Tow money vs Entry fee

[Gunjumper]

Good point Ed...

As I read Eddie's post, I realized how much I agree with him, oh Ed your just so smart! lol... I attended Dayton and Constantine last year for the first time, the entry fees were more then I'm used to paying (I know it's a lake charge), and it was a 9 and 11 hour drive each race each way, all while diesel prices were thru the roof. All this for regular points, my wife thought we were nuts! I still went with no tow or prize money because I heard they were spectacular races, well run, great pits, hosted parties, and the best competition in the country. Both weekends were pretty expensive, and now looking back, would $50 in tow money or cheaper entries have made the decision? no... I was coming either way. So like mentioned earlier, invest the money back into the races, positive word of mouth about a quality race site is more enticing than a couple of bucks. Someone else mentioned earlier that this is racing, we know it's going to be pricey, we work hard all week long to compete on the weekends. I'm not saying that shaving a few bucks here or there wouldn't be nice, but if I'm going to spend my hard earned money, provide me with a quality race, not a few bucks back, that's what I go to work for. So congratulations Dayton and Constantine, you've both earned a years worth of positive advertizing for anyone passing thru my pits, and you even kept your $50 bucks... GL

[blueskyracer]

I believe that Eddie and Gunjumper have nailed it. Like I also said earlier the quality of the race and word of mouth about past races are what get the folks to come.

So put the money and time into putting on a great race and they will come. Make it fun and for the whole family and the event will be put on the calender for the next year in a heart beat.

Tow money will never keep pace with the current rise in fuel cost. Since everyone loves racing we just have to bite the bullit and eat more Hamburger Helper.

[Larry Mac]

I would agree money isn't the only factor in going to a race but it can help. Everybody keeps using $50.00 as a number for tow money. How about $150 to $200 dollars. This is very possible with some of our races if we use all the money for tow money. Some people are not going to cross over to another organization I don't care how nice the race course is or how much prize money is involved. I know this if both races are about the same and one has money and the other doesn't guess which one I'm going to.
Larry Mac

[mercguy]

family discount.....

I will say this about large racing families: One of the west coast clubs used to have a Family Rate for entry fees. I'm not sure what it was but the rate was based upon 5 or 6 entries and capped the rate for the weekend for that family. Thus, regardless of the number of entries for the family, the rate was the same.

We ought to consider this since most of our racers are multi-generational and we need all the entries we can get at each race. Ed.

I agree the family discount is a good idea (done in Reg 12), but think it could be modified. Let's say a guy (single family member) that runs 3 or more classes have a set fee of let's say $150 for the weekend, then any adittional classes, he/she would race for free. I know that would add a few more entrys to the weekends racing. I would race more than 3 classes some times, if the price was right. It (entry fees) must really kill a person, like Tony Lombardo, Palmquist, J.Micheal Kelly, etc, who race 4, sometime more classes per weekend..........

I do not think it would cost the conducting club any money to do this and would put on a better show, with more boats in each class.........and might bring in a few more bucks.......

[mercguy]

I believe that Eddie and Gunjumper have nailed it. Like I also said earlier the quality of the race and word of mouth about past races are what get the folks to come.

So put the money and time into putting on a great race and they will come. Make it fun and for the whole family and the event will be put on the calender for the next year in a heart beat.

Tow money will never keep pace with the current rise in fuel cost. Since everyone loves racing we just have to bite the bullit and eat more Hamburger Helper.

hey "blueskyracer", a couple of really "entertaining" races you might want to attend in Reg10 are: Newberg race in Oregon (CORA/APBA) and the Lake Pleasant race in Washington (Whidbey Island Roostertails), both have greats events after the races!

[Dave M]

More Good Points - Thanks

Good Thread BW.

Perhaps this all comes back to how the race is run. You want a quality party ? Then do it, reduce the time in the day you spend racing and throw an awesome party at around 5:00 pm - Till close. The problem with good parties, is everyone is worn out from getting up a dawn to set things up if multiple classes, even more so. Spend the entire day under the sun, on the water, turn boat, racing, running for tools, helping others, etc. We are plum tuckered out come 8:00 PM when a lot of nice places stop racing. Who wants to go to a party stinking, hungry, worn out and tired ? They simply want to go rest and relax after a shower in the room. Go get something to eat whatever.

Reduce the wariness of the racers with the dawn till dusk and I bet your parties will get all the better.

By the way bluesky, they throw parties at Chuckie Cheese too, kids love it. I still stand fast that the reason I go to a "race" is to race. The other stuff is bonus. I know I am not in the minority. I can attend a boat race as a spectator and get all the great benefits of parties without the cost of a rig too, problem solved. Buy a Yugo for gas mileage, and I have a cheap $200 weekend.

