CLASS RACER FORUM - View Single Post - With 2010 almost done, is drag racing healthy?

dragracer9911 · 11-11-2010, 07:26 PM

Wade, thanking nothing away from MIR this past weekend, that race was a freak show. With bikini shows, burn out contest, the Army helicopter, music, the import cars, etc., those things bring in a lot of younger people. That was good for the track. The down side is that a lot of the "real" racers were upset and said that they will not return to the track. We both know that only a handfull will not be back, but still, a handfull is the profit for a track on a regular night. You raced their MidNIGHT Maddness (street only cars) for years, won a bunch of races and even was the grand champin once or twice. The Millers have suffered most of this year with small turn out. Thier X275 program was outstanding this year with regards to car count, but only a hundred or so people in the stands. Two or three years ago, the stnads would have been packed to see 30+ of those type of cars. My son and I ran the RAM series (all N/A cars, index classes, 10.5, drag radial). The promotorer had poor turn outs; he took money out of his pocket to pay the purse at most races. Ceicl County had decent turn outs for their Street Car series, with fair spectator turnout. Everywhere we raced, there were light turnouts accross the board. The cost of travel has gotten out of hand. Entry fees have gone up. Racing gas has risen. The overall cost to field a car has exceded what most working people can afford. We race at "racer friendly" tracks. How would I like going to a big event, NHRA, IHRA, or local track, where I spend weeks getting ready, spent a copule of thousand dollar, and then got crapped on (whether I really was crapped on or I perceivced that I was). After a while, it gets old, I get tired of the B.S., I can't afford it, or whatever, I stop going. I believe that is what is really going on. Most Sportsman racers are older, in our age group (I'm 57). We do it part becasue it's our way of life. Part because of the friends that we have made over the years. Part because of the competition. And a little bit because we don't know anything else. I finally bought a Mustang like my son's. Boy, I really didn't want to spend the money, not knowing what the job front may bring. But I didn't know how much longer I might be able to try it again, health and money wise. I've injoyed this year racing with and against my son, but who know what the future will bring.

Thanks, Tom Sr.

11-11-2010, 07:26 PM	#10
dragracer9911 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 75 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 1 Post	Re: With 2010 almost done, is drag racing healthy? Wade, thanking nothing away from MIR this past weekend, that race was a freak show. With bikini shows, burn out contest, the Army helicopter, music, the import cars, etc., those things bring in a lot of younger people. That was good for the track. The down side is that a lot of the "real" racers were upset and said that they will not return to the track. We both know that only a handfull will not be back, but still, a handfull is the profit for a track on a regular night. You raced their MidNIGHT Maddness (street only cars) for years, won a bunch of races and even was the grand champin once or twice. The Millers have suffered most of this year with small turn out. Thier X275 program was outstanding this year with regards to car count, but only a hundred or so people in the stands. Two or three years ago, the stnads would have been packed to see 30+ of those type of cars. My son and I ran the RAM series (all N/A cars, index classes, 10.5, drag radial). The promotorer had poor turn outs; he took money out of his pocket to pay the purse at most races. Ceicl County had decent turn outs for their Street Car series, with fair spectator turnout. Everywhere we raced, there were light turnouts accross the board. The cost of travel has gotten out of hand. Entry fees have gone up. Racing gas has risen. The overall cost to field a car has exceded what most working people can afford. We race at "racer friendly" tracks. How would I like going to a big event, NHRA, IHRA, or local track, where I spend weeks getting ready, spent a copule of thousand dollar, and then got crapped on (whether I really was crapped on or I perceivced that I was). After a while, it gets old, I get tired of the B.S., I can't afford it, or whatever, I stop going. I believe that is what is really going on. Most Sportsman racers are older, in our age group (I'm 57). We do it part becasue it's our way of life. Part because of the friends that we have made over the years. Part because of the competition. And a little bit because we don't know anything else. I finally bought a Mustang like my son's. Boy, I really didn't want to spend the money, not knowing what the job front may bring. But I didn't know how much longer I might be able to try it again, health and money wise. I've injoyed this year racing with and against my son, but who know what the future will bring. Thanks, Tom Sr.