Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

One of the questions on my mind; as well as others I believe; is how will fuel prices affect car counts at certain events?

Two years ago (early 2020), diesel prices hovered around $2.50 a gallon. It’s my thinking that probably the majority of race rigs at the track are powered by diesel engines of some sort. But the rise in prices of gasoline pretty much follow the same patterns. Here in central Pennsylvania, diesel prices are now around $5.50, yet I do believe that Pennsylvania probably has some of the highest fuel taxes in the country, but that really has nothing to do with it. And of course, it appears as if prices are changing daily. I do read that California has even higher diesel; and gasoline; prices also.

So, what does all of this equate to? Let’s figure that on average, a racer may travel as far as 500 miles from home to attend an event, which means for him or her, it’s a 1,000 miles round trip affair. Now I can tell you that my own Renegade/conversion motorhome gets around 5-1/2 mpg, but let’s round it up to 6 for the sake of the argument which equates to around 166 gallons of diesel fuel. Multiply that by an increase of $3 and it adds $498 to my trip.

Actually though, I try to only purchase fuel at places where the prices are cheapest (read that as not in Pennsylvania). And of course, my toterhome holds 140 gallons of fuel, so I can afford to somewhat bypass the more expensive stations. However, that’s not they case for everyone. For the longest time, we used to sell the 140-gallon aluminum fuel tanks which were installed in the bed area in a great majority of racer’s pick-up trucks. One of their bigger selling features was the ability to purchase fuel at the prices you chose to do so. That part of the business slowly dried up as more and more motorhomes came into existence at the track. But its selling feature is still valid today.

Actually, the $498 is just a small portion of it, as everything has gone up in expense over the past two years. Two years ago, the average price of a gallon of milk was a little over $3. Now it’s a little over $4. Of course, I don’t buy milk so those prices are what I found on the internet, so you know they must be true 😉. You can blame it on whoever or whatever you want, but the fact is, things are still more expensive, and I’m not sure we’ve seen the end of it yet.

Two years ago, at the beginning of the pandemic, we were still seeing almost record amounts of entries showing up at some of the bigger bracket events. Some of that could have been blamed on the fact that racers were tired of staying home maybe in some sort of quarantine. Nonetheless, the numbers were up. Last year, 2021, from my 1,000’ perspective, it appeared as if car counts at certain events dropped off slightly. Naturally, you had those races which always seem to draw a crowd. For instance, on the NHRA front, you have the Gatornationals, which is more of a destination race than anything else. With quotas set by the sanctioning body, this past year, racer entries filled up fast. Then of course you had days of rain which precluded the event, yet from what I have heard and seen in pictures, spectator attendance was probably just as high as any other year. Go figure. And that’s probably the one thing I’m glad I don’t have to do; that’s figure out the metrics as to why or how an event should work.

While my above travel scenario might hold some water, one track owner I spoke with sells permanent pit parking spaces for the year, noting that this year so far, he’s sold more parking spaces than previous. Could this mean that racers are more liable to park their car at the track and leave it there, thereby eliminating towing it back and forth which uses more fuel? Maybe?

And in reality, so far this year, I have not seen a slowdown in car counts, so maybe all of this is simply a moot point. The NHRA races have seemingly been well-attended, however, we also haven’t gotten into the meat of the season yet, so maybe we haven’t seen the “slowdown” yet. Anybody want to take bets on if it will happen or not?

End result of this blabbering? First off, it’s only money. You can’t take it with you. However, even so, making sure your basic needs and bills are paid before you spend a dime on racing is probably sound advice. Advice I think I may sometimes been guilty of not following, but you get the idea. After that though… Enjoy yourself. Maybe that might mean staying home and drinking our Artisan Coffee, but in any event, as I’ve often said, for most, drag racing is the escape we need from the horrors of what real life has become. Go for it if you can, or tell me I’m full of s**t. John D out.

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

Your right, I was just discussing this topic the other day. A few years ago when gas topped $4 here in Illinois, actually the number was $4.25 according to a good friend of mine that operated gas stations, people quit buying gas. Only buying what they "had" to have. He said it was just like the pump was shut off. Sales dropped dramatically. Now when it hit $5 no change people keep buying. More money, more places to go, just happy this pandemic thing is over, I don't know, you tell me. I can yell you this, at $5 for diesel that's $1 a mile towing, fuel cost only, our operation is only going to the closer races and the multi race events if only for the principal of it.

