Cost of Entry Fees getting out of control
 

I just got my first look at this years flyer for the 2012 Cactus Classic
http://cactusclassic.com/WP/wp-conte...ctus-Flyer.png
ALMOST $100 a class REALLY????:flaming:
last years race fees were $65 for first class and $45 each additional and there were a record 487 entries. Now the big box of RC "Hobbytown" takes over and almost doubles the cost. I have to wonder if this will kill not only the attendance but the ability for independent drivers (non-sponsored) to afford to compete in this event. I would say that in the past at least 90% of this races entries were from out of town/state/country. There for most of the racers already have travel costs on top of that not to mention equipment costs with this track having a reputation of KILLING tires, my tire bill alone last year was around $400 bringing my total cost of the trip to almost $2000 and I live in Utah.
Now I understand that no one is forcing me to go to this race but I myself am a Track owner and operator and I just believe that if we continue to increase fees we will hinder the growth that our sport has seen in the last few years. We need to learn from our mistakes in the past if we want to see continued growth. COST is one of the biggest factors that almost killed the sport years ago.
thanks for listening to my .02
END RANT

edit Update from HobbytownSRS
2012 Pro-Line Cactus Classic update!

Included with your first paid entry ($95):
Pro-Line Cactus Classic commemorative pit mat!
Event T-Shirt!
Trophies to the Top 10 in all divisions!

All additional classes now only $55!!!

More updates and to come!

supply and demand, been to a theme park lately? i live in florida and can't afford to take my family to disney world anymore. they are now reaching max capacity at some parks ant keeping people out.

And people were complaining about the $60 entry fee for the Midwest Championships. :rolleyes:

I agree, these are the kinds of things that will kill the hobby for the average joe hobbyist.

Those fee increases are a little on the crazy side.

Well that is a big race and the most people only club race and doesnt really reflect most of us in the hobby but yes i agree $95 is insane for a race fee for raceing r/c cars ! I only club race and raced in one money race which was about $30 for the race fee.

If i remember and for a throphy race it was $25.

But thinking about it this race you posted is for six days so really $95 is not bad if your racing one class of course.

i paid 95 bucks at silverstate 3 years ago. 95 bucks now is no raise in price fees.

If you look at the flyer, you will see the name "Adam Crippen". I know this jack ass and he will most likely ruin this prestigious race. He bought this with his daddy's money, that's how he buys everything. Don't be surprised if this is the last year that big names show up for this race.

Amen to that lol.......i can see the 60-80 entry fees but wow $95 for an outdoor event....that seems to me to keep the "hobbyist" away and let the big boys play only.....my .02

this should police itself
 

I doubt the club race on wed is included! this should police its self. look at all the classes, 13.5 17.5 common really! If we racers go and pay 95 bucks to race 13.5 or 17.5 we are the ones to blame. Make a statment and don't go.

$255 to race 3 classes........ :rolleyes:

Talk about getting bent over... Time will tell, if the roster fills up, then it's not the guys asking for it that are crazy, it's the guys that are paying it.

I'm certainly not good enough to race in a $100 entry fee race. So I'd be out. But if I was and I was flying out there and staying all week and buying tires and such, it's actually or that bad. What's a day pass to Disney?

Only 12 classes?

so im guessing that $95 covers tuesday-sunday of racing.. including a CLUB RACE too :D

Thats why i mostly club race and do only some money races and thropy races the most il pay is $30 to $40 to race . I only way i whould go to a big event espially if its not a close track.

Is to pitch in money with somebody else to offset the race fee etc.

YOU ARE A MORON!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you KNOW Adam like you say you do HIS Daddy hasn't had to pay for anything of his in YEARS!!! That and "BIG NAMES"
Don't pay anyways their Sponsorship does MORON!!!

For comparison:

http://maps.wera.com/fees/?x=1098

That's for 1:1 full scale racing in a national series paying out contingency money. That includes full time corner workers, crash truck, ambulance on site.

$100 for the privilege of racing your toy car is way too much.

+1 thats crazy

+1, yeah its pretty ridiculous...
A good way to weed out all the non sponsored racers...
If that's their goal.

Good luck setting any entry records this year!

tell the track owners with your attendance
 

Seriously, if it's too expensive then don't show up. i agree about 100 being too high but then again, it's worth what people are willing to pay. it's how markets control price and it's capitalism at it's best. if no one shows up and the price stays high, you will see other "big" races popping up and the cactus will dwindle.

on the other hand, if entries stay the same, i would expect that other big races will get more expensive too.

I saw the same happen as a National, State, and Local area Tennis Tournament Player. Fees got so high that they drove approximatly fifty percent of the entrants away. At that point, guys did not want to play the same two or three guys per week, thus they stopped showing up and there were even less categories (Downward spiral). Greed has ruined our society. What ever happend to the concept of love of the sport and providing good value? The latter is a case where affordability decreased participation.

+1. Tell them with attendance. If the attendance numbers are bad maybe they will get it. I can't believe though how many people complain about paying for race fees (even when they are high) like for this race when your going to be spending 100's if not 1000's to go to the race. If you can't afford it don't go. When it comes to these big races it's a matter of supply and demand and usually the high race fee helps to keep the bashers and hacks away. Is $95 high, hell yes, would it stop me from going? Hell no.

