Drag Racing Online- "Dead-On" Vol. III No. 5

"What effect will $2.50 per gallon unleaded have on racers?"

Well, we have all heard it on the news and read it in the newspapers; unleaded gas is estimated to reach $2.50 per gallon in the Midwest and possibly $3.00 per gallon on the East and West coasts. GOOD GRIEF! We used to be a free market country. Now oil companies and their greed are controlling us. The state I live in is charging about 37 cents per gallon for road use tax, I just wish they would take the millions of dollars they collect and fix some roads instead of buying new trucks and building new roads that they won't take care of. THERE! Now I can get off my "I am sick of the government soap-box."

I am afraid these escalating fuel prices could begin to have a real negative effect on area drag strips. Will the same number of racers still be able to race every week with fuel costs almost doubling since last year? Time will tell, I guess. I love racing, but when it is $150 to $200 to fill the tank on my motor home it is starting to take the fun out of it. I will be planning my racing and try to tow to races that have multiple races on the same weekend or two brackets I can race in on one day. The best way to beat the fuel prices is to race more than once while towing only once. Well, at least that is my version of what my wife calls "racer math."

I also think track operators could help out by taking their top-heavy payouts (like $10,000 winner / $1,500 runner-up / $500 semis) and spreading it out to more racers. Maybe $4,000 winner, $2,000 runner-up, $1,000 semis, $500 quarters, etc. There are dozens of ways to spread it out and I feel it is needed. What do you think?

I have also decided that I am against buy-backs unless they are needed and used to financially help an event that is short on racers due to weather or whatever may have limited participation. I still think if you want two chances, all the track manager has to do is offer a good paying Consolation Race. I must admit if buybacks are offered I will still use them because they are a usually a bargain. Sounds like I am contradicting myself…you are right, I am.

I race for several reasons: one, I really like the friends at the track, the competition and the chance to make some money. Racing is a long ways from cheap and I really like the chance to win back some of what it costs to build a competitive car. Sure, I know the arguments about how racing should always be a hobby and money should not be part of it. Well, to a lot of people it is a business -- not to be confused with making a living, though.

I think bracket racing and so-called "sportsman racing" can be broken down to about five levels. I feel levels are mainly how we view our own operation. Some racers might race a street-driven 4 cylinder rust bucket, but they are serious about the racing. Some racers start drag racing by buying a $50,000 Super Stocker, a $15,000 trailer and a new motor home. They might not take their racing as seriously as the street class guy. Some racers feel that if they had a chance they could compete with the Professional Bracket and Sportsman racers. These guys spend a lot of their disposable income and race hard and race serious.

If I had to break it down into the levels here is how I see it.

1. Level One; strictly a hobby racer; usually races the family car a couple times a month. Just doing it for trophies and to be with friends.

2. Level Two: Still just a hobby. Not too concerned with payouts, but wants low entry fees to keep it affordable. Getting a little better at understanding the ET slips and how races are actually won.

3. Level Three: Usually builds or buys a "race only" drag car. Getting into the aftermarket parts, working on tuning the car, race only parts and is starting to watch the payouts, entry fees and round money. Really starting to work on what is involved to win races.

4. Level Four: Beginning to purchase expensive racecars and parts to enhance consistency and because he considers it more fun to go fast. Starting to watch for races with larger purses and has set up his towing equipment to make longer hauls.

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