Recession going to affect how often you race next year?
#171441
12/20/08 02:20 PM
12/20/08 02:20 PM
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,301 Penna
70satelliteguy
OP
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OP
pro stock
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,301
Penna
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I am just refreshing my motor for next season and with all of problems in NHRA with sponsors pulling the plug it got me thinking if it would affect the local racing scene at all? I don't have a sponsor because we basically just race on fridays in street legal events for fun. My job is also stable(Public health related) so I am not too worried about being able to afford it but there are a lot of layoffs in other areas that kinda worry me. Are any of you guy's going to be forced to cut back!!! Mike
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Re: Recession going to affect how often you race next year?
[Re: 70satelliteguy]
#171443
12/20/08 02:39 PM
12/20/08 02:39 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,876 Weddington, N.C.
Streetwize
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Weddington, N.C.
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I hope to actually do more racing, my time is freed up but with a stock block 360 it'll be a real low buck , low maintenance high fun factor car....I can't see how guys dump more and more into cars every year when the fields are tightening and purses potentially dropping. For every guy laid-off this year there are probably 10 people who make good salaries but are either tightening their belts (prioritzing on essentials and "putting up nuts for winter" or they are justifyably worried about the next shoe to drop. The real 800 pound gorilla in the economy is that "fact of Business" there are way too high a percentage of people in the USA employed in non-essential goods and service industries (compared to generations past). Many more jobs are more vulnerable than people realize. If it effects racing i think what will happen is you will see people moving to more basic, less exotic combos that they can get al ot more laps out of with less maintenence.....many of the high end exotic "must have" parts are already turning up in droves on the used parts lists....A lot of these guys are in peak earning years and more and more are thinking about retiring in the not too distant future...and the younger guys financing everything on credit cards are getting pinched too....now most of these guys won't get out of racing but they might settle for say a reliable low maintenence 10.90 car instead of trying to throw $$$ after $$$$ trying to go 9.90 or 10 flat....when you're bracket racing there's really not much more payback going faster past a certain point and if you factor in the costs and the hit you take trying to sell the high end stuff the exrtra cost doesn't justify the extra outlay to many people...the hobby gets a little more fun but A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE...at least that's what it looks like to me to me. There's a lot of scary stuff going on....of course you know there is still a RISING WORLD Demand for Petroleum.....did you know that companies like Royal dutch are BUILDING STORAGE FACILIES to stockpile as much of this 32/barrel oil as they can???? Think about that amoment...what does that tell you? Even with the recession demand continues to go up based on population growth alone.....the PERFECT STORM is when all the stimulus eventually takes hold tro drive the economy forward and then gas prices inevitably SPIKE again.....buy oil stocks while thety are out of favor....even with trillions of dollars of stimulus it will take at least 8-10 years before alternative fuel technologies would make a significant dent in the rising Fossil fuel demand.
Last edited by Streetwize; 12/20/08 02:42 PM.
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Post deleted by Defbob
[Re: Streetwize]
#171444
12/20/08 02:48 PM
12/20/08 02:48 PM
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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Re: Recession going to affect how often you race next year?
#171445
12/20/08 03:01 PM
12/20/08 03:01 PM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
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Quote:
spending the kids inheritance NOW
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Re: Recession going to affect how often you race next year?
[Re: Al_Alguire]
#171448
12/20/08 03:21 PM
12/20/08 03:21 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
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Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
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I dont know yet but if the auto companies go under and my retirement gets cut you can believe my racing will also(if I even keep it)but time will tell, hopefully this economy turns up fairly quick. The 2 big factors for me to race are fuel to get to and from the track(diesel) and entry fees, the car is cheap to run and I bring my food and stay in my trailer
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Re: Recession going to affect how often you race next y
[Re: 70satelliteguy]
#171453
12/20/08 05:13 PM
12/20/08 05:13 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,928 NC
440Jim
I Live Here
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I Live Here
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Posts: 16,928
NC
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I cut way back in 2008, for a couple unrelated reasons. One reason was the high cost of fuel, so hopefully that will be half what it was in 2008. Remember unleaded regular at almost $4/gallon? At least burning E85 in the race car was a lot cheaper than the $8.50/gallon that race gas was selling for. I was also spending money finishing the basement in my house, so racing cash was hard to come by. That cost is behind me, so that will help. In 2008 I went to the track 15 times. I don't see myself going to the track 25 times like in 2007, maybe the same as 2008.
It isn't just the cost of fuel for the tow vehicle and the race car. Normal driving to work, shopping, etc was burning up lots of dollars in 2008.
