Thursday/Friday camping/practice and fees

[RyanNicholson]

I probably spend about $600 a weekend to do 5 races, a garage, stay in a hotel, bring food, gas, etc. to race a "real bike"

Out of genuine and friendly curiosity how the hell do you pull that off? haha I live 20mins away, slept in my trailer and still couldn't do that... I averaged/assumed about $800-1000.

[rolker]

To keep things in perspective, lets go back to when the announcement was made that SMI would purchase the track. There was lots of speculation about the direction the new owners were going to take the track. Take the Nascar dates elsewhere and abandon it? Leave it as is? Add lighting and stands to the oval, killing the road course?

Lucky for us, they decided to keep operating the track and invest in improvements for all users. Now I didn't go to business school, but I bet you the decision makers at NHMS need to make sure the various operations at the track are profitable. Obviously Nascar brings in a lot of money, and us club racers benefit from some of the improvements made for Nascar events, but for the improvements to the road course, it makes sense that they would be funded from the revenue coming from the road course users.

I can imagine a scenario where our costs would not have changed much, but with much few improvements to the track if any. That might have allowed some racers with a tighter budgets to keep on racing, but at what future costs when it comes to attracting more users for the road course?

If the prices would have gone up and we would would not have seen improvements as a result, then it would seem justifiable to wonder if SMI is just trying to get as much money out of us as possible. The reality is we are getting better facilities in return for the extra costs, which seems logical to me.

To me, it does seem like SMI is indeed committed to growing LRRS and is willing to back it up with investing in the facilities, but I'm a realist and recognize that someone has to pay for those improvements so it's reasonable to expect my costs as a user of those facilities to go up accordingly.

We live in a free world so we all chose how to respond to this reality. I chose to continue racing, but I might cut back a bit on a race or practice here and there to keep my costs withing my means. Others will go race elsewhere, others with larger budgets might be able to absorb the extra cost without modifying their program while others might just quit altogether. On the flip side, improvements might reduce injuries which might attract others racers where safety concerns would override money concerns in their decision to race at Loudon.

It's good to have former racers such as Jay and Rich express their opinions here and I do hope that SMI does read this thread and get from it a better idea of how their decisions do affect the racing community. Ideally it will help them find ways to keep costs as low as possible while still improving what we get out of it.

Yeah, I get a bit angry at first when I see new fees pop up, but I was also very grateful to see new airfences in front of the tires I hit last year that sent me to the hospital with a concussion. That feeling of hope I get from seeing that the track is making real efforts to improve my safety more than makes up for the occasional sticker shocks.

Of all the choices SMI could have made with what to do with LRRS, I think they picked a pretty good direction to help improve local club racing in the long run. Remember, it could have been much worst...

[Jim]

(but how does CCS at NJMP nickle and dime you?)

LRRS - free gate entry with 3+ races
NJMP - $25 regardless

LRRS - free tent camping ?
NJMP - $5/day for tent camping. $15/day for RV camping

LRRS - whatever their electric fee is
NJMP - $20/day

LRRS - garages are a full bay with two benches. Plenty of power outlets.
NJMP - Garages are 1/2 a bay with no benches and very little power outlets.

LRRS - $60/race for 8 lap sprints
NJMP - $85 for the first, $60 for additional 7 lap sprints. If you do pre-reg, it's $80 and $55.

LRRS - OTM charges $25/photo
NJMP - photographer charges $30/photo or $96 for the event.

I could probably keep going if you'd like.

[Jim]

and not that this is a fee related item, but more of a convienence....

LRRS - bring bike, bellypan, transponder, and helmet right to tech (if pre-reg)
NJMP - bring bike, bellypan, transponder, helmet, gloves, leathers, boots, back protector, and reg slip to tech. Line is insane.

LRRS - online pre-reg
NJMP - write the form with your entrees and Credit Card info and fax it.

[CEO]

LRRS - free gate entry with 3+ races
NJMP - $25 regardless

LRRS - free tent camping ?
NJMP - $5/day for tent camping. $15/day for RV camping

LRRS - whatever their electric fee is
NJMP - $20/day

LRRS - garages are a full bay with two benches. Plenty of power outlets.
NJMP - Garages are 1/2 a bay with no benches and very little power outlets.