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

I think you're going to see people weigh out their options for this year. We all know gas prices will only go up come summertime as more people are on the road and vacations start with school being out. I think racers will bypass the cost of events as long as they can justify running multiple times in a weekend. I have heard from a few racers that they were going to skip the Open events due to no contingency and lack of car count.....guess we'll see next weekend at Atco and Mooresville.

It's hard to put the pulse on the thinking of racers because you have a race like Tyler and Brians that was on the verge of being cancelled due to not enough pre-entries but, in turn you had the Gators fill up in like 8 hours for all the sportsman classes at a Grade 8 but, it was also a stupid 50 or 55 each car count each class. With bracket racing the Numidia 150 Spring Bracket race filled in 24 minutes on Monday for 150 cars. Granted Bracket racing is a little different because you have guys double & triple entering so when you have a quota those guys suck that right up.

I think your die-hard NHRA racers are going to go to as much as possible NHRA events, Epping I think will be the big test because it's the start of summer, always is a tough tow for the majority based teams in the Northeast and always struggles to fill up plus put this into perspective starting next weekend if you follow the tour, it's Atco Open, Atco D1, Charlotte NE, Leb Valley Open, Mom's Weekend, VMP NE, Cecil D1, MG D1, Epping NE, LVD D1, so 9 out of 10 weekends you're on the road. I think they are at a Grade 5 with only 68 cars total entered and 1/3 of them are stock. We all know Norwalk will fill in record time because that's one of those "can't miss" events.

In all I think racers will look at the "how many races can I do in a weekend" to justify the additional $500 fuel bill, can I go to this event and possibly break even for the weekend or get ahead....guess time will tell.

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

I have had to rethink my travel for racing. this year. I will not be traveling more than 500 miles one way to any race due to the fuel costs. Just does not make sense to go to a race that if you won the race you would be in the red.
Fuel here in the SE part of the country is above $5.50/ gal at truck stops. Last weekend i had to put fuel in all 3 of my trucks. I put $250 in the toter and that didnt fill it. $100 gas in my pick up for work and another $100 in my GMC 4500 and that didnt fill that truck either. So that was a total of $450 just on fuel. The fuel cost now have my fuel cost doubled from what it was 18 months ago. That was at $4.99/Gallon at my local fuel stop.

So yes I think fuel cost will start to have a negative effect on car counts at some events where the majority of the competitors have to travel longer distances to the events.

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

I normally drive my truck often through the summer and park it in the winter, but I've already decided that I'm just leaving it hooked to the trailer unless I absolutely need the truck for something. I can say that I am starting to see fuel prices relax some. I work in Carlisle, PA, and diesel is down a little over $.60 on average from a month ago ($5.37 now from $6.05 high). Gas (87) is around $4.14-4.25 between Carlisle and Harrisburg from what I observed on the drive home last night. I think we will see them come down some more, but certainly not to 2020 prices.

I will say that it seems like people are still willing to spend. I went to Maple Grove this past Saturday for the swap meet, and can honestly say I don't remember the last time I saw it so busy? I sold a lot of stuff I didn't want to bring home. Both racing and restoration pieces.

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

This is a little off topic,in Canada 20 miles from Buffalo N.Y. border,we have a V . P Fuel station...they sell what V.P makes.i priced a 5 gallon pail of c-12,,now this blew me away $189.00 plus tax $212.00 Canadian money.thats approx$40 a U.S gallon. And back ordered 1month. WOW

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

I drove from my home in Maple Grove,Mn (NW corner of Mpls) to the Gators and Bradenton and back last month. Round trip was about 3500 miles. Average diesel going down was $3.89 and back it was $4.99 if you shopped around.($5.59 @ Loves Flying J). I spent $1500 on just the diesel. I believe unless the fuel goes down to under $4.00, the local tracks will see an increase in car count, which is good, and racers will try to hit the double combo races to try and keep travel costs down. We all have to much $$$ invested in our programs to just let it sit.

