I'm new here: Super Comp/Top Comp dragsters

[Chris Williams]

Originally Posted by Bill Baer

most of the tracks I race at are 100 mi. from home.

The closest track we regularly race at is ~100 miles, we seem to always be going 250 or more. Our divisional races are 120, 255, 260, 460, 530, and 837 miles away. But then the distances out here are a lot further than they are where you are... And we have mountains in the way. Our diesel bill FAR outweighs all our other costs.

[Bill Baer]

Originally Posted by Chris Williams

The closest track we regularly race at is ~100 miles, we seem to always be going 250 or more. Our divisional races are 120, 255, 260, 460, 530, and 837 miles away. But then the distances out here are a lot further than they are where you are... And we have mountains in the way. Our diesel bill FAR outweighs all our other costs.

Actually fuel (Motorhome and generator)makes up a little more than a third of my cost,entry fees almost another third and the remaining third is for getting the crew in, feeding them,beer, pop ice and all the misc. stuff we seem to need. I also don't count race fuel (methanol) in this budget as I buy it all at once in the spring before the season starts
Keep in mind this is per day and I usually race both days so for a two day weekind it costs ~$600.

[barracuda]

Thanks Everyone! It certainly wasn't what I was expecting. I guess I'm not used to talking to grown men on here. I appreciate all of your information. It seems to be good information since all of you say the same thing.
I have had two guys tell me they'd lease me their car for the weekend for $1500. they say "that's a great deal because it will cost you more in gas and hotel stays than that alone" which I highly doubt.

Turns out, all I had to do was ask my dad. As far as funds go, well that's mostly on me so I'm still trying to gather it all. In the meantime, I'd like to try and find someone who would lease one to me for a few races, without it costing me $1500 a weekend.
If anyone has any other helpful and useful information for me please send an email my way jennifer@jennifercomptonracing.com . I'll take anything you've got!

Thanks!

[barracuda]

Originally Posted by blown hemi 526

Hi Jennifer,

To pay someone 1,500 per race when you think about it is not that bad of a deal. IF the only thing you have to do is show up and race !!

If the car is being trailered to the tracks - say they have room in the hotel room. Then absolutely it's worth it.
You dont have to buy a new truck, trailer, pay insurance, maint of everything, maint on the race car, gas, tolls etc etc etc.
If you drive 500 miles to a race you have to go back home too - thats 4-500 in fuel cost alone - add in the tolls, at least 100. Hotel for divisional 4 days at 100 day and nats 5 days. There is another 4-500.
That alone is 1,000. So you will be paying these costs out of your pocket if you do it by yourself. If you break it down you can see it is not so bad.
Think about it - run the following
New Dragster you want - lowball 30k - high 45-50k
Truck - pile of crap 10k - new 45-50k
Trailer - pile of crap 5k new 20-50k
Motor - crap 7500 - new pretty good 20k
trans 5k
conv 1k
headers 1k
firesuit 1k
tools
all equipment
and the list goes on and on and on.

So you can see you can spend 70,000 doing it cheap and you have not moved yet. Pay the hotel and tolls like I said and proved is 1,000. So realistically you are leasing a car for 500 a race.

Oh by the way - there is a ton of other expenses I forgot to add that I cannot think of. So if you are starting from scratch might be something to entertain for a year or two and then see what happens. Like I said it will only be costing you the 500 and in true facts less than that.

Best of luck.

The reason I don't see that as a hell of a deal is because I'm not a weekend warrior. I want to race every weekend that there is a race. Also, I already have a truck, trailer, suit, etc, etc,. I just don't have the dragster.

I just spoke with several people and my uncle who used to race top dragsters and TAD and they said "Don't lease. it's a rip off" some people said they used to lease theirs for $1500 and they made alot of money from that deal.. So I'll stick with that. We're building one.

Thanks Guys!!

[Bill Baer]

Barraccuda

I would think that since your probably physically smaller than most and with the economy in the tank and given that you probably fit in just about any dragster out there and there are a lot of them for sale turnkey on Racingjunk.com which can save you a lost of $$.
Just take your Uncle along to look it over good.

[Chris Williams]

Originally Posted by Bill Baer

I would think that since your probably physically smaller than most and with the economy in the tank and given that you probably fit in just about any dragster out there and there are a lot of them for sale turnkey on Racingjunk.com which can save you a lost of $$.
Just take your Uncle along to look it over good.

Excellent advice.

[Gallinero Racing]

This is the every right time to buy anything cheap!!!! Just got a 98 225" frame with body for 2k. Dana rear out of a super gas car that was destroyed for $1500 that has Titanium spool, 40 spline 2 sets of gears, JZS brake system including the discs, four link bars and brand spanking new Weld Aluma star.....yes is heavy but I don't have to worry about brakage etc..... and if i want to have fun, this is a good way to start. I was lucky enough to have this thing measured exactly what i needed for the dragster. Also, got a short block chevy out of another dragster and 750 holley and couple of a million parts for $250. On another deal I picked up a Brand new Team G intake and an MSD 6a bla, bla for $150. I have spend not even 4K and i have practically everything i need to put a car together. Now, go out there and do your home work. I have couple of body's for sale cheap ( $500) if you want to go door car and one of them is ready for cage, rear etc. and is completely stripped. Things can be done but someone has to move their behind.