Is It Worth it???

Mike Carr · 07-20-2014, 11:02 AM

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.

Bill Harris · 07-20-2014, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Carr

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. 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.

^^^^^^^^^^^^
No truer words were ever spoken on the subject. Calculate the total amount of time spent in the car on the track vs. the $$ (in dollars AND time) spent to get there, and that will pretty much answer the original question. In my experience, a very large number of class racers are motivated more by the social aspect of the events than the actual racing.

Freddie · 07-20-2014, 01:45 PM

Some interesting replies...

I figure no matter how I set the car up I can bracket race it locally when I want to.

The big thing I am struggling with is do I spend weeks if not months tracking down a few specific parts to be SS correct, and make the changes to the car, or simply put it back together with a delay box and a throttle stop and index race it?

I will still attend the same amount of divisional and national events if I was to run Super Stock, and would still be able to bracket race when I wanted to...

Only difference I guess would be the ability to race for class, and have to qualify at national events...

With where we live in Central Florida the divisional schedule is not horrible for us, and will be at most of them with my sons S/C Dragster anyway.

I guess the biggest thing is I have to change a bunch of stuff, and add back in several things that we did not need when racing heads up.

SSDiv6 · 07-20-2014, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddie

Some interesting replies...

I figure no matter how I set the car up I can bracket race it locally when I want to.

The big thing I am struggling with is do I spend weeks if not months tracking down a few specific parts to be SS correct, and make the changes to the car, or simply put it back together with a delay box and a throttle stop and index race it?

I will still attend the same amount of divisional and national events if I was to run Super Stock, and would still be able to bracket race when I wanted to...

Only difference I guess would be the ability to race for class, and have to qualify at national events...

With where we live in Central Florida the divisional schedule is not horrible for us, and will be at most of them with my sons S/C Dragster anyway.

I guess the biggest thing is I have to change a bunch of stuff, and add back in several things that we did not need when racing heads up.

What specific class you want to race?

Kegracing · 07-20-2014, 07:11 PM

Freddie,
Several things in your last reply weigh into this... You are in central FL, and your son runs SC. You have a lot of tracks around, and you are already spending the time and money to get to the Div and Nat races. One more entry fee is not that big, in the whole mix...
You mentioned that you could run brackets with it when you want to... while I do bracket race my IHRA crate motor stocker, most don't. Super stock is even harder on parts, and if you are going to build a faster car in class, you will be pushing it... do not think you will see many quick super stockers bracket racing. Just too hard on parts and too expensive on those parts. Especially if you have a rare combination...
End of the day, you have to decide what you want to do with the car.
Just more thoughts...
Good luck.
Ken

07-20-2014, 11:02 AM	#1
Mike Carr VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Enon Valley PA Posts: 1,650 Likes: 234 Liked 83 Times in 37 Posts	Re: Is It Worth it??? 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. __________________ Mike Carr, Tri-State S/SS Association President Looking for 2015 S/SS Race Sponsors Contact me if interested buffdaddy_1302@hotmail.com (724) 510-5912

07-20-2014, 01:45 PM	#3
Freddie Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tampa Fla / Anderson SC Posts: 334 Likes: 12 Liked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Is It Worth it??? Some interesting replies... I figure no matter how I set the car up I can bracket race it locally when I want to. The big thing I am struggling with is do I spend weeks if not months tracking down a few specific parts to be SS correct, and make the changes to the car, or simply put it back together with a delay box and a throttle stop and index race it? I will still attend the same amount of divisional and national events if I was to run Super Stock, and would still be able to bracket race when I wanted to... Only difference I guess would be the ability to race for class, and have to qualify at national events... With where we live in Central Florida the divisional schedule is not horrible for us, and will be at most of them with my sons S/C Dragster anyway. I guess the biggest thing is I have to change a bunch of stuff, and add back in several things that we did not need when racing heads up. __________________ NHRA: Comp 2200 - S/C 2201 NMRA 2012 Outlaw 10.5 #10

07-20-2014, 07:11 PM	#5
Kegracing Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Red Oak, TX Posts: 441 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Is It Worth it??? Freddie, Several things in your last reply weigh into this... You are in central FL, and your son runs SC. You have a lot of tracks around, and you are already spending the time and money to get to the Div and Nat races. One more entry fee is not that big, in the whole mix... You mentioned that you could run brackets with it when you want to... while I do bracket race my IHRA crate motor stocker, most don't. Super stock is even harder on parts, and if you are going to build a faster car in class, you will be pushing it... do not think you will see many quick super stockers bracket racing. Just too hard on parts and too expensive on those parts. Especially if you have a rare combination... End of the day, you have to decide what you want to do with the car. Just more thoughts... Good luck. Ken