8 Tried and True Tips for a $500 Nationals Budget

By Heyward Wagner - National SCCA Solo Newsletter Staff Writer

One of the biggest excuses I hear for not going to Nationals is that it cost too much. In argument, I have made the statement that Solo Nationals can be done on a total budget of $500. Now, you are not going to win A-Mod on $500, (well, not without substantial help, I would assume), but it is possible to compete and experience all that nationals entails for a chunk less than it cost to enter the Runoffs. To prove this point, here are some simple tips for getting to and from Lincoln, without busting.

Boycott Wal-Mart! - It seems like every time I go to an event there is a Wal-Mart stop along the way. Over the years I have bought cooler, chairs, umbrellas, rain gear, tarps, tie downs, sweatshirts, sunscreen, water sprayers, tools, totes and of course, Advil. What are the two things all of these things have in common? I already owned multiples of all of them and they all cost money. The dent these stops put in your Nationals budget is staggering. All because something you have already paid for was left at home. The best method of plugging the Wal-Mart wallet drain is a plain ole checklist. Think about the have-to-haves, then nice-to-haves, ask friends what they take and build your list. Nationals is a long/hot/cold/wet/dry week, it is important to be prepared and it is most affordable to do the preparing before you leave home.

Grill Baby, Grill - The average menu item at TGI-Apple-ili's is about 12 bucks, if you can wait that long. For the impatient, the meal begins with a $8 appetizer and a beer, the big one of course, for $2 more. Figure you are going to want to let the conversation run its course (because there is always to talk about at Nationals), so you can add a few more $4-6 beers and their hot fudge brownie with ice cream and nuts really is pretty good... and only $6.99. Before you know it you just dropped $30+ on a so-so dinner. By comparison, for the price of your entree and appetizer you can probably pick up a few pounds of hamburger, a bag of buns, some fixin's and one of those big bags of chips. The difference is, now the same money is feeding 4 people and your share is 25% and a little time at the grill. If you don't have a grill or the means of transporting one, someone in your region does. If they don't, you can pick up a simple fold-up grill for about the price of a meal out. You will save money, never wait for a table and I promise you that your beer money will go a lot further if you open the bottles yourself. Last year, between the food provided at banquets, grilling out and peanut butter and jelly I spent less that $100 on food all week. There is no need, however, to disclose my adult beverage budget.

Not only do Cook-Outs save money, they are also a great way to build camaraderie within your region or division.

Shut up, and Drive - Let me let you in on a too well kept secret- your car does not have to be "ready" for Nationals. Despite rampant rumors to the contrary, there is not an inspection station just outside the main gate ensuring all entrants have unobtainium shocks and wheels that, were it not for the weight of tires, would simply float away. Now that we have that out in the air, there is no longer a requirement to pour cubic dollars into your car just to come to Lincoln. It is true that there will be drivers with roughly your annual salary invested in a car towed by a RV worth just slightly more than a 4 bedroom house. This, however, should not stand in the way of your attendance at the biggest and best autocross of the year. The important part of Nationals is the experience. Believe it or not, you can have that experience competing in the same car, with the same level of prep as you do at any other autocross. Just give it a wash, slap on some stickers and wa-la, you have a "Nationals ready racecar." -A tip; for your sanity's sake, you may want set some goals that are realistic for the equipment, (like being the fastest AMC product) for goals are one of the cheaper adjustable components on the market.

The Buddy System - If you just can't justify the trip unless you are driving a well-prepared car (and you don't have one) tire warming is your calling. There are a number of forums where these rides are listed and sought. To help you out, the unlimited nature of the practice course provides ample opportunity to adjust to a new to you ride, regardless of where in the country it is coming from. Co-drives can range from free to expensive but in generally will be significantly cheaper than prepping your car to the limit. All you have to do is arrive, drive and not beat the car owner, provided you ever want to drive the car again.

Use the Carpool Lane - For the vast majority of us, Lincoln is not close. As a result getting to Nationals is often the largest single expense. If you are not married to the idea of driving your own car, look to catch a ride with someone going solo. Often times having someone to ramble on with and share driving duties is payment enough for the travel. Failing that, $100 in the tank is generally cheaper than you can drive yourself and $100 more than they would have gotten otherwise. If you insist on driving your own car, look for locals in need of a ride for themselves or their gear. One year I paid for my gas to Nationals by hauling 3 tire trailers worth of R-comps, and I never had to stop to let them pee.

Sleep Cheap - I have tent camped at events before. On the plus side, it is cheap and you cannot beat the commute. In the other column is climate control and hot showers. On the hotel cost worksheet, less your AAA discount, there is little effect you can have on the total cost. Therefore, the savings comes on the "divided by" side of the equation. Executed to the fullest extend without crossing any boundaries of good sense and hygiene, you should be able to get the room down to $15-$20 per person, per night. A few tips to keep this humane- 1. Pack a towel, 2. Invest in an air mattress AND a means to fill it, 3. Get earplugs, 4. Bring a significant other. That last one may seem like an odd ball, but doing so will almost certainly determine that, should you have to share a bed, it will be with one of your more attractive options.

Spread out the Spending - This year the entry fee for Nationals is $150, pretty decent chunk of change to say the least. In my $500 budget, that eats up 30%. Coughing up that much dough a month before departure could be a deal breaker, however if you find a way to pony-up in June you can likely absorb that cost long before you have to figure out how to split the hotel bill 5 ways.

Drinks Lots of Water - Preferably, out of the same bottles, filled up each morning in the hotel. If you insist on sports drinks, buy the powder. last I checked it was roughly 1/10th the cost per serving compared to buying single bottles at the gas station. Even Red Bull can be bought in bulk at Sam's Club should you feel that is a need item. If you take this philosophy to the trip there and back, you can save even more. I cannot count the times I have walked into a gas station and dropped $2.50 on a drink that I already had in the cooler.