Let me get this straight.
 

Some Stock and Super Stock racers bring their cars to the track in stacker haulers much like a Nascar Hauler. This hauler would get around 5 mpg on a good day..

So people drive across country spending thousands on fuel, spend $300 plus for entry fee, plus fuel for the car and hotel room... to win a few thousand if they win the race.

Is this some sort of ego thing as it does not make very good financial sense to travel this way?

Please tell me if I'm wrong here..

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

if the money thing (with racing and especially class racing) is just hitting you, there is still time for you to drop your tools and run like hell. :)

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

I guess my open trailer and pick-up will look strange in the pits!!

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

Don't forget, they haven't made a class to race stackers. When those guys lose first round, you can move into a nicer spot.

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

It has nothing to do with winning money. You can make that call on which reason you race for, most do it for kicks and having a good time, good times are not cheap !

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

Nah don't worry; there's still a few of us open trailer pulled by pickup/suv guys out here.

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

There is not much about this sport that makes good financial sense. If folks want to spend their money on really nice motor homes and trailers that is sure their prerogative as far as I am concerned.

Bill

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

I do agree a bit.. I want to get a motorhome so the family is comfortable at the track.. but a rig and a stacker hauler?

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

To some it's like a hobby....like golf,fishing or bowling.
To some it is a writeoff, for most it isn't.
Profit or just breaking even isn't important, BUT having fun meeting some GREAT people IS !! :-)

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

Sounds like bigger is better.. ego's will be ego's

Hell even Richard Petty traveled the country with a stock car behind a station wagon.. so did Sox and Martin...

Can't be a recession in the US when people can spend $3000 on a weekend of racing..

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

Nothing wrong with a p/u and car hauler. Did that for probably 15 years and camped in the tech line then at the track. Got more stuff paid off and moved up to a diesel dually and a small inclosed trailer. Had to deal with eating out at least at dinner and sometimes breakfast. Stayed in every raghead motel from NY. to Fla. Usually 10 - 30 miles from the track. Did that for about 6 years. Moved to a Century class with living quarters and a stacker which if geared correctly gets 12-14 mpg on junk low sulfur fuel. Fuel milage 4 mpg less. No more reservations a year in advance at inflated prices. No more eating out. No more long drives to the motel at late hours. Figures out about the same except with a lot less hassle. Not exactly necessary but neither is a race car.

Now if the racing organizations could get their act together maybe I might travel more.

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

Every sport has its own idiosyncracies -- you could try golf -- join a nice club $100,000+; monthly dues $1,000 - $2,000 plus green fees $200+ per round; plus equipment -- no chance of winning anything! Everybody makes a choice. I have a motorhome and a stacker so that my wife and I can both race -- arrive in the same vehicle -- stay at the track, etc. My choice. BTW, I started by flat towing and changing tires at the track - and have continued with all the stages in between. My way is not better or worse than yours, just different. I will continue to race this way as long as I can. I truly enjoy racing and my wife absolutely LOVES it! Besides, in my book it beats shuffleboard and golf!!! None of the racers I know that have motorhomes and stackers do this to show off or take up too much room. We take only one space though we pay for two cars -- we have come to the track with 3 cars and only got about 1 1/2 spaces. I hope things turn around for all of us so that when we come to the track it is jammed with racers!! For now, I am glad to see as many as possible no matter how they get there! My $.02

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

Good response...and you are correct.

I don't care what a guy spends.. in the end it's you versus the clock and reaction time.

I started racing in 1997 with a championship in my very first year.

Call me cheap or a Conservative but I can see a Top Fuel team with a 20 mil budget using a hauler.. not a stocker team.

I picture a motorhome and a enclosed trailer... not a $200 000 Peterbuilt Hauler with all the bling.

To each their own but I know I would be divorced if I came home with a hauler and a $100 000 race car.. You guys must have understanding spouses..

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

We all race at comfort and financial level.#2 guy in the world the last 2 years,Anthony Fetch has a P/U and an enclosed.Michael Beard great racer and self promoter also has a P/U but uses an open trailer.When I first started bracket racing (1977) I flat towed my first gremlin with an assortment of cars and station wagons.Got a open trailer in 1990.
Started in Stock in 1999 with a used,but nicely setup 18" enclosed.Still working out of it today.It gets me some primo parking spots sometimes because I don't take up a lot of space.Do it at your comfort level.Don't worry about the next guy.
And never lose your sense of humor.

