quote:

Originally posted by DragRaceSolutions.com :Question:
If you are attending a race where the entry fee is $500 or more, what would be most important to you?

Is this multiple races over say three days, or is this a one day for $500+ ???

Marke - I was insinuating $500 as a weekend entry or more. Gotta draw a line somewhere. No buy backs included. Honestly, bigger the race, bigger the risk, usually bigger the reward for the track or promoter which allows the added amenities. Obviously small races ca'tn afford this type of stuff.

Also - I'm not made of money, but if I go and lose $100-$200 on a Saturday because of a track issue I might be upset, but it's not gonna really piss me off. If I go and spend $500 - $5000 on a weekend entry tab and there are issues, YES myself and others will be extremely pissed. There are historic races moving around race tracks for this exact reason.

quote:

Originally posted by DragRaceResults:
I know there is always discussion about buy backs, re entry, paying back further, entry fee, etc.

BUT... That is on the flyer and you know before you go! Don't go!

I think everyone A S S U M E S the track surface and timing system is perfect.

If I was promoting races again, I would have a 3rd party track prep and rep from the timing system company. If there is an issue at least I and the racers know I did EVERYTHING possible to make it as good as possible since I'm taking their money.

And for what it's worth I think it's a GREAT promotion and would draw enough extra racers to pay for it.

The point of the poll is "Would you rather have those things or a BBQ"?

For what it's worth Timing System Rep on Site has more votes than the other 3 combined.

Me/my never did nothing ,shyt box owning,yada yada yada would race local big money races. I've gone to other states to race. All that's probably done because of Atco closing. I didn't race there or at all for a few years because of the owner of Atco. If you don't have a local track, it makes it difficult to travel if you don't know the cars condition.

If racer has the income to throw around or don't have to pay for the big money races, more power to you.
We all know there's plenty of donators at those races.

I was spoiled with Atco & Cecil being so close. Atco owner hated everyone and Cecil stopped bracket racing. Maple Grove & Etown never liked bracket racers in my opinion. Rarely went to them after bad experiences at both.
Liked Farmington,Moroso,US13 but only attended once or twice at each.

I was always slow, so I'd take the free food. If you are still in the race it's all gone by the time race is over. It's usually not very good though. Rarely see timing malfunction in my opinion. I did see a rabbit run top end which had racer run 5.40 in the ¼ mile. Pre concrete walls.

Free T-shirts were always cool. Still have some Bill Mitchell/B&M and AA Auto shirts.

Rambling on, so I'll continue!

I remember when you got paid $45 for a $60 entry winning 2nd round with $1500 guaranteed with no Buy Backs at Atco. Those days are long gone. Everything costs to much .

I remember my first cash. $125 in 1989. Got my name in the newspaper!

Racing will never be as good as it was in the day.

Rant over!

quote:

Originally posted by M120:

I remember my first cash. $125 in 1989. Got my name in the newspaper!

Man they should totally still do this, why on Earth did they stop?? In my local town we have a little municipal golf course, people still get there name in the paper for getting a hole-in-one, but I can't get one for a runner up footbrake finish? cmon maaaaaan

quote:

Originally posted by M120:

If racer has the income to throw around or don't have to pay for the big money races, more power to you.
We all know there's plenty of donators at those races.

I was spoiled with Atco & Cecil being so close. Atco owner hated everyone and Cecil stopped bracket racing. Maple Grove & Etown never liked bracket racers in my opinion. Rarely went to them after bad experiences at both.
Liked Farmington,Moroso,US13 but only attended once or twice at each.

I was always slow, so I'd take the free food. If you are still in the race it's all gone by the time race is over. It's usually not very good though. Rarely see timing malfunction in my opinion. I did see a rabbit run top end which had racer run 5.40 in the ¼ mile. Pre concrete walls.

Free T-shirts were always cool. Still have some Bill Mitchell/B&M and AA Auto shirts.

