If you could pilot a TF for $10k a race, would you?

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Mike Taylor 3601

There is a lot of things that look easy when you are watching.......
I wouldn't drive a nitro car,even if I had the chance....I have no need or desire to go anywhere near that quick...
I thought it was crazy to get in a nitro car, until I watched T/F Harley from the stands...from water box they are wild, but when I saw them from stands,CRAZY
suicide bombers think T/F Harley riders are crazy..

Agree..Best place to be when those things are on the track is way back in the S/SS pits.

[Mike Schwartz]

Originally Posted by matt82114

Depends. If it's the US Nationals ......... no. Because you're going against cars that cost $20k PER RUN.

But if 18 cars show up then yes, it has a good chance of making the field. And with most fields only having 18 or less cars then we know we have a good shot at qualifying.

The 'show up' money is what makes it feasible for us. $10k to qualify, $7,500 to 17 & 18, $6,500 to 19 & 20.

But we can't operate on that alone. Like your cars, these things run on money. The fuel is about $30 a gallon and we use 1 gallon per 15 seconds at idle. So just a warmup for us is around $200 in fuel alone.

The licensing is what will really set you back. $25k to attempt it and that doesn't come with any guarantees. So it may take 2 separate trips. And you still have to show us and NHRA that you can handle it. A small error turns into a big one with this power and speed ........ but of course you guys already know this.

We're trying to plan for 2021. And I kinda figured there may be a few on this board who just may want to talk more about it. I respect the total crap out of every single one of you. You guys are die hard. I love class racing. And running a St/SS car isn't cheap, especially when you're attending 8 races and chasing points. But with the rigs some of you guys roll in I know enough to know some of you have a few coins to rub together. And some of you have serious contacts or businesses.

So I figured, "What the heck? Why not ask the Stock / Super Stock guys if they're interested?" I thought worse case scenario you tell me to fly a kite. Best case scenario it gets a few guys interested. Because we would only want to attend around 6 races a year. All of which have low car counts simply because we really need that $10k vs $7,500.

And Larry Hill - we can make room for you ;-) And we'd be honored to have Mrs. Patty take photos. But you'd have to bend over a lot for the photos with the little ones!

Any chance that you are with the Haas family, also from TN? Last year Joey Haas did basically the same thing you mention, while driving Terry Totten's car, He qualified 16th out of 19 at Indy-3, and 12th out of 14 at Dallas. He's looking for TF rides again, but in the meantime they've acquired a Nitro Funny car for match racing.

Haas family plans to run its Funny Car in match races, Funny Car Chaos events

[matt82114]

Originally Posted by Mike Schwartz

Any chance that you are with the Haas family, also from TN? Last year Joey Haas did basically the same thing you mention, while driving Terry Totten's car, He qualified 16th out of 19 at Indy-3, and 12th out of 14 at Dallas. He's looking for TF rides again, but in the meantime they've acquired a Nitro Funny car for match racing.

Haas family plans to run its Funny Car in match races, Funny Car Chaos events

I've already spoken to Joey. And it was the US Nationals (Indy 4) that Joey qualified on the bump. He bumped himself in during Q3 Saturday night.

[Lenny5160]

I'd give that serious thought, although having to double it (or more) for licensing would put it out of reach. I completely understand that those prices are very reasonable.