LRRS - $60/race for 8 lap sprints
NJMP - $85 for the first, $60 for additional 7 lap sprints. If you do pre-reg, it's $80 and $55.

LRRS - OTM charges $25/photo
NJMP - photographer charges $30/photo or $96 for the event.

I could probably keep going if you'd like.

Looks accurate, except for the camping. Tent camping at NHMS is $25 with power and $15 without (includes tents).

[Jim]

so it sounds like the LRRS fees are pretty close, if not better than other CCS events.

[Kurlon]

Looks accurate, except for the camping. Tent camping at NHMS is $25 with power and $15 without (includes tents).

Unless you enter 3 classes, then it's free as noted by Jim initially.

[The Snowman]

Unless you enter 3 classes, then it's free as noted by Jim initially.

No, camping is not free, unless you rent a garage and intend on using power from it. The number of races only effects the weekend infield pass cost.

[Kurlon]

No, camping is not free, unless you rent a garage and intend on using power from it. The number of races only effects the weekend infield pass cost.

Quothe the Wanda:

"For the riders who get the complimentary infield pass for entering 3 or more races by the pre-entry deadline date, let the window worker know that you will should have one and they will get it from the box. They no longer have to search through a list which should be more efficient."

Pre-enter 3 races, you camp for free.

[CBR929RE]

Out of genuine and friendly curiosity how the hell do you pull that off? haha I live 20mins away, slept in my trailer and still couldn't do that... I averaged/assumed about $800-1000.

$325 in race fees
$90 hotel (one night)
$50 food
$50 gas for bike/truck
$45/weekend for the garage
my tires have all been take offs since the beginning of last year and the set on the bike is still good and I have another set. also used them for track days (10 last year I think). I think it was $450 for 3 fronts and 4 rears.


then if you add in repairs to bike and suit from crashes and buying new parts then the cost will go up a lot.
I don't change my oil after every weekend. maybe every other unless there were a bunch of track days in between.

[CBR929RE]

Quothe the Wanda:

"For the riders who get the complimentary infield pass for entering 3 or more races by the pre-entry deadline date, let the window worker know that you will should have one and they will get it from the box. They no longer have to search through a list which should be more efficient."

Pre-enter 3 races, you camp for free.

until they see you don't have a camping pass and charge you

[csmutty]

Oh wow.

I usually spend:

$400ish on tires
$50 for food
$120 or so for gas
$0 for camping
$0 for entry
$280ish for race entry

[hotducati]

The reality is cost are always going to go up. Theres no getting away from it anywhere. Budget, budget, and budget.

[Rambunctous]

This is the first weekend I am missing because of rising costs. Maybe the Classic will be the finale for me. The little things are burying me.

[Larry]

This is my first Classic and I don't want to worry about racing and finding a place to set up. Anyone know the availability of infield camping for the Classic? Do I need to reserve a spot (no water hook up, just electricity) or just show up Thursday, cough up some cash, and find a spot? Can I share a spot with family that plans to pop up some tents around my trailer?

[tsanterre]

This is my first Classic and I don't want to worry about racing and finding a place to set up. Anyone know the availability of infield camping for the Classic? Do I need to reserve a spot (no water hook up, just electricity) or just show up Thursday, cough up some cash, and find a spot? Can I share a spot with family that plans to pop up some tents around my trailer?

Shouldnt be a problem finding space...plenty of room in the infield!

[Larry]

Shouldnt be a problem finding space...plenty of room in the infield!

That's great! And sad at the same time.........Thanks for the info.

[Mr. Kurtz]

This is my first Classic and I don't want to worry about racing and finding a place to set up. Anyone know the availability of infield camping for the Classic? Do I need to reserve a spot (no water hook up, just electricity) or just show up Thursday, cough up some cash, and find a spot? Can I share a spot with family that plans to pop up some tents around my trailer?

Definitely no need to reserve a spot, in fact, the option to do so doesn't exist unless you rent a garage for the season. There is plenty of available infield space, with electricity. You basically pay for an RV sized parking spot, so if you can fit a couple tents around your trailer, I think you'll be fine.