Let me get this straight. - Page 2

Dave Turner · 10-04-2010, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSLRacing

I guess my open trailer and pick-up will look strange in the pits!!

Park beside Michael Beard and you'll feel very much at home.....if you're lucky, some of his flair for success may rub off as well! Nuthin' wrong with travelling in style, but his common sense approach shows that this sport may be enjoyed by more than the affluent.

SuperStocks@LionsDragStrip · 10-04-2010, 06:35 PM

People just want to race, forget the size and type of hauler used, just go race.

SuperStocks@LionsDragStrip

Robert Swartz · 10-04-2010, 07:28 PM

OK, good thread.

I'll pile on here a bit. I'll admit, when I walked away from this back in 1988, I still had a hard time understanding how so many people could afford the rage then, enclosed trailers.

Fast forward to today, I'm stunned by all the 40' plus trailers, stackers, motor/toterhomes, big rigs you name it, you're right, these are weekend racers! Like others have said, if you have that kind of money, who am I to tell someone what they should or shouldn't have. Like any hobby, you participate at the level you are comfortable with, or can afford.

Right now, all my spare funds are going towards putting our bracket car back together and collecting the pieces to assemble our stocker. When my partner and I return to the track one day, I imagine initially, it will be with the same old 22' trailer I've had since 1977. I do believe we will repaint it, LOL!

As for me, I think I will buy an enclosed trailer down the road. I've seen a lot of reasonable deals pass by. Both my partner and my wife keep telling me, get the cars running first. Once I have two cars running, then it will be time to purchase a second trailer.

Jason, yeah, it can get brutal on here from time to time. Listen to some of these guys. There are some smart people here and you can learn a few things if you're willing to listen.

Robert Swartz

Bob Pagano · 10-03-2010, 07:36 PM

It has nothing to do with winning money. You can make that call on which reason you race for, most do it for kicks and having a good time, good times are not cheap !

340Cuda · 10-03-2010, 07:42 PM

There is not much about this sport that makes good financial sense. If folks want to spend their money on really nice motor homes and trailers that is sure their prerogative as far as I am concerned.

Bill

JSLRacing · 10-03-2010, 07:46 PM

I do agree a bit.. I want to get a motorhome so the family is comfortable at the track.. but a rig and a stacker hauler?

M&M Motorsports · 10-03-2010, 07:59 PM

Every sport has its own idiosyncracies -- you could try golf -- join a nice club $100,000+; monthly dues $1,000 - $2,000 plus green fees $200+ per round; plus equipment -- no chance of winning anything! Everybody makes a choice. I have a motorhome and a stacker so that my wife and I can both race -- arrive in the same vehicle -- stay at the track, etc. My choice. BTW, I started by flat towing and changing tires at the track - and have continued with all the stages in between. My way is not better or worse than yours, just different. I will continue to race this way as long as I can. I truly enjoy racing and my wife absolutely LOVES it! Besides, in my book it beats shuffleboard and golf!!! None of the racers I know that have motorhomes and stackers do this to show off or take up too much room. We take only one space though we pay for two cars -- we have come to the track with 3 cars and only got about 1 1/2 spaces. I hope things turn around for all of us so that when we come to the track it is jammed with racers!! For now, I am glad to see as many as possible no matter how they get there! My $.02

John Kelley · 10-03-2010, 07:50 PM

To some it's like a hobby....like golf,fishing or bowling.
To some it is a writeoff, for most it isn't.
Profit or just breaking even isn't important, BUT having fun meeting some GREAT people IS !! :-)

JSLRacing · 10-03-2010, 07:53 PM

Sounds like bigger is better.. ego's will be ego's

Hell even Richard Petty traveled the country with a stock car behind a station wagon.. so did Sox and Martin...

Can't be a recession in the US when people can spend $3000 on a weekend of racing..

SS Engine Guy · 10-03-2010, 07:59 PM

Nothing wrong with a p/u and car hauler. Did that for probably 15 years and camped in the tech line then at the track. Got more stuff paid off and moved up to a diesel dually and a small inclosed trailer. Had to deal with eating out at least at dinner and sometimes breakfast. Stayed in every raghead motel from NY. to Fla. Usually 10 - 30 miles from the track. Did that for about 6 years. Moved to a Century class with living quarters and a stacker which if geared correctly gets 12-14 mpg on junk low sulfur fuel. Fuel milage 4 mpg less. No more reservations a year in advance at inflated prices. No more eating out. No more long drives to the motel at late hours. Figures out about the same except with a lot less hassle. Not exactly necessary but neither is a race car.

Now if the racing organizations could get their act together maybe I might travel more.

