what's a normal salary for a pro rock crawler? Ballpark figures? Can I continue my rock star lifestyle if I go pro? Thx!

I think "normal" (meaning average pay) for a pro is going to be a negative number still. :(

Even for us.
Right now, even with big money on board, the investment is so high into marketing/tracking/travel/new crawlers/maintanance and the rest, that there just isn't anything beyond assets at the end of the year.
Hopefully soon, the 1/2 mil $ contracts will come along and there will be something left over at the end of it all...but still, not as much as you'd think because with a 1/2 mil contract, you'd have a minimum of 120K in just marketing expenses, 70K in hospitality, 2 new rigs a year, a big toy hauler, and a crew to travel with you so you can show why they are spending that kind of money on you in the first place...

Even for us.
Right now, even with big money on board, the investment is so high into marketing/tracking/travel/new crawlers/maintanance and the rest, that there just isn't anything beyond assets at the end of the year.
Hopefully soon, the 1/2 mil $ contracts will come along and there will be something left over at the end of it all...but still, not as much as you'd think because with a 1/2 mil contract, you'd have a minimum of 120K in just marketing expenses, 70K in hospitality, 2 new rigs a year, a big toy hauler, and a crew to travel with you so you can show why they are spending that kind of money on you in the first place...
Really?!?!? So, even with sponsors etc. You are still paying OOP for traveling, parts, food (duh), beer, etc? I kinda thought it wasnt a lot, but I didn't realize it was that little. So, then (please excuse my ignorance) how can you travel all the time you do and still make a reasonable income to cover the cost? Besides then the true passion for the sport, which I can sympathize with, how is it fiscally feasible? thx for the input, especially from you dustin! :D

Well, I could make a great profit in a single year...however, I wouldn't be back the following year.
In the higher ranges of sponsorships, the sponsors expect a ton more from you. Financially, the more money you get from them, the more money you have to spend to keep up with their expectations.
Some examples:
If a team received $40k from a sponsor to compete a season, they would probably spend 40K on just competing and to a sponsor, that is understandable.
Get 60K, and they would begin to raise expectations. They would want to see a few more magazine articles and expect a few rides in your buggy, ect. That all costs money and or time to do.
Get 75K and they'll expect media reports that are professionally prepared, they'll expect you to have media packets available to show off your team, they'll expect gifts from you that personalise their investment into your team, and more.
Get 130k and they'll expect a few VIP invitations for a few days of personal fun (at your expense) including nice meals, a room, and a little diversionary entertainment like an evening at a nice club...plus the other stuff.
And it goes up from there until you're doing what I sadi above which is the full race team image FAR beyond what we do in rockcrawling.

Is it fiscally feasable??? That's a tough one. The answer for us is yes because we consider this period to be an investment. Nobody knew what a Monster Truck was, then a couple years in "BigFoot" made his mark and fawk, they're rich and doin something far better than driving a desk! My goal is to be the Bigfoot of Rockcrawling so the pickens may be slim right now but someday, when the merchandising and TV contracts come to us, we'll be ready.

i am not a pro but my family $end$ us out to compete - my children wear spray paint for shoes and gets free meals at school and of course we have our medicaid and healthy start cards. we budget $10k a year for the events et al. and the $20k buggy(s) comes out of my retirement account (how did jimmy put it, "i'd rather die while i'm living then live when i'm dead"?)

:)


I don't think the question can be answered with a number, it is a lifestlye.

... they're rich and doin something far better than driving a desk! My goal is to be the Bigfoot of Rockcrawling so the pickens may be slim right now but someday, when the merchandising and TV contracts come to us, we'll be ready...

Amen brother.... although I think I would rather be the GraveDigger (the green matches our colors).

- Shawn

I made about -20k a year being a pro-rockcrawlier the past couple years. I'm trying to change that this year by simply not working as hard at it between comps, and getting a real job during the week. If you really want to be "Pro" at it, i.e. chase sponsors every day and have it be your entire source of income, don't expect to make ANYTHING within a few years...

Aside from a few people, who I could count on one hand, noone is making a profit doing this, let alone a decent living. So don't come into this thinking you'll be able to make money, come do it because it's fun, and it's cool to tell people you're a professional off-road racer...

The first goal as a pro is to just break even......

I have been at this for some time now, and that is still a goal! Like dustin said, the bigger the sponsorship, the more you have to put into your rig and your team. On top of this, you need to go way beyond what you are doing for your team for your sponsors, or you wont have them the next year.

It is a long hard road to be on! Dont expect to get rich quick, it might make you bankrupt if your not careful....

