Making a profit in drag racing ???? - Page 8

cicero819 · 09-19-2010, 10:35 PM

I also only care for door cars. Mr Nees which type of dime car would you suggest. I know that my Oldsmobile Eighty Eight with 3800 v6 can run the quarter all day at 8:25 et in the eight. are these the future gems of stock eliminator. Thanks

Billy Nees · 09-20-2010, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cicero819

I also only care for door cars. Mr Nees which type of dime car would you suggest. I know that my Oldsmobile Eighty Eight with 3800 v6 can run the quarter all day at 8:25 et in the eight. are these the future gems of stock eliminator. Thanks

I have no idea why you are asking my father for an answer to this question! He doesn't race and hasn't even got a computer. Is it OK if I try and answer it?
Tom Kasch and Marion Stevenson have done well with the same type of car that you have. Do you mind getting your hands dirty? Are you creative? Are you a good scrounge? Will you take the time to watch the weather and wind? If you answered yes to these questions then you might do OK with this car. If not, buy a CJ or DP. You can probably get a good deal on an old A,B,C,D, Six Pack, 428 CJ or BB Camaro about now though.

Marvin Robinson · 09-20-2010, 02:23 PM

My two cents worth...

In the mid 70's quit racing for two years when I got married, and finally convinced my wife that my racing could pay for itself. It took (and still takes) a strategy to break even or earn a profit. Mine was to get rid of the BBC/4-speed combo, and go to a Z-28/SBC auto setup with electronic ignition, shift kit, headers and fuel pump and go bracket racing in 1975 - raced various cars with similar setups till my kids started College in the early 90's.

Long story short, made over 18K in 5 years, racing the car that was my daily driver, and listed racing as a business, and ran it that way to satisfy the IRS. Between deductions and winnings (which WERE more than my expenses). I made a profit 4 out of 5 years, and helped save for a down payment on a house. It takes a lot of winning, and extreme focus, but I managed both of those. It helped a lot to have an active bracket program less than 30min from home so 2-3 nights a week you could race for 200 dollars to win with a 25 - 35.00 entry fee in the 12 flat and slower brackets, run "King of the Mountain" races and race for 400+ when they ran them. No tow vehicle, trailer expenses, camping at the track and minimal maintenance put most of the winnings in my pocket.

5-6 big money races a year gave a chance to win 1000 or more, at tracks less than 3 hours travel. (Byron, Union Grove, Martin, US 30, etc.)

Having said all that, the sport has moved to a point where this is much more expensive and harder to do today, but I think a really good racer could keep from going broke, and maybe pick up a sponsor after enough winning was done, to compete at a higher level.

Gary Smith · 09-20-2010, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Kelley

That sounds like a a racer from the LA area back in the old days. A guy by the name of Phil Cameron, he had a header outfit called Overseer Headers. He raced a lot with a pickup,camper & open trailer ! Every car he raced had a For Sale sign on it the first time he took it to the track. He was a regular at OCIR,Irwindale, Ontario and Famoso.
He was a FRUGAL racer for sure ! :-)
I believe he had some half brothers that raced also,seems like one was Brian Pierson.
I can't remember the others name right now.

Yep, and I remember his living conditions were under budget too...lived with Jim "Clean" Martin for a couple years, at least what I remember when I lived in Long Beach

cicero819 · 09-21-2010, 03:20 PM

Billy (please allow me to use your Christian name) I made a small mistake in describing my Olds et it was 10:25 memory isn't what it was once. I see where you're going and yes scrounging has become a great passion of mine in these tough economic times. These front wheel drive can be built and run with consistency once dial in properly. I know of Steve Taylor and his wife exploits with their stock Cavalier that are legendary on winning big dollar races against box or no box races. Claude

Michael Beard · 09-21-2010, 03:41 PM

Steve passed away a couple of years ago, but is certainly not forgotten. His wife Brenda still races one or two of their Cavaliers, and she killed me with her street Camaro early in the year at Roxboro. LOL Steve Stites, co-promoter of the World Footbrake Challenge has carried on the mantle, still racing a number of Cavaliers, at least one of which used to be Steve Taylor's. Stites has won a $20K at Piedmont and a $10K at Motor Mile, in addition to a ton of smaller bracket races.

I was going to put Stites in my Turismo to run the NHRA circuit after he won his *second* NHRA Bracket Finals, but he backed out after NHRA in their infinite wisdom failed to set the hook by noting his Gold Card would not be honored at national or divisional races.

JSLRacing · 09-21-2010, 03:58 PM

WOW.. I need to someone to let me drive their car in a series.. LOL

cicero819 · 09-21-2010, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

Steve passed away a couple of years ago, but is certainly not forgotten. His wife Brenda still races one or two of their Cavaliers, and she killed me with her street Camaro early in the year at Roxboro. LOL Steve Stites, co-promoter of the World Footbrake Challenge has carried on the mantle, still racing a number of Cavaliers, at least one of which used to be Steve Taylor's. Stites has won a $20K at Piedmont and a $10K at Motor Mile, in addition to a ton of smaller bracket races.

