Entry Fee and Prize Money!!!

First topic message reminder :

All SQ competitors please reply......
Would you be willing to pay an additional 100.00 per entry fee and that 100.00 dollars go toward prize money? All the money could go into a single pot and then divided evenly amoungst 1st through 3rd in each class.... I understand some classes are larger than others, but this is for the greter picture....

Jan --- Did you mean like fielding better trained judges and accurate scoring tabulators?

That's one area, yes.

But also ensuring that people are actually competing in the classes that they and their cars belong in as well. I can just see someone sandbagging a class just to win money.

As history has shown, USACi typically doesn't confront competitors and tell them they need to move for fear of loosing their money and causing a big stink. However, I believe that a even larger stink would ensue if they allowed people to compete in inappropriate classes.

Astute observation.

Jan Bennett wrote:

That's one area, yes.

But also ensuring that people are actually competing in the classes that they and their cars belong in as well. I can just see someone sandbagging a class just to win money.

As history has shown, USACi typically doesn't confront competitors and tell them they need to move for fear of loosing their money and causing a big stink. However, I believe that a even larger stink would ensue if they allowed people to compete in inappropriate classes.

This is why I love Jan....Monte, you don't have to worry though, I love my wife more.

If you still want to help with my car, we are going to be starting up in about two weeks or so.

I agree with Jan about enforcing rules but people that have been competing for a long time will remember that at finals there once was prize money. So the question is if USACI brought back the money would more people compete?

I think it would help...but it still wouldn't be immediate. It sure would help shops sell some stuff to potential competitors though. IMO

Absolutely agree Sketo.

Jan Bennett wrote:

I will say this much about bringing prize money into the sanctioned USACi shows.

The rules will have to be enforced in a much more rigid manner than they have been in years past.

The moment you start bringing prize money into the equation is the same moment you had better start ensuring every dot is on every I and that every T is crossed from a judging perspective.

If people think there's too much whining now, just imagine what happens when you bring money into the equation and the rules are enforced like they currently are.

$2,000 up for grabs and someone wins a class that's questionable for being in that class in the first place? All hell breaks loose.

I think that USACi needs to get some other things straightened out first before bringing the prize money into the equation personally.

Cant argue that one. It will be a ugly scene if the rules are not handled better. I would like to see a rewrite of the rules so that they are very clear and percise to what is allowed and not allowed in each class so that there is no grey area. But that is a whole other topic with in it self.

I think the moeny would help with the amount of new and old people coming to/back to the lanes.

Money definitely makes it a more serious event. And, if it is set up right, it will bring more people up to the higher classes, and make room for more people to have a good shot at winning the lower classes.

Mickey, you know I wouldn't cherry pick your class by moving down like that...

Maybe I missed something in the rule book, but what exactly about my car makes it ineligible to be in the Advanced Pro class? It is tagged in Oklahoma and is totally street legal with all required equipment. I am not a manufacturer, nor am I paid by one to compete.

And I'll tell you from several thousand hours of experience, just because it's a race car doesn't mean it didn't present as many challenges to do it the right way, and make it sound good. Yea, there isn't anything except a rollcage inside at the beginning. But, that in itself presented more challenges than simply taking a treditional production car and gutting it. Plus the fact that it took more hours to make it street legal (and do it right) than it did to build the system.

Anyway, I think some prize money would be a great thing for everyone involved. More competitors, incentive to move up, more excitement, maybe a few protests...

Sounds like a lot more fun!

Mark Eldridge

I would say #1 being slicks. AFAIK Slicks aren't street legal...

Now if you got some street tires for the car, it would be a different story...lol

Yes, I'm nit picking

I'll also point out that the rules state that it has to pass a Federal DOT inspection, NOT a state inspection. That's something that has been overlooked for at least the past few years.

However, having said that, finding someone to actually do the Federal DOT inspection is a different story.

State inspections are extremely lenient, especially Oklahoma...lol.

[quote="Mark Eldridge"]

Mickey, you know I wouldn't cherry pick your class by moving down like that...


hmmmm....how to respond to that....maybe ill just come cherry pick yalls

I really don't feel that the level of competition in the advanced pro class is very high at all....one of the main reasons ill consider competing pro is to raise the bar and make people have to build a hell of a car to be competitive

but hey im all talk anyway (i don't even have a car to show)

The More The Merrier! It would be awesome having so many great cars and competitors in the same class.