Salary? Yeah right. To be a professional competitor you have to have a job or the money to race for a few years straight out of pocket. You won't get any money from sponsors until you are an established team and even then, it's not going to be much if anything at all. You will more likely get a bunch of free product. We are very grateful for the products and money that our sponsors give us, but it doesn't cover the bills. It just takes a little bit of the sting out of it.

I'm guessing the question was a joke anyways

Salary? Yeah right. To be a professional competitor you have to have a job or the money to race for a few years straight out of pocket. You won't get any money from sponsors until you are an established team and even then, it's not going to be much if anything at all. You will more likely get a bunch of free product. We are very grateful for the products and money that our sponsors give us, but it doesn't cover the bills. It just takes a little bit of the sting out of it.

I'm guessing the question was a joke anyways
no it wasn't a joke, I was just curious about ballpark figures. I know no one is going to get rich at this sport, at least not yet. I was just wondering what the general OOP cost per year is for most ppl, with or without sponsors.

how many people out there dont have a normal job? i was thinking Dustin and Becca were the only ones who compete for a living. i would be intrested to know if there are more that can make a living doing this.

As a first year driver i am seeing how tough the sponsor thing is for rookies. i did get lucky with A-Z steping up, but that only goes so far. still got lots of parts to buy and lots of gas money and entry fees to spend.

i need to find some rich woman to fund my addiction :grinpimp:

Pay? I get paid in adrenaline.

Seriously though, at this point you need to compete for the love of competition, not to make money. I almost bankrupted myself once already trying to fund my own team. An ideal setup is to split the cost and effort of competing with a partner (driver/spotter) I look at it as an investment in the sport. When the sport grows to support us we will be ready, until then we need to support the sport.

There is an old adage in racing:
"The way to make a small fortune in racing is to start out with a big fortune"

The tough thing for newer teams is the fact that the manufacturers are saturated, actually over-saturated, with veteran teams asking for their support. These companies get so darn many proposals every year that it is crazy, but that is the way it is in every sport. The trick is to find that outside sponsor and step up each year.
Still, I have feedback from MANY industry companies that say the teams still don't have their shit in gear when asking for parts/money and only a few teams stand out as far as professionalism and a "unique" approach to the sport goes. As of ORI, I'd say that 70% of companies were still making sponsor decisions...that means the teams are not making it easy for them by standing out as an obvious choice for profit and marketability.
The Lovells have shown the professionalism, Hot Pursuit has shown the "unique" angle. Anyone that thinks either of those two doesn't have things figured out better than most, should consider looking in the mirror at what they've accomplished support-wise. If you're not getting hits, you need to look at what else can be done. BTW, a couple "NO's" from sponsors doesn't mean jack shit either...try 10 of them and go from there.

Exactly, work an angle and hope for the best. Put your all into the sport and have a lot of fun. I cant drive worth a crap but my spotter is hot so people take pitty on her and help us out.:D

I cant drive worth a crap but my spotter is hot.:D

AMEN to that!:flipoff2:

AMEN to that!:flipoff2:


I know you cant drive, but calling me hot on a public forum is just a little weird, (and yes I know I have a nice ass before lou posts the picture of it ) :flipoff2:

thats your angle doug,bad driving=crowds of people watching and hot spotter=crowds of guys watching:p Heck it seems to work for you.

Wayne

...with A-Z steping up, but that only goes so far...:

Damn straight!! I have still not received any sexual pleasure while working on your rig. I thought for sure I would get a little action while welding or something.

Paying for lunch does make it better, though.:grinpimp:


In reality, I think teams need to look outside of the industry, like Dustin and others have. Just because a company does not do business inside this industry does not mean they do not want the demographics we can give them. Look at all of the Nascar sponsors--I don't think many of the major sponsors are inside their industry. I really think teams need to go after companies like Carhartt, Caterpillar, and the such. Maybe some tool companies like Snap-on and Craftsman. The opportunity is endless, but like Dustin mentioned, you will need to do more than just drive a buggy a few weekends each year.

I know you cant drive, but calling me hot on a public forum is just a little weird, (and yes I know I have a nice ass before lou posts the picture of it ) :flipoff2:
Thats it, you are on the "bottom "from now on. Oh, if you had some kind of sexual ref you are on the wrong forum:flipoff2:

Hey Lou how about some pics on your updated rig? The reason he is on this forum is because the blocked his IP address on all the gay midget porn sites:flipoff2:

Hey Lou how about some pics on your updated rig? The reason he is on this forum is because the blocked his IP address on all the gay midget porn sites:flipoff2:


Wait- this is the competitors forum isn't it, because last time I checked and we spoke someone was supposed to

A) find out about getting a certain rig down to me to work on
B) call me back


:flipoff2: