Rising Cost of Racing!!
 

Just received the Bloomington Schedule for 2012. Regular nites still $12 adm, but Kiss is now $20 vs $15 the past few years up 33%. USAC is now $25 vs $20 up 25%. Just checked Fuel 1year ago in Indy. $3.45/g vs avg now $4.04/g up $.60/g or 17%. If you assume a 100 mile trip to the track at 25mpg that means for 1 person attending the KISS race what used to cost $42.60 +food now costs $52.30 + food up 23%.

Those are steep increases given everything else that is going on and the economy. Are costs really up that much or are the purses going up??

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Change the fuel costs,$4.15 a gallon in Indy today.

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Which begs the question of why the inflation is being so under-reported. Food cost are rising astonomically. Look for beef to increase close to 40%, peanut butter +40%, grains and vegatables going up but somehow inflation it being reported as being flat with the exception of fuel.

Well it's a lot less expensive to be a fan going than to be a racer! It is a very tough deal right now for sure! I hope fuel doesn't get any higher, but it doesn't look good and Pit Passes continue to go up too, along with parts for the car!

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This confuses me, The KISS race pays $2500 to win and its $20 to get in...but the Spring Clash race pays $3,000 to win and is $15.

:11:

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Racing has always been and will always be expensive. So what is the news here?

It's way way more expensive than it was even 10 years ago and continues to go up and the payouts and everyone's job wages don't go up enough to compensate!

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I probably won't be going as much as I used to, my pension took a $133.34 hit a month thanks to our Gov here in Mich:7: Wonder how the push truck drivers are feeling???:19:

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Last year I was spending $80 a month to go to and from work on gas. With my company moving farther away from where I live and the gas price increase, I am now spending $250 a month on gas. And no pay raise. I barely could afford going to a couple of races last year. You do the math about how many I make this year.:7:

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Here in the east almost all pit passes have gone from $20 to 25 this year.

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Explains even more seeing the empty seats at Bristol and other "expensive" ticket venues. Like stated in other posts, ticket prices + gas + lodging + food + beer + beer + beer makes it tough to afford. If only the Indianapolis Motor Speedway would put in a high-banked Indiana red clay bullring, that i could walk across the street to see, life would be perfect. At one time we got so spoiled with the new 16th St. Speedway just a few miles down the street, with spectacular racing every Saturday night. We are at a time when choices have to be made, and some racing has to be missed, so my advice, go early in the year and save your off-nights for those 100 degree days of summer (excluding Sprint Weeks).
Not to drop in a shameless plug, but why not, this is just another reason to join HARF (or your local race fan club) and save some money. HARF will offer over 30 money saving nights at local race tracks this year, with most being 50% off and some nights we even offer FREE admission. Take every opportunity you get to save money and still be able to enjoy our favorite sport. hope to see everyone Saturday at the "No Way Out 40, bob:22:

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Certainly not a shameless plug Bob when you are offering the race fans a quality experience like HARF. RacinBabe & I try to hit as many HARF & DARF nights that we can each year. We certainly get our money back plus a lot more by being members. Keep up the good work.

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Not sure on Attica & Fremont, but most of the rest of Ohio (not only sprint tracks) is $30 for pit passes on weekly shows. Not to mention they all want to charge $15-$20 registration fee at the first race-even the ones that have little to no point fund. Some of them might as well just have one hand out for money and the other with a jar of vasoline for you (if they like you) when you roll up to the pit gate...:13:
I know everyone is looking for money, but it seems they really can't see they're cutting their own legs right out from under themselves!

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The cost of racing is going up just like everything else. Back in the day tracks could get their concession help, safety crew, and push truck drivers to work for a sandwich and a drink, just because they wanted to come watch the races. Now you have to pay them to be there. Also the fuel for the water truck and the grader is higher. Insurance, taxes everything keeps going up. If you look at most promoters they have a day time job, and are doing this because of their passion for the sport and really just want to break even. We need to be happy that we have places to race, and Dodge doesn't do more ads using a closed down race track. That ad doesn't do the industry any good! Got to remember this is a hobby for most racers and is suppose to be FUN. When you purchase that 30k bass boat at the end of the day that will buy alot of fish at the store.

Well here in Indiana and Ohio at most Sprint Car races, the Pit passes are $25-$30 for a regular show and more for a big race.

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We all have difficult financial choices. I will choose my 300 mile round trips to Gas City and 200 mile round trips to Waynesfield to view non wing sprint car action. I will economize on less meals out of the home, smaller meal portions, water/not soda, etc. If I give up my racing support, I will turn around and find my racing is no longer available. I know most of you feel the same way. I will see you at the races!
Will Shunk:27:

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Geez pretty soon Danny B will have to cut back to 1 cheeseburger per night :19: :37:

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:5::15: Next thing you know he will start saying he is on a fixed income.:17:

If you didn't lose both of your legs trying to save your kids from a tornado, you have had a great off-season and should be greatful for what you DO have! JMO

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One of the items factored into the Cost of Living Index is the cost of buying a house. Most people don't buy one every year, so it's really misleading to include it. With Real Estate values dropping & houses being a "Big Ticket Item", their inclusion in the CofL Index has pulled the Inflation Rate back from accurately reflecting the true changes in the costs.

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Wow, I wish ours where that inexpensive. Out west they are typically $35 to $40 for weekly and $45 to $50 for bigger shows. I can't remember the last time I paid $25 for pit passes.

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Dang! That's steep!

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I am on a fixed income. The good old USPS, among others, took 6 months to provide a badly needed part of my monthly in come. Finally, it's here.