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

i speak for my self but some will agree ,,,if you are in it for money,,,for get it !!!!! some have the luxury of having the motor homes,stackers,enclosed living quarters ,but they all started some where,,i my self have just an enclosed trailer and a pick up truck and have done my share of ruffing it,,,but i do it because of the challenge ,,mechanical,physical,and mental ,,,it takes all three to get these down the track and to win on sunday ,,,its just like any other hobby or sport
boats (talk about money)
golf(not as bad but the only thing you drive is the golf cart)
my 2 cents

gmonde

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

Jason, go with what ever you can afford or what you are comfortable with. I have an open trailer and a pick up truck. I have won a few here and there and never has anyone who interviewed me asked "what did you tow to the track with". Been doing it (2nd time around) for 20 years and having a blast. Focus on your deal and have fun, forget the money because if you don't it is a loser.

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

This is my second go round also.. I walked away from Drag racing only 5 years ago and can't believe the amount of money that people are investing.

When I won at Indy in 1997 I used a borrowed van and a borrowed trailer to get there.

At my peak I had a 1 ton truck and a 26 foot enclosed trailer. My wife and I slept on an air mattress beside my tool box.

I sold everything when i walked away.

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

I started with a used pickup and an open trailer (which I still have in the family) and finally ended up with a "Big Rig". We haul 3 cars to the track and it is cheaper this way than to drive 2 or 3 trucks and trailers. Plus it is safer using a "Big Rig" with real brakes and gears for all the hills we have to drive living here is Southern California. I tried a 2 car trailer and a 1 ton diesel Dually Pickup and it would pull it fine, but if you had to stop in a hurry on a hill it was scary!
Now we take a Motor home with us too, so we have lost some on the efficiency end but it is nice to sleep in your own bed and eat your own food. We figure we save about 4 hours a day not having to get to and from hotels, meals and driving back and forth from the track. There are some logistics to deal with like DOT requirements and CDL's but that is part of it.

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

I think I saw someone once post. How else can one spend so much money to accomplish so little to impress so few that you don't know.

This is drag racing!

Don

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

Yeah, tell that to Michael Beard. He wins a few now and then without a stacker and a Kenworth! You two could pit next to each other. Jim

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

You price a weekend with your Viper or other SCCA car for a weekend of competitive racing for a trophy?
People will spend a lot of money for the love of a sport and ego's usually go hand-in-hand with that. If there were no ego's in motorsports, we wouldn't know you were a past champion, now would we?

By the way, I have an open trailer and an SUV that I use to haul my best appearing AMX!

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

My dad told me along time ago "Jake" (that's what he calls me) you can't put a price on entertainment. Well dad races for money & dose quite well @ the local track 5 miles away.....he was 8th in the IHRA Div. 3 points in 2006. But anyway I love class racing...& not just stock. I like SS TS TD I would love to have a S/ST to beat on week in week out but I have a stocker. 1989 I had a Nova drove to the track opened up the headers put on slicks & ran 8.10's in the 1/8......21 years later with a pick-up & enclosed I unload & run 7.90's 1/8mile???? went from a gutted Nova with a 350 to a 3600lbs Cutlass with a 307 but running about the same times....so it's all in what ya want. The MAIN thing is have fun! That's the reason we ALL started doing this! ;)

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

Hi all,

Started out flat towing with a pick-up truck and then I started upgrading my program.......

I built a set of tow hubs for the racecar so that I didn't have to drop the driveshaft to get to the track...

Next, I stepped up and bought a Chevy Suburban to tow with to keep my "stuff" out of the weather...

Next, it was a trailer with no fenders and no brakes, but it was better than flat towing...

Because of all the "Extra" stuff that has to go along to the track, I now have a 1 ton Dodge Dually towing a 28' Pace Shadow trailer..

As the amount of stuff (you know golf carts, spare trans & engine) increases the ability to get it to the track decreases....

So I guess that my next upgrade will be a 48' 5th wheel with living quarters that I can tow behind the dually...

By the way, this upgrading started in 1966 and I don't have any idea when it will stop...

I just hope that it's a long time from now...

Bob

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

hahaha that's what I do! Some say it is bad luck

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

They can haul with whatever they can afford, totally their business.

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

This sport must be full of divorced people or spouses that gives them more free reign then my wife would..

That's for sure..

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

If you havn't noticed racers in stock and super stock with pick up trucks and open trailers or ramp trucks then that pretty much tells me you dont go to the races. As far as drivers/teams with toterhomes and stackers, that doesnt mean they have any kind of advantage over racers with smaller operations. If they want to travel that way, why shouldnt they.

