$20XX Challenge (total/actual budget)

Food costs the same money pretty much anywhere. Most of us would be eating whether or not we go to the Challenge. I don't see counting food.

Gas and mileage definitely cost money, and I know I am much more fortunate than most regarding how close I live to Gainesville. But as far as I am concerned, this is really the only variable.

While I am aware that there are several people who have traveled across the entire country, they are very rare.

So, let's assume 1200 miles. That would get to Gainesville from Flint MI, Albany NY, Kansas City KS, or Lubbock TX. Certainly cover most of the participants.

A 2400 mile round trip at the IRS rate of $.50 per mile (which I generally MAKE quite a bit of money on driving my full sized truck) would only cost $1200.

So, I'm just not seeing the $5K. In my opinion, anyone who can build a race car for under $2K should be able to figure out how to keep the other related expenses within reason.

I am really not trying to argue. But I don't want to discourage people who might participate by throwing around numbers like $5-$8K. It really doesn't need to cost that much.

SVreX wrote: Food costs the same money pretty much anywhere. Most of us would be eating whether or not we go to the Challenge. I don't see counting food.

I cook a lot at home, so eating out is a noticeably more expensive endeavor. Groceries for two weeks for me cost about $100. Eating non-junkfood (but not "high-end") for three meals a day for five days on the road costs about $200. And some folks have a fairly narrow margine for error, they need to factor this in.

SVreX wrote: While I am aware that there are several people who have traveled across the entire country, they are very rare.

I am rare, unique, highly collectible!

SVreX wrote: So, I'm just not seeing the $5K. In my opinion, anyone who can build a race car for under $2K should be able to figure out how to keep the other related expenses within reason. I am really not trying to argue. But I don't want to discourage people who might participate by throwing around numbers like $5-$8K. It really doesn't need to cost that much.

Agreed, it doesn't need to cost that much for most people. But at the same time, it never hurts for a first-timer to pad the budget to allow for some berkeleying things up, and for us West Coasters who have more money than sense, $5k-8k isn't much to spend for a truly good experience. :D

dollraves wrote: I cook a lot at home, so eating out is a noticeably more expensive endeavor. Groceries for two weeks for me cost about $100. Eating non-junkfood (but not "high-end") for three meals a day for five days on the road costs about $200. And some folks have a fairly narrow margine for error, they need to factor this in.

Agreed.

But just like there are creative ways to build a car on budget, there are also creative ways to eat. We feed our family of 7 for about $90 per week when buying groceries. I generally spend close to what you are describing when traveling. But a cooler, a campstove, and some creative road grocery shopping, and we're eating like kings while having a tailgating/ picnic adventure on the road for very close to the same thing we eat at home for.

Granted, it's MUCH easier to buy Chik-fil-A and eat while rolling, but there are ways to eat cheap while traveling.

When I travel alone, I buy stuff to eat that's easy (and more expensive). When we travel as a family, it is necessary (and a lot more fun) to be much more creative.

But the point is, there is NO WAY any of us can know someone else's lifestyle and eating habits. It is completely impossible to offer suggestions for budgeting these items.

Oh, and the OP is not a West Coaster, he's from Brooklyn (and he didn't ask about food).

True. I am, once again, an outlier in the stats. As a single woman traveling alone, I'm going to budget for safety over camping & cooler creativeness.

Dollraves-I am sure you could crash on many couches and get much free food along the way on your challenge journey from the GRM brethren.

I have an Aunt that lives in Gainesville by UF, so I might crash there to save some $$$

MrJoshua wrote: Dollraves-I am sure you could crash on many couches and get much free food along the way on your challenge journey from the GRM brethren.

I'm sure I could, but there's still that "single woman traveling alone" part in there. It's a huge leap of faith to go from talking to folks on the boards about cars to crashing on their couches. I'm not saying there's a potential rapist at every keyboard, but on the other hand, one bad experience is all it takes to ruin a good trip. That's just the reality of the world, sadly.

