Since my son was lucky enough to win his local.

I now see how much money it's costing us, shipping car, black wheels,team shirts, buttons and gas and food and hotel, the cost of the crate.

Looks to come in at a tidy $2,000 plus.



Then, aside from rallying. The car will not be legal for future locals. Got to get another car for the younger one, who will race next year. Ouch. Rebate or swap progam would be nice !!


Being a poor guy here, Makes my previous thoughts about a real race versus a event.Even Harder to choke down.

Seeing that, that's alot of money for 5 days of show and one day of race, if we are lucky more than 1 race run down the track. lol !!


I do not imagine, that a goody bag, a champ T-shirt and a watch, even come close to covering some of the costs and staying there.

AKRON COSTS AMT
Motel $649 for the week.
Apparel - Shirts & Hats $105
Buttons - $120.00
Derby Wheels $74
Crate Materials $162
Shipping of car $251
Gasoline for 1000 miles $240
Tolls, Indiana & Ohio Turnpikes $40
Food for 4, $60 per day, $480 for the week.
$2,121


Anything I am leaving out ?



I know a double elim race would atleast make me feel like I was somewhat getting my moneys worth !!







What do you spend ? What am I missing ?

Sporty

Sporty,

Your AASBD Local is responsible for shipping the car to and from Akron.

TXDERBY

sporty I'll tell ya what

stay home save your money!

I'll take my daughter in your sons place ,we lost by .027 of a second

trip to world championship in akron... $2500.00

watching your child race in the country's longest running program

priceless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

a memory for a lifetime

priceless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

like the Alan Jackson song says it only takes money

I guess it's that time of year when everyone complains how much it costs (time and money)to go down the hill one time at Akron..I will never understand why people would want to go back time after time for one ride down the hill.And then complain how unfair the format is,but never consider going to Nationals. Mike V

I think some got off kilter on my post.


I was trying to convey, I would be much happier with a real race. not just a event.

We look forward to it, it will be our 1st time. Depending how impressed or un impressed We are. Will determine future attendance.

Sporty

Sporty.... Double elimination does make it a race... BUT.. If I understand things clearly... over 400 kids qualify for Akron and the BIG SHOW.

It would make it near impossible to run double elimination with that many kids unless you begin your event much earlier then the current format. Yes starting ooner is possible, but then you toss out the other many events that are part of the celebration of the greatest ture family sport on earth.

We are sending our first ever racer to Akron, and the cost is something we had nor fully anticipated, but we are workign to assist the winning racer and her amily with funding support.

Yes it may be result in a one and go home scenario, but our Local Champion has as good a chance of winning, and even making it to the finals and winning the crown. Win or lose, one run or multiple races, she is a Chmpion and will always be.

Sporty -

Don't forget to include the price of parts if your car doesn't get VIP and you have to replace something. You have to buy their parts right there, no bringing any of your own in with you. And then there is the cost of pictures. They have a photographer there taking pictures all week and you will probably want to buy them too.

If you are so into the real race thing, why don't you do NDR? You know they run a real race. Quit complaining about how the All American race is run, you have other options.

If NDR had races closer to us, We would try it.. (Derbymom).


A forum, in nature is to complain !



Sporty

Sometimes life can not be counted in dollars and cents. Go to Akron with dreams of glory but live for the day. Glory may not be yours but the memories will last forever.

This conversation always has two very distinct sides.

First, If you want to spend your money and see your child just thrilled to death until that one time down the hill, then go to the AA event. But never loose site of the fact you might as well have bought a lottery ticket. Your child will always have a great time until they are crying at the hand of defeat.

But there are cheaper ways. I and many others alway stay at a secret Motel 6 in North Canton. It is convenient, cheap, nice, has a pool and is $250 a week. Next buy your shirts and hats on Sunday after the race at top side when they are 1/2 off. Also buy your pictures when you get home and have a chance to review your real needs. Do not buy your racing wheels unless you need an extra set. Transport you own car home and let the AA keep the crate.

Secondly, now if you are into racing and want a shot to race with the very best in our sport, spend that same money on the NDR Nationals. We have picnics, dinners, fun events, and week long racing. You get to spend all day at the track with your friends you see once a year. And at the end of the week if you are not exhausted, then you did something wrong. And if your child is crying when it is all over, it might just be because they just won the fairest Derby Championship in the business.

At the NDR Nats, you do not have to worry about spending money, because you are to busy racing. And when it is over, you no longer have to guess how fast you really are.

Both events have merit, it just depends on your cup of tea.

JJP

Sounds great. Where and when are the 2009 Nationals. I need to plan early because of the distance involved.

Des Moines, Iowa in 2009.

Now how many of you would come to the NDR Nats if they were in Akron on the same hill?

i have wanted that for years....it should be easy to do, the AA does not own the track i believe they lease it from the city, why not try.

if you are going to akron for the first time do it all..it might be your only chance there.......there are ways to save,

car pool, share a larger room, ship sevral cars together in one large trailer

this will be the 13th time that i will have a kid in the race
over the years i could have bought one really nice boat for the money i have spent but instead i have memories and the boys have a couple large tropies from there

If NDR Nationals where held on the Akron hill the week after the AASBD I'm sure that there would be an overwhelming turnout. Those of us that need to travel over 2,500 miles to Akron would be much more likely to participate rather than needing to travel an additional 300 miles to Saginaw or 690 miles to Des Moines.

What is convenient to one is inconvenient to another, it is a National race. For many racers, neither Akron, Muncie, or Saginaw is handy, but the racing is worth the effort. I like the fairer way of moving the Nationals around the country.

What is needed is more groups willing to step up and accept the challenge of hosting the Nationals providing even more variety of locations. If you don't want to make the trip, organize your city's group to make a bid to the NDR Board and host a future year. I will warn you however, it is a lot more work that one long day of driving, and it is harder to go online and gripe about everything the host city did wrong.