Why Aren't You Racing?

[Michael Beard]

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?"

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.