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

I heard a rumor the Steve Kinser is charging tracks around $4,500 to appear.

Anyone else hear anything like this?

as he should be

Lincoln 1845 ft/.35 mile T1=118MPH 
Eldora 2287 ft/.43mile T3=135MPH
Port 2716 ft/.51 mile T3=TBD
Grove 2792 ft/.53 mile T3=135MPH
Selinsgrove 2847 ft/.54 mile T1=136MPH
"I didn't move to PA from El Paso in search of better 
weather." Van May

I heard Donny Schatz has traction control, anyone have any solid info on that either?

http://gph.is/XMLGff

Please explain why you think this is ok.

It is simply the free market.  If tracks are willing to write the check and he is willing to cash them, I don't see a problem.

DA

I get your point. I understand. I don't like the idea of someone that is still "racing" getting paid to show up. In some cases as much as the winner of the race. I don't want to watch Steve be a field filler to get paid. Pay him for an autograph session instead.

Scott bloomquist used to do this

I believe Tony Stewart did this, as well. If a track wanted to use his name for advertising, he charged the track a fee. (Or so I was told.......................................) This happens more than you'll ever realize.

If this is going on, which no one really knows, whats the difference. The promoter is simply doing something to bring more fans to the track. The promoter could give T-shirts out or have dollar hotdog night and it cost him $4500 on that promotion but instead they decide to give this guy some money to come and race, IMO its money well spent. I'm sure alot of people show up to the track to see Kinser race and I'm gonna guess it even draws more racers who want to come and race against Kinser while they still can. Whats wrong with that, its no different than any other sports promotion and guys have been recieving show up money for years in racing. 

I hate to tell you but I don't think Kinser's filthy rich, I'm sure he lives well but I doubt he's any different than any of us and isn't turning money down cause he just doesn't need it. Its like his 401K paying out to him now in retirement.

http://gph.is/XMLGff

First lucas race a local track had,  Bloomer showed up and demanded three grand to take the car off the trailer.  Promotor told him to pack his shit and leave. No refund.   He did.  show was still awesome.

What do you mean use to?? Him and other late model drivers do it and have been doing it for years.

A track in my area paid him $10K to show up plus he won the $10k purse. He wasn't the only driver paid to be there that night too.  If promoters are willing to pay drivers to show up more power to them. And more power to the drivers taking it. You know dang well it is putting more butts in the stands or promoters wouldn't be shelling out the cash for them to be there. 

I gotta agree with BigRightRear on this one.  He should be.  I would too, but there is no market for me to show up in a sprint car.  Until the state or federal government starts putting your tax dollars towards this 'show-up money' it is really absolutely none of anyone else's business.  It is between the track, promoter and the drivers. 

?? Baffled by how this is any of our business ??

I have no problem with this, he has earned it with his years of support to open wheel racing.

Maybe the funds will help keep Kraig on the road.

He's been doing it for years....(how do you think "tow $$" for the WoO got started?)  Steve, Sammy and Doug were getting paid to show up at tracks (Doug even mentions it that they got paid by Lakeside to show up to race on the pavement that fateful day he got burned) forever, then the WoO decided that they would divvy the $$ up to the drivers instead (to make it more "fair" and to get more cars to follow the circuit.

I have heard from multiple people that Steve and Sammy are being paid for every race they attend and are advertised to be there for.  Is it $$ well spent?  I have no idea, I'm not operating a track.  If giving them $4500 to show up means you have 200 more paid admissions at $25, I'd guess it's $$ well spent ($5000 came in, so they are making $500 plus concessions on those people).

I'd be shocked if he wasn't getting appearance money. 

Stewart DID NOT charge appearance money and I strongly doubt Kinser is.  Not saying there is anything wrong with it, but I think we should have substantiated facts before chasing this

I'd buy you a beer.....!

$4500 seems somewhat steep, but who knows?

I definitely think the Steve Kinser name is still worth something to people, and if you can advertise him ahead of time, I think it's worth more.

You pay if you want to advertise them being there (tracks are doing this today when they advertise Schatz, Pittman, etc. when the WoO are in town, they pay the sanction fee which pays the "show up $$" to the teams/drivers).  If you aren't going to use them (Steve or Sammy) in advertising, you don't pay (they'll either show up or they won't).

Knoxville never offered to pay Tony when he was racing sprints (so they didn't advertise the time he did come and race) even when they knew he was coming.  Other tracks wanted to advertise his involvement (Huset's, for example in the midwest) and they did pay an appearance fee.

Since Tony had to pre-enter the Late Model race at Knoxville, he signed away the right to use his name in advertising (the entry form has it all spelled out), so no $$ for that one (that I am aware of).

Steve Kinser made more money selling T-Shirts each year than virtually anyone in this forum makes!  This is for the poster who thought he was just like the rest of us, lol.  Steve also deserves every penny as does Sammy and the rest, people lose their life every year in this 'sport', he's earned it the hard way, he worked for it......