When I was way into the DS, I was spending about $300 a week.



WHOA........ I am lucky to be able to spend 300.00 a month. lol. I think I need a job like you. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: ctateusa1

When I was way into the DS, I was spending about $300 a week.







WHOA........ I am lucky to be able to spend 300.00 a month. lol. I think I need a job like you. [img][/img]</end quote></div>

HAHA! I need a job like I had back then too! LOL

 

Marky your right. Sledding is more expensive. It also has an average rider age of 40 years old. So most of the people are past the growing stage. But in most classes, ten grand into an older machine gets you competitive. If you have a new 10,000 dollar machine, and add 5 to it the right way, you will again be at the top. You will win some and loose some, but you will be competitive.
With bikes, if you want to be competitive, it cost alot more than that I know. But I have a good engine. If they start having closer class structure, it could be competitive in its class range. A chassis could run me some coin, but its still less than a sled. Right now, the class structure is so loose, it takes a ton of money to win. All it would take is some 4-5, 5-6, 6-7 and so forth class sizes to make it more affordable for alot of folks. Thats my angle anyhow. Then comes the mod classes with the chassis. Similar to how sleds run.

 

I think an all-out 4-Stroke Race Series is the ticket to getting the class structure under control so more people can enjoy this sport and actually will have a chance at winning without going bankrupt trying to be competitive.

There are some very valid points in this thread and I cant help but agree with all. There is a certain amount of money that HAS to be spent with the current class structure the way it is, just to be competitive in atv drag racing as a whole. Ah, how nice would it be to have contingency programs in place for the "not-so-fortunate" crowd of racers who really cant afford to spend the massive bucks on their machines!

I'll give yall a little glimpse into what I was doing before atv drag racing...........I used to shoot competition archery on a national level. It would take me anywhere between $2500-$3000 out of pocket to be equipped with the very best of everything in that industry....that still doesnt make you a top tier shooter. This is not including hotels, meals, transportation to and from the tournaments. This can also be very expensive, if you would allow it. But besides the initial "out-of-pocket" money, the only maintenance there is on a bow is the string ($35-$60) each and arrows ($60-$120) per dozen. As I have stated, this is "out of pocket" money that does not include any "outside" help. Now, almost EVERY company from the one's who manufacture the release aids, sights, arrows, overdraws, strings, quivers, scopes to the actual bow companies, offer some kind of contingency program that you can sign up for absolutely free. If you look at it this way, its not a whole lot of money at all to atleast look like your a top tier shooter.

In the atv drag racing industry, you had better get ready to throw atleast $10,000 over the actual cost of the machine to even come close to looking like your a top tier racer.

 

Jed,

So are you thinking about starting up a drag association? If so, what would be the differences between that and the already established sand drag association? Just curious, I do see business potential.

 

Choose, exactly. It works similar in most all competitions. The little money you make back, sure helps you want to return and try again. Right now is Atv drag racing, you have best have your ducks in a row, and a fairly open checkbook.

Marky, no not starting anything. I started this thread mearly for some discussion on it. I would like to race, serious race. That does not mean I am looking to spend alot. I want to go where I have a chance. First a chance at winning, and then a chance to make some money. I have never paid for anything I have raced by winnings. So I am not looking to do that, just make it worth my time. Maybe win my entry fees, fuel, dinner, heck lunch, something. My chassis talk was because of one thing really. Without basically taking a stock Ds chassis down to nothing, it will not be competitive with a stripped down 700 Raptor. This new engine is only a year old. With some more development, I see it taking out some big names. But stick the Ds engine in a chassis comparable in weight as another drag chassis Raptor, and then I think we can be very competitive.

There has been alot of talk going on lately with the FSCS, and the flat draggers and what have you. I like how they are all independent from one another. I like single race series alot better than multiple series. You can pick and choose the event you go to. But just trying to get a feel for whats going on. Most people are still stuck with how its ran, because thats how its been. It will not grow leaps from here is the classes are not changed. You cannot expect a well done drag engine, in a full done drag chassis, to compete with the same with 200 less cc's. The smaller bikes are getting it done because of weight. Once that field is leveled, the game will change.

Atleast thats how I see it.

Anyone?

