Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

So ... by now I'm sure we all understand the real rationale for the "tire rules". No matter what spin the tracks and sanctioning bodies put on it, the real reason is so they can get a kick back from the tire companies. And, the biggest kick back wins.

Question is ... where does this end? What prevents shock companies from doing the same? Wings, chassis, rear ends, steering gears, etc, etc. What prevents those companies for offering up a kick back too, and becoming the new "rule" to save racers money?

If by kick backs, you mean funding to operate the track and put up and pay out a point fund, then my guess is never......

The answer is simple.

Rule # 1. Follow the money!

Rule # 2. See Rule #1

The tire company pay to become the EXCLUSIVE supplier to WOO, Knoxville, IRA etc. They do this to lock out their competitors to insure their profits. If a tire sells for $100 and they have to pay WOO $10 for every tire sold, the cost of the tire becomes $110. It's the same as Coke being the official drink of NASCAR or NHRA. That "kickback" is figured into the cost of goods sold and selling price. It's been going on in business forever.

IRA, up to this year, was a non profit. So the racers recieved most if not all the money back.

Coke being the official drink of NASCAR is totally different, and is a weak comparison. As a racer, you can drink whatever you want. You can have Pepsi or Mountain Due or AMP as a sponsor.

What is not right is that series and tracks are profitting from my racing by forcing me to run a tire that gives them a kickback. Next I might have to run a crappy shock because they give the promoter $10 per shock sold. I'm already the guy spending all the $$$ to field my car so that the promoters even have anything to "sell" to fans. Then they feel its ok to screw me on my tires too? Hopefully the Wing manufartures don't join in too.

Socialist Sprint Car Association...SSCA New Sanctioning Body...

Coke being the official drink of NASCAR is totally different, and is a weak comparison

I think he was "inferring" that by becoming the official drink of NASCAR all tracks MUST serve Coke and Coke related products.

 
I LEARNED ESP FROM MY MOM

"PUT YOUR SWEATER ON: DON'T YOU THINK I KNOW WHEN 
YOU'RE COLD?"

And that relates to promoters getting kick backs from product companies and passing that cost on to the racer how?

Exactly ... not at all. So a "weak" comparison.

Question is ... how long before we are all mandated run MecTec bolts so that the promoters can make more $$$ from the racers?

Point is (in case some missed it). Promoters should make money from the fans. The racers are already paying to field the car, insurance at the track, etc, etc, etc. Promoters should not make "more" money from the racers. They "sell" that BS to everyone it saying it's about better racing, cheaper costs to the racer, etc. It's a joke and has to stop.

As the sages say "Suck it up buttercup!". You can either quit racing, or quit whining; take your choice.

There's a really intelligent person taking a holistic view of the sport in general.

I guess you can either be involved in the sport and understand why there is dwindling car counts .. or be as cool as this guy on a message board.

Better than being a whiner. You don't like it, don't participate. Or, better yet, buy your own track and see how long you last doing it all the way you think it should be.

The "don't participate" is exactly the issue. Teams are choosing that (or being forced to choose that due to esculating costs).

People like you have no ability to think into the future and make comments like this. Sooner or later, the local track close to you will not have enough Sprint Cars to field a class. It will be too late then for you to pull your head out of the sand and think "why".

Have fun watching the jalopy's race.

Amen, Fasterin3. Amen.

"I'd pay $15 to watch a sprint car sit still."

While I agree that Sprint car costs are too high, I don't agree with attacking the promoters. Some people think that all promoters are making money hand over fist, and that owning a race track is a gold mine. If this was true, there would be no turnover in track promoters, there would be people building new race tracks, and there would be generous track payouts. This is simply not true. Promoting a race track is not a gold mine. The majority of new promoters last less than three years before they leave the business. More race tracks are closing than opening.

The race car owner is going to have to purchase tires (shocks, etc) For most parts, the track is looking for a way to limit the introduction of new "trick" parts because this only makes the costs skyrocket. Manufactuers are looking for ways to sell more products. Having all three come together only makes sense.

IMO, in the long run, having a spec part probably is best for everyone. The racer does not have to buy a gazillion differnt parts trying to find the one that makes his car a hundredeth faster. The promoter has an easier time teching the cars and has a new revenue source. The manufactuer is allowed to reduce its marketing budget because it knows that is has a known market for its parts. The manufactuer also knows that every x years that the contract is going to be re-bid thus making sure that he keeps his costs and quality reasonable.

Agreed. There needs to be room for everyone in the business. And, spec parts appear good on the surface.

But, the reality is, spec parts are being introduced for promoters to make a profit from and not to benefit the sport. That added cost for the manufactuer is simply being passed on to the racers from the manufactuers, and then given to the promoter. We (as racers) might as well just stroke a check to the promoter each night (for nothing in return), and then race the parts we want.

For the sport to grow (and/or just continue at this point) ... there needs to be a spec "price", not a spec "part". Promotors should not get a cut on parts sales. If they want to do that, they should become "parts dealers". Promotors should concentrate on getting people into the stands, selling more product to them while they are there, and putting on a good show so that people return. Not concentrate on how can they make more $$$ off the racer.

If the promoter isn't making money from the sport, they won't be in business. If they are not in business, the racer can buy any part they want but they will not have any place to race. We both agree that cost need to be controlled. The only way to have controlled parts is to have spec parts. If you are going to have spec parts, it only makes sense for the track and the manufactuer to have some loyality program. It cost less for a manufactuer to sell x thousand tires to a series than it does to seel the same x thousand tires on the open market. And if Kyle Larson/Steve Kinser/Your drivers name here wins all of the time with thier product, everyone will want one, and the price will go up because of it. Almost all spec part programs also have a set price point as well.

I also agree that many promoters fail because they don't run the track like a business, but that is another topic all together.

My 360 sprint has been parked for 3 years. I've got money in the bank for the first time and pay my credit card off every month. Bought a sailboat for $1000. It runs on air. It cost $25 for an annual state park permit and $250 a year for the sailing club. It's a 30 mile drive to the lake. The local track has 6 360 sprints racing, used to have 20, and are trying to get 305's going. $4 diesel and $200 rear tires got to be too much. I think about going racing again, it's a mental disease, but maybe I'm getting too old. I used to race cheap with an open trailer and borrowed 4 wheeler. Figured it cost about $500 a night to go racing. It just doesn't make sense any more. A day at the lake costs $16 for diesel for the pickup and $10 for a couple of Sub sandwiches. Makes a lot more sense.

Stan Meissner