Life is about choices and perspectives. Some tough choices will need to be made. It may not be as we wish but racing will survive. And I'm glad to be able to do the things I can do.

I'll be leaving here with mixed emotions, but will be glad to be back home again in Indiana come Sunday.

P.S. Whoever is going to Twin Cities this weekend and who has my cell phone number: could you please text me every so often? (Hint to Mud Packer, others)

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Danny, I'd wager mine is fixed lower than yours, whatya bet? Bob!:3:

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I got ya covered, looks like it may only be a 1 day show though(Saturday) if the forecast is correct.

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I my friend am also on a fixed income. My boss fixed mine.:3: Sorry you will miss the big midwest sprint car opener but we will try to keep you in the know. John will probably do a much better job since this old man isn't much of a texter.:19: We will keep warm thoughts while you bask in the wonderful weather of the southeast. Be safe and we will catch you the first weekend in April.

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With the gas prices projected to be so high this summer, my plans for Saturday nights are probably going to change. Putnamville and Paragon are both 2 hours from my house. Clay County in Flora is only 40 minutes. I might end up going to Flora to save a bunch on gas. The ticket prices ($5) are pretty low too.

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They got the final grade on Plymouth's bullring. I am going to love this Open wheel racing in Northern Indiana on Saturday nights. 20 min. west of Warsaw. Just heard Dave Darland and Jeff Walker are going to be at the first show May 5th. Wonder if Levi Jones and TSR will be there, since Eric Saunders rode motocross for Smoke.. They have Open practice on the asphalt with free grandstand admission on Sunday from 1pm to 5pm. Good time to check out the Bullring!!

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I wonder how much the 3.88 gas and $25.00 ticket affected Gas City's attendance vs. cold weather Friday night. By far the smallest USAC crowd at Gas City in a long time. I am torn about higher ticket prices, I like more is going to teams but, couple that with travel and food expense it makes it tougher to go to these (USAC) races. I am 'lucky" enough to live in Indiana and can go to Kokomo,Gas City on a weekly and see most of the same show as a USAC. I know we have arranged our schedule, less USAC more (cheaper) weeklys....

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If you want to save money, I notice that Paragon is having a "Fill the Hill" promotion this week. $10 to get in. Now there is a promoter who is addressing the topic of this thread.

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You could always shop around and get the most for your money.
Local shows- 80% same guys-general adm. 50% less

Eldora USAC Sprints was $18, upcoming WOO $25 (and they race for 300% more)

Winchester has a MSR and a $60,000 purse with double features coming up for the same $25.

OR/ fill the stands for $25 and with any luck at all, next year it could be $30. There is a HUGE payroll for some organizations that has to be made!!!

If the WOO can pay $80,000 and the MSR can pay $60,000 , bothwith $25 adm., well, things that make you go HUUMM!

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Something I haven't seen mentioned is the purses. With the front gate going up 25-33%, how much have the purses gone up?

I feel the pain. My round-trip airfare to IND has risen from about $250 to $450 in 2 years. And, I'm all out of miles saved from my traveling days. :-)

I haven't even looked at how much car rentals have risen.

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Car rentals are the one thing that hasn't gone up in the last 20+ years.

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I was thinking the same thing. Here in Az. it is usually $30 to $35 for a pit pass for a regular show. Last Saturday nights ASCS show at Canyon the teams also had to pay $20 for the pill draw. Needless to say I find myself paying $13 senior general admission prices and going in the stands alot more than ever before. Might have something to do with loosing $500 a month of my income starting last Augiust. We all do whatever we can to still support the sport we all love and make the adjustmemts we have to make in todays economy.

Patti

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Fuel costs have gone up, so has the ticket prices. One big issueis people just flat out aren't coming to the track as much anymore. So when you have attendance that's down, you have to raise ticket prices to get some of that revenue back. In a perfect world, you would lower the prices to encourage people to show up, but by the same token, you take a bigger risk that those people aren't going to show. Without the fans showing up, you can't pay the purses.

But truthfully, the one thing nobody has talked about... insurance. I know what I was quoted 5 years ago, and I haven't quoted since then, but I've got a very good feeling it's gone way up. that's one thing that people don't often think about.

I can only speak for the racing that we do, but for us last year, on average, our fuel cost increase was only about 15 bucks per race, which our farthest track away was about 2 hours with a Ford truck and a 28 foot tag trailer.

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Just finished motel reservations for ISW. Most are fine, but same motel in Haubstadt up from $90 to $127. Same room, same place-go figure.

Look at the awesome crowds Clay County is getting for $5 a head! They are doing something right!

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Pit passes at Perris are $45.00 for Usac members and $50.00 for non members,It's $25.00 for general admission and $8.00 to park for the fans and these prices are just for a regular show.

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I had a strange thing happen to me, going to Greensburg Sunday, I watched the fuel gauge all the way up there, and it just kept getting closer to the big E on the left side of the gauge, then on the way home, after racing, instead of going down more, it started going back toward the F on the right side, as I got closer to home, I was afraid I was going to have to stop, and put some of it in a fuel jug, so it wouldn't run over, and cause a slick place on the highway! I also have some ocean front property in Glendale, Az for sale, any takers? I can't imagine, how much money you would have to make, to actually live in California, from some of the stories I've heard on renting, or owning a home, it's so hi you can see under it! Bob!:)

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This is one of the reason I am not pushing in Florida next year. Gas, motel room and some of the track give push trucks NOTHING.......Indiana promoters know how to treat their push trucks.