Forum: SCRAFAN.COM Forum (go)
Moderators: ljennings

Way to go USAC you have the car count that will travel down to 6-8 cars,

Grady

I've heard a BIG RUMOR that one of the reasons the the car count is so low; besides tow rig fuel and racing fuel is that the "formula 1" style of qualifying. RUMOR has it that a few car owners are very angry and upset at that and then add the Tony Jones story to it and you have a lot of upset car owners, drivers and fans.

Again, those are just the RUMORS I'm hearing from people. I don't know this to be a fact, just a RUMOR. But it's pretty sad when you get under 10 regulars traveling with the association. Talk about a fan turn off. I wonder what the Western's are going to be like?

I miss Phoenix so much. Sounds like the Phoenix guys really gave the Calif Boys a run for their money.

Good luck to all of the racers....

June

Have you heard any rumors about fuel costs?

First the AZ boy's did't give them a run for their money, the took it! LOL

The 410 Western will be fine, it's one of those events that transcends whatever is going on.

I didn't go down the mountain for this one, and I can tell you there was a time in the not that distant past when I would have walked or hitchhiked down to see CRA..SCRA run. I'm far from the only fan here in AZ that is, was, and always be unhappy with USAC staying.

HEY toprow! I missed seeing Jeremy showing them how to get around that joint. How was the crowd for the show?

I was going to go to Canyon raceway and support ASCA, the Challenge cup guys and the new owners of that track, but something came up and I couldn't make it down.

Kenny

Braden Wasson
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If USAC would pay these guys they would support them!

Grady

Granted the economy is part of the factor but anyone should be able to see the fire has gone out and that's what has always driven CRA to be the best and respected everywhere, never has been a "farm club" for anybody.

Kenny

Kenny, the crowd was OK but nothing to brag about. Only 1 regular sat up by me last night. A couple Calf. fans were there by me.

Sheridan had oil leak problems that doomed him. RJ had his best 410 run at Manzy running a not too distant second. Sherman didn't have a ride (engine) until Wed. Fred and Jeremy have it (whatever it is) figured out at Manzy.

Davis Jr. had a nozzle leak and pulled in. USAC said he didn't get pushed out in time and was done for the night. It appeared that noone had anything for Sherman last night.

It's nice to see the Az. boys prevail!!!

We have 3 more Sat. in a row of sprints at Manzy, so come on down.

Bill

Thanks Bill, I remember when we had to get there hours early for those seats and then sprint up there to get a good one on the top row.

RJ is a coming and Davis sure looked good after he got his new car last year. We also have Casey, Chad, and Nathan is looking racy and confident and we have some others coming along.

Kenny

Someone told me methanol fuel was $7.50 per gallon last night.  If diesel is almost $4.00 per gallon then the cost of the methanol, there's a big reason a lot of teams didn't go over.

I was also told its only $2500 to win.  What happened to the days when a main even winner got $4000?  At $2500 once you figure out the fuel costs, pit passes, diesel fuel, tires and other items $2500 isn't squat for the winner! 

I really feel for all of the teams.  It's got to be exceedingly hard to put a car on the track now.  If the fans aren't in the stands to support the teams, the sponsors aren't going to be there either.  Then where will racing be?

Just my two cents...

June

Say an average of 8 mpg (towing loaded) at an average round trip of 900 per team that is roughly 113 gallons of diesels x $4.00 is $452.00 just to get over from California and back! That is a lot of money in anyones book just to go out of the exhaust pipe! I used to drive out an average of once or twice a month to California to do my roping. Now its zero times a month. Just for me to commute to work and back is $200 a month with my 1986 Prelude SI Airport Car. My dually sits parked UNLESS I have to tow something. My neighbors are selling their second trucks and buying small cars and motorcycles now to get to work on (I have thousands of miles on motorcycles and bought a 1996 VFR Honda when gas hit $2.00 a gallon out here after riding to work 4 times I sold the thing. I could not get used to AZ drivers tailgating at 85 mph 5 feet from my rear wheel)!

