What do you think?

[Dave Haller]

I have seen over the past couple of years some changes out on the salt regarding teams, cars and money spent. The results seem to indicate that the amatuer standing out on the salt is caving in to professional teams and professional builders. I see on the for sale section two very well built cars up for sale now. I know in the lakester class I changed cars and class because I knew I didn't have and never will have the budget to compete with the Hammonds. I know of another northwest car builder who changed classes for the same reason. Now I see a car I would have had some years ago up for sale, the Bigelow lakester. They ran right up to 300 but now are selling a great car. I don't know why McBride and Moreau are selling but that is another excellent car with great potential, budget allowing. In years past I have had convesations with great streamliner teams on limited budget and have heard the opinion they couldn't compete with the unlimited budget teams, even though they had set records themselves over 300mph. So, I'm curious, what do you think about amatuer versus professional builders competing out on the salt?

[SPARKY]

They had better spend more time studying AERO and DRAG than building cars!!!!!!!!  I rebuilt my car 3 times and am considering a 4th time--- as I learn more and more---but Dave you are right about the cubic cost of a competitive eng.

 there are several things that most do that cost them BIG time---9' fords and quick changes

[55chevr]

I dont know how this could be legislated but it is definitely a problem. This is what killed drag racing as it once was.

[Peter Jack]

The advantage in lsr is that there are a lot of classes and generally the wealthier competitors will build for the faster classes. There are also some people who build stuff that looks a lot more expensive than it is because they expend their time and talent in place of the money. Pick a class that you feel you can afford or develop the mindset that you're going after your best speed rather than the class record and go out and enjoy the experience. Remember, racing costs money. How fast do you want to go?

[SPARKY]

55 why in the world would one even think of legislating it- --Jack Costella is gong to be after you   I may not be able to ever run faster than Seth  but I have run almost as fast with 100 less HPand 10 mph faster than the 608 which has 100 more than us...

I love one of the drivers in this class as being quoted---how can he be beating us with that--- Pos---my guess would be that we are addressing more of the issues than they were!!!!!!!!! 

[Freud]

Are we addressing a NEW PROBLEM?

No way. Several teams brought machine shops in a semi trailer in the 50's.

That was expense beyond most peoples budget.

Someone can ALWAYS outspend you.

The course is still there. Build the best u can afford and go racing.

It doesn't require a record to achieve satisfaction.

You always remember the sunrise.

A memory from just competing is PRICELESS

FREUD

[PorkPie]

when something looks beauty and fast - it means not that it's fast........a low budget backyard homebuilt creation can be faster......

[jimmy six]

PP....here here

[Dave Haller]

Somehow I've managed so far, trading, selling and so on. The absolute best is the friends I've made who run out there. Their individual talents, expertise and knowledge is better than most anything out there on the salt. And there is no replacing the memories.
I'm after a 277 record, may never get it but sure am having the very best time trying.

[RichFox]

I am pretty sure the Burklands are not on welfare but it is not a big corporate sponsorship deal either. And it would be hard to find anything lacking on that car. As i have pointed out before. Some of the people I have run against had more money than I. Some were more talented . Some were smarter.  Some worked harder. In fact all of the people who were more talented, smarter and worked harder than I had more money. Wonder if that was a coincidence?

[754]

Look at Amos, his bike built in a 2 car garage from what I heard..

 and the carbed lakester(should read streamliner) that ran 406 on Nitrous, bet that surprised a few people (not saying it was built low budget, pointing out that  some dont think can be done, sometimes is done!)

[Milwaukee Midget]

Money?  In racing?  I'm shocked, shocked to find money in racing!

So, I'm curious, what do you think about amatuer versus professional builders competing out on the salt?

Well, until somebody pulls a paycheck out of LSR racing, the racing itself will never be considered professional, although there are a lot of cars, both home built and shop built, that could be considered "professional builder" cars, regardless of whether or not somebody drew a paycheck to put it together.

Financial attrition is part of the game, be it Formula 1, drag racing, the stock car organization which will remain nameless, or LSR. 

Rethinking strategies is how any team stays viable.  Finances may well be part of it, but do we know for sure why these cars are for sale?  Loss of interest, a new challenge in a different class, health and family issues, age?  These are also factors.  And this sport certainly isn't getting cheaper.

If it meets the rules, you "run what you brung".  Some folks can bring more than others.

 

[SPARKY]

that 406 carb Lakester   was a Streamliner with a PRO STOCK motor!!!!!!!!

[Pat Kinne / Salt201]

   I'm sure you guys remember our real American Hero - Al Teague. He was not the best funded operation to hit the salt but no one worked harder and damned few went faster. I think he retired his two wheel drive race car because he'd wrung out all that was in it and to go any faster was out of his budget - no complaints or whining.  I don't think anyone made and kept more friends than Mr. Teague.  Pat  

[Glen]

Al's 432 run when Gary and I were in the tower was awesome. It was music to hear him shift and to see it go by with a great rooster tail of salt. Words alone could not express what we had wittnessed. What a great day in LSR history, and why we keep coming back.