 

Jed, I think you make some very vaild points about the smaller bikes competing with the bikes with larger displacements. I also agree that if the field is ever leveled, there will be no comparison.

But, I do think the only way the larger cc bikes will be able to get down to the same weight as the smaller cc bikes will be totally titanium chassis's and with that said, the smaller cc bikes will also have that option at their disposal.

Of course, we are talking very expensive chassis's that can be purchased by the two methods we are discussing in this thread....the rich or the sponsored.

I do think there will need to be a circuit created that distinguishes the difference between 2 & 4 stroke racing. I think Planetsand is a very respectable platform for which 2 strokes can become recognized by larger companies such as the atv manufacturers. But, even they are having a hard time with "catching-the-eye" of these folks.

I would applaud any entity, whether it be a person or a company of people, who is willing to step up to officially organize and orchestrate such an association amongst the 4-stroke ranks that will garner the attention of the atv manufacturers so that we can start seeing contingencies poured into this industry.

I do believe the potential is here, its just gonna take someone to step up to the plate and get this ball rolling..........

 

You guys look at the crowd on August 18th and we will see where its gonna go.

Tom, The gentleman in charge of the new 4 stroke series is very tenatious and has alot of recources and backing $$ to make this race into something bigger than ever IMO.. There is mass marketing of this race, ITS FREE, And there are already cash pools from sponsors of the race that will be distributed after race to winners of big bore class and small bore winner. I think a few others are doing this as well.

As long as there are no favorites and people are FAIR at the line and starting line. The great thing about it is that all the volunteers are from nuetral ground. So the line judges and finishline judges will not be with a certain group. I remember complaints about that in the past FSW NOT FSCS.

Another thing people have to realise it that if your just racing with one motor, and she blows your gonna have to re-build $$$ and FAST because races are comming fast. Which I agree it costs a CRAP load of $ to stay on top. Unless you have a reliable HIGH hp motor and good luck you might not be able to hang. But there are classes that cater to those who dune etc. It all depends on the person spending the money on the machine. And if you really want to get real then look how crazy some of us are just to be in it for the building and set up process and then have a pilot race it. Everyone is doing this now days to stay competitive. We are forced to.

I dont know if you guys know this but the Dumont PSFSA race on the 8th of december is permitted. I am helping with this race set-up. If anyone wants to help at the dumont race let me know. Thanks.


Jed WTF are you thinkin? lol I think your gonna build another single cyl so your not stuck out of races. Dont worry, You should know that we can have fun at these races and hopefully do good. So get her rollin!

 

Lol, Mario I understand where you are coming from. But I would be much more inclined to go to laughlin in November, or back to the races in Rexburg Id, than Pismo. I would however, go to Pismo to have a great time. Anytime I could hang with you guys I know will be fun. But I am not interested in building a stock chassis bike, at all. Most of all the people runing the current series will keep it as such, since they have the advantage. I dont blame then at all either.
I'll tell you what, I went over from my dunes vacation and watched the racing going on in Rexburg that Kam(KBR performance), and Brindley(Hansen Performance) put on. First thing I noticed, it was just like the FSCS, and very well organized. Second they had a good turn out. The bad thing was the lighter drag bikes kicked **** again. Not really one of the big bores ran all too well against them. Now most of these folks are hillshooters, filling in with flat drags. But its a good start.

 

I think its been established that you cannot crossover the two (hillshooting/flat drags). We all know to be the best you can be in both venues requires a bike setup for that application.

Im personally interested in supporting both kinds of racing, whether it be hillshooting or flat drags. But, as Jed has said, it will be like it always has been until someone officially steps up to the plate and makes the hard push to bring a solid set of rules/classes that will be fair to the vast majority of racers who love to compete. I dont think the major manufacturers will even give it a look if there arent a firm set of rules/classes in place to outline the intent of this competition. The first thing they are gonna take into consideration is safety. The second thing they are gonna look at is money. Its what you can give back to them for what they put on the line.

Mario, I think Tom and the rest of you guys are doing a fantastic job out West with organizing these "free" races. Your endeavor is much appreciated and will not go unnoticed. But on the same token, there must be a definite start/stop system in place to accurately identify the winner/loser of each class.