I be believe some clarification is needed here. It doesn’t cost 25K to run and set an FIA record at the Shootout. It’s not cheap but nowhere near 25K. I got the FIA numbers from Jim True who was set to run last year at the event. He paid $5,700 to the FIA much of which was refunded because the event was rained out. I understand the FIA as part of this fee pays the Rice brothers to time the event. There was an additional $5,000 due to Mike Cook if the event had run, for a total of $10,700. I don’t know what the ratification fee is if you want the record to go in the books and receive a certificate. I heard someone mention several thousand dollars however I just talked to Ron Main and he said it was cheap he is going to let me know the exact amount when he gets back and I will post it then.
Costs for the FIM portion of which I have direct knowledge as I coordinate this part of the event are as follows:
FIM/AMA sanction fees is $11,400 this includes all costs for air fare, food, lodging rental car for both Charlie who travels from Switzerland and Drew who travels from Chicago to be present at the event. The FIM requires that a certified surveying company lay out the mile and kilo to sub centimeter accuracy this costs $3,000 for a total of $14,400.
Since 2008 Top 1 Oil has picked up the cost for the FIM/AMA and course certification costs if a competitor runs Top 1 Oil graphics, so the cost to run if you run the graphics is just the 5K to Mike Cook for running the event. There is a $400 fee to have the world body ratify the record and issue a certificate.
An event like this is not cheap to put on and Mike has been able to keep it going with the help of some generous people, companies and volunteers. There are large costs such as keeping fire and EMT on standby up to 12 hours a day, insurance, sanitary facilities, course preparation starting a couple months in advance and many other miscellaneous expenses.
As to the need or desire to run for FIA or FIM records it all depends what your goals are. If your goal is to see how fast you can go any of the Bonneville events will give you very accurate timing of your speeds. For those who feel world reorganization is important as it is to our sponsor and ourselves, the FIA or FIM is where you need to be. I look at it this way there are many minor league teams that play under rules the same or similar to major league and have players just as skilled as many in the majors. But if you want to play in the World Series you have got to be in the majors.