So, some good things to strive for Race Chairpeople -
Flat Rate Entry Fees, cap it under a hundred for multiple classes for the weekend.

Offer Tow Money that has impact.

Throw one hell of a party in the best spot. I prefer the pits myself because if I have to work on something I can and still enjoy the comrarerie.

To much to ask ? I don't think so, it just takes the manpower to get it done. I see it done every year at least two races. Don't have races where it is impossible to get sponsor money. Build the good ones where you can.

[dholt]

This is an excellent thread

It is clearly evident after reading the posts that there are many factors that people use to determine whether or not they attend a race site. Some matter more than others.

So, Ed...it's not so black and white.

If great pits, water, timely schedule and a party were all the mattered...then Alexandria, Ky. would have had 120 entries over the past couple years instead of the 70 we've been getting.


Where a race falls in the schedule and where it's physically located are huge factors.

This year, we'll get those 120 boats...same race, same everything except it's the Divisionals. So, there's another factor...importance/relevance of an event.

If Grass Lake was in the U.P. instead of lower Michigan, you'd get 30 boats there, not 130 like now.


And if Dayton was in April, you'd get 25 boats there.

And I'm with Dave. Go to a race to race first. We can all party without spending thousands on fuel and race equipment.

[dholt]

Forgot to mention, Alexandria, Ky. has a NEW date this year.

That will also help increase attendance.

[Big Don]

Dana,

Not throwing stones but for future divisionals/nationals/NAC races, those dates should be kept out of the school season. If the reason we don't have a winter nationals is so we don't encourage kids to miss school then we should have the same rules applying to the divisionals and other big races for the J catagory. That is during finals and kids shouldn't be pulled out of school to race (my opionion)

Unfortunatly we will not be able to attend becasue of that.

[Big Don]

I agree we don’t choose any of the races we attend because of the entry fee, tow money or even the prize money. We go because we want to race. I want a well run race, a good chance of racing on good water, and good competition. (I personally am not influenced by the after race activities. Can’t say they same for the rest of my family though ) We do like it at Rochelle when they give you a break on entry fee’s, every little bit helps.

Don’t take this wrong…any financial break would be appreciated but reduced entry fees or tow money is certainly not what keeps us from attending. Our budget does… one could argue that by getting those things it would help the budget…it would but it certainly is not going to convince me to drive 500 to a race for 50.00 in tow money.

I sat down the other day and looked at the race schedule and figured what races we most likely will attend this year. I then figured out the miles that we will drive to get to those races. It was 11 or 12 races, includes the nationals….it came to 6800 miles for the summer. At 9 miles to the gallon… $3.50 per gallon and it may it 4.00 by summer … @ $3.50 it is $2644.00 if it goes to 4.00 add another 400.00 to that. Then add entry fee to that… we average 14 for the weekend that comes to about another $5000.00. I’m sure it’s no surprise to anyone that for most racers the cost of getting to the race is what cost the most these days. We are the exception along with a few other families. What does that mean…it means that some of the races that we wanted to attend are going to have to be cut out because our budget just can’t afford it.

Don’t mean to rain on anyone’s parade but it is reality….I have to wonder how many other racers will be in the same boat with the raising gas prices.

Bottom line for most racers is… they are going to go to the races their budgets can afford to let them attend.

[dholt]

Don,

I appreciate the school issue thing. But as you know, with the rotation of the Divisionals between R 6 clubs and where we have available water...can't always pick when you want to race.

I'm with you on the cost of going to races.

I think Tow Money is the best option for the majority of racers. TRORA plans a return to Akron (Lakemore, OH.) Springfield Lake July 19-20...sponsor plans to pay out big Tow $. 4-5k

[14-H]

***I sat down the other day and looked at the race schedule and figured what races we most likely will attend this year. I then figured out the miles that we will drive to get to those races. It was 11 or 12 races, includes the nationals….it came to 6800 miles for the summer. At 9 miles to the gallon… $3.50 per gallon and it may it 4.00 by summer … @ $3.50 it is $2644.00 if it goes to 4.00 add another 400.00 to that. Then add entry fee to that… we average 14 for the weekend that comes to about another $5000.00. ***.

I would recommend that none of you do this. This is a dangerous endeavor especially if this type of information falls into the wrong hands (like the wife)! Eddie.

[Big Don]

I also don't recommend doing that either. I was depressed for days after...
Good thing Krysti doesn’t not go on this site...

[14-H]

I***

Good thing Krysti doesn’t not go on this site...

Anna does, so cut it out!

[bill boyes]

What I think is going to happen is that racers will be more selective which races they will attend. The ones that have good memories and over the one that were not so good.