Why Aren't You Racing? - Page 11

55 Chevy · 07-05-2010, 01:04 PM

For me it's more of a time thing. Between being so busy at work and a huge renovation at home the car is not getting nearly enough attention even though it is very close to being done.
Motor/trans is to go in next week,then its time to order a new M/W drive shaft. From there it's just a few odds and ends and I think we are ready to go racing.

Allan

07-05-2010, 02:53 PM

Quote: I still say it cost more to run brackets than class race. We can debate that anytime.

I guess if you buy back in two or more times? What does that cost? Maybe if a car that is not a 40-110 under the index and don't plan on winning class anytime soon then yeah, it is cheaper to run a bracket car in stock. I take it you are talking entrys only Chip? Certainly not in the engine/trans/diff costs.

BP

Daran Summerton · 07-05-2010, 03:18 PM

The worst thing anyone can do is go 5 rounds at a divisional just to get your entrance fee back. Trust me this was what killed my desire. I will go to 2 a year tops from now on until NHRA fixes the payouts. They probably won't so the car counts will continue to drop until Stock and Super Stock is ended. As far as class goes I'll take it as another time trial for now. Can't see spending 10K for a killer motor to maybe get $300 in contingency. I think NHRA and Beard need to talk LOL

THE LEGEND · 07-05-2010, 04:20 PM

Barry,
I don't know how things are on the left coast, but here in the SOUTH:
A lot of Bracket races allow you to double enter the same car.
Have 2 rds of buy backs.
One of my Local tracks for example cost:
$35 to run Top e.t.
$40 each BB .
You can spend $115 to race.
The payout is $1200 w
$200 ru
$50 semi
The reason I go is its 4.3 miles from the house.

If you want to go run for big money:
Typical 5k race will be $75-$100 ef x2 because they will allow doubles
BB $50-$75 x 4(possibly because of double entry and 2 rds of BB)

I know most of you "Classy" racers look down your noses at bracket cars but I'll bet you my car cost as much as 75% of the class cars out there, maybe more. There are a lot of cars out there that are double what mine cost too.

I do both. I bracket race. I run IHRA races. I've owned Stockers, HR-SST, SR-SG, QR-SC
Cars and none of them are cheap.
Chip Johnson

07-05-2010, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE LEGEND

Barry,
I don't know how things are on the left coast, but here in the SOUTH:
A lot of Bracket races allow you to double enter the same car.
Have 2 rds of buy backs.
One of my Local tracks for example cost:
$35 to run Top e.t.
$40 each BB .
You can spend $115 to race.
The payout is $1200 w
$200 ru
$50 semi
The reason I go is its 4.3 miles from the house.

If you want to go run for big money:
Typical 5k race will be $75-$100 ef x2 because they will allow doubles
BB $50-$75 x 4(possibly because of double entry and 2 rds of BB)

I know most of you "Classy" racers look down your noses at bracket cars but I'll bet you my car cost as much as 75% of the class cars out there, maybe more. There are a lot of cars out there that are double what mine cost too.

I do both. I bracket race. I run IHRA races. I've owned Stockers, HR-SST, SR-SG, QR-SC
Cars and none of them are cheap.
Chip Johnson

Chip, I am an old bracket racer who likes to tinker and make stuff fly. That is why I took on the Performance Based Eliminator, (Stock) and SS. There isn't anyone I know who looks down their nose at bracket racers. I know quite a few (Classy Racers) that have had their tail handed to them by a good bracket racer. Out here I have not seen double entry with the same car and I don't think buy back either but I could be wrong. North, South, East and West face the same problems, MONEY and lack of work. There are a bunch of stock /ss racers here who will frequent the local bracket programs to tune up on driving. My hat is off to Kyle and Peter for trying to get the Big Bucks bracket programs up and running strong on the West Coast. Participation seems to be the biggest issue and it's not just Class Racing. I have seen local associations pay big first round money, traveling money, points for travel and several other ways all without drawing more cars.... Lack of money and higher priorities? You tell me? I don't think they are excuses Chip, I think it is reality and priority.

BP

Jimi B · 07-05-2010, 05:33 PM

Maybe health aside, I think even the non money problems could be solved with money ha. Of course it might be a little boring if we all had CJs now wouldnt it? Ha.

X-TECH MAN · 07-05-2010, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimi B

Of course it might be a little boring if we all had CJs now wouldnt it? Ha.

Then again it could be more exciting because all of the runs would be HEADS UP (after combining the sticks and automatics together) and flat out.

THE LEGEND · 07-05-2010, 05:56 PM

BP,
I could'nt agree more.
It's all about money , committment ,and priority.

Chip Johnson

BobOrme · 07-05-2010, 08:01 PM

I hope you folks don't mind my weighing in on this subject because I'm not a racer, but I am someone who is passionate about the sport and I make part of my living from it. Hopefully Adger won't mind my borrowing his soapbox for a minute or two.

