Looks like plenty of dollars to go around

Hey there Big Burkster, I also have owned and tuned nitro cars starting in 1963, I was also the tuner for more than 200 runs with an N/FC during the late '80s that operated over a three year (‘87-‘89) average of $1866.00 per run, that's at over 33 dates per season.

We had some help from Dodge, and a few other smaller deals, but we ran the Telstar so that the car paid for itself!

I believe we should get a minimum of $2500 for two runs, and then $3500 for three. That would pay for road costs.

For a show with 12 cars at two runs each, for a minimum of 20 runs for $50,000 is only $5.00 per seat at a 10,000-person show on a Saturday night!

That still leaves $15.00 per ticket for the race promoter, or at least $150,000 dollars plus parking, and food sales to pay the rent, staff, and the electric bill!

“Nitro” B. Newman
Nitrohelper
Cheeseland, USA

More answers and a question

Jeff, no, you are not the only one who thinks that way about their driver. Yes, Nitro is a wonder drug. Has been for years... Alan will make three runs - 1st run will be a general safety run - 2nd run will be a data gathering run - 3rd run will be on the number. Testing - Agreed - One test session on the left coast, one on the right coast.

Now to the real question. For us guys out west, yes it matters how long a bracket track is. If I had to race 1/8 mile like the guys back east, I would quit. It is a simple fact, you should know this being a driver/owner, 1/8 mile is just too quick if you have a 9 second up car. 1/4 mile is fun. 1/8 mile is over before it starts.

Just Wondering - What ever happened to the NHRA buyout deal? Has Mr. Smith run out of money?

Keep up the good work... Rubber side down...

Earl Helm
ET-7714
Salt Lake City, Utah

Priced out of racing?

Your statement about the limited number of people who will be able to field fuel teams is valid. It is beyond my grasp why any attempts to cut the cost have been resisted. If the current hard parts... the blocks, cylinder heads, cranks, and rods are almost living with two pumps, two mags and giant blowers, I think they would be  indestructible with one pump, one mag and a normal size blower. I would think this would slow things down to the point we could run 1320 and the money saved in parts would allow more teams. This idea should also cut down on the frantic rebuilds between rounds.

I also think we need to rethink the aero package in both F/C and T/F. Take away some down-force and they will not need to make so much power. I know this will not be as easy as I make it sound, but we had years of great fuel racing with one pump, one mag and 8-71 blowers. I guess it would not take long for them to get as much fuel volume out of one pump as two, or as many amps out of one mag as two. So that would have to have limits.

It is no easy solution, but it is very plain to see that something must be done to cut costs or we will not even have eight cars in the field. We need to get these cars back where they do not need 18-wheel support trailers to service them for the weekend. There are other areas where the cost is out of control, but it has to start somewhere, and I think the economy will do what the NHRA and the racers have been unwilling to do.

How can Ford or GM go begging the government for money with the budget they have in all forms of racing? Fuel racing has never been cheap, but for many years there were people that ran fuel cars in both classes and made a living. I for one hope the mega bucks will dry up and the giant motor coaches and 18 wheelers will go away.

I could go on and on, but like most all things, big money has hurt fuel racing, not helped it. Thank you for this space.

Robert Brown
Punta Gorda, Florida