At the local track in 2008, the bracket racing on Sat night had significantly less cars than 2007; and I don't expect anymore in 2009. For example, in the Modified (footbrake) class, in 2006 there were 63 cars registered for points, in 2007 51 cars, in 2008 it was only 34.
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Re: Recession going to affect how often you race next y
[Re: 440Jim]
#171454
12/20/08 07:21 PM
12/20/08 07:21 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,028 The Grand State of Confusion-O...
SKR8PN
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Posts: 8,028
The Grand State of Confusion-O...
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Even "IF" I get the new engine in the Daytona, I still may not make it to the track at all. I may just bust around on the street a few times and hit a few local shows. We shall see what the new year brings........
Karma has no menu. You get served what you deserve.
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Re: Recession going to affect how often you race next y
[Re: SKR8PN]
#171455
12/20/08 07:33 PM
12/20/08 07:33 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 850 Georgetown, TX
sc4579
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 850
Georgetown, TX
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Don't plan on making many races. Maybe a couple big money bracket races and a mopar event. I have tossed around the idea of selling it all, still might.
2023 Challenger Scat Pack 1320 2016 Jeep Renegade
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Re: Recession going to affect how often you race next y
[Re: sc4579]
#171456
12/20/08 07:42 PM
12/20/08 07:42 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,184 Park Forest, IL
slantzilla
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
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Posts: 20,184
Park Forest, IL
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I only made it to the track 3 times last year because I was working so much. So far my job looks fairly secure for next year, I'm hoping to not be working quite so much overtime. I'm hoping the new car will be done. I really don't have to spend too much money on it so that part is good. I am looking for a house. If I get one bought that will be the biggest factor in how much I race. I'm trying to find one that I can own without being a slave to it.
"Everybody funny, now you funny too."
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Re: Recession going to affect how often you race next y
[Re: sc4579]
#171457
12/20/08 07:43 PM
12/20/08 07:43 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,314 The Swamp
MegaDart
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The Swamp
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I may race a little more. Plan on running IHRA and NHRA divisional S/Gas races we have a ton of them in the spring. Then if I have enough grade points I hope to run Englishtown Nats and possibly Epping next summer. Lots of regular bracket racing when I feel like it and quick32 once a month. As well as the big bucks racing here in Fl. No doubt the recession has hindered my racing. For the most part I don't travel out of Fl except once or twice a year. And if the weather looks iffy on raceday I stay home can't afford to spend $200 in fuel for a raincheck..
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Re: Recession going to affect how often you race next y
[Re: MegaDart]
#171458
12/20/08 08:02 PM
12/20/08 08:02 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,528 Mansfield, Tx
Jacob Pitt
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Mansfield, Tx
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Probably racing more. Two cars in three classes now that two classes I can run in for free because of my gold cards. As long as I have a job and I can win enough to help pay for it all I'll keep doing it. Besides what else am I going to do?
2013 NHRA D4 Stock Champ #4 in the World IHRA Stock 2x IHRA Div.4 Stock Champ 14x Track Champ All using a Ultimate Converter Concepts converter. Call Lenny today 704-892-6837
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Re: Recession going to affect how often you race next y
[Re: Jacob Pitt]
#171459
12/20/08 08:14 PM
12/20/08 08:14 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,421 Balt. Md
383man
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
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Balt. Md
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I am not no regular racer but I like to drive my 63 to the track a few times a year and race it. I am glad its a driver as if it gets to bad I will still drive it some but may not make it to the track. Even driving it to the track cost me about $75. dollars between gas , food and gate fee. I have been hurt already as a Dealer tech as they cut my pay by taking my bonus away so I hope it dont get to much tuffer as I am looking to get out of the shop anyway. Ron
Last edited by 383man; 12/20/08 08:14 PM.
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Re: Recession going to affect how often you race next y
[Re: Jacob Pitt]
#171460
12/20/08 08:23 PM
12/20/08 08:23 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,987 new jersey usa
11secdart
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new jersey usa
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Car counts were down at my local track last year and I see more of the same for 09, I could be wrong. I slowed my car down to run in Street Eliminator points last year and had fun doing it and qualified for the Bracket Finals, I am doing the same next season financialy it helps a little . entry fee is cheaper and only shifting at 6500 saves parts. Although I got laid off a month ago I will race next year what ever it takes. I did some snow plowing last night ( its only December so theres more to come )I have some parts sold, and I have some work lined up on a friends Mustang so that will put some $$$ in the race account. I am probably not traveling to any out of state events though.
Last edited by 11secdart; 12/20/08 08:35 PM.
68 Dart 410 / 904 92 D150 original owner 21 Ram 1500 Quad Cab, Big Horn , Hemi ,4x4 23 Audi Q5 16 Honda HRV
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