In The Pits Forum Board

Hey,

I am getting back into racing and using a buddies car that has been sitting, my question is do I have to have an IMCA license before racing there? Is there a grace period to get it for a new driver? This will be in the Stock Car division not running for points or anything like that. Also I am bringing a friend up with his GN will he have to pay anything other than the registration to race?


Thanks,

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Patrick Forsythe -- Driver 83 Factory Stock (black and Yellow Ford) and anything else I can get my hands on.

I am pretty sure that to race your I-stock that you must have an IMCA liscense. When you race, you will have the full benefits of the IMCA. (Insurance, etc) Thus, you will need to be a member before you race. You can fill out the registration at the track. For the grand nationals, I think that you will only have to pay the registration fee.

ouch, looking at $183 to get the car through the gates to race maybe once if the car doesn't do well.

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Patrick Forsythe -- Driver 83 Factory Stock (black and Yellow Ford) and anything else I can get my hands on.

Here's the thing. Yes to race stock you do have to buy an imca license. You do have to pay a registration fee and that could be found at our website. If you just want to run once to see what you'd do you can pay for a one night reg fee which is like $30 or so not sure on that price then if you decide to come back you'd have to pay the rest of it. You have to either buy a raceiver for like $100-$110 or so again not sure on price or you could rent it for $10 a night but you have to buy the earbuds for $25 or so. Hope this helps.

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Phillip R. Wilson
I-35 Speedway Announcer/PR
[email protected]
660-334-0598

20 registration for one night if you talk to mike about it, and just bring any pair of earphones from any electronic device and some ducktape to keep them in (therefore saving 20-25 bucks). Or you could probably run the car as a grandnational for a lot cheaper. You would think the owners and promoters would cut the registration fee after mid-season like they used too, or do like alot of other tracks and do no fee the first time or two...sure would draw a lot more cars!!!

especially considering that the other track that races GN is under water. Might help bring more cars in if people can race with their friends.

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Patrick Forsythe -- Driver 83 Factory Stock (black and Yellow Ford) and anything else I can get my hands on.

You have to remember I-35 is the most expensive track to race at in the area. The other places that I have been to are still $25 in the pits and $10 in the grandstands. Don't get me wrong. I'm a big believer in what the market will bear. The question is, can the market bear it?

The fees as i saw them were

IMCA License 95 for stock car
Track Registration 60 or 20
Pit Pass 28
For a realistic pay out of prob 50

That doesn't count the receiver which I am lucky enough to be able to borrow, or any racing expenses, gas, food, etc. I understand completely that tracks need to do what they can to survive in the current climate but it sure does make it tough on us little guys with no sponsors or outside support to get out and play in the dirt with our friends. This isn't a shot at I-35 by any means just a general frustration in the state of racing.

Done ranting now

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Patrick Forsythe -- Driver 83 Factory Stock (black and Yellow Ford) and anything else I can get my hands on.

How many other places have you been Donnie? You make it sound as if I-35 is outrageously priced above all other tracks in the area.

Just a few tracks I looked up in the KC area......

Lakeside is $12 grandstands, $25 pits IF you bought a Lakeside membership, otherwise it is $35 and that is for 3 classes.

CMS is $12 for the grandstands, $25 for the pits

I have been to MANY tracks over the years and I would rather pay a little extra for my admittance for the little things they do to help make racing there more pleasant. Things like CLEAN, WORKING restrooms and grass that is cut on a weekly basis may not mean a lot to some but it makes a big difference to me.


As for the expense of racing - Racing is a hobby. If you're in it to make money, you're in it for the wrong reasons.

you are absolutely right. Been to some tracks where the pit bathroom was a porta potty off of turn 3 (Adrian). You are also right that it is a hobby, I have never been a race leader, never had the $$ to run with the big boys, but we always had a good time and meet some great people along the way. But there isn't much time that goes by with out hearing of a track that is closing or one that is begging drivers to come and it's little things like this that keep your "field fillers" away. Every time I race it all comes out of my pocket it always has that is just the reality of the situation for me. I am not saying anything bad about any track just frustrating to me that this is the state of affairs and what I have to go through to race with my buddy who drives a GN. So what will more than likely happen is that I will go to one of the other tracks with in an hours drive of KC and race the car there and my buddy wont bring his GN up north, or both cars will just sit until next year. I have meet alot of the people on this board and raced with a lot of guys over the years and don't want this to come off as an attack on any person or team but sometimes once people start having success they forget what it is like to start out, and how hard it can be to just get a car on the track. We need more tracks not less but it really seems like the tracks don't realize they need drivers as much as drivers need tracks to race on.

ok I promise this time I am done ranting

Patrick Forsythe -- driver 83 Ford Factory Stock and anything else I can get my hands on.

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Patrick Forsythe -- Driver 83 Factory Stock (black and Yellow Ford) and anything else I can get my hands on.