track time

[pbj59]

How much is the most you would pay for track time? Per hour or per day. This is with all tracks/facilities included at an average raceway, several tracks and a dragstrip. How much would deter you from going at all if it is the only raceway in area?
Roy

[goose]

our local track is 5 bucks for all day/all tracks.. its cool but sucks when you are only out there like 10 mins before the races...

[M.G. Brown]

I remember a raceway in Michigan that had 3 tracks, a king, an orange and an off the wall track that was sort of a flat figure 8.

They had the track time cheaper on the figure 8 and most of the "kids" raced on that track. I think there were no rentals on the king also.

A little food for thought for the prospective track owners out there.

[mfaccone]

The track I run charges 3.00 for 15 min or 10.00 an hour for people who have their own cars... 4.00 or 12.00 for rentals.
But... we pause time if the racer is working on his car and we provide corner marshalling. Most local racers come in and buy an hour at a time and pause when needed.

[RussGB]

We charge nothing for general use of our tracks. We rent controllers out for people who don't have them...$5 one time payment. We don't rent cars.

We do charge for entry to race events, usually $5. But there is always free track space available on one of our tracks.

[slowjim]

Our track charges $5.00 a day, or $25.00 a month, if you bring your own junk. Rental cars and controllers, $5.00 a half-hour.

slowjim

[Big Ol' Durl]

I've seen a lot of discussions about this subject on here over the past few years, and while it is easy for me to weigh in with my usual "track time should be free like it is at my home track", I understand that business models may differ from track to track, and that some track owners just don't make enough from building and repairing cars to cover the nut.

My answer to your hypothetical question is that $15.00 an hour would be my absolute top end, and even that might make me think seriously about going the home set route if it was the only track in my area. I've seen $15.00 an hour at some places and thought it highway robbery, frankly.

I think the flat rate model is better for the consumer. Paying $15 or $20 A DAY to be able to drive any lane on any track makes for a lot more fun. A BIG DRAG is to buy 15 minutes on purple on the King, then have to go up to the counter and buy 15 minutes on yellow, then 15 minutes on red on the road course, etc. etc. etc. WHAT A PHOOKEEN BORE!

I now live 15 minutes from a track that charges for track time. I RACE at a track 1 hour from my house that doesn't charge for track time. Even with the price of gas, its still a better deal.

Just sayin',
Durl

[johnford]

Just been through this with a local raceway. I have always charged about 6 bucks an hour. 2 bucks for 15 min, 3 bucks for half hour. Everyone goes for the half hour.
2 bucks for rental items.
and I offer an all day pass card for 50 bucks which gets them free track time all day every day for one month.
and I offer a punch card with 50bucks in time for only 30 bucks.
30 min before each race is free for those who have paid entry fee and impounded their race car.

I have never lost money with this model, and for the most part, never had complainers. I also always give 20 min for 15. but only 30 for 30 and 60 for 60. Because... back "in the day" of spring wound timers, the only way to get an accurate timing was to wind it up to 30 and back to 20.

I found that I had zero complaints because they figured out they were getting more than they paid for. Kept up the practice even after being on computer timing.

NOW... you can do what you want, but this is what has worked for me for many years.....jf

[Big Ol' Durl]

Originally posted by johnford
Just been through this with a local raceway. I have always charged about 8 bucks an hour. 2 bucks for 15 min, 3 bucks for half hour. Everyone goes for the half hour.

Well, yeah. Buying 2 half hours is 2 bucks cheaper than buying an hour.

When they buy time from you is it solely for the use of one lane for that particular time, or can they switch lanes?

Durl

[raceslot]

Originally posted by Big Ol' Durl


Well, yeah. Buying 2 half hours is 2 bucks cheaper than buying an hour.

When they buy time from you is it solely for the use of one lane for that particular time, or can they switch lanes?

Durl

$50.00 a day is sick, If your spending $300 a month on parts plus entry fees at the same track $50.00 should be a monthly pass. The place I race is a one lane rental, and nobody rents. If they would just charge $5.00 extra for open track a hour or 2 before the races start, which are $5.00 each race entry everyone would do it. So instead of the owner getting an extra 5 bucks from everyone ( 9 to12 racers) he is getting $0. Making $300-$400 bucks amonth from being fair sure sounds better than zip?

[smoke]

That depends on a number of factors. I think that the best way to approach it is to put yourself in your customers shoes. If you aren't providing marshelling (which most tracks I've been at don't supply marshalling as a rule.) you certainly can't charge the same as someone that does. If you have a newer location, and don't have the traffic in your store that you need, you might want to give track time away to get people in the door. One of the most basic principles in retail management is that if people aren't walking through your door, your not going to make anything from them. Your number one goal should be getting people through your door, and keeping them in your store as long as possible. The biggest revenue generator that gets overlooked is impulse items, and snacks. I can't tell you how many tracks I've been to that don't sell snacks, and lack impulse items at the point of purchase. You operate a slot car track, but what law says that the only products that you can sell, have to be slot car related? Track owners need to think about their track areas as a buisness, and not their favorite hobby.

[johnford]

Originally posted by Big Ol' Durl
Well, yeah. Buying 2 half hours is 2 bucks cheaper than buying an hour. When they buy time from you is it solely for the use of one lane for that particular time, or can they switch lanes?
Durl

I corrected my post. It had mistakes in it... and you guys caught it. Want a job proof reading the magazine? (offers same pay as I get... zip)

As for changing lanes, it all depends on how busy I am. The rule is that there is no lane changing, but I usually did anyway unless I was swamped at the counter. Most of my customers knew when it was appropriate to ask....jf

[raceslot]

I like that program :):D

[Big Ol' Durl]

Originally posted by Big Ol' Durl

I now live 15 minutes from a track that charges for track time. I RACE at a track 1 hour from my house that doesn't charge for track time. Even with the price of gas, its still a better deal.


So, after some actual research into the logistics of the above statement, it turns out my calculations were "misunderestimated", as President Cutie-pie sez (or "my head was up my @ss" as it was pointed out to me).

It turns out that since I rarely show up more than thirty minutes before a race starts, and with gas now at over 6 Riyals per litre, it is actually more cost effective to go to the closer track. Who knew?

Sheesh! Math is hard.

Durl:rolleyes:

[raceslot]

We run 3 to 4 classes between 2 different tracks at both locations and spend 8-10 hours their on sat and sunday. My point was if you have 10-12 racers and no one rents at all, the owner is not making enough money. If it would be a $ 5.00 fee extra per racer for tracks on, all the guys that were racing that day would pay it ???

So if my math is right just from the weekend racer the track owner would make 400.00-500.00 a month more than now?? because no one will pay by the minute or half hour. That my pay his gas bill so he can stay open. Im not worried about paying for my gas big guy.