Guys, have to remember some of these guys are trying to simply turn a profit. I can understand covering the cost to run the race....RDs, lights, power etc. That much marshals should be included.

Hey, if you can convince some big names to pass due to entry fees ie the Ryans, Dustin, Jared, maybe the promoters will take note. My limit is $50 and 3 classes, and in state. Lol. TX is big enough.

Is this the race that escorted the LiveRC crew out, or whatever happened, a couple years ago because of paid sponsor commitments?

Maybe the high cost of entry has something to do with any extra permits the track might have to acquire to hold this event. I'd imagine they'd have to get some porta potties, maybe acquire some overflow parking and if they serve food there or have food vendors there, permits might have to be acquired for that as well. Plus, with some municipalities you have to acquire a permit to even have a larger event as well.

Now this is coming from a guy that has never been to the Cactus Classic or is familiar with Scottsdale AZ ordinances but there might be more to the cost than just trying to fleece the racers.

i thought about that as well. the bigger anything is the more expensive it gets. I haven't been to cactus but i hear it's fun but u fly through tires and even chassis'. but then again if all 500 entries only ran 1 class, the total race entry revenue would be $47,500. This doesn't include the parts, tires, etc that people will pick up there.

Wow what a rip off to the consumer. Our track had 450 plus for a race in December and the cost was 1/2 that and you got a T Shirt. It is an indoor race where you raced for a $50 fee and got to run from Tuesday til Sunday night. All indoors with heated pits, full hobbyshop and kitchen on site. Way more overhead than an outdoor race. Our owner would never bend the racers over like that.

Thats a good deal :nod:

That's a very good point about all the extra money they'll make off of parts. Even with all the sponsored guys I'm sure stock will be flying off the shelves.

I wouldn't pay $100 to race but if it's that popular that they can even thing of charging that then so be it I guess.

I know! We have our big race here is indoors, you get practice all week, 2 days of racing, heated pits, nice stocked hobby shop, and $30 for the first class and $20 each additional class... I will be there every year!

Cactus classic; it would be nice but $95 to get to pit outside in the sun and sandstorms... Yeah probably not... I will watch it on live rc though!

You had better be for real about "racing" to run that race. (A-GAME only racers) That said. The more Moolah generated in events like this will make RC Racing taken more seriously as a sport rather than as a toy/hobby. That's big money generated for the state and city as well.
Over the years with entries low I have seen a lot of club racers hold back from club racing to run in the big shows. Maybe if they keep up these prices club racing can thrive again. Club racing is vital to build a stronger amount of racers. Although I'm sure there will be many more events smaller than this for many to run in.

The more mature we become as a Sport the more we will have to accept the cost to race in venues of this caliber.

I would pay half that to know I didn't have a chance to make the A, But 100.? No way. I'm not that serious about it.

I agree, $95 to race in the G Main... Nah... I can do that here at home! ;)

Expensive race!

Just to add fuel to fire....

Cost of Gas for driving from Tri states NV, AZ, CA ($250 safe side)
Air fair... Around the country ($500 round trip safe side)
Lodging... ($400 safe side for 3days)
Food for 3 Days... ($150 safe side)
Parts if you break your Ish while racing... ($80 safe side and if they have your parts in stock?)

$1,380 just to get there. Let alone the entry fee? I stopped racing WERA 1000c sport bikes cause the economy adjustment.

We are talking about RC cars right? Not the real racing where you can break bones or get paralyzed right?

Just say'n.........

Pretty steep! Used to pay half that and get a handout motor! High price will ensure that only the truly serious will attend. Myself, don't have the time or see the need to attend a big race like this. Happy to club race when I can and enjoy my hobby in my own way.

just got taken out of my race schedule....:rolleyes:

I dont know about that club racing tracks ive seen get constant turnouts every weekend on outdoor tracks. Now is there other club tracks that get bad turnouts sure that just happens 90% its the way the program is ran if the track is good or not i know.

No, you can't. If you could (race in a G-main at a club race) then this race's entry fee would be a lot higher. ;)

I don't get all the salty posts. If it's too steep, don't go.

"$1,380 just to get there. Let alone the entry fee? I stopped racing WERA 1000c sport bikes cause the economy adjustment.

We are talking about RC cars right? Not the real racing where you can break bones or get paralyzed right?"

Yes, RC cars. Based on your cost to go/stay equation, the entry fee is insignificant.

I like skiing. Unless I find a special deal, I can spend $100 per day to ski at a premier resort in the Rockies. It hurts my wallet but I love it and it's still way cheaper than drugs or hookers. Plus I get to stay married. :lol:

Perhaps a touch off subject, but I can only imagine how much Mr. Hohwart’s little outfit spends on a race like this. With all of the various level AE drivers that I assume attend. Far more than race fees as many have mentioned. Yikes!

in some parts of the town you could easily have both for under $100. :lol:

No, I did! Locally at a "big race" though, it was either the F or G main I don't remember... Yeah those guys in Enid are fast! Spent $30 or 35 for for the first class there, got beat badly, but had a ton of fun and have a t-shirt and pit towel to remember it bye!