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

My wife and I run a mom and pop gas station in a north east NE town. High fuel prices have hit us hard also. Credit Card companies get almost three % of are take. We have to be inventive to keep going. Has anybody tried the mudflap app on fuel? My son is running 2 trucks in his business and some time saves up to .50 cent a gallon with it. We as racers also have to be inventive and look for the best deals to race also. Tom

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

I had not heard of that one, but I (and several of my buddies) do use the TSD discount program. If you stop at truck stops you'll see a substantial savings. The main drawback is that you have to provide a bank account for them to draft your fuel purchases - cannot use a credit card. I've used it for over a year now and had no issues whatsoever.

https://www.tsdlogistics.com/ (click on fuel services)

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

Don't come to California. Gas at the Freeway by my house in Murrieta $5.99 Diesel $6.39. Two weeks ago I was in Colorado both were $3.89.

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

Correct Mike, has anyone ever heard of a homeless politician?

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

Mean tweets or this, you pick?? Just the facts

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

My damn business gas bill is $64,000.00 a month I can’t recoup the add I have to pay fast enough, we are in a damn mess and Washington is pushing through crap that helps no one, jokes on us

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

I'm wondering if we may see a slight change in the amount of bigger motorhomes at the tracks this year with the fuel prices. A typical 3/4 ton gas pickup will probably get about 10 mpg give or take a few numbers depending on the age of the truck. If you drive 1000 miles round trip, with gas around $4 a gallon in the northeast here, it will be about $400 round trip for gas. Add in 3 nights for a mid range hotel around $100 per night, that's about $700 total for fuel and lodging. With diesel priced closer to $5-6 a gallon, that turns into at least $1000 in fuel alone at a typical 5mpg. For the financially conscious racer, that $300 saved can get you an entry plus some race gas at your next event.

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

The financially conscious racer does not own a motorhome.

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

I bought my first diesel pickup in 2007 when fuel was 4.55 per gallon here in Nebr/Iowa. I always use the GasBuddy app on my phone. It is crowd sourced for the current station prices. It is useful everywhere, and I always attempt to fill up at the lowest priced, quality station.

Clark

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

Really
But I don’t need a hotel. An restaurant a bathroom
And I don’t need to buy racetrack food
I like to be as comfortable as possible
That’s why I work to race and piss my$$$ away

Enjoy the rain when your sitting in you trailer or pick up truck
I will had you a towel

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

I think there are more "common folk" that have motorhomes than one would think.

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

I am retired 80 years old. Its 80 miles one way to bg 300 to indy. 500 plus to gainsville. I am really thinking about selling my truck trailer and race car. My truck get 10 miles towing my 36 ft goose neck. All most 150 dollars to bg round trip. I cant pay that plus food and entry. I have a friend jeff jensen has a diesel mh and run alot os points meet and national event last year and is looking for closer races this year

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

So much for pursuing happiness, huh...

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

my 2 cents from down here .
The commited racer will race effectively no matter the fuel cost .
I wish i was paying $4-5 a gallon . Last month i drove to a national event , 12hrs just over 600 miles each way .
98 pump gas averaged $2.35/L that = $9.40 a US gallon . My Satellite gets 10.5mpg on the highway .
Did i groan , yep . But it didnt stop me going .
And winning a xmas tree , class , and top qualifying took all the wallet pain away .
Only downside was shearing trans oil pump drive lugs a 100 miles from home .
We have not many tracks and a long way between . That trip is about the closest away track i run . December was 15hrs .

Tex

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

That's fine, and you're absolutely entitled to that. It's America, we have that freedom (for now?).

I also don't doubt that "common folks" have motorhomes.

We're not financially conscious racers though. We've got cars that were specifically built to compete in a certain class. We travels hundreds of miles from home, to spend 3-4 days at a track to compete in one race for that class we built a car for. We pay $200 for an entry, to maybe win $1500 and some contingency if we're lucky enough to go that far.

It's a lot more financially conscious to leave a bracket car parked in a trailer all year at Maple Grove, enter the Money Trail for $75/race, and run for the $2000 payout. What fun would that be though?

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

Tom god bless you. You made it to 80. And your still able to race. If I'm lucky enough to get to that age and I'm still able to race if it still exist. I'd be pissed if fuel prices are a rip off but I'm not going to let spending a few more thousand a year on fuel stop me from enjoying my last few years of life. I tell my friend all the time when he starts talking about not going to a race this year because of fuel money. The extra couple thousand you spend on fuel is not going to change a thing in your life. I don't plan on dying with a lot of money in the bank. BP

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

The last year we raced with a truck and not a motorhome we spent over $6600 in motel rooms - that made the payments for a year on the motorhome.

