Making a profit in drag racing ????

[cicero819]

Buy Back, Johnny Labbous could be credited with introducing Buy Backs at a race track that was going to pro-rate the purse due to low attendance. Buy backs were suppose to be thrown all in back in the show, only then, they would run each other to have the chance to go on to second round. As I understand what happened, after some track operator to speed up the show decided to just let them run in second round to help with the flow of cars. How about double entry. I'm building an 87 Camaro to run Stock and bracket which I'll pull with my 1980 Bluebird Wanderlodge(which was built for 500,000 miles) and does 10 miles a gallon of BIO- diesel which my friends produce at his farm(cost me $1 dollar a gallon) and Pace trailer. Nice to win some money but the friends I've made are incalculable. When you die I've never seen a Brinks truck following the Hearse but I've seen a lot of cars in the procession. If a man is judge by how much he's made in his life than I'm a poor man but if he's judge by who show's up at his burial then that will be his true worth.CR

[Michael Beard]

>> Buy Back, Johnny Labbous could be credited with introducing Buy Backs at a race track that was going to pro-rate the purse due to low attendance.

Close. Royce Miller and Terry Sinke at Tri-State.
http://www.dragraceresults.com/legends/roycemiller.html

[cicero819]

ok, all of the above doesn't matter does it, they're all accomplish drivers, Johnny Labbous was the one who at Sanair explained to me about reaction time before timer were available. How to cut a light class 101.lol Very nice thing do and it help this young wet behind the ears to go three rounds that day. I did read this in one of the racing magazines the year was 1978. Terry what would you turn loose to make a profit against us ? Micheal continue doing what you're doing, you're enjoying a life we all would love to follow. Do it while you're young. Congratulation on all your success. Like Henry Ford said " funny the more I work the more I become successful" CR

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by JRyan

Gary,
Was it Mitch Baker?

Rick

Thank you Rick, I was talking about Mitch Baker. The easiest way to beat him was in the final I had back in about 2002-2003 (at an Import/Sport Compact race at Bandimere). I was so amped up to race him that I overshifted my Z24's factory Turbo 125 tranny shifter (thanks a lot you tranny guys for not making performance shifters for fwd transaxles), against him and his Toyota Tundra pick-up, and lost a race I should've easily won! How could a guy who was so successful driving Chevrolets in Pro E.T. be a salesman for Toyota??? I wanted to take him out for that reason, and since imports (especially original or Stock Eliminator legal versions) have a consistency issue that's worse than any of the American fwd stockers, I had an easy time winning against all of the other racers I lined up next to. I saw Mitch Bakers greatness (with his Camaro's), but I wish I could have do-overs with him and that truck...only a rematch of the 2006 quarter-finals (at the Mopar Mile Mile High Nationals) with Ryan McClanahan would I desire more than that!

[cicero819]

I mentioned a Duster or Dart with a 440-4 barrel for the simple reason that a friend of mine has been racing for forty plus year(he's 69yrs young) and has always built his own 440(ton of runs for years without blowing anything, damage a motor every 16yrs approx.) has turn a profit racing locally nearly every year racing locally(bracket racing only) seems like a wedge motor if put together properly can last for a lifetime of enjoyement. of all my racing cars that I've own, only an 83 Monte Carlo SS #005 ever made any money. CR

[cicero819]

Originally Posted by X-TECH MAN

I have a question and would like some honest answers. Suppose you were going to get into drag racing and would like to break even from all your overhead or make a small profit. Which class or catagory would you choose to run in either with NHRA or IHRA or BOTH?
Also consider you were a decent engine builder even if you out sorced your machine work and you did all of your own maintenance. You were capable of building your own ride or finding and purchasing a good used rolling chassis and were a decent driver but maybe not a Dan Fletcher type driver.
The sportsman classes would be your only option here (No Pro Class) so should/would you race a class car (stocker, S/S)? A Super Class car(S/G. H/R, S/C? or stay close to home and race a bracket car at weekly events or big money races? Maybe a dual purpose car such as some race?
It will be interesting to read about what decisions most of you would make and who cares to answer this senario. Please disreguard the class racing vs throttle stop racing and bracket racing arguments.
Anyone??????

Terry, wow! the only answer is Super Comp for NHRA and IHRA with a dragster which you convert back Super Pro for local racing. You can find one for a decent price, complete race ready car or rolling chassis and build a very good BBChev and be competitive. Very few can switch classes like a Biondo but as a possible vehicle for breaking even, the dragster seem to be the weapon of choice. A car against a dragster is like you showing up at a gun fight with a knife, still dangerous but no contest at the end result. Claude

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by cicero819

Terry, wow! the only answer is Super Comp for NHRA and IHRA with a dragster which you convert back Super Pro for local racing. You can find one for a decent price, complete race ready car or rolling chassis and build a very good BBChev and be competitive. Very few can switch classes like a Biondo but as a possible vehicle for breaking even, the dragster seem to be the weapon of choice. A car against a dragster is like you showing up at a gun fight with a knife, still dangerous but no contest at the end result. Claude

No thanks. I have several engine stands already. I prefer doors.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by cicero819

Terry, wow! the only answer is Super Comp for NHRA and IHRA with a dragster which you convert back Super Pro for local racing. You can find one for a decent price, complete race ready car or rolling chassis and build a very good BBChev and be competitive. Very few can switch classes like a Biondo but as a possible vehicle for breaking even, the dragster seem to be the weapon of choice. A car against a dragster is like you showing up at a gun fight with a knife, still dangerous but no contest at the end result. Claude

I still like my "dime rocket" stockers.

[Michael Beard]

I still like my "dime rocket" stockers.

Tip o' the cap to Billy Nees Race Cars... I took the Turismo out to Pageland Dragway last night (will post more elsewhere later, with pics, as there were a number of Super Stockers there for the Classic GearJammers meet). The little car is *deadly* right now. Deep-staged, ran 9.91, 9.90, 9.90, 9.90, and after a long oildown, we ran in much cooler air, and it went 9.888 (against a guy that was .001 and heading for dead-on... wasn't doin' nuthin' with THAT regardless of what I was driving!) Looking at running it at either Atco or the Dutch to get some "official" 1/4-mile runs. Thanks for a great piece, Mr. Bill!

[Billy Nees]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, slacker.