships: $1398.22 (includes race fees, memberships & licenses/registrations)
Labor: $6024.00 (includes dyno time, fabricators, my mech & noshoes)
Parts/Misc $13,559.41 (in addition to parts for Hyde, this includes the suburban & 20' enclosed trailer)
Total: $23,231.60

Income:
Winnings: $300.00
Sales: $2999.50
Sponsorships: $4280.00
Total: $7579.50

I guess that puts some things into perspective.
Now I hope people understand why I always say I am broke.
My out-of-pocket expenses are over $1300.00/month.
I assure you, my income does not justify that. gulp

These figures are as of Oct 10, 2005.
There are at least 2 more events going on this year and many more parts to buy.

Problems/Breaks:
Inner axle stub (pic)
Two head gaskets
Transmission died
One bent motor mount (pic)
Three tabs for rear-sway bar end links
Three tires destroyed
Ignitions problems

Coverage:
80+ photographs online from 3rd party sources
2 videos from 3rd party sources
1 Feature in Eagle Times
2 articles in Trip Notes
7 columns in the Reading Eagle Newspaper
2 listings in the Times Leader
Mentions in race results & follow ups on the sites of NHRA, Urban Racer, Modified

Hopes and dreams for 2006:
500+ rwhp
10 second 1/4-miles
170+ mph in a 1-mile Land Speed Record race
6 SCCA hill climbs with new records
4 NHRA events
1 NMCA True Street drag challenge
1 IDRC drag event
3 SCCA Solo 2s
1 Track Day
1 Silver State Classic dreaming ... anyone want to sponsor this trip
and ride co-pilot throughout the race?

[JekylandHyde]

This amazing year was only made possible because of my sponsors.
I have refered to Hyde as the "community" car on occassion and it is so true.
So many people and business on this board have touched this car in some way.
You would be hard pressed to find a business on here that is not involved with Hyde somehow.

Thank you 2005 Jekyl Hyde Racing Sponsors!

NoShoes Speedworks ·Chico Raceworks
TWOSRUS · TURBOHOSES
Wolfkatz · KBOX
MRControls · PA Auto Racing
LuckyCasino7 · Spaz Chicken
Spiral Moons · World Motorsports
Fisher's Metal Finishing · Heidi Nolen,
Peter Doane, Jeff Herstine, Ardell & Robert Simon

I would also like to thank mellamoben for coming with the idea for
the "Boardnames on Hyde" promotion. (still taking names by the way)

I would like to thank all of the people that took part in
the "Boardnames on Hyde" promotion in one way or another:

El Paalo, R E D, N8S93TURBO, nosiritsatoyota, Wolfkatz, Julie, kblake, MR2NICEGUY007, RARH, mister3, MR 2000GT, KBOX, ATSAARON, NoShoes, Bill Strong, sab0276, mr2bats, Jek's Mom, Jek's Girl, ArmondoP, Kappa, SPUD, 93SMGTURBO, TWOSRUS.COM, PDOANE, redblues, RICKMAN, Henrai86, justalilboost, unregistered, mellamoben, importxdream, celicatech.com, jekylandhyde, TRD2000, Luni420, Nooka, Lachean, Henrai86, sradavidson, JMphskal85. PatrickG, Sandra, CTP0626, Gordean, Stephen M, timtoymr2, Jon Ray, enginelogics.com, humpthefridge, tychee, unseen423, kupop, JD Singh, alvoski, matt91t, miss shigatsu, wallcrawlr and NV2.

I would also really like to thank those that kept Hyde running all year
which has been extremely challenging with all of the breakges:

• Jeff Herstine, my primary mechanic and crew chief who has gone way beyond the call of duty to keep Hyde rolling
• Bryan "NoShoes" Moore, my dedicated tuner
• Aaron & ATS Racing for supplying much needed parts
• Josh Boam (mister3) & Chico Race Works for supplying a crucial part at a crucial time
• David Hawkins & twosrus for supplying crucial parts and service at a crucial time
• Dave Jenny (MR 2000GT) & PA Auto Racing for supplying a crucial part at a crucial time
• Jeff Condon (crimsonMKII) & Justin (humpthefridge) for delivering a crucial part at a crucial time
• Cindy Foley aka Jek's Girl for putting up with me, supporting me and being an inspiration
• JD Singh for spending his own time and money to photograph Hyde's NJ drag events & offering a place to sleep
• Peter Doane (PDoane) for offering so much trailing/towing help and a place to stay
• Kevin Tulay (Kupop) for being my savior at two or more events this year
• El Paalo for supplying a much needed part
• Jim Ong (redblues) for supplying needed service
• Brian Bradley (not on the board) for supplying needed service
• And a big thanks to the entire Jekyl Hyde Racing crew
• A huge thanks to MR2OC.COM and it's members for supplying such an awesome source of knowledge.

See how many people have touched this car? ...
... now you know why I say it is the community car.

Hyde's successes is the MR2 communities success.
I'm just incredibly lucky and grateful that I get own and drive the darn thing.

I apologize if I overlooked mentioning anyone by name that deserves to be noted.
PLEASE contact me so I can edit this post and add your name if it should be on here.
I surely did not leave anyone out intentionally, there are just too many people that have helped this year!

[JekylandHyde]

** edited the initial post

I just got home from another SCCA Solo 2 (event #14 for Hyde this year) and I am pleased to announce that we took home another victory. The miracle year continues!

This one was not particularly pretty as I was 2 seconds behind until that last run where I zipped ahead by 1/2 a second. I was nowhere near being one of the "fast" drivers today.

This event was tough since we only got 3 runs and I need a few runs to just get warmed up (and screw up) to get in the groove, but I managed to get it where & when I needed it.

This leaves Jekyl Hyde Racing still undefeated this year on courses with turns