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

Stan, I've flown to California, Arizona, Texas, Florida, Colorado etc. to hit dirt tracks over the years so the thriving metropolis of Brandon, SD isn't out of the question. I'm flying to Tucson to end the USAC season in Nov. Sure , Badlands will cost more than an Outlaw show but it's an event and not an Outlaw show. I would want some info on the race before I came as to who would be there and such but if it actually comes off it may be a one time thing anyway. Heck, the place may be closed next year before it ever happens. The Mopar Million cost more to get in but that was something that was historic and was a ball but didn't have a huge crowd. It'll be fun to talk about this race all winter anyway. I don't get why the guy is getting hammered so bad. If somebody wants to go then go but if somebody doesn't like it for whatever reason then they don't have to go. What's the problem? It's nice to have choices which is one thing this country does best.

That race was a blast, Charles. It was fun just being there. By the way I'm Flatrightrear on IOW.

WG  National Open ...$95 for all 3 days. Final night pays $50000 to win. Just sayin.

Yeah, me too.  That was a good one.

Stan Meissner

no comparison in total purse.....I think this guy sounds like a blowhard but at least he is putting up money.  Natty Open pays 50000 to win and then the payoff falls off the cliff.  

The payoff in this one drops huge as well.  But somehow finish top five and your in the black

I may be wrong, but isn't this a huge cliff too....  Payout for Rock and Roll Gold Cup and Badlands Speedway below.

Sunday, August 21st (Winged Championship)

• A Feature: $50,000, $10,000, $5000, $3000, $1500, $1000, $975, $950, $925, $900, $875, $850, $825, $800, $775, $750, $725, $700, $675, $650, $625, $600, $575, $550

IMO, they will have a very hard time getting more than 35 cars for this event due to the huge drop off in purse.  Non-wing purse is the same and will have car count struggles as well I would imagine (heck, McCarl had a hard time with car counts and he paid way better through the field for his non-wing event.

I agree, 15-20k should be knocked off the top and put 3rd -15th

I'd say top 3 will be in the black (maybe, could be just the top 2), 4th place will lose $$$ (after they pay the driver his %) at $3000 for 4th and everyone on back will defintely loose $$ as it's $1500 for 5th, $1000 for 6th and keeps going down after that....

2nd place pays what 24th/25th(Prov.) pays the "A" at the Knoxville Nationals......  One driver and team are going to be very happy, not so much for the rest...

Quit comparing it to a four or five night nationals and compare it more with the Kings Royal..   Then figure that Hussets dosen't come anywhere close to holding 25,000 fans that Eldora does.  75 dollars over the Kings Royal purse seems legit in just making up for the fan discrepency.    Rememer,  There are FOUR PURSES here.  The prelim of each class night and the Rock N Roll nationals.

You keyboard promotors need to give it a rest.   Like I've said before if you want to be a promoter and have all the answers, purchase a track.

If you don't like the price don't go!  If the race teams don't like the payouts, they won't go.  Time will tell, let it play out.

It's still hilarious this a huge topic on this national board but nothing on the local scene. Why do people who will never attend always have all the answers? Especially those out of Marion County?

Is the price for this event higher than it should be? Yes. Would I rather see the money paid out through the field better? Yes. But he's doing more to my home track than the previous owners could ever dream of.

I'm going to buy my $600 season pass and walk my ass into every show (or sell my ticket for more than my $20 face value) and enjoy one hell of a program every night. And it's the best paying weekly show in the world. 

Keep on doubting...

BIG J

"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."

There are two viewpoints on this.  First, races like the Mopar Million or Saturday night of the Knoxville Nationals wouldn't have any problem convincing me to pay the big bucks and I have done so on occasion.  "On occasion" being the key words here, this isn't a sustainable price for a weekly show by any means.

Nevertheless, on the flip side this event so far is not on the annual WoO schedule and I think for those kinds of prices that is the first thing that needs to be in place.  In the past I've see huge crowds with car counts in the mid 20's for one of our local WoO shows, the name draws, but not so huge for IRA or the recent IRA/NSL joint venture that produced 39.  Fans are going to judge a show like this by the number of cars and top drivers being in attendance.  Another point is that it's not an established event so the first year is going to set the tone so it best be a pleasant tone to ensure it's future.

As far as jumping on an airplane and flying around the country to watch dirt track races that concept is foreign to most of the fans in the stands who 9 times out of 10 are locals with families in tow.  If tracks depended on people flying in from parts unkown for their front gate the crowd would be pretty scarce.  Hell, I saw my first dirt race in 1960 and it wasn't until I was in the Navy ten years later and went to a fellow sailor's home for the weekend while I was stationed in NJ that I found out dirt track racing was nation wide.  Up until then I thought it was a local phenomenon.  I just didn't pay attention, it was a different world in 1971.  That's kind of the way I still look at racing, local entertainment, drive out to the track, get home before midnight and sleep in my own bed.  I'm a blue collar dirt track fan and don't think of the sport as being on the same level as pro sports or arena concerts.  If it ever becomes that kind of big ticket item as someone retiring in a couple years I'll have to watch my pennys and will be priced out of the sport.  As it is now I've done seventeen years of photography and writing or "sing for my supper" so as to be able to continue to attend.  We're a one income family and the wife votes no to dirt track vacations so I have worked out of necessity so I can follow the sport.

Stan Meissner

You're going to scalp a weekly racing ticket, and expect to turn a profit?

Check the license plates at the races you attend. People from Marion, Mahaska, and all of SE Iowa travel pretty well to go see other races in bordering states. $75 x how ever many we can fit in a car is tough to swallow. Season tickets also are simply not an option for us.

To say it pays out way better than WG was a ballsy move with no facts to back it up hence they pounce on the statement with facts to add logic to the conversation.

HIs season ticket nets him each ticket at under face value, so if resold at face/ front gate price, yes he should profit a little bit. Pretty simple math.

One thing is overlooked. We peons aren't going to change a thing! Sprint car racing, like the other top forms of racing have been for many years, has become a rich man's sport. Therein lies the problem! The mega millionaires for the most part have lost touch with reality. Ticket prices are going to continue to get out of hand, and the purses are going to continue to feed the "fat cat". That's a sad fact, when it's the working class driver that makes up most of the feild, and the working class spectator that makes up the vast majority of the stands!  

I'm in Western PA so going isn't an option either way for me...but compare it to the World Finals during recent years where a reserved seat and pit pass for 3 days was only $69. 160+ of the best drivers in the country & one hell of a weekend deal. IMO nothing can beat that

I'm both a Late Model and Sprint fan so I'm with you on that one.  The World Finals would be a great event to attend.  Maybe when I retire and have time to mosey across the country at a snails pace.  ;)

Stan Meissner