Local Racing looking better every day

slow dragster · 04-16-2008, 07:39 AM

Mark did you pick up a new trailer?

Michael Beard · 04-16-2008, 08:34 AM

I towed roughly the same amount of miles in 2007 as I did in 2004, over 17,000 miles. My fuel cost was about $2,800 then versus $4,500 now. Look at what you have in your whole race operation... $1,700/year is not going to make me stay home.

One big difference is that in 2004, I lived in Ohio. I spent close to $2K in hotels that season. I now live in North Carolina, where I can sleep in my own bed for many races, and spent less than $1K on hotels. How much more would I have to spend on a truck & trailer or a motorhome (and cut my gas mileage in half)? There's no way to justify that except, "I want to." I also run almost twice as many races each year since I moved.

I suspect most people on this board (unless retired) make more money than I do. We're spoiled. We don't have it as bad as we think we do. I'm certainly not saying that I wish it would get worse, but we should take a look at *what* we are doing and *how* we are doing it, and make the most of it. If I can do it, you can too.

The Nat'l/Div'l event circuit is a lot of fun. There's a high cost involved, but the rewards can be great as well. When I wasn't on the road last year running those or big-money bracket races, I loved running at Pageland Dragway in South Carolina, 79 miles from the house. They "only" paid $600 to win, but they ran a quick program, and didn't have two rounds of buybacks that just cost you more money in the long run. They had a reasonable entry fee, and they started paying round money to 2nd round winners. You couldn't *make* a lot of money there, but you couldn't *spend* a lot either! It cost me about $1,000 total to run 13 races at Pageland... and I won more than that by my 2nd trip there.

So, all types of racing are fun. You have to decide what's right for you.

$.02,

Casey Miles · 04-16-2008, 09:07 AM

Micheal: I agree that NHRA is fun at times, but the entry fees don't equal what the pay out should be. I know that there is hidden cost with NHRA's program. But if you lay out $150 at one of Moroso's 5day races, they pay out 10k to the winner and I believe 2.5 k to the runner up. Where is the equalization that NHRA pays only 1k to the winner? I race locally here in Florida, our entry fee is $35 for pro with a winners purse of $700 to win and paying back 16 spots. I don't see the NHRA logic to such a high entry fee. I will still pay the $150 though when the racing is in the south Florida, I can't and or wouldn't travel and pay the entry fees out of state, NHRA should reevaluate the entry fees so that the car counts might start to improve.

cambria · 04-16-2008, 09:43 AM

Don't get me wrong I agree with Mike that racing the circuit is fun.Because of track locations and the nice bunch that run IHRA I go to their races the most I will miss some of them but local racing is fun also,and now that I have a piece of a track it is more fun because we are concentrating on making it a better experience for the racer and the fan.We lowered admission fees for the fans ,we are lowering gas prices for the racers and we are paying 1k to win.Put in a full bar at the track and DJ said he wants to find a former stripper to be the bar tender(figures that DJ will never change).I am not discouraging people from running the divisionals or nationals those tracks and the sanctioning bodies will take a beating for sure with light turn outs and that will trickle down to hurt the racers.Its the people who run this country who have screwed us.We need big change politics was supposed to be a service not a destination for the people who get elected.What we have created is the most vast wasteful corrupt business in the world POLITICS and POLITICIANS.

Tim Kish · 04-16-2008, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cambria

We need big change politics was supposed to be a service not a destination for the people who get elected.What we have created is the most vast wasteful corrupt business in the world POLITICS and POLITICIANS.

All that coming from a Lawyer!!! I'll be racing more local this year but I think it's the two kids in daycare that hurt me more than fuel prices.

donald j raiser · 04-16-2008, 10:29 AM

we are putting a wig on mike hayek, he's the new bartender at the track.

SPS · 04-16-2008, 07:18 PM

Hey Cambria:
How about a home and home series.
No problem at the border, our guys have passports, yours can't spell it.
FJ

04-16-2008, 07:39 AM	#1
slow dragster Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Spring Hill, TN Posts: 143 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Local Racing looking better every day Mark did you pick up a new trailer?

