Racing, NHRA/IHRA, and the Economy: I got questions

[cutta]

Okay, so many people have complained about the deficiencies in both racing organizations but recently had an interesting thought that maybe some of the cause of those issues. Now this happens to fall outside the realm of governing and more along the lines of pure economics. So I've read on here how many individuals including my father were able to race at a time were winning your gas money or leaving the track with a profit was very common. I got to thinking about no increases in payouts, and steady increases in fees, just the general pull and tug of benefits, costs, and profits, when insurance costs popped in my mind. The extent to which insurance legalities extend is pretty massive compared to the 50's and 60's. So now I'm thinking about true evaluations of then vs. now in relation to that. Some of you know this and some of you do not, but when comparing two time periods, you must adjust for inflation to bring the past values to current values or bringing current values to the past.
I would like to see a costs to costs comparison of the insurance costs that NHRA/IHRA must pay now vs. then to see:
How extensive of an effect has this been financially to the NHRA/IHRA in trying to offer more benefits to the racer?
I would not be surprised at all to find todays costs multiples and multiples higher than then.

Rarely do we as racers ever attempt( or at least from what I've seen and heard) to establish how much money the organization has to spend in order to do what they do per event. Is it a losing battle?

Add, lack of sponsors, increased racing costs outside of racing fees(fuel, engines, trailers, travel, etc), and lack of racers due to the economy to the mix and you've got what seems to be a pretty sad situation. Anyway, it just happened to be something I was thinking about and thought I would add it to the forum for some convo. This was more so a deep thought pondering moment than a wishing death on racing moment so don't be alarmed, I'm as optimistic as they come.

PS: If anyone has the expertise to this analysis, please share.

[pauldilcher]

It is real easy , everything in your racing world and everything in your everyday life is 9 or 10 times more expensive than 1971 . Except the payout .

[Terry Cain]

Originally Posted by pauldilcher

It is real easy , everything in your racing world and everything in your everyday life is 9 or 10 times more expensive than 1971 . Except the payout .

I'll drink to that!

[Steve Calabro]

Also compare the salaries of the "Board Members"! LOL

[Glenn Briglio]

Very simple, I won two national events in mid 80's. Wow long time ago LOL. Anyway the payout is the same, considering Nhra and contigency. I was able to run my racing as a business back then and show a profit. Ain't happening today with current payouts.

[cutta]

I think looking at all of the aspects you guys mentioned in an accurate manner would yield/some light on the situation as a hold and also justify or change people's perspective on the matter.

[JOE ZOOM]

I'm not that smart but spending 1500.00 to win 1200.00 just doesn't sound right.............
Joe Mocci

[Mike Carr]

I don't know about the insurance aspect--someone more knowledgable than me will have to chime in here.

Talked to the Linke family at Hagerstown in April 2011. When Russ (Sr) was R/U at the Virginia Nat'l Event in the mid 2000's, he won $11K and change. When Bubba Won the 2011 Gators, it was worth $13K and change (racers used to win 18-19K less than ten years before that).

A class win, for some, paid $1,500 (or more; Russ Sr said he once won $1,700) in the late 90's/early 2000's. Now, other than Indy and the three SPORTS races, it pays a trophy.

2002 (my first year of racing quite a bit in Stock); NHRA LODRS Race. Entry: $125. 4th round loser: $175. WIn your entry, plus $50. Not a lot, but paid for a good bit of the gas for the trip, or one nights hotel. Now, 2012: Entry: $170. 4th round: $150. A net 70 (seventy) dollar loss (pay $45 more to win $25 less). IHRA that same year, $100 entry, 4th round $160. Now, $135 entry, 4th round $125 (net seventy-five dollar loss). A friend was R/U at Maple Grove DIvision 1 LODRS race in 2010. Said he won "$400 and 'some sticker money' ". For some of us, we could make the final, and not break even for the weekend. Seems a little (a lot) wrong with that, don't you think? Yes, we don't do this for the money, I know. But still, a small return on the investment (close to, or more than, a thousand dollars per weekend to run an NHRA/IHRA race for me, with gas, tolls, motel, entry, etc) should be expected for more than one person in that 105 car field, don't you think?

I used to love this sport (and still do in many ways). And, at age thirty-three, no, I am not some 'grumpy old man that wants to go back to the goold old days'. But with year after year of enhancements, fun going down, costs and BS going up, I finally realized in 2007 that I didn't enjoy it anymore, certainly not enough to justify laying a thouand dollars out everytime I wanted to go race. Doing what I do now (promoting/putting on the Tri-State S/SS Association races and announcing at my local track) allows me to stay involved in the sport, have just as much fun, and at a lot better cost-to-fun ratio.

[Bob Bender]

Originally Posted by pauldilcher

it is real easy , everything in your racing world and everything in your everyday life is 9 or 10 times more expensive than 1971 . Except the payout .

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