Originally Posted by Jim Wahl (Post 195575)

My question is why? Why are racers choosing to just stay home?

Originally Posted by deuces wild (Post 195692)

Michael I race on a budget trust me I mean budget. I work the State of Texas. I'm not doubting your numbers. here is what it cost me to race at Baton Rouge in May at the double. My wife looked at all the receipts. She wasn't amused at all!!LOL

Entry fee 135.00X2=270.00
Crew 40.00
Hotel bill 109.00
race gas 50.00
fuel for truck roundtrip 324.00 ouch 445 miles each way
food misc 75.00
How many rounds did you go?
Not complaining just stating my costs. I had never went that far before to a race. probably won't anytime soon because of the costs. We normally stick closer to home Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Crandall, Lufkin, etc.

Originally Posted by Mike Meier (Post 195693)

Buff Daddy said a few lines down: "A trip to Atco or E-town would be about $100 round trip just in tolls, too."

So onto my excuse:

I share his sentiment. I felt I was personally mistreated at a race, NHRA (management) did nothing to rectify the situation, so I told them they are not going to get another dime of my money until they either apologize or at least there is a change in management.

I haven't been down a track in 9 months, never renewed my membership / competition numbers, and I am not missing it one bit.

If it weren't for the fact that I own a stocker and enclosed trailer, I'd at least be out of the class racing business (not racing all together, but at least this level). That's the big downside to all of this, I am making payments on equipment that is sitting there not being used. Hell, I had some guy come up to me at a gas station and offer me $2,000 for my Suburban. I had to say "no" because what am I gonna do, go out and put a downpayment on ANOTHER big truck? No way.

I keep saying that I am going to race IHRA one of these days, but in reality the nearest race is a little over 4 hours away. To get there on-time and not be rushed I am going to have to take time off from work, no doubt about it.

It's really a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation.

Originally Posted by Michael Beard (Post 195665)

Wow. Maybe I'm not too good at math, but I'm seeing a lot of self-inflicted issues here. There have been at least two posts on this thread already noting that it costs $500 or $600 min. to go to a Divisional race.

A few weeks ago, I went to Richmond for a double-header Pro-Am/Sportsman National. Pickup and open trailer, round trip fuel, $100. Test n' tune $30. Pro-Am: $135 Sportsman Nat'ls: $150 2 nights hotel: $75 (and that was a really nice place... split cost, thanks to Mike Bolton) Total: $490 to run TWO races *and* a Test n' Tune. And that's a lot for me. Last year, I left the house early Saturday AM, and I stayed overnight at the track. Total cost for 2 races: $385 (less than $200/race)

Couple weeks ago, South Georgia Motorsports Park. Ran TWO Southern S/SS Association Races and TWO of Scotty Richardson's BottomBulb Series races. Fuel: $200. Hotel: $80 Entry Fees: $180 total Total Expenses: $460 That's an average of $115 per race.

Last week, Dunn-Benson Pro-Am. Left the house, ran the race, and came home all in the same day. Total cost: $160.

On another thread somewhere, I compared travel time and costs for a racer from middle Tennessee could run for an NHRA Divisional championship vs running for an IHRA Divisional AND World Championship.... the time (including time off work) and mileage to do the latter was nearly HALF.

As Beaver Bob says, "Put a pencil to it." I've personally had an amazing year, and I count my blessings, but I didn't get to where I am because I have a toterhome and stacker with my flavor of the week selection of a CJ or DP, or even a Super Stocker of any kind. I still tow an open trailer (that I won in a shootout race when I was a kid) with a 1500 Ram 4.7L (that I just paid off), and race a car that is paid off. (H*ll, if a guy hadn't pulled out in front of me years ago, I'd probably still be towing with my '89 Ramcharger... R.I.P.) I run races that make sense for me (see above paragraph), and when I do have to stay in a hotel, I try to split a room with somebody. For years, my season-long lodging costs have run around $700/year. How many motorhome payments is that? (and that's not touching on the massively increased fuel costs, etc.) I can run 55+ races a year for more than 15 years on what some guys have in their racing operations, and I'll still be racing when the big rigs are parked. I got a new EZ-Up and two new folding chairs this year. As the Legend told me, "Boy, ya can't hide money, can ya?" :rolleyes:

So the question is, how bad do you want to go racing? If you make up your mind that you really want it, you can do it. Wade is dead-on. We are a proud bunch, but you *can* do it for half the cost if you really want to.