Think I might pack it in

F

FlFlash

Guest
We've ran four races in our series so far this year qualified in the top 4 all four races but havent managed a finish better than 8th.....and we're only averaging 14 cars a race. I've been stretching the budget so tight it hurts, we havent been running all the weekly races and haven't been traveling to other tracks, the payouts have dropped the past few years due to low car counts and I just can't afford to travel. Fuel and Insurance cost for the hauler are killing me! The series changed the tire impound rules this year to where now if you want to qualify up front you better have a set of stickers each race. I don't have deep pockets and I don't have a big sponsor just partial tire and minor engine deals, my personal business Is The sponsor and times are tight there too.

Last night might have been the last straw. The car has been great all year, we had a fresh engine in for this race and my new driver has been showing improvement so....I killed the budget, put four new tires on for qualifying made a few extra tweeks on the car then sent it out. After my driver qualified 2nd he started telling me about how he was'nt getting enough money to drive and wants a higher percentage and how I was making all the money. This is his first year in a LM he was running Pro Trucks last year, he's a good kid decent driver willing to learn and smart but I can't do more than his current 30%.
He quit at the payout window running his mouth and making me look and feel like crap in front of people I've known since I was a kid. I would'nt put him back in for nothing now, Done with him.

Our next series race isn't till June 16th, I have No Idea what I'm going to do. Local racing sucks anymore.
 
I understand totally. A friend I work with owns two modifieds and he tells me what it cost to run. They don't have a regular driver so far this season, but he's had plenty drivers asking. BTW, one of his former drivers is Bobby Hutchens, perhaps you have heard of him. Anyway, last years regular driver took the entire monies given at the end of the season and wouldn't give the owners a red cent. Needless to say, he isn't driving for Andy anymore. Speaking of tires and cost, Bowman Gray Stadium require all modifieds to purchase new tires for a racing night (sometimes there are twin races so they aren't required to buy two sets). The cost of a set of tires is $600 but they will give you back $50 for the exchange the following week. Andy's father tells him that he wants that $50 back to he insists on making the race the next week. Without knowing if they will race or not, Andy tells me that is crazy. First you buys a new set of tires, ($600), then fuel ($300) and entrance fee ($20), a total of $920 just to get back $50. I think Andy is right, his father is nuts.
 
Makes our budget look tiny.

55 gallon drum of methanol lasts about 35 runs, about 4 races. Costs $148. Burn a quart of race gas per day @ 10.00 per gallon for the injector primers

Tires were free, just put new ones on, they last 200 runs, $668 per pair

Entries are $175 per race

Hauler gas is about $50 per race to denton and $15 to kennedale

Food ~$25 per race, bring our own

Basically costs us $215-250 to show up, then $10.07 per run.
 
From memory
pit pass driver, 2 "owners" and 4 crew $20 each =$140
2 tires $190
fuel $60 +
Tow truck gas, ice, kid friendly beverages, subway sammiches, manditory after race "breakfast" at IHOP, Denny's, or Bickfords $130+
total $520+,,every Saturday for 24 weeks barring rain outs or busted up car. Call it 20 weeks just for giggles $10,400.
Throw in a few open races at nearby tracks away from home track with added costs of entry fees, motel rooms, etc.
Don't forget the World Series at New Smyrna and associated costs including adult beverages and nekkid lady dancing establishments,,,:)
All the above doesn't include the original cost of building and then maintaining the car. Or the $180 na$car license and $90 car registration.
No wonder I see a lot of former owners/drivers in the stands with me drinking 5 buck beers. Hellofalot cheaper.:cheers:
 
Good news, an old freind contacted me this morning about putting his driver in my car for the rest of this years series races and the weekly races that don't conflict with their schedule. Young man is coming by this evening to talk.
 
Good deal. When Steve came to the garage to talk about driving for us his first question was "You guys got a SawZall?":eek:

Best guy ever, showed up on time, would come over during the week to work on it with us, paid for his own lunch. I can't say enough good about him and he was a smart driver too. He had to quit driving due to a health issue with his kidneys. Damm shame.
 
FlFlash said:
He quit at the payout window running his mouth and making me look and feel like crap in front of people I've known since I was a kid. I would'nt put him back in for nothing now, Done with him.
Click to expand...

