Random renting car quesions

I appreciate all the input. I'm in no position to actually rent anything, nor would i really want to, for many of the above reasons. The two rally cars sitting in the driveway are waiting for me to finish school so they will no longer just sit.

I just like to stimulate conversation about rally in general, and I really have always been curious. I would like to possible rent the truck out as a starter g2 car. But I would always worry about it possible breaking down, so that would probably just stop me from doing it.

Not unless I just offered it for free to rent with a deposit, because even if you offered a car for free there is plenty of other money needed to enter. But then you're opening a whole different can of worms.

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"Rally racing makes a heroin addiction look like a vague craving for something salty"

Yep, done the free rental thing in my formula car. One of my crew had gone to the expense and effort of taking a race school and getting his license, so I let him use my car for one event I wasn't doing. Of course he wrecked it :-( He paid a bunch on money towards fixing it, but I felt bad taking his money, especially after all the volenteering he's done for me over the years (and still does)... so I foot the bill for a significant amount of the repairs.

-Martin.

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phlat65
A one day road race should be pretty easy on the car. A one day rough gravel event can be pretty hard on stuff.

I think $1,000 for a single day event for car cleaned and ready for you at Tech is not nearly enough. I think the minimum I would let my car go for a one day event is $1500, and that is you picking it up at my house, and dropping it off with Zero damage, and just a simple re-prep required. That would require a 7-10K damage deposit, with an agreement for complete repair/replacement.

2 day national, say $2500 DIY. $5000 with crew, 1 new set of tires, logistics handled, like pick you up at the airport and go have fun.

Still a tough thing to think about, I am a bit of a perfectionist with the car, and would worry about some mechanical thing ruining your good time.

I agree. I would have a tough time even thinking about renting mine out. Not saying I won't wreck it, but I think when you have a ton of time wrapped up into cracking out on them you tend to not push the limits as much as someone with no vested interest in it (trust me they likely aren't thinking about the after the fact repair bill on stage).

Conversely I don't think I could ever rent a car for myself (I pondered it before I had mine, as a possible way to get into rally sooner). At least mine now if I ball it up I can shove it into a corner somewhere and deal with it when my budget, wife and hurt feelings permit. With a rental, you are faced with that financial burden instantly (and fixing it back to how the owner wants, not thrashing it back into something running for the next event).

I suppose for someone with the right means, who just wants to show up, run a car, and walk away (including write a check and walk away if car is crashed) then it is ideal. But I suspect for many of us on here, the downsides would far outweigh the benefits.

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John Reed
John Reed Racing
www.johnreedracing.com
johnreedracing@gmail.com

The downside is the money only pays for what money buys, and most of us are short of time...and there's no substitute for time.

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John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
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John vanlandingham

and most of us are short of time..."

Amen!

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what could go wrong?

I found the spreadsheet for the rental. The total cost for a complete weekend with service (3 techs), fuel, tires (5 budgeted), transport, accomedatons for the crew, tavel, and a co-driver was $6300. Plus $1500 damage deposit based on a $10K write off amount.

As I said, I don't think its unreasonable and I don't think the rental is making a shitload of money for the folks proposing this. And for a one time get your feet wet, not sure what you want to do, it's a realistic option.

A constructive thread on a forum? How come I didn't find this place sooner?

As a relative newcomer to rally and someone who aspires to enter the madness as a competitor as some point. The numbers that Martin provided give a real idea of what sort of expenses can be expected. Obviously you could skimp on things (oil changes, shock rebuilds) but at what cost? Grenade your engine and have to rebuild one?

I have my own truck and have a pile of friends with different degrees of trailers (16' opens to 35' enclosed triaxles, even one guy with a toterhome and stacker (wish I had his money) that I could borrow should I ever aspire to rent a car, but I think I'll stick with volunteering for now. I know its not likely I'll see the stages in my own car for a while but I can still hope I win the lottery