Tech Card Fee,....Lane/Payout Fee

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by 7423

Do you happen to know how many thousands and thousands of dollars the track has to pay NHRA for the privilege of having the divisional race? How many entry fees does it take to make them whole again?

No, I don't know ,Charlie.I don't keep up with it .I just know it is a significant percentage.

A former Midwestern 600 car LODRS track operator told me, after giving up the points meets, that it wasn't worth the effort, after the two week long prep work for one time per season increased car count.
He told me that, after a good Friday night T&T session, a Saturday Team race, and then a Sunday specialty event, he would come within about $500 of what he would clear after a Divisional, with nowhere near all the extra work.

[Mark Yacavone]

I may have not made myself clear earlier.
First of all, I understand the heavy NHRA clip off the top for the privilege of one of their Divisional races.

Also , I 'm not even suggesting that you should have to pay twice when entering the race.
All I'm saying is if we knew what percentage of entry went towards the payout, then we could "suggest" how it could be dispersed more fairly.

[cmracing]

The track does not set the Tech Card price, nor do they decide on the payout structure......... NHRA does that.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by cmracing

The track does not set the Tech Card price, nor do they decide on the payout structure......... NHRA does that.

"The track does not set the Tech Card price"
We've already determined that.

"nor do they decide on the payout structure"
Why does the payout vary between track within the same division?

Thanks for your comments
Oh, and you speak from what authority, Mr. cm ?

[cmracing]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

"The track does not set the Tech Card price"
We've already determined that.

"nor do they decide on the payout structure"
Why does the payout vary between track within the same division?

Thanks for your comments
Oh, and you speak from what authority, Mr. cm ?

I have my inside info.........

I will have to see what I can dig-up regarding the varying payouts within the same division.....

We had roughly 510 competitors on hand at this past weekends Div 1 event at E-Town, all at $170 a pop.

The Index Classes are not included in that number, and they only paid $50 for a tech card (at least the 11.50 and 10.00 peeps), the 8.50 racers may have paid their "normal" $100 fee. Anyway, their payout was based on tech cards sold for their classes, which was dismal.........

Racers are certainly not here to chase the $$$$. Well, at least not into their pockets, maybe chasing it OUT of their pockets! I know, I had two cars entered and drove a third! Glutton for punishment!

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by cmracing

I have my inside info.........

I will have to see what I can dig-up regarding the varying payouts within the same division.....

We had roughly 510 competitors on hand at this past weekends Div 1 event at E-Town, all at $170 a pop.

The Index Classes are not included in that number, and they only paid $50 for a tech card (at least the 11.50 and 10.00 peeps), the 8.50 racers may have paid their "normal" $100 fee. Anyway, their payout was based on tech cards sold for their classes, which was dismal.........

Racers are certainly not here to chase the $$$$. Well, at least not into their pockets, maybe chasing it OUT of their pockets! I know, I had two cars entered and drove a third! Glutton for punishment!

Thanks for your comments.

The LODRS fee in Div . 7 is $165, agreed upon by the participating tracks.

[Jeff Stout]

Im speaking from memory, but I think a divisional 10 years ago was $13.5k to have it and after 500 cars NHRA received a certain percentage of that entry. I think entry was $145 then. So the first 94 cars paid the amount required to NHRA. So the other 406 cars paid $58870.00 This is without crew or spectator fees and concessions collected.

[Greenlight]

Then and now
.................................................. .................................................. ...............................
September 2016 - E-town Division Race

510 tech card and at least one additional person per tech card (on average)

(510*170) + (510*55) = $114,750

Number of spectators at $10 Friday,$20 Saturday, $20 Sunday.

(12 *10) + (50* 20) + (50 * 20) = $2120

Total number of drag dogs and t-shirts sales dollars (profit) $2000

Total Weekend Payout = $22,000
Total Advertising Cost = $500

Total income minus advertising and payout = $96,370
*Then subtract NHRA's cut ($50,000), manpower($20,000), insurance ($5000), overhead($10,000),.......

Track owner's cut = $21,370
.................................................. .................................................. ................................
September 1980 - E-town Division Race

(500 * 60) + (500 * 25) = $42,500

(1000 * 10) + (3000 * 12) + (3000 * 12) = $82,000

Total number of drag dogs and t-shirts sales dollars (profit) $20,000

Total Weekend Payout = $22,000
Total Advertising Cost = $10,000

Total income minus advertising and payout = $112,500
*Then subtract NHRA's cut ($25,000), manpower($10,000), insurance ($3000), overhead($5,000),.......

Track Owner's cut = $69,500
.................................................. .................................................. .......................................

Of course many of the values are estimates, but I think a little advertising goes a long way. I never see ads any more for Division or National Events.

[BKSG1198]

Originally Posted by Greenlight

Then and now
.................................................. .................................................. ...............................
September 2016 - E-town Division Race

510 tech card and at least one additional person per tech card (on average)

(510*170) + (510*55) = $114,750

Number of spectators at $10 Friday,$20 Saturday, $20 Sunday.

(12 *10) + (50* 20) + (50 * 20) = $2120

Total number of drag dogs and t-shirts sales dollars (profit) $2000

Total Weekend Payout = $22,000
Total Advertising Cost = $500

Total income minus advertising and payout = $96,370
*Then subtract NHRA's cut ($50,000), manpower($20,000), insurance ($5000), overhead($10,000),.......

Track owner's cut = $21,370
.................................................. .................................................. ................................
September 1980 - E-town Division Race

(500 * 60) + (500 * 25) = $42,500

(1000 * 10) + (3000 * 12) + (3000 * 12) = $82,000

Total number of drag dogs and t-shirts sales dollars (profit) $20,000

Total Weekend Payout = $22,000
Total Advertising Cost = $10,000

Total income minus advertising and payout = $112,500
*Then subtract NHRA's cut ($25,000), manpower($10,000), insurance ($3000), overhead($5,000),.......

Track Owner's cut = $69,500
.................................................. .................................................. .......................................

Of course many of the values are estimates, but I think a little advertising goes a long way. I never see ads any more for Division or National Events.

The sad part is what the track took home doesn't even pay for 1/4 of the taxes they pay per month. Like I said when you have politicians who are not making a dime off the track and are not "car guys" they will do everything and anything to make it so high that they can't do improvements and put the place out of business so they can build the next big shopping mall or business park or housing development.

[BKSG1198]

Well, Jim Wahl was told by IHRA that they need to have 130 cars at a IHRA Pro-Am to break even so I would assume a NHRA event is a little more and depending on if they have TAFC or TAD at those events because of insurance fees.

Let's face it, people including myself have tried the big time, high dollar payout for sportsman racers and it just doesn't work. Ask Myself, Lee Zane, Mike Beard, Dave Ley, you can put $20,000 up to win and people still won't come because a Wally is not up for grabs even when there is no races within 300 miles of your race. Promoters have even put events a day before Divisional is supposed to be run and can't draw people even while they are parked for the Divisional race.

The payouts do need an overhaul but, what can you do besides beat a dead horse that is already dead.