The range in what people spend for their racing is wider than the HP spread among Kents on any grid. I admire the guy that does everything on a budget and still runs up front. I also admire the guy who loves his race car so much he showers it with every expensive bit and trick part. The only people I don't admire are the people who never run up front and rationalize it to someone else's budget.
At a recent race, I was talking to one of our younger local drivers who took his car to the Runoff's a few years ago and got a podium finish his first time. He works in a prep shop and doesn't make investment banker kinds of money. He is still paying off his debts from his Runoffs experience. Is he going back? You bet, just as soon as he has his debts paid off from last time!
How much is the kid above willing to spend to test himself against the best, well, everything and more. Big difference between that passion and the guy who is trying to decide whether a certain investment in his car will be retained when he sells it. One is a racer, the other is a hobbyist.
The good news is there is room for both racers and hobbyists in club racing.