I was going to put Stites in my Turismo to run the NHRA circuit after he won his *second* NHRA Bracket Finals, but he backed out after NHRA in their infinite wisdom failed to set the hook by noting his Gold Card would not be honored at national or divisional races.

Sorry to hear about Steve Taylor, really nice guy when I met him last, ten years ago. Since I'm retiring I should think of moving south to attend these races. Micheal I came across one of your first blog or internet sites about building your first Car with the help of Billy Nees. Very informative. Claude

X-TECH MAN · 09-21-2010, 05:07 PM

How many remember Steve Taylor running an A/S 396 66 or 67 Chevelle back in the early 70's?

09-19-2010, 10:35 PM	#71
cicero819 VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Aylmer Quebec, Canada Posts: 1,086 Likes: 31 Liked 69 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Making a profit in drag racing ???? I also only care for door cars. Mr Nees which type of dime car would you suggest. I know that my Oldsmobile Eighty Eight with 3800 v6 can run the quarter all day at 8:25 et in the eight. are these the future gems of stock eliminator. Thanks

09-20-2010, 02:23 PM	#73
Marvin Robinson Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Gary, IN Posts: 139 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Making a profit in drag racing ???? My two cents worth... In the mid 70's quit racing for two years when I got married, and finally convinced my wife that my racing could pay for itself. It took (and still takes) a strategy to break even or earn a profit. Mine was to get rid of the BBC/4-speed combo, and go to a Z-28/SBC auto setup with electronic ignition, shift kit, headers and fuel pump and go bracket racing in 1975 - raced various cars with similar setups till my kids started College in the early 90's. Long story short, made over 18K in 5 years, racing the car that was my daily driver, and listed racing as a business, and ran it that way to satisfy the IRS. Between deductions and winnings (which WERE more than my expenses). I made a profit 4 out of 5 years, and helped save for a down payment on a house. It takes a lot of winning, and extreme focus, but I managed both of those. It helped a lot to have an active bracket program less than 30min from home so 2-3 nights a week you could race for 200 dollars to win with a 25 - 35.00 entry fee in the 12 flat and slower brackets, run "King of the Mountain" races and race for 400+ when they ran them. No tow vehicle, trailer expenses, camping at the track and minimal maintenance put most of the winnings in my pocket. 5-6 big money races a year gave a chance to win 1000 or more, at tracks less than 3 hours travel. (Byron, Union Grove, Martin, US 30, etc.) Having said all that, the sport has moved to a point where this is much more expensive and harder to do today, but I think a really good racer could keep from going broke, and maybe pick up a sponsor after enough winning was done, to compete at a higher level. __________________ Marvin Robinson 3188 STK/SS Last edited by Marvin Robinson; 09-20-2010 at 02:27 PM.

09-21-2010, 03:20 PM	#75
cicero819 VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Aylmer Quebec, Canada Posts: 1,086 Likes: 31 Liked 69 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Making a profit in drag racing ???? Billy (please allow me to use your Christian name) I made a small mistake in describing my Olds et it was 10:25 memory isn't what it was once. I see where you're going and yes scrounging has become a great passion of mine in these tough economic times. These front wheel drive can be built and run with consistency once dial in properly. I know of Steve Taylor and his wife exploits with their stock Cavalier that are legendary on winning big dollar races against box or no box races. Claude

09-21-2010, 03:41 PM	#76
Michael Beard VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 4,060 Likes: 0 Liked 13 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Making a profit in drag racing ???? Steve passed away a couple of years ago, but is certainly not forgotten. His wife Brenda still races one or two of their Cavaliers, and she killed me with her street Camaro early in the year at Roxboro. LOL Steve Stites, co-promoter of the World Footbrake Challenge has carried on the mantle, still racing a number of Cavaliers, at least one of which used to be Steve Taylor's. Stites has won a $20K at Piedmont and a $10K at Motor Mile, in addition to a ton of smaller bracket races. I was going to put Stites in my Turismo to run the NHRA circuit after he won his second NHRA Bracket Finals, but he backed out after NHRA in their infinite wisdom failed to set the hook by noting his Gold Card would not be honored at national or divisional races. __________________ Michael Beard - NHRA/IHRA 3216 S/SS

09-21-2010, 03:58 PM	#77
JSLRacing Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bothwell,ON Posts: 131 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Making a profit in drag racing ???? WOW.. I need to someone to let me drive their car in a series.. LOL __________________ Jason Goldsack - 1997 Track Champion - St. Thomas Dragway 1997 Race of Champions Winner - Indianapolis, IN Div. 3 finals

09-21-2010, 05:07 PM	#79
X-TECH MAN Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Lake Placid, Florida Posts: 3,203 Likes: 1,047 Liked 235 Times in 110 Posts	Re: Making a profit in drag racing ???? How many remember Steve Taylor running an A/S 396 66 or 67 Chevelle back in the early 70's? Last edited by X-TECH MAN; 09-21-2010 at 05:55 PM.