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Post by Dave Schultz on Mar 3, 2011 11:58:00 GMT -5
Oil has jumped 20% in just the last week -- which will affect gas prices (and electricity for those not on a flat rate account) to where gas and diesel is expected to be over $4 here in Texas this month -- and maybe up to $6 in the summer (so says CNBC this morning).
So since many of us running NMCA travel (for me, the average race is 1200 miles each way) great distances to the race -- how high does oil have to go before you can't justify running a National circuit anymore?
I burn an average 800 gallons of diesel getting to the races and for the generator -- and at $5 a gallon, that's $4000 per race just for the diesel to get there. Times 7 races is $28,000 in just the fuel.
That's assuming $5 gallon average for the year -- it might actually get to $6, or above with all of the Middle East problems, the pipe line in Alaska having flow problems, limited production in the Gulf since BP's spill having Obama institute a drilling Moratorium, and Hugo Chavez diverting all of the oil that was contracted to go to the US -- to China instead.
$5 might be my threshold for throwing in the towel for traveling to far races -- I absolutely can't afford $6. Have you thought of what yours would be?
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Post by yellowsubnss on Mar 3, 2011 16:17:34 GMT -5
Thats the very reason i left the dealership 2 weeks ago were i was minutes away from buying a new Ram towing rig. Ive had my 2001 Ram for 10 years now and it averages 23mpg city/highway. Theres not a new towing truck made that can touch touch the power and efficiency of that 24 valve Cummins. Not to mention no $1000 a month truck payment that would come with it. I just put a new duel friction clutch in it last and gave it a good detail and its good to go for another 100k.
It simply cannot be justified period to spend more money than can be made but it comes down to how much you want to spend to have a good time with your buddies who share the same passion of the sport/ exhibition. I am going to go to a couple of long distance races this year but it is going to be at a rediculous price im afraid.
With your rig i would be out at 5 a gallon also. Just not worth it.
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Post by poppaj on Mar 3, 2011 17:27:42 GMT -5
How do you go through $4000 in fuel a race?? at 8 miles a gallon it would be 100 gallon for 800 miles times $4 a gallon that is $400. So I would think a 1200 mile round trip should cost about $1200 to maybe $1400 counting generator. If you are using 3 times that amout your tow rig is hit  |
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Post by texoutsider on Mar 3, 2011 18:17:51 GMT -5
Opulent Splendor........that's how...........The Dodge Mahal.......Dually and trailer about 200 to 300 bucks on fuel depending on distance from Texas. But 2 cars is 600 bucks plus hotels..coming, going and at the races............another 400 or so depending on # of occupants and how ya cram im in a room or two...........there's an easy grand per race...it cost us about $1500 for one car and 4 people to leave here and go anywhere..that may pay for the race fuel and entry...............
Monorail and hi speed container........beam me up Scotty
M.
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Post by beemergary on Mar 3, 2011 18:44:27 GMT -5
I usually limit to a days drive-600 mi. Me the wife and dog sleep in the car hauler. Would seem like too much trouble to leave the track to go a motel and have too think where we going too eat. Were campers so it works out for us and my budget.
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Post by moparsteve636 on Mar 3, 2011 20:18:57 GMT -5
A 300 mile tow is going to be my limit!put a/c on my trl.so it's the featherlite motel now.be eating a lot of sandwiches and fruit.Hopefully I'll be able to do all the races. that is if the diesel doesn't hit $5.00 a gallon!!!