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

JSL Wake UP
Its 2010 not 1997 when you raced .
Go back under your rock.
I didnt by my motorhome for lack of milage.
Its about being comfotable.
Now enjoy you trailer and foldup chair at Norwalk in July.

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

I have never seen a rig win a race! However, I love big rigs.

After reading your post, sounds like you need a new wife and maybe not worry so much about what other people have.

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

Like James said, its all about comfort and convenience, having a motorhome and stacker allows the 3 of us to travel together and stay at the track and be comfortable in extreme weather. We used to tow to divisionals with an open trailer, then upgraded to an enclosed. When we got the second car we used to have 2 separate trailers and trucks......made more sense for us to go the stacker route and be all together. To each their own.

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

No other way to tell you about it other " I'TS A Drug"
Got to race !
Win or lose .
Never meet such great friends setting home !

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

The only reason I got out of racing is because I didn't have a place to park a 70' rig. Why would I buy such a thing?

1) Self contained. I eat very healthy and prefer having my own food vs anything a track offers.

2) No hotel worries as pointed out by previous person. Average hotel is 100 bucks a night these days.

3) I was able to stay on top of work while traveling. These races usually require 4-5 days of traveling, something I couldn't do if I had no internet access.

4) My business would own it and I'd rather buy it vs give uncle sam more cash.

5) We were hauling 2 cars, 2 jr's (for my nephews) and a golf cart. Try fitting that in your 28' trailer.

It's the cost of the hobby. I started racing to get away from work. When I first stated, tracks had no internet access. I'd race locally and not have to worry about what was going on at work. Then I got the bug and wanted more. Then realized it was a full time commitment that I wasn't ready to give at this point in my life. So I sold it all, bought some old cars and hang out with my dad at cruise in's. In a few years I'll be back into racing, although more from a sponsor side vs driving.

Don't be pissed that people married a person that supports their hobbies. Don't be pissed that some have done better than others that allow them to have such things. You can win with almost anything. Some do it with more comfort than others. I can honestly I would likely LOSE money not having those things. However, my business model may be different than most.

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

ok I tow with a brand new Dually and a 39ft gold rush trailer with a Golf cart inside with race car . I have two to three full time maids,cleaning up after me and room service if I want with diner at various spots in the City I race at . The places I stay at cost any where from 40 to 100 million dollars to build . I get to have a full shower with fresh bed with great air condition and even have a special wake up call at these special resorts complete with pool and most of the time a neat restaurant .

I don;t always have this luxury of staying at a multimillion resort but I don't have to worry about extra insurance , extra expenses to keep up a motor home or maintence ,or a cdl or scales or worrying about roads all we do is just have fun .

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

I think Jason's wife need's a racecar also. He'll be wanting a stacker pretty soon afterwards.

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

ouch.. you guys are harsh

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

Mike is dead-on. I have absolutely no problem with the people that have the wherewithal to buy the big schmancy rigs. If you've got it, and that's what you want to do: great! Live the American dream. The ones that I have a problem with are the ones who buy the big schmancy rigs that couldn't truly afford them in the first place, and then complain about the cost of racing. :rolleyes:

For me, racing has always needed to pay for itself. I choose to play it close to the vest. I race cheap, and because of that, I make money doing it. That's my decision.

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

Jason, we all race at the the level that we and only we can race. My son and I both bracket race at our local track (MIR). My son also races in a traveling series (RAM). We take my granddaughter's to the loacl races. We have one truck and a 16' open trailer with a box on the front. We haul a generator and scooter in the truck bed. He takes one car to the track and leaves it outside the gate, then comes back home to get the second car, the girls and myself. Then we go back to the track at the gate opening. We have had more fun this year than ever before. It's a hassel, but we are doing it together as a family. We cook at the track on a $20.00 grill. We pack water and huggies in a cooler. Everyone at the track enjoys me riding my girls on the scooter to the playground or bathroom. Racing, like everything else in life, is all what you make of it. I would love to race a stock or superstock car. It's not in the budget for us and never will be. I dream about hitting the Lotto sure, but I am very happy just to do something speacila with my family. My wife comes down every now and then, but she is our biggest supporter. Enjoy what you do.

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

I have driven to the track and raced (hadfun ) Flattowed ( hadfun ) P/U & open trailer (hadfun ) now on my 2nd motor home & box trailer and still having Fun. I have never seen a Brinks Truck at a Funeral . Enjoy YOUR DAYS

Re: Let me get this straight.
 

And don't forget the "premium" channels for only $14.95 per show!!! ;)