04-16-2008, 08:34 AM	#2
Michael Beard VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 4,060 Likes: 0 Liked 13 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Local Racing looking better every day I towed roughly the same amount of miles in 2007 as I did in 2004, over 17,000 miles. My fuel cost was about $2,800 then versus $4,500 now. Look at what you have in your whole race operation... $1,700/year is not going to make me stay home. One big difference is that in 2004, I lived in Ohio. I spent close to $2K in hotels that season. I now live in North Carolina, where I can sleep in my own bed for many races, and spent less than $1K on hotels. How much more would I have to spend on a truck & trailer or a motorhome (and cut my gas mileage in half)? There's no way to justify that except, "I want to." I also run almost twice as many races each year since I moved. I suspect most people on this board (unless retired) make more money than I do. We're spoiled. We don't have it as bad as we think we do. I'm certainly not saying that I wish it would get worse, but we should take a look at what we are doing and how we are doing it, and make the most of it. If I can do it, you can too. The Nat'l/Div'l event circuit is a lot of fun. There's a high cost involved, but the rewards can be great as well. When I wasn't on the road last year running those or big-money bracket races, I loved running at Pageland Dragway in South Carolina, 79 miles from the house. They "only" paid $600 to win, but they ran a quick program, and didn't have two rounds of buybacks that just cost you more money in the long run. They had a reasonable entry fee, and they started paying round money to 2nd round winners. You couldn't make a lot of money there, but you couldn't spend a lot either! It cost me about $1,000 total to run 13 races at Pageland... and I won more than that by my 2nd trip there. So, all types of racing are fun. You have to decide what's right for you. $.02, __________________ Michael Beard - NHRA/IHRA 3216 S/SS

04-16-2008, 09:07 AM	#3
Casey Miles Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 705 Likes: 128 Liked 502 Times in 91 Posts	Re: Local Racing looking better every day Micheal: I agree that NHRA is fun at times, but the entry fees don't equal what the pay out should be. I know that there is hidden cost with NHRA's program. But if you lay out $150 at one of Moroso's 5day races, they pay out 10k to the winner and I believe 2.5 k to the runner up. Where is the equalization that NHRA pays only 1k to the winner? I race locally here in Florida, our entry fee is $35 for pro with a winners purse of $700 to win and paying back 16 spots. I don't see the NHRA logic to such a high entry fee. I will still pay the $150 though when the racing is in the south Florida, I can't and or wouldn't travel and pay the entry fees out of state, NHRA should reevaluate the entry fees so that the car counts might start to improve.

04-16-2008, 09:43 AM	#4
cambria Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Buffalo Posts: 235 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Local Racing looking better every day Don't get me wrong I agree with Mike that racing the circuit is fun.Because of track locations and the nice bunch that run IHRA I go to their races the most I will miss some of them but local racing is fun also,and now that I have a piece of a track it is more fun because we are concentrating on making it a better experience for the racer and the fan.We lowered admission fees for the fans ,we are lowering gas prices for the racers and we are paying 1k to win.Put in a full bar at the track and DJ said he wants to find a former stripper to be the bar tender(figures that DJ will never change).I am not discouraging people from running the divisionals or nationals those tracks and the sanctioning bodies will take a beating for sure with light turn outs and that will trickle down to hurt the racers.Its the people who run this country who have screwed us.We need big change politics was supposed to be a service not a destination for the people who get elected.What we have created is the most vast wasteful corrupt business in the world POLITICS and POLITICIANS. __________________ BS/A,A/FIA 00 Camaro- CS/A, B/FIA 94 Camaro .2012 copo 4.0

04-16-2008, 10:29 AM	#6
donald j raiser Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 379 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Local Racing looking better every day we are putting a wig on mike hayek, he's the new bartender at the track.

04-16-2008, 07:18 PM	#7
SPS Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Cayuga, Canada Posts: 298 Likes: 37 Liked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Local Racing looking better every day Hey Cambria: How about a home and home series. No problem at the border, our guys have passports, yours can't spell it. FJ

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