[J H Performance]

I know I've spent alot of money racing over the years, but have always had fun win or lose. People who start taking it to serious and start forgetting that it's just a game are the ones who end up getting out of it. I guess there are a few who get lucky enough to make a living out of it, but I think after a while it would just become a job. I have always ran light cars, altered and now a dragster, I figure that way I can run 8s with a 11 second motor.

[Kyflier]

I'll second that John, and thanks to my wife, me, now at 50 have my own race car. I have two great girls, my youngest graduates with her Masters from Georgetown in May. My wife does everything with me. This is wife number two, and I'm soooo happy with her. We ahve our struggles, but man life is good now.

Kenny

[NHRASuperStock455SD]

This might be pertinent to many sent to me by my CPA.


www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/151.html



Taxes 1999--------------------------Taxes 2008



Single making 30K - tax $8,400--------Single making 30K - tax $4,500



Single making 50K - tax $14,000-------Single making 50K - tax $12,500



Single making 75K - tax $23,250-------Single making 75K - tax $18,750



Married making 60K - tax $16,800------Married making 60K- tax $9,000



Married making 75K - tax $21,000------Married making 75K - tax $18,750



Married making 125K - tax $38,750-----Married making 125K - tax $31,250

[Old Goat Racer]

Free entry this year, I gotta gold card.

[SupergasDil]

There's no doubt this is an expensive hobby.

$20 Test N Tune day local track 8 miles away
$10 each crew person
$12 per pass alky
$ 2 per pass spark plugs
$15 per pass oil (15 qts= 3 passes)
$ 9 per pass tires
$ 5 tow vehicle
$25 food & drink

This does not include any wear and tear. Simply what I have to pull out of my pocket for a (fun) day at the track.

[500plus]

Dil!!! is it ready??? if not get off of here and finish!!!!!!! LOL

[Rob B]

We have several tracks local to us ranging from 45 miles away to 10 miles away. I prefer the 45 mile a way track.
I imagine with gas for the truck, the car, entry fees, and anyone who goes, it ends up being close to a $100 night but is well worth the fun (and aggravation) of bracket racing.
Trips to events like PITP, Norwalk end up costing around grand all said and done but the time there spent with people and friends you only see once or twice a year is priceless. Like mentioned before, you only live once so have fun while you can, before you know it you'll be sitting in a chair wearing a daiper, drueling all over yourself.
I don't even factor in the cost of maintenance and breakage on the car, that's just the part that goes with the hobby.

[77TA]

Originally Posted by 1qikta

I think guilt is a big COST here. Especially if you have little ones that need quality time. Going racing is Selfish I am told pretty regularly.On the way home from the track at 1am seeing the kids sleeping in the back adds to it. There are prob better ways to spend some weekends with the kids. Getting a sitter just makes the outcome worse.

I know everyones situation is not the same.If it's Mama, The Kids or what you spend Guilt has got to be factored in there.

Well put... I don't see it so much as a drag, I really enjoy my kids and going to the movies with them... True we only on go around one time, but your kids are only young once... I know I don't want to miss them ..I can race when I am 55 plus right ! LOL

Life is about balance... you can live to gratify yourself, or sacrifice a little to give more to those you care for... it is a defining choice and the one that seems to be the worst for you actually turns out to be the best imo...... I still loose sight of it at times then that little tug and I love you Daddy brings it all back in to focus for me.

[punisher#1]

i guess i'm lucky, my wife and kids enjoy going to the track with me. my 7 year old daughter was suprised to find out that not everybody has a racecar.

[johnta1]

My grandson (3 years old), loves going up and down the pits looking at all the dragsters.
He looks forward to it more than his parents I think.

[77TA]

I took my boys once they enjoyed it. I was a nervous wreck worried they were going to get run over in the pits LOL... I have 4 kids 2 boys 13 and 11 and Twin Girls that are 5.

Mom is not much into the racing thing... She did go to the PSN in 2004 though one day of it with the girls, they were 2 at the time... I think she would be ok with a Pontiac event just not interested in the saturday night local track bracket race and the girls just want to ride in the car and I don't think that would be a good Idea at the track !

Not saying taking the family to the track isn't a good idea, nothing wrong with it... mine just would enjoy the movie more at this point, so I make the choice to spend my limited fun money on that most times rather than a trip to the track. Then it has been a few months since we even done that ...guess I need to see what's showing !

[FantomPoncho]

I'll let Steve comment more on this if he wants, since he is the wallet for the fueler. However, I'll give all of you a small look into the cost of running a blown-nitro motor:

Fuel: Each run requires 10-12 gals @ $40/gal = $400 - $520
Oil: Changed after EVERY run: Capacity is 15Qts @ $8/qt = $120

Just for fluids: $640 per run.

This is just a peek...there is also spark plugs, clutch discs, bearing replacement, enough spare parts for an additional motor, all of which could be used up in a single run. Safety certifications are much more stringent and costly, entry fees for driver and 3 crew members. There is also equipment required to run the dragster: blower starter motor and batteries (3 car batteries are required to run the starter). Alcohol and regular gasoline for startup, tow vehicle and fuel.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. If I really put my head into it, I could come up with much more.

[69Goat1]

My Grandbaby boy loves going to the track and we don't feel the least bit guilty taking him. He likes to play with his cars on the trailer and make engine noises and steering motions every time he sees the cars

[johnta1]

69Goat1, does he have any 'ears'?

My grandson can tell who the different cars are from the idle.
When he hears the 'fast' guys, he has to get his earmuffs. He calls them 'ears'.

He can hear my cars way down the pit road and tells his grandmother, that 'Grandpa's coming'.

[69Goat1]

He either wears the ones I use when we shoot or he wears ear plugs - it is easier to keep the earplugs in on him... He is 2 and when he sees my car he says "papa" and makes his driving motions - he will probably end up with my cars some day...