Originally Posted by 071crazy

Such bad advice. That's precisely why local tracks are disappearing. Most people get into the hobby by visiting the LHS. People want to see the actual products they are buying. Even if the local track isn't run by the LHS, it still gets a lot of indirect support from being there to sell stuff when needed. Good luck getting those parts off ebay when you need them for the following morning.

If you think that your race entry fees cover the true operating costs of a track, you are sorely mistaken. A lot of clubs with lower race fees rely on volunteer help to build and maintain tracks. They would not survive if you had to pay the track crew.

Look, you can get a lot of good, legit deals on ebay. No question about it. But keep in mind that you're leaning on other local racers to support the local racing program. It's the local racers buying from the LHS that keeps the racing scene alive, not the ebay and mail order buyers. If every racer buys from ebay and mail order, then the local track scene falls apart and everyone loses.