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

This is absolutely correct. I wouldn't go back to racing without one, but it can't be justified on finances alone.

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

Did you really say this. It's not a joke is it? A financially conscious person shouldn't go near the exhaust fumes of a race car let alone own one. BP

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

Barry, FINALLY, something we can agree on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

Sorry Billy if you agree with it I must be wrong and retrack my post :D

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

How many races did you go to?
$6600 for motel rooms?
I find some of the hotel rewards programs can really add up for complimentary rooms.
My parents used to have a motorhome and literally something would break every week.

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

Every onei know that ownes a mh has it break down alot' my frend jef had a smart steering wheel go ou last year cost him over4k to get it fixed. Jimmy bridges had his genarator nearly fall out of his mh. Heandi went st louis a few years ago and we had to change every filtere on the mh. Thomas baker bought a mh in ala it shut down on the way home. A year later he finally fie at a cost of10k.i like my one ton and trailer

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

My very modest toterhome has been very good for my four years of ownership, but it’s costing me $13k/yr before I do any maintenance or turn the key. That’s an awful lot of motel rooms.

Thankfully that math will improve dramatically in a couple years.

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

After years of towing an enclosed trailer with a pickup and sleeping in my trailer, I bought a small Class C motorhome.
I used it for a year, before the "COVID pause" and sold it last year.

What I found was that it added to the expense of racing, complicated my towing, as I needed a Toad, and was just one more thing to get ready before heading out.
The extra bit of comfort, which it provided, was not worth it.

With everything opening up this year, I am back to my pickup, cot and Coleman stove.

Each to their own though.

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

Don’t forget to do a credit report before you leave for the next race…. Cha Ching!

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

There is no arguing that a motor home or totar home is much more convenient, in that you can just stay at the track once you get there. No having to worry about booking hotel rooms that magically double when NHRA comes to town. But unless you race a lot it can be hard to justify. I would love to go that route but finding one that's good for towing and wheelchair accessible is really hard to find. Unless you can afford a $2-300,000 for a new one.
Back to the original question I am sure if the prices stay as they are. some people will have to skip a race they maybe would have gone too. I am just in the process of getting mine back together. I will probably just stick to some local testing and hope things get better for 2023.

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

One thing I noticed over the last couple years. Is the tracks seem to think everyone has a Motorhome, and has cut way back on Santolets, Nobel had one set up at the staging lanes, they have nice restrooms at the concession areas but thats it, I sleep in my trailer, have a Murphy Bed that converts to a couch, but will say Saturday Morning was 31 degrees and was as good as a cold shower for waking you up.

Randy Wells
I/S 5628

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

Every racer does the best they can to get to the track with what they have available financially. I have had a Diesel pusher with a 2 car trailer and I did not like it. I opted for a stacker with living quarters and a Pick up, it is unique but suits my racing program perfect. Living quarter trailers offer a taste of both sides of the spectrum from pickup truck to Motorhome.

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

We have our first race in the United Kingdom this weekend, current gasoline price is $8.10US per gallon and diesel is currently $8.80US per gallon.

Very glad I only live 35 miles from the track!

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

What is it a friend of mine said? Any where in England is less than 65 miles to the ocean...

I hope to get back over this year, a lot of history to see.

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

In 2012 I wanted a Class a Motorhome to pull my 24 ft enclosed.

One day I am at a tire shop and saw a class A being worked on. It was at that moment I realized I would need more tools to be able to work on one ( bigger floor jack etc. )
I then looked at costs other than the purchase price of the MH.

So, in early 2013 I decided to step back and go with a slide in camper. Plus my dually has the hide-away G.N. hitch under the bed and 5th wheel rails under the camper.

If I need to pull either type of those trailers, I can have the camper off the truck in less than 25 minutes. I can not pull that off with a MH.

It has been good to me so far even tho the dually only gets 8.5 mpg loaded with the 24 footer.
Probably what a large m.h. gets

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...9Q&oe=62621975

Re: Fuel Prices & Car Counts
 

Eventually my plan is to buy a 28 ft enclosed and build the front 8 ft as a living quarter.

It can be classified as a rv travel trailer ( for AAA towing service purposes) if it has certain items inside. I don't remember all the details but I think it has to have at least one window, maybe a commode, and possibly a sink