Car Count
 

Alright lets hear some ideas why car counts are down (not just @ div. or nats) all races.

Re: Car Count
 

OK Brian why don't you answer that ,I was @ Virginia racing 2 cars,where were you!! By the way How are you Brian!!

Re: Car Count
 

I have been to races out west (Div. 7) and the first Divisional in 5 and it seems to be the economy out west is much worse than in the middle of the country. I can not speak to the eastern part of the US but things out west are slow.
I think it is all about the current economy.
My 2 Cents

Re: Car Count
 

Norwalk (home track) packed every weekend, 400+ cars. Indy div. 3 race packed as well, RT.66 does not look good, still not full.
BB

Re: Car Count
 

Yo Tommy D, unlike the rest of the country I'm very busy with work and scared to turn any work down,
plus my northern budds didn't go (no motorhome to crash in ) and the more friends that go the more FUN.
But car counts are down @ bracket races also, maybe it's all cash driven ?

Re: Car Count
 

Guys, I work in the airline industry, and both leisure and business travel is down a bunch. The only demographic still strong is the seniors, they're on fixed income and only travel a few times a year, but they haven't seemed to be impacted as everyone else. I think some of this is fear driven. We don't know where the bottom is and it's affecting our spending habits. Indiana has almost 10% unemployment..brutal. Elkart, IN has 25% unemployment due to the RV industry. We're taking the year off from racing to build a little reserve should we need it...I know a lot of people who are still racing, but fewer events.

Just my .02 cents...good luck to all!

Re: Car Count
 

The economy. Chrysler filed for restructuring and GM is not far behind. A majority of racers are employed by companies that are suppliers for the auto industry or are suppliers of products and or services for those companies. i sure would hate to be one of the companies that was told that they will recieve .40 cents on the dollar because the company that owes them 1.5 mil had filed for bankruptcy. Most guys & gals are holding on to what they've got for the time being and are waiting to see how this all washes out.

Re: Car Count
 

I'm doing more races this year than I ever had. I'm in automotive as well, and am hurting right now, but I figured I might as well hit as many races as I can this year, especially while gas is cheap. Never know what next year may bring, and might not be racing. I usually only do 2 or 3 divisionals and 1 national event each year. Already have 2 divisionals done, and will be going to Norwalk next week. Plan on hitting at least 5 divisionals total, and 3 nationals this year, plus the local bracket races.

Re: Car Count
 

Last year gasoline prices were a good reason to travel less...but this year is a whole nuther ball of wax...Gas is down but unemployment is way up ,and so is the cost of living... and I personally know of alot of folks not racing or racing way less, in fear that they will lose their jobs..I know lots of guys who say that their job market is doing well, but if you think that lots are not doing well you have your head stuck in the sand..My brothers dealship just lost their franchise and now they will become a tire dealer...

Really whats more important to you...racing, or paying your morgage and bills...There are some guys that will race no matter what for sure, but there are alot that will park their stuff at the local track and bracket race when they feel they can...

Me personally I am racing more local because I am tired of the travel to a Nat or Div race, sit for 2-3 days in hopes that they will call S/G for a time trail during the day (not 11:00 at night or something stupid)...getting treated like crap by the NHRA officials, etc..I am doing 2-3 divisionals this year, but for fun, not to try to chase points or anything...And before any says go to IHRA races they treat you better, up here in the Northeast thats not an option for most of us, there arent any that are close enough to run more than on race or so..

My track has a SST series that is opened up to any car, that runs 8-9 saturday races..then I stay over and bracket race on Sunday...two races for way less cost than one divisional...and I dont need to reach the final to just pay back my entry...

My .02

how do I say this and be politically correct?
 

My opinion & OK, ordinary common sense. I really don't give a hoot if I'm politically correct. Numbers are down because:
The average racer is an average American. Me, for example.
Not only are some of the increased costs & fees effecting us (entry, fuel, travel,etc) but
The recent extreme government changes in policy, taxes & economic interferance are effecting many, if not all, of us negatively. It's a trickle down effect if not directly.

Plus all the "sky is falling" media hype is fueling the economy's slow down as well.

What happens when the economy is sliding downward: Many people are cutting back, saving their money, and conserving. Others are simply unemployed or underemployed with this all being directly linked to the very real change in the economy and the fear of more of these changes to come.

I am doing OK so far, but I have also had to reorganize priorities, so that I can continue to race.