Autocross Co-driving agreement/"contract"

What is a reasonable price/coverage to ask for, in terms of cash? I have never seen a topic that specifically covers this so I'm asking what you guys do (or don't do).

Who, and what car? A good friend? A stranger? A basically stock car or a championship-winning Street Mod?

I just invited my brother to codrive my car, but he is my brother, and my car isn't seriously competitive.
 

TheRX7Project said:

Who, and what car? A good friend? A stranger? A basically stock car or a championship-winning Street Mod?

I just invited my brother to codrive my car, but he is my brother, and my car isn't seriously competitive.
 

Basically stock car (street class), stranger.

RyanGreener said:

TheRX7Project said:

Who, and what car? A good friend? A stranger? A basically stock car or a championship-winning Street Mod?

I just invited my brother to codrive my car, but he is my brother, and my car isn't seriously competitive.
 

Basically stock car (street class), stranger.

I'd probably say pay both entry fees and call it good? There isn't near as much wear/tear in a few autoX runs like there is with an HPDE.

I don't think I'd let a total stranger co-drive. Maybe a friend of a friend, or a regular competitor..If it were me I'd just say "buy me lunch." Entry fee cover as much. For autocross, if it's a friend or regular class competitor.....nothing. Someday you may need a ride and people remember who loans out rides. Hell, I've let a few people I don't know well drive my stage rally car at rallycrosses over the last few years......for nothing (as well as several of my competitors). I cashed in a favor at the last event and co-drove last year's class champion's car since he had driven mine a few years ago when his was down (and beat him in it....)

Why would you be loaning out your car to a stranger anyhow? Are you just trying to make money, or did someone specifically ask?

I would never let some stranger drive my car in competition but maybe that is just me.   

All the risk is on you if he breaks something major, or totals it, and walks away.

The people who rent out race cars for a living have contracts heavily weighted in their favor in case of people whose enthusiasm out weights their ability.

jharry3 said:

I would never let some stranger drive my car in competition but maybe that is just me.   

All the risk is on you if he breaks something major, or totals it, and walks away.

The people who rent out race cars for a living have contracts heavily weighted in their favor in case of people whose enthusiasm out weights their ability.

This as well. 

A buddy of mine, we have let each other drive each others cars. I had him pay my entry fee at an HPDE when we shared my car, a few years later he just asked me to split gas and the hotel room and pay my own entry fee (he was going regardless if I went or not), so sharing the cost of two nights in the hotel and the diesel from Tulsa to Iowa and back, was more than enough for him to let me help use up the brakes and tires on the car.

Yeah, just don't do the stranger thing. Only do it with people you know.

Ok, well, he's a friend of a friend (although I can't say I know him so I'd call him a stranger). I have a few ideas on how to go at this then, thanks guys!

I have rented a vehicle at Nationals twice-the DMod Caterham was $100 per run (so, $600 for two days) and the kart cost one complete set of new MG Green tires (around $250).

If it’s a full-season arrangement, I’ve see where the renting driver pays for tires(and possibly entry fee), while the owner handles all the vehicle costs.

In reply to Pete Gossett :

This is how I'd do it.

I just sleep with mine. 

Javelin said:

I just sleep with mine. 

Teddy bears can’t drive!

If you own the car, then all of the risk and expense is biased against you.

What's the incentive to take on a co-driver, if not a friend?  There is no scenario where you come out ahead in the long run financially.

I also disagree that autox is easier on the car than HPDE.  The risk of impact is lower, but wear and tear of a 2-person season of autox is high.

In reply to Tyler H :

Several advantages: It allows you to have a direct comparison of times/lines/technique. Having more runs on the car means more development time per season and/or more data logged. Two-driver cars are often the norm at large events, partly to help keep heat in the tires, and also to help each other with checking tire temps, adjusting pressures, shock settings, etc. 

In reply to Tyler H :

If it's a national event and the co-driver is good you can come out ahead from contingency. Also you can/should price it to cover your costs, maybe plus a little extra so you should at least break even. Plus all the benefits listed above.

Autocross is absolutely easier on the car than HPDE on a per-event basis, not necessarily a per-driving time basis.

"Cover the entry fee" is a pretty common pay scale. Beyond that, I'd try to estimate how much tires (and any other parts you consider to be consumables) will be used up and add on a little bit for fuel, wear and tear, etc. I only have experience with paying for seats in street prepared and beyond with big r comps/slicks but in my experience the price for that usually comes out in the $15-30/run range.

I've let strangers run my stuff. Well, not COMPLETE strangers... Pete being one. My normal rate is lunch or entry. Season long just split costs. then again I'm pretty easy and my E36 M3 is slow.... except the Forte. It was fast. for STF. 

In reply to bobzilla :

They don’t get much stranger than me Bob! 

Pete Gossett said:

In reply to bobzilla :

They don’t get much stranger than me Bob! 

You got THAT right.

I split tires/consumables costs with my codriver. Natural mechanical failures are on me, driver induced damage is on them. Each pay our own entry fees, but also split travel and hotel costs if it’s an out of town event.