track owners

[blinded]

After 30 years Drag Racing I have realized track owners have no idea why we race. Car counts are down due to the economy,right? Racers always find a way to finance their habit. The counts have been dropping for years! The problem is discouragement! The owners think a large purse draws cars. We all know less than 20% win most of the time. A large munber have never made it past 3rd round. Now why should they keep coming back? And They haven't been in larger numbers all the time. The owners don't or can't see it. If a racer could go home to his family after the race and say the made the 3rd round and won 20 of their 50 back,how great would that feel. If purses are not lowered and round money paid to the people that fill the fields,there wiil be no one except that 20% and no field to make any purse. The owners have started heads up classes only to drop them because they lost money. Racers understand car counts and pro rated purses.Let a class grow and it will build it's own purse. A track owners needs to make a profit on every class. Remember we race more for fun and different is fun.Make it fun again and they will come! Bill Stepp

[Muggs]

Interesting perspective.

I think the track owners do a good job of trying to provide an outlet for those who want/like to race. The biggest negative I see is those willing to spend time and effort (racers) is shrinking in numbers. How many guys under 30 do you see now in lanes?

I been running steady since 2004, before that I ran in 70's and early 80's. Quit to raise boy and do family type stuff. No regrets at all. Son likes to race, I like to race. I have seen car counts decline. What I don't see is the next generation, i.e. racers like my son coming along at a high enough rate. He has a son now, I hope racing is still around when he is old enough.

The economy is source of some of the reduction. I do know guys that are staying home cause money tight, also know a few older guys that are helping thier kids due to money issues.

My job has gone from quarter to quarter to month to month now. I have skipped on upgrades and elected to just race more often. If I get laid off it would reduce racing money available.

Don't know if purse changes would really help. Not much diff between $35 to $50 entry when it costs $90/day to go to WDW or Sea World, Dinner for 2 is $50 even if you don't drink. Racing is not a bad value vs. other forms of entertainment.

[bottomfeeder]

I think Bill is on to something, here's why.

As pointed out, we are ALL doing the same, with less, or, just plain doing without. Many of us have substantial investments in our cars, trailers, trucks, spares, tools, etc. The "comfort factor" of a few years ago is totally out the window, many are un, or under employed. Many others are left to wonder when, IF EVER will that return. So, now, many people are taking a second, (or third) look at ALL their expenses.

The comparison was made to $90 a day admission to see the greedy mouse, or the house of Shamu. That's still a cheaper date than going racing. But, how often can you take a giant penguin with a dorsal fin jumping through a hula hoop, clapping its pecs, and grunting for a sardine?

For example.

For me to race at IRR it costs me a MINIMUM of.....

$50 entry
$75 diesel fuel
$25 buy back (ducks gotta count on havin the $ for that you know)
$25 to $60 on race fuel, depending on how many runs.
$10 spectator admission
$25 drinks, ice, sandwiches (or concession stand)
$7.50 tolls

$217.50

Just to compete at a local Saturday night bracket race. And that's ASSUMING all the items in paragraph A below are already paid for,,,,and you DON'T take into account paragraph B at all.


A. That ASSUMES:
You own your tow vehicle outright, with NO payment.
You own your race car outright, with NO payment.
You own your trailer outright, with NO payment.
You use your tow vehicle for other purposes and don't have to insure it ONLY to race it (ramp truck, motor or toter home?)
You don't have to pay for a warehouse or place to store/work on the race car/tow vehicles.


B. That doesn't include:
1. LIQUOR, which costs more for some racers than ALL the other expenses put together .
2. Spare parts.
3. Breakage.
4. Expendables, gaskets, slicks ($7 per run), oil, tranny fluid, filters, (same for tow vehicle) chemicals.
5. Race car maintenance items, roller lifters, bearings, floats, needle & seats, front tires, battery's etc.
6. Tow vehicle maintenance items/repairs, bearings, trailer tires.
7. Engine rebuild.
8. Tranny rebuild.
9. Converter rebuild.
10. Rear end replacement.
11. Motel for out of town races.
12. Upgrades and rules changes, IE diapers etc.
13. Gotta feed the seat belt, flex plate, tranny shield/case company's every two or three years too you know.
14. Don't forget the chassis re-cert every three years.
15. Oops can't leave out the association dues ($60 to $80 each) for each year for another cat box liner.
16. Oh yeah, the license re-newal every two years. What, did I forget how to drive in the last two years??? (don't answer that). Did have to PROVE to someone I still could safely navigate a car down track??? NO, all I had to do is send em some more $$$.
17. But WAIT, before you can send em some more $$ in 16 above, you gotta go to the Dr., that's gonna take some coin too, EVEN if you have health insurance.
18. Then you gotta have your OWN personal number, two if you run different classes, four if you run the other guys events too.
19. Trick of the month club, gotta try the latest and greatest whiz bang too right?


You know, all of the sudden, this topic (its bottom line) has made me start to feel a little nauseous.

The bottom line, IS the bottom line. I KNOW people that are not racing right now simply because they can't afford it, or justify the expense. Not that they don't want to anymore, they just can't financially. IF you are one of the less than 20% as Bill pointed out, then, all the rest of us are paying for you to race. And that's a beautiful thing, for you. BUT, for the rest of us it is becoming ever increasingly difficult to do.

NOW, admittedly there are ways to slice and dice these numbers,,,,,,a little, for some people. Muggs is a perfect example of that. He has re invested his "best appearing car allowance" into hard parts and entry fees. Which, realistically should earn him a MOST IMPROVED driver award this year, based upon the results he has achieved.

There seems to be something magic about the $50 entry or above threshold. It has made ALOT of people stop and take notice. Many of us (myself included) never really took the time before to add it all up. I know its different in combo, but, for the sportsman racer, IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE in car counts. That's why we can't ever seem to make the minimums to pay out a full purse.

[Muggs]

Excellent points.

I have been lucky, all my stuff is paid for. Tow vehicle is wifes daily driver. Open trailer helps MPG towing and requires minimal maintenance. Racecar sits in backyard when not at track. I have elected to keep engine mild though main parts are very good quality.

By running on slower end of things I can keep operating expenses under control. If I only run 1 class, I can get by under $150 including buyback money. If I run 2 classes it cost me another $85 w/buybck and fuel. Upkeep on car is minimal beyond slicks.

I have had a fun and memorable year.