Rambling on, so I'll continue!

I remember when you got paid $45 for a $60 entry winning 2nd round with $1500 guaranteed with no Buy Backs at Atco. Those days are long gone. Everything costs to much .

I remember my first cash. $125 in 1989. Got my name in the newspaper!

Racing will never be as good as it was in the day.

Rant over!

Back when I used to travel, I loved the free t-shirts and goody bags at the big races. We traveled pretty far back then just to win $5k so the goody bag was a bonus.

I needed a change (was in a slump at my home track) and went to Atco to race. Joe Sway drove over to my pit to greet me and ask what I was doing there on a regular points race. He was a great owner/operator and really cared about his racers. I really liked the old Bill Mitchell series.

First time I went to US-13, an employee came over to me in the lanes 3rd round just to explain how they did things since I was new and he had never seen me there before.

To me, racing is all about customer service. Dealing with bracket racers is not easy.

As a racer, you get what you give when you get there. If you act like an *******, you get treated like one.

Nim Rod, someone has to notify the newspaper. Make contact and supply them with results, they'll print it.

quote:

Originally posted by Phil Dees:
Nim Rod, someone has to notify the newspaper. Make contact and supply them with results, they'll print it.

I shall make this a priority. I really hope it's that easy.

Like Tom R I raced at Capitol, but in the 60s to start with. 1st BIG race I ever saw was in Salem Ohio. A 1 day Sunday race with a whopping $2000 to win. We raced at Capitol on Sat and left from the track for Ohio and we won. No doubles, no buy backs, and no splits. You won you got it all. I have seen a lot of change in drag racing and before brackets it was about done. Brackets made it cheap and everyone could play but just like money killed most class racers, money once more has just about ruined drag racing for those without unlimited funds.Someone tell me how you attract new people when you have 80 entries and 72 get paid NOTHING after double entries and first or second round buybacks? You think they will keep coming for that?

quote:

Originally posted by Nim Rod:

quote:

Originally posted by M120:

I remember my first cash. $125 in 1989. Got my name in the newspaper!

Man they should totally still do this, why on Earth did they stop?? In my local town we have a little municipal golf course, people still get there name in the paper for getting a hole-in-one, but I can't get one for a runner up footbrake finish? cmon maaaaaan

I don't think many buy a newspaper anymore. I used to. I delivered the Philadelphia Inquirer before school in the early 80s. But, by all means, give it a try.

Street didn't pay much then. Remember, there was super,pro,heavy and street so four classes. It might have been a slow day.

Back to the subject, I have friends going to SFG December Bradenton race. I might tag along to spectate. I forgot Bradenton as another track I raced at earlier. I'll jump in a car if doable.
Coming from NJ colder weather would be nice.
These higher paying events are a race & a vacation if you have the money. I can fly in cheap out of AC if I don't want to take the 1100 mile ride.

I'm thinking putting my car back on the street because of tracks closing down but will race if have the disposable cash.

I won't lie, I can gamble online playing Poker, BJ, Baccarat with no tow money. I do ok, not super rich but do OK. The hookers in AC probably miss me though.

Be good,KB

A time run every day

quote:

Originally posted by 57chevy:
A time run every day

Never will happen with the amount of racers & buy backs.
First round lost & buying back is your time run.
That's how they make mo money & pay the purse.
Single entry, no BB races are dead for larger purses. There's no time for time runs for 300+ entries every day. If someone loses an engine and oils the track they lost an hour right there.

George Howard used to get it done but back then we could race till 2:00 in the morning. I miss those days.

quote:

Originally posted by M120:

quote:

Originally posted by 57chevy:
A time run every day

Never will happen with the amount of racers & buy backs.
First round lost & buying back is your time run.
That's how they make mo money & pay the purse.
Single entry, no BB races are dead for larger purses. There's no time for time runs for 300+ entries every day. If someone loses an engine and oils the track they lost an hour right there.

