Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

.... Newbies, builders, racers returning from the old days, etc... or just plain fans:

A good friend of mine was just in the semi-final round of Super/Stock at an NHRA Divisional race.
This was with one of the fastest 9 second GT cars in the country.
I don't know but it had to cost up towards 6 figures or more, first time around.

Bear in mind : Entry for a Div. race: $165
Crew person(s) $85
Fuel $10 to $15 per. I don't know that for sure either
Travel, motel, etc. : Whatever your pleasure is.

My question is : How much do you think the semi-final check was for?

This question is not for veteran racers, or even those who have been to a couple of Div. races, or those who have already looked this up.
I'm looking for top of the head , off the cuff guesses, or impressions , to make a point.
Thanks

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

$300.

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

$250.00

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

I'm going to guess at the $250 range too. What got me interested in getting back into racing was the great races put on by the Midwest Class Racers not the money paid out. However it is nice that their payouts are much better than points meets and national opens and with much less expense and hassle too.

Bob Tilton

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

Enough for a Happy Meal? It`s brought up a lot, but Divisional payouts are to the track`s discretion, not NHRA. We do it for the "love" of the sport,right?

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

Thanks for the guesses so far .
If you don't have a guess..What do you think it should be , in practical terms?
I'll leave it open for 24 hours.

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

I'm sure you're right, Lane...and that explains a lot here.
But I thought the division LODRS tracks voted to standardize such things..
Or, is that just the entry I'm thinking of?

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

This is my first year racing in SS. I would guess around $400 ?
I don't see me making it past the first round for a while so it could be 1 million for all I know.lol. I know what I have spent building my car and everyone that I know that have been racing for years told me that I was crazy for doing it. What else are you supposed to do? I have been racing a long time & my dad raced in stock, And was the mech. on a ss car.The money does not matter to me, ALL I care about is having a chance to win a walley......

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

I`m thinking the entry fee Mark. I don`t run as many races as I used to, but low payouts at Division Races seem to be a slap in the face compared to expenses anymore. I`m guessing this racer received $150. I remember getting $75 for a semi final one year which was $150 less than 5 years previous.

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

Well here in Div.1 Points Races Cost $170. entry fee for Stock Elim.
Most races we get 70-100 plus cars.

If you got 80 cars x $170. that equals $13,600. taken in.
But as i understand, the track that hosts these races has to pay NHRA.
How much that is, i do not know.
Plus the track has to make something too.

Just say for arguments sake one racer pays $50. towards NHRA & Track Fee's.

That would still leave $120. per car towards the pay out.
$120. x 80 cars = $9600.
Winner $4,000
R.U. $2,000
Semi Finalists should get at least $5 - $600.
I know this prize list is far fetched but their must be LOADS of Expenses i'm not aware of.

I do know Div. 1 gets at least 400 plus cars at most of it's points races.

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

I won't guess a figure but I would think the total payout for the class should be %60. The reason I say that is the more cars the bigger payout/ the more cars the bigger cut to the track.
The problem is the track can't function without the racers and the racers can't race without a track.Both the track and the racers need to understand the costs involved for both sides.
I race a $20 trophy class because I just want to race ,anybody,no matter what the payout. ( I don't ever win so payout is not relevant).

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

Semifinals, I am guessing would be fifth round loser. So I will guess two-hundred bucks ($200). Sad, when some non-xHRA races pay 2 to 2 1/2 times that for fifth round.

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

You are awesome!

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

You always have to look at the costs, but remember every hobby has costs.
Not many people make money racing. Go out and have fun and enjoy.
Now, some people make money with their hobbies but then it usually becomes a job.

Did you ever check out what one of those Bass boats costs?

You can buy a competitive stocker for about the same price.

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

I got a check for $250. for loosing in the semi's in stock a few years ago. I doubt they have raised the pay out since then.

Raul

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

^^
Yep, I have done that more than once with my Stocker.