I've read every post, and the reasons folks aren't racing as much as they have in the past or would like to now does, for the most part, have a central theme - money. The current economy is hitting a lot of people very hard. My own event schedule for this year was cut by 40% from what I worked last year.

The two major sanctioning bodies are night-and-day different on the structure of how they conduct divisional events. NHRA is 11 classes while IHRA is 7 classes. Therefore, the IHRA has much more flexibility concerning scheduling events that can be contested and completed in one or two days. Some NHRA divisional events are scheduled for two days, but those can only be conducted at tracks that have no curfews and have lights for night racing. Any time either sanctioning body can cut the required time for racers to be away from home and still compete is an obvious incentive for more participation.

Some feel eliminating alcohol classes from NHRA divisionals would be beneficial to everyone. Given that some tracks can and have opted not to include those classes, that is sometimes the only way a particular track can afford to host a divisional event. The costs of the purse is an added expense to the track owners, and if they know they can't cover that expense with both the back and front gate receipts, and their market won't draw enough front gate to cover it no matter how much they promote those classes as the headliners of the event, they'll have to eat some of the expense.That is sad. Given the short fields in the alky classes at many (too many) divisional events, entry fees would further shorten those fields, yet the track owners would still have to pay the same 1st place and R/U purses (there have been events with only two cars entered), so the track owners would still be on the hook for added purse money. That means added pressure to cover that expense from the back gate, or charging $3 for a soda that they were charging $1.25 for at the concession stand three years ago. I think the alky classes are exciting to watch. They've already been cut from quite a few national events. I'd really hate to see them cut on a larger basis at the divisional level, but given that this year's NHRA divisional schedule is smaller than it has ever been since I started working them, this may well be a trend that will find more tracks opting out of hosting alky, or hosting a divisional at all.

I'll touch on Comp Eliminator for just a moment, prompted just a little bit by Adger's post about open/all run fields. Having 32 Comp cars show up for most NHRA divisional events has been relatively rare over the last few years, and in some divisional events, it has never happened (see Fallon this year - no Comp entries and Fallon last year - two Comp entries). Comp happens to be my favorite class. I truly appreciate the diversity of the cars involved. Don't get me wrong - I enjoy this sport at every level, and Stock and Super Stock are right up there. To me personally, wheels up cutting a great light in both lanes and racing the stripe within a foot (or less) of each other is just as exciting as top fuel!

I don't know what the IHRA charges a track to host a divisional event. While there have been some cutbacks and/or changes made to who is hosting the events, it must be relatively reasonable. Perhaps it's time for the NHRA to adjust their hosting fees for divisional events to reflect the current economy.

Adger Smith · 07-05-2010, 08:28 PM

Bob,
You stood tall on my soap box...
Very good points. I was going to say we had seen about a 40 % drop. I had based it on Nitro Joe's stats. We have been having a lengthy discussion on one of the Comp forums about attendance/participation and how to make changes to improve it. I'm of the opinion that things are going to have to change in near future to keep the majority of track owners in the black. Even some of the better local tracks are having trouble staying out of the red. I hope the future of our sport can be a good one, but it doesn't look so good to me. I'm not trying to be a gloom and doom guy, just a realist that things aren't the same & our sport needs to evolve/grow with the times....
Bob,
Thanks for an insiders perspective

07-05-2010, 01:04 PM	#101
55 Chevy Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Calgary,Alberta area Posts: 229 Likes: 23 Liked 20 Times in 15 Posts	Re: Why Aren't You Racing? For me it's more of a time thing. Between being so busy at work and a huge renovation at home the car is not getting nearly enough attention even though it is very close to being done. Motor/trans is to go in next week,then its time to order a new M/W drive shaft. From there it's just a few odds and ends and I think we are ready to go racing. Allan

07-05-2010, 02:53 PM	#102
Barry Polley Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Why Aren't You Racing? Quote: I still say it cost more to run brackets than class race. We can debate that anytime. I guess if you buy back in two or more times? What does that cost? Maybe if a car that is not a 40-110 under the index and don't plan on winning class anytime soon then yeah, it is cheaper to run a bracket car in stock. I take it you are talking entrys only Chip? Certainly not in the engine/trans/diff costs. BP

07-05-2010, 03:18 PM	#103
Daran Summerton Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Las Vegas nv Posts: 600 Likes: 18 Liked 66 Times in 37 Posts	Re: Why Aren't You Racing? The worst thing anyone can do is go 5 rounds at a divisional just to get your entrance fee back. Trust me this was what killed my desire. I will go to 2 a year tops from now on until NHRA fixes the payouts. They probably won't so the car counts will continue to drop until Stock and Super Stock is ended. As far as class goes I'll take it as another time trial for now. Can't see spending 10K for a killer motor to maybe get $300 in contingency. I think NHRA and Beard need to talk LOL