Greed

Depends on the BBQ......

If were talkin one of Gaylon and Britt's races I'll take a dirt road and flag start as long as the gumbo keeps flowin...!

quote:

Originally posted by Bucky:

quote:

Originally posted by M120:

quote:

Originally posted by 57chevy:
A time run every day

Never will happen with the amount of racers & buy backs.
First round lost & buying back is your time run.
That's how they make mo money & pay the purse.
Single entry, no BB races are dead for larger purses. There's no time for time runs for 300+ entries every day. If someone loses an engine and oils the track they lost an hour right there.

Greed

Every time someone tries a higher entry fee, time run, no buyback race… the racers don’t show up and it’s a failure

Hence why they don’t exist

Great read without DERAILED BS! That's a breath of fresh air y'all!!!

I picked the track prep 1st with the timing system being my 2nd choice. If my car can't work well at any given track the timing systems won't matter much. We all have come to expect the timing systems to be on point, IT isn't wrong often but is always detected when track is on point is seems. The cars today are that good and possibly reveal a timing issue at times...

Seems more are posting recently good informative reading WITHOUT the constant verbal beat down of others.

quote:

Originally posted by racerdude2054:

quote:

Originally posted by Bucky:

quote:

Originally posted by M120:

quote:

Originally posted by 57chevy:
A time run every day

Never will happen with the amount of racers & buy backs.
First round lost & buying back is your time run.
That's how they make mo money & pay the purse.
Single entry, no BB races are dead for larger purses. There's no time for time runs for 300+ entries every day. If someone loses an engine and oils the track they lost an hour right there.

Greed

Every time someone tries a higher entry fee, time run, no buyback race… the racers don’t show up and it’s a failure

Hence why they don’t exist

My bad for not being specific. Have the race. Have the buybacks so you can make the payout. And give a time run. And.....limit the entries so you can get the race in without risking 24 hour hot track. Yes....you may have to take less profit. Yes you may have to somewhat reduce the big number at the top. People WILL show up for that race, but again, it may not be attractive for the promoter.
Heck I'm even of the opinion that making a point of moving the payout down into rounds would be popular since that's pretty much what happens in reality with splits.
Some of the BBBR in the midwest is taking this approach...except for the time run, and they have been very well attended series....even if the advertised numbers aren't all that big.
But
As long as they fill up the big number races the way they are......well a good many folks must like it that way. No time run. No round money. Big number at top. And races that run into the wee hours of the morning.
But this wasn't really the poll at hand. I'm only giving my humble preference. Maybe greed is too strong of a word since the customers are showing up with money in hand ready to sign up the way it is. When customers beat down your door, and you make a good margin putting on these races, it can't be all wrong.

One thing that is obvious from reading some of the posts is just how many of us just aren't interested in the BBBR's that are offered. Many require travel. They are a dedication of several days of vacation to race one. The odds are very high for even getting your entry fee back. The days are very long. The investment is high. There usually isn't time runs. The odds are a bit stacked towards those who run as many cards as possible. While they are popular and successful, there is still a good market for those who aren't interested in that. And frankly, even those who hit the BBBR's need somewhere to practice and keep sharp if they aren't traveling every week.

Bucky,

Your post & others has triggered some thoughts from my experience with BBBR. I have competed at the Spring Fling Million in the Pro/No Box class & we were required to enter the Million, 2k entry just for the one race. I raced it 3 years & it was more than worth it for the experience!

One year I broke even with entry fees. Another I came out ahead & offered money back to my financial backer's. Then the other year, I only left with consolation prizes & a great time!

I got to race against some of the best sportsman racers in the country & win against them. I remember one getting interviewed in the tower & stating. I didn't bring a knife to a gun fight; I brought a spoon.

The price I/we (Thank-You) paid to enter this caliber of race & compete against the best. Is well worth it to take away the learning experience I received. You can only get better by racing better opponents & learning from it!

2BKING in it for the experience!