That really sucks Flash. Take a step back and figure out whether you want to commit more of time and money......especially when you have racer piloting your car who isn't as committed as you.
Good luck mate.
 
The kid obviously isn't too smart. To have a ride that by the sounds of it is pretty competitive and getting 30% on top of that I wouldn't complain about nothing. I see you're in Florida, you running the UPM series?
 
No I run pavement, my New driver however has been running the UMP Modifieds around the southeast the past few years. We had a good long talk last night, showed him around the shop and trial fit him in the LM ( he was really eyeballing my midget in the corner ) Race car drivers used to have barrel chest and arms of Iron my new driver is 5'6" and 160lbs, I have to order more ballast :laugh: other than that I was very impressed. He has a good technical mind and new exactly what he was looking at even had a few surprising questions about the chassis and suspension on the car.
I'm lining up at test session at Auburndale so well see how it works out but right now I'm pretty positive.

My X-driver will be running a Pro-Truck at New Symrna this weekend, he called me earlier to ask if he could bring it by for me to scale and look over.
 
FlFlash said:
No I run pavement, my New driver however has been running the UMP Modifieds around the southeast the past few years. We had a good long talk last night, showed him around the shop and trial fit him in the LM ( he was really eyeballing my midget in the corner ) Race car drivers used to have barrel chest and arms of Iron my new driver is 5'6" and 160lbs, I have to order more ballast :laugh: other than that I was very impressed. He has a good technical mind and new exactly what he was looking at even had a few surprising questions about the chassis and suspension on the car.
I'm lining up at test session at Auburndale so well see how it works out but right now I'm pretty positive.

My X-driver will be running a Pro-Truck at New Symrna this weekend, he called me earlier to ask if he could bring it by for me to scale and look over.
Click to expand...

I was talking about the United Promoter Series.(I believe that's what it is called) Is there another racing surface other than asphalt? Lol. I used to love Auburndale, they've really suffered with the car counts there the last couple times I was there. New Symrna is still a great track. Wish we could get our short track racing back to what it was. They used to pay good and there was plenty of big dollar races throughout the year.
 
Yeah the new driver is a Dirt guy looking to get some asphalt experiance :laugh: so I have dirt on my mind. We're running the Bright House series events and local races at New Symrna and Orlando Speedworld.
As far as the Florida "United" Promotors events, we ran some races last year and one this year but the politics are breaking that deal up quickly, neither New Symrna or Orlando are in the series anymore. What was statewide last year with a bunch of tracks has pretty much turned into a 3 track series at Inverness, Desoto and Auburndale with less than 20 cars showing up for "Big Events" they are not paying much more than a weekly race.
We'll probably run the summer race at Auburndale it's a fun track and not to far down I-4, I used to run Inverness when I was driving but Inverness and Desoto are a long haul across the state and the moneys just not being paid out to make it work.
 
What about the dirt at Volusia (sp?) One track is paved too IIRC.
 
FlFlash said:
No I run pavement, my New driver however has been running the UMP Modifieds around the southeast the past few years. We had a good long talk last night, showed him around the shop and trial fit him in the LM ( he was really eyeballing my midget in the corner ) Race car drivers used to have barrel chest and arms of Iron my new driver is 5'6" and 160lbs, I have to order more ballast :laugh: other than that I was very impressed. He has a good technical mind and new exactly what he was looking at even had a few surprising questions about the chassis and suspension on the car.
I'm lining up at test session at Auburndale so well see how it works out but right now I'm pretty positive.

My X-driver will be running a Pro-Truck at New Symrna this weekend, he called me earlier to ask if he could bring it by for me to scale and look over.
Click to expand...
You tell the Ex that stuff costs money?
 
SST55 said:
What about the dirt at Volusia (sp?) One track is paved too IIRC.
Click to expand...

They've paved and unpaved and dirted Volusia so many times over the years I have to stop and think which track is which anymore :laugh: The Big track/Original track is currently dirt ( actually it's clay on top of asphalt ) and the 3/8 mile track is paved, they have'nt raced anything on the asphalt track for awhile but they do have a nice go-kart track in the infeild. If it was'nt for the money they make during Dirt Speedweeks I'm afraid Volusia would have shut the doors by now, I'm not positive but I think their only running once or twice a month now? The Ocala dirt track took over Saturday night dirt racing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom