Local Racing looking better every day

cambria · 04-15-2008, 10:56 AM

With the crazy fuel prices local racing is looking better every day.Diesel is now 443.00 here in the Buffalo area and that is sick.
Recently investors including myself took over the old Lancaster speedway(now DUNN TIRE RACEWAY) and have decided to raise the weekend pots to 1000.00 to win since more of us who were going to all the divisionals and Nationals are passing up some of the divisionals for local racing.These fuel prices are killing the average racer and are going to hurt the tracks that have been running divisionals and nationals.This is too bad these tracks have invested big bucks to afford racers a top shelf facility and now they like us are getting screwed.Write your Senator and congressmen something has to give.They can help by lowering fuel taxes and cutting reserves to create less demand and thereby lower prices.Pitty the poor truckers.

Ross Family Racing · 04-15-2008, 11:59 AM

Paul,
I agree that a lot of racers are going to look closer to home. They most likely will not be tied to one series only,but will run a combination of series to stay closer and cut costs. I enjoy my local racing and have for years. I run there when not at IHRA or the now defunct NSCA. Look for the Street Bracket to grow some as weekend warriors that tow to the local tracks are probably looking to cut costs and may step back to vehicles they can drive to the track and back thus cutting costs of towing. How about say IHRA. If there Divisional races are not well attended what will happen? Will they only have national events run as they now do and will we racers only race at those events closest to us to get our ego fix? This year will be very interesting.
Jeff Ross

SPS · 04-15-2008, 06:07 PM

Paul:
I look for increased attendance at our Can-Am Stock/Super Stock races as we start our 12th year, for the very reasons you state.
I personally spent a lot of years running up and down the highways to races and shudder to think of doing it today with the price of fuel as it is.
I think we can give the class racers a viable alternative to compete without breaking the bank in travelling costs.
FJ

cambria · 04-15-2008, 09:15 PM

FJ we are working on A Can AM shootout big bucks race,like 5k to win.I put my number one guy DJ on the project of raising the 5k.Figured I would bring out some old shooters like Marshall,Dilcher,maybe import Ricky Atkins for the US Team.I figure half your big Canadian shooters won't be able to get over the boarder so we should have the edge---ha ha .Saturday we see if the cars will go down the track that will be our first test session at Lancaster/now DUNN TIRE RACEWAY PARK.

THE LEGEND · 04-15-2008, 09:27 PM

Paul I could'nt agree more. We were having this conversation today. You will see more multiple car teams towing together. You will see more open bed trailers with pickups. It gets to a point is it cheaper to stay in a motel.
Where do we draw the line?
In NC we are blessed with numerous tracks to choose from. Drawbacks are double entries and 2 rds of buybacks at the bracket races. Locally a typical weekend includes 2-3 days of bracket racing with 2 car at a cost of $400-$600 dollars. I can run a few IHRA races for typically the same money. Difference!!!
IHRA races pay killer rd money and usually only go 5 or 6 rds.
Bracket racing rd money sucks, races are usually 7-9 rds. For me I'll keep on going IHRA racing for now but I see the car counts swinging in the direction of the Saturday night specials.
Chip Johnson

cambria · 04-15-2008, 09:31 PM

Chip thats why we upped it to 1k to win on a Friday night for each major class.Paula and I still plan to go to the Nationals and some divisionals.Had to work so I missed MIR and will miss the Rock----Business first my man---hey nice job last week Mr Hot Rod.

Mark Schmidt · 04-16-2008, 07:20 AM

Sold the 2 car trailer, and now towing with a pickup truck....sucks. Staying close to home in 08, sleeping in my own bed (really sucks) lol.

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.

04-15-2008, 10:56 AM	#1
cambria Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Buffalo Posts: 235 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Local Racing looking better every day With the crazy fuel prices local racing is looking better every day.Diesel is now 443.00 here in the Buffalo area and that is sick. Recently investors including myself took over the old Lancaster speedway(now DUNN TIRE RACEWAY) and have decided to raise the weekend pots to 1000.00 to win since more of us who were going to all the divisionals and Nationals are passing up some of the divisionals for local racing.These fuel prices are killing the average racer and are going to hurt the tracks that have been running divisionals and nationals.This is too bad these tracks have invested big bucks to afford racers a top shelf facility and now they like us are getting screwed.Write your Senator and congressmen something has to give.They can help by lowering fuel taxes and cutting reserves to create less demand and thereby lower prices.Pitty the poor truckers. __________________ BS/A,A/FIA 00 Camaro- CS/A, B/FIA 94 Camaro .2012 copo 4.0

04-15-2008, 11:59 AM	#2
Ross Family Racing Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: St.Clairsville, Ohio Posts: 459 Likes: 0 Liked 51 Times in 14 Posts	Re: Local Racing looking better every day Paul, I agree that a lot of racers are going to look closer to home. They most likely will not be tied to one series only,but will run a combination of series to stay closer and cut costs. I enjoy my local racing and have for years. I run there when not at IHRA or the now defunct NSCA. Look for the Street Bracket to grow some as weekend warriors that tow to the local tracks are probably looking to cut costs and may step back to vehicles they can drive to the track and back thus cutting costs of towing. How about say IHRA. If there Divisional races are not well attended what will happen? Will they only have national events run as they now do and will we racers only race at those events closest to us to get our ego fix? This year will be very interesting. Jeff Ross

04-15-2008, 06:07 PM	#3
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 Paul: I look for increased attendance at our Can-Am Stock/Super Stock races as we start our 12th year, for the very reasons you state. I personally spent a lot of years running up and down the highways to races and shudder to think of doing it today with the price of fuel as it is. I think we can give the class racers a viable alternative to compete without breaking the bank in travelling costs. FJ

04-15-2008, 09:15 PM	#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 FJ we are working on A Can AM shootout big bucks race,like 5k to win.I put my number one guy DJ on the project of raising the 5k.Figured I would bring out some old shooters like Marshall,Dilcher,maybe import Ricky Atkins for the US Team.I figure half your big Canadian shooters won't be able to get over the boarder so we should have the edge---ha ha .Saturday we see if the cars will go down the track that will be our first test session at Lancaster/now DUNN TIRE RACEWAY PARK. __________________ BS/A,A/FIA 00 Camaro- CS/A, B/FIA 94 Camaro .2012 copo 4.0

04-15-2008, 09:27 PM	#5
THE LEGEND VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Fayetteville, n.c. Posts: 1,411 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Local Racing looking better every day Paul I could'nt agree more. We were having this conversation today. You will see more multiple car teams towing together. You will see more open bed trailers with pickups. It gets to a point is it cheaper to stay in a motel. Where do we draw the line? In NC we are blessed with numerous tracks to choose from. Drawbacks are double entries and 2 rds of buybacks at the bracket races. Locally a typical weekend includes 2-3 days of bracket racing with 2 car at a cost of $400-$600 dollars. I can run a few IHRA races for typically the same money. Difference!!! IHRA races pay killer rd money and usually only go 5 or 6 rds. Bracket racing rd money sucks, races are usually 7-9 rds. For me I'll keep on going IHRA racing for now but I see the car counts swinging in the direction of the Saturday night specials. Chip Johnson

04-15-2008, 09:31 PM	#6
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 Chip thats why we upped it to 1k to win on a Friday night for each major class.Paula and I still plan to go to the Nationals and some divisionals.Had to work so I missed MIR and will miss the Rock----Business first my man---hey nice job last week Mr Hot Rod. __________________ BS/A,A/FIA 00 Camaro- CS/A, B/FIA 94 Camaro .2012 copo 4.0

04-16-2008, 07:20 AM	#7
Mark Schmidt Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 273 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Local Racing looking better every day Sold the 2 car trailer, and now towing with a pickup truck....sucks. Staying close to home in 08, sleeping in my own bed (really sucks) lol. __________________ MDS Motorsports

04-16-2008, 07:39 AM	#8
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	#9
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	#10
Casey Miles Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 703 Likes: 127 Liked 488 Times in 90 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.