Price of the Cars?

[jbarnet]

Iv been going to The Pod since I was 5 and now being 21 would love to get involved in my favourite sport. My favourite class is super gas and would love a Ford pop, anyone have any idea of the money i would need to have to buy or to make car to compete in this class? Also how much it would cost to run? e.g gas? spares? registration fees? etc etc?

I would also love to know how much a top fuel retails at, obviously i cant afford it but would like to know because they never put the price up on the swap/meet on eurodragster.com.

Thanks

[afd]

jbarnet said:

Iv been going to The Pod since I was 5 and now being 21 would love to get involved in my favourite sport. My favourite class is super gas and would love a Ford pop, anyone have any idea of the money i would need to have to buy or to make car to compete in this class? Also how much it would cost to run? e.g gas? spares? registration fees? etc etc?

I would also love to know how much a top fuel retails at, obviously i cant afford it but would like to know because they never put the price up on the swap/meet on eurodragster.com.

Thanks

I guess for the car you are looking at around £10K upwards for a competitive car
Then you want your safety gear (suit, helmet gloves boots etc) about £600 ish
Registration is about £30 to join one of the clubs, and a about the same to join the MSA I think
Then around £200 a meeting to enter, and put gas in it.

And thats if you don't break anything.

Then of course you need to get to the track and sleep there, so the skys the limit there, you could get an old Transit, and trailer and sleep in the back, about £1500 to £2000, or you could buy an all singing all dancing Motor home from Gold RV or similar, and a fully specced trailer looking around £100K is for that little lot.

How much do you have?

[p15ton]

jbarnet said:

Iv been going to The Pod since I was 5 and now being 21 would love to get involved in my favourite sport. My favourite class is super gas and would love a Ford pop, anyone have any idea of the money i would need to have to buy or to make car to compete in this class? Also how much it would cost to run? e.g gas? spares? registration fees? etc etc?

I would also love to know how much a top fuel retails at, obviously i cant afford it but would like to know because they never put the price up on the swap/meet on eurodragster.com.

Thanks

How does it go, "If you have to ask......."

Edited by p15ton on Monday 9th October 13:58

[afd]

p15ton said:

jbarnet said:

Iv been going to The Pod since I was 5 and now being 21 would love to get involved in my favourite sport. My favourite class is super gas and would love a Ford pop, anyone have any idea of the money i would need to have to buy or to make car to compete in this class? Also how much it would cost to run? e.g gas? spares? registration fees? etc etc?

I would also love to know how much a top fuel retails at, obviously i cant afford it but would like to know because they never put the price up on the swap/meet on eurodragster.com.

Thanks

How does it go, "If you have to ask......."

Edited by p15ton on Monday 9th October 13:58

Don't agree with that, the guy could be a billionaire, just carefull with his money.

I was told that by a guy once about a landrover he had for sale, I bought one from a guy next to him, cost himself the sale being arsey

[Miss Corrado]

afd said:

Then around £200 a meeting to enter.

Bit pricey isn't it?

For a four day event its only around the £120 mark (Two day £110 and three day £115)

Edited by Miss Corrado on Monday 9th October 17:39

Edited by Miss Corrado on Monday 9th October 17:40

[NuthinFancy]

Fuel altered entry is £125 for a 2 day meeting, it will be about £100 for sportsman cars.

[anonymous-user]

From memory, a rolling chassis for a Pop (CDS to 7.50ET), would be between £4.5k-£6k. A crate motor from JEG's or similar would be sufficient for your needs, as would a TH400 or glide from the same source. The motor would, for example (based on JEG's numbers)be around $5k, the trans around $1200 or so.

There's always used Pops around for sale, some being traditional hotrods, others being Ex-O/A or similar, which wont necessarily tag, but the components within them may have some worth as a basis for starters.

Bear in mind though, doorslammers will always be the more pricey route.

A Fuel Altered or front engined fueler would be an alternative.....hehe.

[jbarnet]

At the moment Iv got about 6.5k. Looks like Il have to save a bit more. Seen a couple of motors on eurodragster.com for less but its not a pop.
May be one day.
Can always dream.

Nuthin Fancy (from memory think ur Doug Bonds son) how much did it cost you to get the altered? lovely machine and definatly one of the best classes to race in. Good luck next year!!!!!!!!!!!

[MotorPsycho]

keep your eye out in custom car and on eurodragster over the winter, always bargains to be had for £6.5k you might be able to get summat, probably super street (10.90) though can always run there for a bit and step up later

[bowler]

jbarnet said:

I would also love to know how much a top fuel retails at, obviously i cant afford it but would like to know because they never put the price up on the swap/meet on eurodragster.com.

If you’re really that interested, a UK based racer, put his T/F car (inc spares I think) up for sale, on ED’s Swap Meet, just under 2 years ago. A proven low 5/high 4 second runner. Yours at the time for £90k. The Ad was withdrawn some weeks later though, when he got a sponsor.

