Challenge conversion rate for Canadians?

OK, so I have a plan that might get a few more Canuks into the challenge.

Believe it or not, crap car parts cost a lot more north of the border than they do in the USof A. You got more people, more stuff and the economy here does not suck quite enough that people are giving parts away. At least not yet...

What I am proposing is a challenge budget "exchange rate" similar to curencies. As usual, the answer is Miata:

The "gold standard" should be the price of a Miata. Say a 15 year old model that can be driven. The "exchange rate" would be the ratio of the US price to the Canadian price. Not sure if Canada has different blue book values or not. However, I am sure an "average price" could be established. It could even be arbitrary and set by the GRM people.

Just think about it, more Canadians driving down with Canadian beer to share. How could it go wrong? As a matter of fact, how about a $1.00 challenge budget rollback for every beer I bring the Grassroots Magazine budget inspectors?

I think it's .003 flognarts per fathom.

I like the way you think.

Have no idea if anyone will buy into your left-field logic, but I like the way you think!

I say NOHOME should get an "exchange rate" just for his creativity! ...and his beer!

If you use prices on the CASC forum as Canadian standard, we'll win every year

I have news for you. As far down as Florida, if they even know we exist, they don't know that we have our own money. You could make the exchange rate anything you want, and nobody will question it

To be fair, if youre selling parts to recoup your budget, you will get more for the parts you have to sell. Miata parts are much cheaper south of th border

I can buy Labatts for $15 per case as it is. Why would I encourage you to transport /smuggle more?
Seriously though, I do go back to Ontario for sports car club meetings occasionally and the guys there do pay considerably more for most everything. The cost of tires and wheels comes up regularly. I've purchased 3 sets of used wheels off of Craigslist here in Michigan and paid a hundred ,or less for each set. I agree it's harder to build a Challenge car there than it is here.
I'm Canadian, so i'll cheer for any who come down and play.

I've never read all the Challenge rules. Do sales taxes count in the budget? 'Cuz Canucks get hit pretty hard with those.

Not sure how I'd feel on that one. It's just like saying rust free cars down south are dime a dozen, so I should get a break since I can't find a 10yr old car without rust in Indiana.

Different places bring different car values (reason you type your zip into kbb for example). Some places have tons, some places have none.

If I were in Canada building one, I'd just lie about all the prices and make them comparable. Multiply each purchase by .75 and use those numbers. Lolololol.

In reply to Eurobeaner:
All those guys south of the Ohio River have a distinct advantage with the time and effort needed on body work, but then , GRM is based in the south. They're just stacking the deck in their favour.

Wife just received $19 Cdn for $20.14 American. So the rate exchange favors the Tim Horton's fans!

That was at an American bank. Now, take the $19 back and see how close to $20.14 you can get. When I go to my local bank to get Canadian cash I pay. When I cash my monthly pension check from Canada, I pay. The bank wins both ways, not that I'm the least bit surprised by that.
To NOHOME: Just buy stuff for your Challenge build with Canadian Tire money and don't count it !

Oddly scrap metal prices are much poorer here - I just traded in 380lbs of metal - $17.30 was the result

Miatas are way more expensive here than the just about anywhere which is very sad.

What does a pound of bacon cost in Canada compared to the same in the US? I'm talking near the border Canada, not that way up north Canada. There's your exchange rate!!!

tr8todd wrote: What does a pound of bacon cost in Canada compared to the same in the US? I'm talking near the border Canada, not that way up north Canada. There's your exchange rate!!!

Yeah, but it's Canadian bacon, so it's an apples/garbage comparison.

Yea but you can buy skyline s there seen a 4door r32'for 500.

I thought the exchange was, "double it and add 30".

I don't think the Challenge converts any more Canadians than it does Americans.

poopshovel wrote:

tr8todd wrote: What does a pound of bacon cost in Canada compared to the same in the US? I'm talking near the border Canada, not that way up north Canada. There's your exchange rate!!!

Yeah, but it's Canadian bacon, so it's an apples/garbage comparison.

We don't eat Canadian Bacon - that is marketing crap. We eat plain old strip bacon like you do.

Speak for yourself. I love back and peameal bacon.

In fact, I love all bacons equally.

Zomby Woof wrote: Speak for yourself. I love back and peameal bacon. In fact, I love all bacons equally.

Back bacon is meat of the gods!

Of course, it's a bunch of BS, if you look in any Canadian's fridge, 9/10 times they have regular ol' strip bacon. Just like the aboot thing, funny, but nowhere even close to being true.

Zomby Woof wrote: Speak for yourself. I love back and peameal bacon. In fact, I love all bacons equally.

I like back bacon and peameal too. I meant calling it "Canadian Bacon". I have never heard a Canadian calling it "Canadian Bacon".

Unfortunately, that's a bit too complicated for us real 'mericans. You can use the 'current' exchange rate. That exchange rate needs to be documented in your build and can be ANY current loonie to dollar rate from a real bank between whenever you start the pro-ject and the day of the Challenge.

fair?

There's also an official IRS exchange rate for each month if that makes things easier.

Canadian bacon to a Canadian is back bacon, eh?

I guess some of y'all missed the point. I would like to see more Canadian participation in the game.

The dollar exchange rate is not an issue since thanks to some fiscal policies being pursued south of the border, the US and Canadian dollar are pretty much the same.

Unfortunately economies of scale dictate that a build is going to cost a lot more in Canada. I guess what I was looking for was a "Handicap" for Canadian entries in order to attract more Northerners to the event. If the event is already fully subscribed, then this would be pointless, however, if wanting to add attendees or just weirden the mix, then it might be an idea.

There are two things I find hilarious (even if they actually make sense) in this thread:

1) Folks are asking to be allowed to have more expensive projects in order to increase attendance.

2) People are talking about bringing Canadian beer as if that was going to improve matters.