I can honestly say I never thought I would see the day when I would see fuel this expensive but I have to tell you its all a scam. Continental Airlines is buying jet fuel at roughly $3.00 a gallon and there isnt much difference between it and diesel! You can also thank your friends for buying all of that imported Chinese crap because it sure doesnt help anyone here!

Joe

Regardless of the gas prices being an issue i think the real issue has to do with alot of drivers and owners not putting up with USAC's bullcrap. Like i said in another post, don't be surprised if the car counts start to drop off. It is sad when all the other USAC series has a title sponsor, but when it comes to the west coast there is nothing.

It's not just the economy. The economy has been as bad, if not worse in the past and there never has been a time that i can recall when only 6 california cars made the tow over there. There are several factors, and you are kidding yourself if you think USAC isn't one of them.

I never said it was or wasnt but many drivers are car owners that have normal jobs that pay much less then $100K per year and to give up just $400+ in fuel to get to a race is just not doable. How many fans made the trip over when their fuel costs would only be around $100-150 Per car load? It all adds up guys. I bet more then one team didnt make the trip just due to expenses and nothing to do with whatever issue is going on with USAC. That is the point I am making.

Joe

I totally agree with you that the fuel prices have a factor in the car count at the out of town races, especially the low buck teams. I also know that USAC has pissed of a lot of teams lately.

Something struck me as a little odd. USAC knows there is tension among its members in the west. One would think they would do everything possible to show the members they are being acknowledged. On USAC's web site thats under construction (which has been a long time now), they show the first 3 main event winners of the season but nothing since the Copper On Dirt. Did the PR guys back in Indy forget the west coast members all of a sudden?

PS: If you count the number of California 'car owners' that went to Manzy, that number is ONLY 5! That problem need to get fixed !!!!!

Joe

USAC is a business and in any business if your cost go up you have to raise your price to stay in business, everyone needs to realize that. We are going to have to pay more to watch these guys race and they need to be paid more to race.

Grady

Grady,

I agree but here is my take on this. Aside from the car owners, crews and drivers paying their share of the insurance costs to USAC I dont think they should have to pay for anything TO enter a race. They are professionals and are providing entertainment to a paying public. My personal view is the paying public should be paying for this entertainment. I know that will not happen with the quantity of people we are getting to the races as spectators. Whose fault is that? I believe all of the above!

I dont have an accurate count but I am willing to bet a steak on it that the pit gate fees are paying the majority of the purse at any race. I personally think there should be a minimum Purse per race and then whatever else that is drawn into the back gate after insurance fees is divided 70/30 (Car Owner/Track) to the car owners through special bonus props (such as the most equal qualifying times, Hard Charger, Worst Luck and whatever other suggestions come up) that pay $100-250 each. How that pit fee is divided I dont know and dont really care that is not my business. Car counts are the key to everything we discuss on here. Without them you have less pit gate revenue, less front gate revenue, less food sales etc.! Empty seats is a vicious cycle that all begin with high costs for the car owners that need to be reined in!

Again, this is my own personal view, I think the biggest thing killing racing is the high cost of the engines to be competitive. How many people can afford to spend $25000 to have an engine that is not capable of winning a B Main? How many type A personalities are willing to spend that kind of money only to know they are going to be a side note to a race? How do you fix that? Again, not my decision to make! Every year the HP goes up so ten years ago we all loved the racing just the same but the HP was probably down 100 HP from what it is now. How much has the extra 100 HP cost? Plenty. Rein in that cost alone you get more cars, you get more cars you get more at the pit gate, you get more at the pit you get a bigger purse.

Joe

I'll take that steak medium!

24 cars x 5 per car=120x $40=$4800.

Purse = $22,000.

Please advise when and where to to eat.

Bill Shaver

Top Row,

Since you re the first to reply I will pay up if your numbers are correct but you and i know that there are way more then 125 people in the pits on any given night! Get some hard numbers and if you are right I will pay up! Remember, my post also said the majority of the purse so I only need to reach a threshold of $11,001.00 using your number $22,000 purse.

Joe