Also, this article offers some hints as to what stuff costs

http://dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.a

Anyway, I reckon that the reason why prices aren’t usually mentioned is for 2 reasons

*It stops people like us, on Forum’s, speculating about what you get (or don’t) get for the money

*Racers know roughly how much the need before they pick up the phone

Get saving!

[topnitro]

bowler said:

Also, this article offers some hints as to what stuff costs

http://dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.a

[/quote]

Good article, Bowler. Well spotted and very informative.

[hodgy587]

you sound just like i did 8 years ago, id been going to the pod since i was 4 and at about 19 or 20 i decided to take the plunge and get involved so i get where your coming from.
How about an unfinished project? always a cheaper way of doing things if your able to do the work yourself and your aware of what your buying.
When we planned our car we knew we didnt have a big budget so chose rear engine dragster/s.b.c combination as it was the cheapest way of reaching the times we wanted. i.e very light car and relatively cheap engine, Add to that we didnt go for any bells and whistles just the essentials we needed and also did all the work ourselves.
Weve ended up with a car that runs 9s and is competative for not a huge amount of money.
Id say set yourself realistic goals and be sure of what you want and if its going to work.

be warned drag racing is all consuming if im not working on the car im researching into new ideas, but the rewards, fun, freinds, and sights youll see along the way are well worth it.
www.587racing.com
www.ojzengineering.co.uk

[MotorPsycho]

I'd differ on that, in the end a turn key race car is cheaper I think, especially if you havent got access to the equipment etc to finish off a project, cost can rack up very quickly!

take a look at www.racingjunk.com loads of cars for sale and some absolute bargains, but you got shipping over here to consider

[bowler]

[quote=topnitro
Good article, Bowler. Well spotted and very informative.[/quote]

I take no credit for spotting this - someone referenced it on the Mater

[hodgy587]

MotorPsycho said:

I'd differ on that, in the end a turn key race car is cheaper I think, especially if you havent got access to the equipment etc to finish off a project, cost can rack up very quickly!

take a look at www.racingjunk.com loads of cars for sale and some absolute bargains, but you got shipping over here to consider

hence i said if your able to do the work and are aware of what your buying, we all know what a minefield it is out there with cars that are out of spec, just commenting on my own experience really.
on that note id also suggest getting hold of a rulebook so you know what spec a car needs to be if you go to look at some.

[jon c]

First Step, Join one of the clubs. Santa Pod Racers Club is my suggested one, but then I did work for them, so I am biased! APIRA also do an excellent job as well. (Other drag race sanctioning bodies are available)

Second step, as suggested, get a 2007 rule book as soon as published.

Third step, talk to people in the class already. Without exception, racers are a lovely group of people who will be only too keen to help out with advice. The sport is still small enough in Europe that it is in everyone's interest to foster enthusiasm and help the classes grow. SPRC are very very approachable as well, and Paula or Ian will be more than happy to point you in the right direction.

Fourth Step, If you do decide to take the plunge, Go for it! A pop would not be my personal choice for a super consistent 9.90 car, but lots of people have made it work, and at the end of the day, it's your dream!. Also, dont be afraid to look over the North Sea for cars as well. The pound seems ok at the moment, and nordic race cars, regardless of discipline, are almost always immaculate. Motors can also be leased, Jeff Bull seems a popular choice. Methanol systems mean you can almost hot lap, so dual entry (ooohh errr missus) becomes an option to double your fun, or get another driver to cut costs.

HTH

JC

[afd]

Miss Corrado said:

afd said:

Then around £200 a meeting to enter.

Bit pricey isn't it?

For a four day event its only around the £120 mark (Two day £110 and three day £115)

Edited by Miss Corrado on Monday 9th October 17:39

Edited by Miss Corrado on Monday 9th October 17:40

Yeah, should have said that it included getting there as well (like petrol for tow car etc)

[bigmouse]

It will cost approximately 3 times what you want/expect it to
Then you'll break something quite unexpectedly and it will cost you even more.
Then you'll wish you never got started. And then you'll start again.
Then you'll promise yourself that if you hurt it again you'll leave it for a couple of years before spending anymore money
Then you'll find the money to fix it about 2 nanoseconds after making the decision above.
Then someone else will buy a shiny new part and you have to have one of them too (shiny, shiny catchey monkey advertising works well in drag racing )

Drugs addictive? they have no idea.

[slikk]

Our Top Meth dragster costs about £350 per run when you factor in everything needed for a weekend.

HTH

kim

[p15ton]

bigmouse said:

It will cost approximately 3 times what you want/expect it to
Then you'll break something quite unexpectedly and it will cost you even more.
Then you'll wish you never got started. And then you'll start again.
Then you'll promise yourself that if you hurt it again you'll leave it for a couple of years before spending anymore money
Then you'll find the money to fix it about 2 nanoseconds after making the decision above.
Then someone else will buy a shiny new part and you have to have one of them too (shiny, shiny catchey monkey advertising works well in drag racing )

Drugs addictive? they have no idea.

I love you so much, Ray...!