On the other hand, there are plenty of awesome GRMers out there who can vouch for each other. It would be fun to bring a little bit of the Challenge to those who can't get to Florida. I don't think I can pull it off this year, but maybe $2012!

Marie and I luckily get a Krap load of potential beater entries for the challenge . We live close to G ville so the gas is $60 bux , hotel $300 , beer booze food $150 ISH . Entry fee ect....

This years challenge car might busta budget record for us as we are actually working on an entry that is not a slap a sticker on her and throw a Hog head in the trunk entry

dollraves wrote:

MrJoshua wrote: Dollraves-I am sure you could crash on many couches and get much free food along the way on your challenge journey from the GRM brethren.

I'm sure I could, but there's still that "single woman traveling alone" part in there. It's a huge leap of faith to go from talking to folks on the boards about cars to crashing on their couches. I'm not saying there's a potential rapist at every keyboard, but on the other hand, one bad experience is all it takes to ruin a good trip. That's just the reality of the world, sadly.

This. I was biting my tongue, because I'm a dude, but having to help girls and women who have been in an extremely similar situation that went bad, you can't trust anyone you don't know. The sad fact is that when it comes to issues like this, you can't even trust the GRM board.

Dollraves, for 2012, you should try to make a team! Whether it is a boyfriend or a girlfriend or a wrenching friend or a sister or an idiot cousin, you wouldn't be a "single" woman for the trip.

Ok, I just re-read the thread because the $2011 challenge is looking like a reality. My teammate and I are picking up a car on Monday, and already have a donor engine lined up. Can't wait to get that thing in the garage for it's grand transformation.

On the "shipping cost" of the initial car purchase: Do we have to factor our drive to the pick-up location, or only the tow home?

mtn wrote:

dollraves wrote:

MrJoshua wrote: Dollraves-I am sure you could crash on many couches and get much free food along the way on your challenge journey from the GRM brethren.

I'm sure I could, but there's still that "single woman traveling alone" part in there. It's a huge leap of faith to go from talking to folks on the boards about cars to crashing on their couches. I'm not saying there's a potential rapist at every keyboard, but on the other hand, one bad experience is all it takes to ruin a good trip. That's just the reality of the world, sadly.

This. I was biting my tongue, because I'm a dude, but having to help girls and women who have been in an extremely similar situation that went bad, you can't trust anyone you don't know. The sad fact is that when it comes to issues like this, you can't even trust the GRM board. Dollraves, for 2012, you should try to make a team! Whether it is a boyfriend or a girlfriend or a wrenching friend or a sister or an idiot cousin, you wouldn't be a "single" woman for the trip.

Reviving this thread made me realize I missed multiple responses to my post. I understand the worries of being a single woman crashing on a relative strangers couch-But Doll, you have the advantage of knowing multiple challengers personally. I have to think there are at least a few of us you still trust after meeting us.

In reply to MrMook:

If all you are doing is picking up the car-all fuel costs count in your budget as part of your purchase price. If your "Primary" destination is the beach a mile down the road, or to a cool museum, an outlet mall, etc..., you only have to count the fuel used from your "Primary" destination to the car pickup spot and back.

Cool. This is all looking awesome. So far, our plans for the car seem to fall well under the budget limit. We'll see what happens when we actually get underway.

MrJoshua wrote: Reviving this thread made me realize I missed multiple responses to my post. I understand the worries of being a single woman crashing on a relative strangers couch-But Doll, you have the advantage of knowing multiple challengers personally. I have to think there are at least a few of us you still trust after meeting us.

Trust with a dead car? Sure!

Trust with a dead car, drunk and welding power tools? With sufficient safety gear, sure!

Trust alone with the hotness of the Doll and a Challenge car? Hrmmmmm...

I'm not so cruel as to put that much temptation in front of a mortal man!