10-04-2010, 06:35 PM	#2
SuperStocks@LionsDragStrip Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 75 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Let me get this straight. People just want to race, forget the size and type of hauler used, just go race. SuperStocks@LionsDragStrip

10-04-2010, 07:28 PM	#3
Robert Swartz Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Nineveh, Indiana Posts: 512 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Let me get this straight. OK, good thread. I'll pile on here a bit. I'll admit, when I walked away from this back in 1988, I still had a hard time understanding how so many people could afford the rage then, enclosed trailers. Fast forward to today, I'm stunned by all the 40' plus trailers, stackers, motor/toterhomes, big rigs you name it, you're right, these are weekend racers! Like others have said, if you have that kind of money, who am I to tell someone what they should or shouldn't have. Like any hobby, you participate at the level you are comfortable with, or can afford. Right now, all my spare funds are going towards putting our bracket car back together and collecting the pieces to assemble our stocker. When my partner and I return to the track one day, I imagine initially, it will be with the same old 22' trailer I've had since 1977. I do believe we will repaint it, LOL! As for me, I think I will buy an enclosed trailer down the road. I've seen a lot of reasonable deals pass by. Both my partner and my wife keep telling me, get the cars running first. Once I have two cars running, then it will be time to purchase a second trailer. Jason, yeah, it can get brutal on here from time to time. Listen to some of these guys. There are some smart people here and you can learn a few things if you're willing to listen. Robert Swartz __________________ Robert Swartz - Swartz & Lane 66 Chevy II Pro 95 Achieva EF/SA, 78 Mustang II U/SA (work in progress) #354 stock

10-03-2010, 07:36 PM	#4
Bob Pagano VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: New Holland, PA Mooresville,NC Posts: 1,163 Likes: 244 Liked 16 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Let me get this straight. It has nothing to do with winning money. You can make that call on which reason you race for, most do it for kicks and having a good time, good times are not cheap ! __________________ Bob Pagano A/SA

10-03-2010, 07:42 PM	#5
340Cuda VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 1,676 Likes: 3,892 Liked 805 Times in 341 Posts	Re: Let me get this straight. There is not much about this sport that makes good financial sense. If folks want to spend their money on really nice motor homes and trailers that is sure their prerogative as far as I am concerned. Bill

10-03-2010, 07:46 PM	#6
JSLRacing Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bothwell,ON Posts: 131 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Let me get this straight. I do agree a bit.. I want to get a motorhome so the family is comfortable at the track.. but a rig and a stacker hauler? __________________ Jason Goldsack - 1997 Track Champion - St. Thomas Dragway 1997 Race of Champions Winner - Indianapolis, IN Div. 3 finals

10-03-2010, 07:59 PM	#7
M&M Motorsports Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Jerome, Michigan Posts: 119 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Let me get this straight. Every sport has its own idiosyncracies -- you could try golf -- join a nice club $100,000+; monthly dues $1,000 - $2,000 plus green fees $200+ per round; plus equipment -- no chance of winning anything! Everybody makes a choice. I have a motorhome and a stacker so that my wife and I can both race -- arrive in the same vehicle -- stay at the track, etc. My choice. BTW, I started by flat towing and changing tires at the track - and have continued with all the stages in between. My way is not better or worse than yours, just different. I will continue to race this way as long as I can. I truly enjoy racing and my wife absolutely LOVES it! Besides, in my book it beats shuffleboard and golf!!! None of the racers I know that have motorhomes and stackers do this to show off or take up too much room. We take only one space though we pay for two cars -- we have come to the track with 3 cars and only got about 1 1/2 spaces. I hope things turn around for all of us so that when we come to the track it is jammed with racers!! For now, I am glad to see as many as possible no matter how they get there! My $.02

10-03-2010, 07:50 PM	#8
John Kelley Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tightwad,TEXAS Posts: 911 Likes: 6 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Let me get this straight. To some it's like a hobby....like golf,fishing or bowling. To some it is a writeoff, for most it isn't. Profit or just breaking even isn't important, BUT having fun meeting some GREAT people IS !! :-)

10-03-2010, 07:53 PM	#9
JSLRacing Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bothwell,ON Posts: 131 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Let me get this straight. Sounds like bigger is better.. ego's will be ego's Hell even Richard Petty traveled the country with a stock car behind a station wagon.. so did Sox and Martin... Can't be a recession in the US when people can spend $3000 on a weekend of racing.. __________________ Jason Goldsack - 1997 Track Champion - St. Thomas Dragway 1997 Race of Champions Winner - Indianapolis, IN Div. 3 finals

10-03-2010, 07:59 PM	#10
SS Engine Guy Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: usa Posts: 256 Likes: 1 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Let me get this straight. Nothing wrong with a p/u and car hauler. Did that for probably 15 years and camped in the tech line then at the track. Got more stuff paid off and moved up to a diesel dually and a small inclosed trailer. Had to deal with eating out at least at dinner and sometimes breakfast. Stayed in every raghead motel from NY. to Fla. Usually 10 - 30 miles from the track. Did that for about 6 years. Moved to a Century class with living quarters and a stacker which if geared correctly gets 12-14 mpg on junk low sulfur fuel. Fuel milage 4 mpg less. No more reservations a year in advance at inflated prices. No more eating out. No more long drives to the motel at late hours. Figures out about the same except with a lot less hassle. Not exactly necessary but neither is a race car. Now if the racing organizations could get their act together maybe I might travel more.