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Post by Dave Schultz on Mar 3, 2011 21:42:16 GMT -5
How do you go through $4000 in fuel a race?? at 8 miles a gallon it would be 100 gallon for 800 miles times $4 a gallon that is $400. So I would think a 1200 mile round trip should cost about $1200 to maybe $1400 counting generator. If you are using 3 times that amout your tow rig is hit 8 miles a gallon with a 65000 pound rig -- not hardly. Try 5. With the Columbia toter and Cat C-12 engine I got 6.0. Trust me -- between getting to the average race -- and running the 12000 watt generator for a week -- I go through 800 gallons. I wouldn't lie about something like that. |
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Post by poppaj on Mar 4, 2011 17:54:30 GMT -5
Not trying to say that...just seemed like a bunch of fuel  |
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Post by dwatkins on Mar 4, 2011 23:48:37 GMT -5
How do you go through $4000 in fuel a race?? at 8 miles a gallon it would be 100 gallon for 800 miles times $4 a gallon that is $400. So I would think a 1200 mile round trip should cost about $1200 to maybe $1400 counting generator. If you are using 3 times that amout your tow rig is hit 8 miles a gallon with a 65000 pound rig -- not hardly. Try 5. With the Columbia toter and Cat C-12 engine I got 6.0. Trust me -- between getting to the average race -- and running the 12000 watt generator for a week -- I go through 800 gallons. I wouldn't lie about something like that. Man.....Not trying to start anything, but something has got to be wrong with that math. Mechanicsville, Maryland should be the farthest race, to round up I am willing to say it's 1500 miles. At 5 miles to a gallon that's 300 gallons getting there and 300 Getting back, 600 Gallons. I have no idea what that generator uses and maybe it uses 200 gallons in a weekend run (6 days, 30 gallons a day?) Still no way you are averaging 800 gallons. I could see where at a long distance race you are burning 800+ gallons, but not averaging. Anyway, I throw in the towel at 300 miles, unless it's really something big or I got a lot of friends going. The fuel hurts, the motel stays are okay, the food bill I can live with. 26 Hours straight driving a truck? forget it. |
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Post by texoutsider on Mar 5, 2011 6:43:33 GMT -5
I betcha that one of Damon's super slick hydrogen units on the Dodge Mahal would save a bunch on fuel costs.
M.
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Post by poppaj on Mar 5, 2011 14:47:20 GMT -5
8 miles a gallon with a 65000 pound rig -- not hardly. Try 5. With the Columbia toter and Cat C-12 engine I got 6.0. Trust me -- between getting to the average race -- and running the 12000 watt generator for a week -- I go through 800 gallons. I wouldn't lie about something like that. Man.....Not trying to start anything, but something has got to be wrong with that math. Mechanicsville, Maryland should be the farthest race, to round up I am willing to say it's 1500 miles. At 5 miles to a gallon that's 300 gallons getting there and 300 Getting back, 600 Gallons. I have no idea what that generator uses and maybe it uses 200 gallons in a weekend run (6 days, 30 gallons a day?) Still no way you are averaging 800 gallons. I could see where at a long distance race you are burning 800+ gallons, but not averaging. Anyway, I throw in the towel at 300 miles, unless it's really something big or I got a lot of friends going. The fuel hurts, the motel stays are okay, the food bill I can live with. 26 Hours straight driving a truck? forget it. Quiet, He is going to catch on to us siphoning fuel out to fill our rigs up. |
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Post by nssguy on Mar 5, 2011 21:03:30 GMT -5
how about 2 dodge dakota's with 2 open trailers, motel 6 with 2 double beds, white castle's or mc d's for dinner.
nattie lite instead of bd lite
all kinds of ways to cut $$$
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Post by poppaj on Mar 5, 2011 21:48:25 GMT -5
how about 2 dodge dakota's with 2 open trailers, motel 6 with 2 double beds, white castle's or mc d's for dinner. nattie lite instead of bd lite all kinds of ways to cut $$$ Nattie Lite is out of the question, there are some limits.lol |
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Post by dwatkins on Mar 6, 2011 22:23:01 GMT -5
how about 2 dodge dakota's with 2 open trailers, motel 6 with 2 double beds, white castle's or mc d's for dinner. nattie lite instead of bd lite all kinds of ways to cut $$$ My 2500 Dodge Diesel gets 10mpg towing the enclosed. I already stay in the cheap places, don't drink beer, bring a lot of my own food. I think with an open car hauler I could muster 15mpg but then I got security issues with gear, hotels would be out of the question, there would be nothing left. Last three out of town trips, I noticed cars circling the hotel looking for stuff to steal. Two out of the three I walk out in the AM to see busted windows and missing radios out of vehicles. |
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Post by Dave Schultz on Mar 25, 2011 11:42:18 GMT -5
On my trip to Bradenton, FL, which was 1100 miles each way, I left with 3/4 full and returned 3/4 full. My card would trip off every $150 and I'd have to start over. In Gulfport I spent $450, In Lake City I spent $600, back up to Tallahassee I spent $450, and in Orange, TX I spent $600. Average per gallon with credit card surtax was $4.08.
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