07-05-2010, 04:20 PM	#104
THE LEGEND VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Fayetteville, n.c. Posts: 1,411 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Why Aren't You Racing? Barry, I don't know how things are on the left coast, but here in the SOUTH: A lot of Bracket races allow you to double enter the same car. Have 2 rds of buy backs. One of my Local tracks for example cost: $35 to run Top e.t. $40 each BB . You can spend $115 to race. The payout is $1200 w $200 ru $50 semi The reason I go is its 4.3 miles from the house. If you want to go run for big money: Typical 5k race will be $75-$100 ef x2 because they will allow doubles BB $50-$75 x 4(possibly because of double entry and 2 rds of BB) I know most of you "Classy" racers look down your noses at bracket cars but I'll bet you my car cost as much as 75% of the class cars out there, maybe more. There are a lot of cars out there that are double what mine cost too. I do both. I bracket race. I run IHRA races. I've owned Stockers, HR-SST, SR-SG, QR-SC Cars and none of them are cheap. Chip Johnson

07-05-2010, 05:33 PM	#106
Jimi B Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 226 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Why Aren't You Racing? Maybe health aside, I think even the non money problems could be solved with money ha. Of course it might be a little boring if we all had CJs now wouldnt it? Ha.

07-05-2010, 05:56 PM	#108
THE LEGEND VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Fayetteville, n.c. Posts: 1,411 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Why Aren't You Racing? BP, I could'nt agree more. It's all about money , committment ,and priority. Chip Johnson

07-05-2010, 08:01 PM	#109
BobOrme Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 25 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Why Aren't You Racing? I hope you folks don't mind my weighing in on this subject because I'm not a racer, but I am someone who is passionate about the sport and I make part of my living from it. Hopefully Adger won't mind my borrowing his soapbox for a minute or two. I've read every post, and the reasons folks aren't racing as much as they have in the past or would like to now does, for the most part, have a central theme - money. The current economy is hitting a lot of people very hard. My own event schedule for this year was cut by 40% from what I worked last year. The two major sanctioning bodies are night-and-day different on the structure of how they conduct divisional events. NHRA is 11 classes while IHRA is 7 classes. Therefore, the IHRA has much more flexibility concerning scheduling events that can be contested and completed in one or two days. Some NHRA divisional events are scheduled for two days, but those can only be conducted at tracks that have no curfews and have lights for night racing. Any time either sanctioning body can cut the required time for racers to be away from home and still compete is an obvious incentive for more participation. Some feel eliminating alcohol classes from NHRA divisionals would be beneficial to everyone. Given that some tracks can and have opted not to include those classes, that is sometimes the only way a particular track can afford to host a divisional event. The costs of the purse is an added expense to the track owners, and if they know they can't cover that expense with both the back and front gate receipts, and their market won't draw enough front gate to cover it no matter how much they promote those classes as the headliners of the event, they'll have to eat some of the expense.That is sad. Given the short fields in the alky classes at many (too many) divisional events, entry fees would further shorten those fields, yet the track owners would still have to pay the same 1st place and R/U purses (there have been events with only two cars entered), so the track owners would still be on the hook for added purse money. That means added pressure to cover that expense from the back gate, or charging $3 for a soda that they were charging $1.25 for at the concession stand three years ago. I think the alky classes are exciting to watch. They've already been cut from quite a few national events. I'd really hate to see them cut on a larger basis at the divisional level, but given that this year's NHRA divisional schedule is smaller than it has ever been since I started working them, this may well be a trend that will find more tracks opting out of hosting alky, or hosting a divisional at all. I'll touch on Comp Eliminator for just a moment, prompted just a little bit by Adger's post about open/all run fields. Having 32 Comp cars show up for most NHRA divisional events has been relatively rare over the last few years, and in some divisional events, it has never happened (see Fallon this year - no Comp entries and Fallon last year - two Comp entries). Comp happens to be my favorite class. I truly appreciate the diversity of the cars involved. Don't get me wrong - I enjoy this sport at every level, and Stock and Super Stock are right up there. To me personally, wheels up cutting a great light in both lanes and racing the stripe within a foot (or less) of each other is just as exciting as top fuel! I don't know what the IHRA charges a track to host a divisional event. While there have been some cutbacks and/or changes made to who is hosting the events, it must be relatively reasonable. Perhaps it's time for the NHRA to adjust their hosting fees for divisional events to reflect the current economy.

07-05-2010, 08:28 PM	#110
Adger Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texarkana Ark/TX Posts: 2,446 Likes: 575 Liked 880 Times in 311 Posts	Re: Why Aren't You Racing? Bob, You stood tall on my soap box... Very good points. I was going to say we had seen about a 40 % drop. I had based it on Nitro Joe's stats. We have been having a lengthy discussion on one of the Comp forums about attendance/participation and how to make changes to improve it. I'm of the opinion that things are going to have to change in near future to keep the majority of track owners in the black. Even some of the better local tracks are having trouble staying out of the red. I hope the future of our sport can be a good one, but it doesn't look so good to me. I'm not trying to be a gloom and doom guy, just a realist that things aren't the same & our sport needs to evolve/grow with the times.... Bob, Thanks for an insiders perspective __________________ Adger Smith (Former SS)