[Mike Carr]

A lot depends on where you live also.

Take me, for example. Other than Norwalk (140 miles), Columbus (170 miles) and Pittsburgh (85 miles), every other NHRA/IHRA race is three hundred plus miles one way. Out west is worse for many. I would basically have to budget a thousand dollars (or more) per weekend to go racing, when you count gas, tolls, motels, entry etc etc etc.

Also, depending on where you live, I highly recommend building an NHRA-legal car. All NHRA classes are also in IHRA; IHRA has many classes not in NHRA. Some S/SS combo races do not allow IHRA cars (stupid), so that would eliminate an alternative avenue.

Time is another factor. Depending on what you run, you are looking at needing three to five (or more) days off potentially each time you race an NHRA/IHRA race. 2003, I was gone eighteen weekends a year at NHRA, IHRA and combo races (and a weekend bracket race). 35-40 nights that year in hotels (not cheap).

Is it worth it? To some, yes. To me, no. Every year, the costs went up, the bullsh!t went up, the fun went down, until I decided that it wasn't worth spending a thousand dollars (or more) and taking 3-5 days off, travelling 300-400 miles each time I wanted to race, and *hope* I enjoyed it. And, at age twenty-seven in 2007, I said "F it" and quit. I can find other things to do, more fun and a hell of a lot less money, than Class Racing.

Sorry if this is a grim scenario, but it is better to know the time, money and effort required beforehand.