Hey, I am not complaining... well kinda.Hey Knox... do the math per lap for the UTV guys with what they have invested. You won't feel so bad. It's all in perspective and it's about having fun and spending time with family. One day you'll look back and $40 a lap to watch your son have fun, it'll be worth it.
That's only $280 + food ONLY he said.
Promoters are not going to like this but I am pretty sure we are done with Saturday practice. First it is just practice so the only thing that counts is track time and with all the people there you only get 20 to 30 min of actual seat time. Not worth it for just practice.
Skipped practice Sunday morning due to the mud. Son got lapped in both motos so it ended up being $40.33 a lap... WOW, why did I figure that up? Now I really feel bad.
Still, it will not keep me from going to races. That's how much I hate open practice.
Our average spend with over 4 years of data is 200 per race event. That's sign up, gate and practice fees racing 2 classes. Travel expenses and an occasional hotel stay. I don't factor in food or maintenance on the machines. Battle races a bit more than the average race, usually due to extra practice and hotel. 5000 yearly race budget= 15 races a year, a few open practices and parts.. I'm curious... factoring everything in, how much does a weekend like this cost the average racer/family?
BTW... I've seen a bunch of UTV racing this year between GNCCs and these "expedition" races. I think it's awesome. I'm making a big push internally here at the AMA to adopt UTV racing more. I believe it's another way to generate revenue for track owners and get spectators through the gates. But I'm getting push back from my bosses because of the insurance perspective (the chance for more claims means higher insurance rates for all promoters and a claim with a UTV could be a big one) and the fact "it doesn't have handlebars, so it's not a motorcycle." Which I think is stupid.
I work for members... what do you guys think? I think UTVs could bridge the gap of having true ATV events separate from Bike events. In today's world, most organizers can't split their crowds unless the event is something like the battle. But if we could develop ATV and UTV events, it could have entries to stand on its own. Thoughts?
For the record, I grew up in Kentucky and ATV racing is big in Kentucky. I always wanted the ATV guys there because they bring the hottest girls. I've got mad respect for ATV guys on and off the track. So we might want to leave things alone.
Kinda getting off topic (I know, big surprise) but I would think a track would want to cash in on the quad / UTV obstacle course racing that you see on TV. Not sure what it is called but I have watched it more than a few times. Pretty cool and on a specific course just for them. Pretty good crowd to watch them and heck, its on TV