There may come a day when a few of the top classes will once again be full of great cars.. We can all set areound and say "Bring It" But that is "CRAPOLA"

Everyone wants to win and everyone will work hard to win, but no one really wants to compete in a class where there is a ton of stiff competition....

That is why the basic level rules and classes were formed to start with,,,, Most people on here are always trying to think of ways to make it easier for someone to compete, or use the rules to their advantage and compete in classes that they really know isnt where they need to be....

Lets face it, if a CAR has been in a certain class it should only stay there or move up, it really sholdnt have anything to do with the person holding the keys.

If a car was never built for the street then it is an off road vehicle and that is a another story in itself.

If you take a car and remove components that make it unsafe, well that too is another story in itself.

The bottom line is this..... I encourage everyone to step up and compete in the highest level of class that they think they can be competitve in,,, regardless of what the rules say you can be in...

If you dont think you can be competitive in the next class up,,,, then dont go up.... no harm no foul,, You wont be judges for it.

15 yes
6 no

I voted yes. It would take a huge ammount of usaci effort. And manufactures dollars also to help promotion.


Are we just a few peeps trying to hang on to a dieing hobby? Are we trying to bring back the good ol days?

I can tell you all I have seen is manufactures constantly cutting back..........

But im for it! Push as much as you can and things can change.

The manufacture are cutting back for numerous reasons over the past several years. But ultimately the orgs have to present them with real ROI...... And that is very difficult when people arent showing up at the large events, whether it be competitor count or consumer count..... As I stated before the ultimate person to poin the finger at is the retailer, some do a great job at convering consumers into competitors and other do nothing, probably because they do not know how....

USACi should offer a prize for retailer of the year,,, you know the shop that has the most competitors at a show... and offer a real prize not just a trophy or plaque...

this might drive retailers to make consumers into competitors...

But like it or not all of the "prize money haters" out there.... their has got to be something to get the spark started.... I think money is the trick!!!

I've been thinking about this...if money went up per class like has been discussed here and classes paid down to say, third. I for one think this would be a great oppurtunity for guys to move up. I only say pay Consumer Advanced, Pro Advanced, and Expert though...once again giving incentive for intermediate cars to move up. Progressively going up in pay out. If USACi does this, ya'll might just see my GN in Pro Advanced.

thats where your GN should be anyway!!
Sandbagger

LOL...hey now...Mickey is a sandbagger too. Can't just take it out on me! hahaha

he'll be where he belongs soon enough...

you guys are all panzies...... I say Expert class should be the largest class this year...

we got so many expert opinions and people that think they know everything,,, then expert class is the place to be!!

yehhhhhhhhhhh

How about an opt in program. You can put in the $100 or not. If you do not put in and win you get nothing and the cash goes to the runners up! Kinda like that third coin in the slot machine for the jackpot!

YES!! ...... If a class has 9 people in it, and only 5 pay in to the prize pool then only they are eligible for prize money..... I LIKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then the competitors that are not interested or dont want to spend the extra cash dont have to worry about it....
Make it soooooooooo!!!!!!!!

BRILLIANT!

I'm in.
Consumer Adv, Pro Adv, Expert...only paying classes IMO. Let's do it for 2009!

jsketoe wrote:

LOL...hey now...Mickey is a sandbagger too. Can't just take it out on me! hahaha

im far from a sandbagger...I just don't wnt to move out of a class and give a championship to someone that didn't earn it...if anything I should be advanced consumer hahaha

jsketoe wrote:

I'm in.
Consumer Adv, Pro Adv, Expert...only paying classes IMO. Let's do it for 2009!

I say just pro and expert...ANY sport that offers money to the winners classifies the competitor as a pro....

you want money go to a money round show or move up wuss...lol

USACI wrote:

How about an opt in program. You can put in the $100 or not. If you do not put in and win you get nothing and the cash goes to the runners up! Kinda like that third coin in the slot machine for the jackpot!

Absolutely the correct answer, now we know why he is HEAD BALD GUY IN CHARGE.

Ralph for president!

Awesome.

LOL...just bustin' on ya' Mickey.