Late last year I wanted to test the car before a National Open.
The only track open was a track I rarely run at.
It was easier to pay the 20 bucks and put some DOT drag radials on the Stocker and enter the trophy class than it was to pay for test and tune and get maybe 2 runs the entire night. ( if I was lucky)

Got a runner trophy out of the deal.


As far the original question in post 1, with a 165 dollar buy-in, I would think the payout should be in the 500 range for a semi finish. ( or at least twice the buy-in)

But then again, class racing is the most expensive form of bracket racing. (99 % of the time)

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

Paid about the same in the late 1960s. Would pay for a lot more parts and fuel then.

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

$500.00
Based on nothing.


My semi-final at Bradenton this weekend paid $125.


Cougar Jet VI

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

Myself, I've bracket raced plenty. I've only been to div/nat events as a spectator. As you know Mark, my recently assembled stocker (converted from a bracket car) won't run the # yet. That said, I would hope $500 for a SS semi. BUT my guess is it's probably less.

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

So, this was a divisional ...under Charlie Allen? Interesting.

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

I don`t think you get $500 for a semi at a Nat`l Event and that`s double the Divisional entry fee.

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

Okay ..as promised .
We have a winner...Some new guy...Lane something or other?

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

That's why Midwest Class Racers was formed 10 years ago good racers and good payout. 2000 winner 1000 ru 500 semi 250 quarter 125 third rd 75 2nd rd 9 weekends 18 races doesn't get any better than this. Only 100 dollar entry also. John

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

John, Sounds good but it seem like you would need 60 + cars for this payout.
What happens if you only get 50?
...and how does the track make money, if you don't mind me asking?

We run a S/SS combo as part of our nostalgia drags, hoping to get enough spectators to make a little money, after paying the track rental...Doesn't always happen that way.
Even with a dozen cars , I will always make sure the semi finalists at least get their entry fee back.
Anything less is a total insult , in my mind.

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

FWIW, During the divisional at Wild Horse, we were watching the rounds from the staging lanes in the early afternoon. We looked up in the grandstands, and there were about 40 people on the pit side and about 20 on the spec. side.
Granted, the finals were supposed to be on Sunday, not Saturday, due to the impending weather, but I wouldn't expect it would have made much difference.
Bottom line is , divisional races depend on the racer and crew count to make any money.
I don't know what the latest NHRA trim off the top is, but I would guess a track of this size would need 500+ cars to make it all worthwhile.
Meanwhile the tracks have to skim wherever they can, including the payouts.

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

Mark, how much does the track ask from you guys to be there? In sixteen years, I have done seventy S/SS races at ten tracks in four states, and I/we have never been asked once by a track to pay for us to be there. The track may or may not charge a tech card fee (10-20 bucks tops) per car and keep crew fees, but that is it. The $100 (or $50 in some cases) entry fee goes into the purse and is 100% payback to the racers.

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

I am in the middle of building one of these things after sitting on the sidelines for awhile and it's only a stocker. Anything less than $5000 to win is a direct slap in the face, and they wonder why the sport is loosing interest.....hello?

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

Mark our average car count is 58 cars been as high as 67 last year we raise the money to guarantee the payout no mater how many cars show up. The program has been growing every year. Mark call me and I can share our program with you 605 770 3860. Thanks

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

I forgot. Why was I wanting to build a U/SA car?

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

Mark, I'd encourage you to give John a call. The MCR format works....the guaranteed payout is why. Check us out:

http://www.midwestclassracers.com/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1544371742488480/

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

It all boils down to, if you want to make money.....don't go drag racing!
99% of us do it for the fun, competition and friends we meet at the track.

I've been doing this off and on for 50 years and I've won $125.00 cash in all this time but it never stopped me from going one more time!

JimR

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

It`ll be cool!

Re: Survey for 1st Time Builders, S/SS
 

And it'll be your best chance of making enough money to pay for it!