Rays on a budget- My (somewhat long) story w/pics
- Thread starter Clearwater guy
- Start date
LOL...if you only knew...racing put me into debt when I first started...I wised up and made provisions for a family...which has resulted in a very light, but much more enjoyable racing schedule.
I started racing in '98...this car was new in 2003...I built it mostly myself and won 3 races that year during a stuck-throttle shortened season. The stuck throttle prompted me to park the car and buy this house.... I formed a partnership for the 2008 season to help get the car fixed and afford to race a little.... I think I ran like 6 races and was fast qualifier for 3 of those...
This year I'm not rich yet either. I have formed another partnership with another trusted friend who is going to try and win a championship...I'ver been saving parts for a new motor for about 4 years and it's almost done. If it goes well, there will be some money left for me to run it a few times...but mainly I just couldn't stand to see it sit...I built it to go fast, and it gets depressing seeing it collect dust...
Now...assuming that all goes well this year...the car will be complete...with my own new motor that should last quite some time...having it all together and ready for next year gives me a shot of making it pay for itself....Barring misfortune, I am generally able to produce finishes above the break-even point...Having all the stuff paid for is key...
Mike
I started racing in '98...this car was new in 2003...I built it mostly myself and won 3 races that year during a stuck-throttle shortened season. The stuck throttle prompted me to park the car and buy this house.... I formed a partnership for the 2008 season to help get the car fixed and afford to race a little.... I think I ran like 6 races and was fast qualifier for 3 of those...
This year I'm not rich yet either. I have formed another partnership with another trusted friend who is going to try and win a championship...I'ver been saving parts for a new motor for about 4 years and it's almost done. If it goes well, there will be some money left for me to run it a few times...but mainly I just couldn't stand to see it sit...I built it to go fast, and it gets depressing seeing it collect dust...
Now...assuming that all goes well this year...the car will be complete...with my own new motor that should last quite some time...having it all together and ready for next year gives me a shot of making it pay for itself....Barring misfortune, I am generally able to produce finishes above the break-even point...Having all the stuff paid for is key...
Mike
For me...the key to having toys like this is to hang onto it all when things get bad...put it away..tough out the rough times...but NEVER sell the things I love...you get pennies on the dollar when you sell it...and once it's sold...most times it never comes back.
I thought real hard about selling off some racing stuff to put money into the fish...no way I can justify it though...not even that it's a toy I dont need...because the labor of my hands...and the $15,000 that went into it over the 2 years that I spent building it...would have given me maybe $3500 and an empty soul...
Mike
I thought real hard about selling off some racing stuff to put money into the fish...no way I can justify it though...not even that it's a toy I dont need...because the labor of my hands...and the $15,000 that went into it over the 2 years that I spent building it...would have given me maybe $3500 and an empty soul...
Mike
Clearwater guy;5045767; said:
Oh man, SO TRUE... I wish someone had told me this as a much younger man... I've lost(ie sold) things that I'll probably never be able to get back, just for a temporary cash-patch... lesson learned too late.
Dude your my hero... What does your wife think of all this? And how much is that electric bill? haha I am extremely impressed I really wish I could do what you are doing keep up the great work its truly amazing. Oh also the title should no longer be rays on a budget but rather "Rays (And then some) OUT OF CONTROL!!!"
Thanks!
Well...honestly...my wife hasn't been very supportive ever since I started having trouble shipping larger numbers of fry. It's actually kind of wearing me down...that sucks to have to deal with, but it's reality. I'm way past the point of no-return on this project...So she'll either have to get both feet back in the boat...or go ahead and jump out. It really isn't as simple as that..but the bottom line is- I'm going to be successful with this... It's starting to happen already...and in the end everything will be just fine.
Electric bill is starting to scare me...but I havn't worked on any efficiency or anything yet...just keep plugging in more stuff. Looks like it's leveling out a little over $500/mo for the whole house...but it was always high anyways. I need to get a few things handled soon...the rates go way up during the hot summer months. the electric bill and other costs though are still very reasonable....considering what it is...and what the potential is.
I'm starting to get caught up on all the losses I had over the winter with shipping...It's been a VERY long winter..but I got about 950 fry shipped last week and have about double that going out today. The new hatching setup is working awesome, and as the fish grow out to fill these new tanks with breeders, things should really start going well.
Mike
Well...honestly...my wife hasn't been very supportive ever since I started having trouble shipping larger numbers of fry. It's actually kind of wearing me down...that sucks to have to deal with, but it's reality. I'm way past the point of no-return on this project...So she'll either have to get both feet back in the boat...or go ahead and jump out. It really isn't as simple as that..but the bottom line is- I'm going to be successful with this... It's starting to happen already...and in the end everything will be just fine.
Electric bill is starting to scare me...but I havn't worked on any efficiency or anything yet...just keep plugging in more stuff. Looks like it's leveling out a little over $500/mo for the whole house...but it was always high anyways. I need to get a few things handled soon...the rates go way up during the hot summer months. the electric bill and other costs though are still very reasonable....considering what it is...and what the potential is.
I'm starting to get caught up on all the losses I had over the winter with shipping...It's been a VERY long winter..but I got about 950 fry shipped last week and have about double that going out today. The new hatching setup is working awesome, and as the fish grow out to fill these new tanks with breeders, things should really start going well.
Mike
Yesterday I found my first breeding from a group of Tilapia that was born here. that was born here... So I'm like a Step-Grandpa or something like that? lol.
Mike
Mike
I finally got from p1 to p78 took 2 days but now i'm here. So i think you are doing something extraordinary here, not just for your bussines but for the hobby aswell. Sharing all your ups and downs, rights and wrongs and soforth has been very interesting. Making sacrifices in a bussines is part of the course and same goes for relationships, i would try to get your wife more involved in your enterprise and always make time for your family. Sorry about the loss of your pups and the cat but its good to see that you always bounce back. Have you had your mounted ray back yet? How are the food trials going? Keep us posted on what your upto as its been great so far, my wife sez ive never been on the net this long before so it must be good reading lol. Just a thought for the future, have you thought about writing a book, title could be decided by a poll on here and use the photo of the 2 leo's with the ripples as the cover! Like i said just a thought. I wish you all the best in your bussiness and will be watching this space for future developments.
