Hey Guys,
I found the discussion on what things used to cost to
be kinda interesting, so just for fun I found a
calculator on the internet that adjusts costs based on
the Consumer Price Index. I used the 1971 figures and
adjusted them for inflation to see what's gone up
faster than inflation, slower, etc. Here's what I
found:

Item 1971 Cost 2006 Cost based on CPI
------ --------- ----------------------
Gas 0.35 1.76
Salary 12000 60188
Pinto 1735 8702
Entry fee 35 175

You can see gas has actually gone up about twice what
the inflation rate would predict. If you raced your
Pinto in ITA or ITB, $8702 probably buys you a similar
level of race car today. Entry fees have gone up more
than inflation, and only you can say if your salary
has kept pace.

But there are a few benefits of working you haven't
mentioned: getting fed 2 lunches and 1 dinner is worth
about $30, free camping is worth $30-50, entry fee to
see Pro events is another $15-30. So that's $75-110 in
benefits for each race weekend. Plus, like you always
say, you get the best seat in the house. And like you
have alluded to, there is the pride that comes from
knowing you are a member of a very respected
organization.

Plus, when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive
total consciousness. So we got that goin' for us,
which is nice.
--
Mike Wright


--- Luvracing <luvracing@...> wrote:

> I wish I could say that gas prices have risen less
> than my income.
> When I joined LEC, back in 1971, gas was around
> $0.35/gal and my salary was around $12,000/yr. I
> wish I could say that I'm now making $100,000/yr,
> but it's considerably less than that. The Pinto
> that I raced back then cost me $1735, including
> taxes. And, entry fees were $35 for a regional and
> $45 for a National. The cost of racing has gone up
> faster than most salaries, too.
> Back in those days, an LEC card got you into any
> track in the country, and several tracks around the
> world. LEC was one of the most, if not the most,
> respected flagging groups in the country.
>
> Lee
>
> B Crowe <flaggerguy@...> wrote:
>
> Don't get me wrong regarding my intent here.
> As one's membership in LEC is "lifetime" I would
> wager my
> 30years+ membership holds up for historical
> reference.
> Our problem with costs of volunteering are not
> new. In 1989 gas prices
> were running $ 1.75/gal. which does not seem like
> a lot but at the time
> was a greater percentage of my income that today's
> prices are.
> I remember when SCCA membership was also not
> required to work SCCA events.
> Licences were only required if you wanted to
> travel to other tracks.
> Where LEC is concerned yes we were highly
> respected and we worked with a swagger
> that came from being good at our task. We acted
> like we wrote the book and in large measure we did.
> We had good numbers and it was a privaledge
> to be invited to a pro race.
> Those days are long gone. Our numbers have been
> reduced, due to membership fees,
> perhaps, but not entirely. Why we are required to
> join SCCA is a matter for significant debate. The
> reality is that the reason given is and will
> publically reamain, insurance.
> I've not yet had to avail myself of the coverage
> but do know that the health portion is secondary
> coverage and does not kick in until your personal
> coverage runs out.
> My own health coverage is good but a young person
> whose company does not provide
> the type of coverage we have has some health care
> coverage. Unfortunately we experienced
> a death benefit a couple years ago. The insurance
> coverage is never what we hope for but at least it
> exists.
> One point is that I belong to the club because I
> do "belong",have input and use the licencing to go
> to different tracks including Mosport,USGP,Sebring
> and Cleveland. That would not be possible if I did
> not have membership.
> The major thread of my post was that we often
> point our finger at SCCA and say it costs to
> volunteer. BUT that many other groups who do not
> have the syatem of training and licencing
> use the club members at their convienience for
> their events yet offer little more than the club
> might for working a regional and often not as much.
> If you worked Grand Am last year and did not have to
> pay a membership, great. If you worked Cleveland and
> got your national SCCA dues covered by the promoter
> for working their PRO event wasn't that a better
> deal. LEC, OVR and NeOhio all benefitted by those
> events. Who took better care of their volunteers?
> That's my point and that's what this is about.
> Where do I spend my time? Take club out of the
> equation. We who belong to SCCA do a lot of donated
> work because we are members. When you look at pro
> events, look long and hard at what they are doing
> for you. Its past time for the PRO promoters and
> tracks who have the benefit of our work to start
> taking better care of us.
> If its a business, then start treating us like it.
> B
>
>
> Luvracing <luvracing@...> wrote:
> I have to agree with Ben on several of is
> points. I
> too remember when it wasn't a requirement to belong
> to
> SCCA in order to work (volunteer) a race. And, I
> fought joining for several years, until SCCA made it
> mandatory. For me to HAVE to pay $75/yr to volunteer
> my time I think is absurd and I do think that this
> fee
> has kept a lot of people from joining us.
> Fortunately
> I have not had to use the insurance that SCCA has,
> but
> I have not heard anything good about it. First of
> all
> it is a secondary provider only, my personal
> insurance
> pays first and the bulk of any injury.
> The membership fee that I have paid for the past 20
> years has not given me much in the way of "customer
> service" from the club. I have had to do battle with
> the bureaucracy for years over licensing. 37 years
> out on corners seem to mean little to them unless
> I've
> worked a minimum number of day the preceding season.
>
> This year they did seem to use some common sense.
> Working non-SCCA events don't count towards
> experience
> either.
> The other costs of volunteering have also greatly
> increased. The mere drive from central KY to central
> OH has now reached around $50 a trip. Room rates at
> local motels aren't cheap either, especially for
> major
> races. Although I do get to camp for most events.
> Just the minimum to keep a license now is $75 to
> SCCA
> and $200 to the fuel companies. Not everyone can
> afford to do this.
> I like motorsports and it doesn't matter to me who
> is
> sanctioning it. I had a great time with the Porsche
> Club races. The motorcycles are a lot of fun for me,
> NASA seems to be an up and coming sanctioning body,
> the Karts are a ball, and the Vintage guys bring
> back
> a lot of fond memories of what racing used to be
> like.
> I don't know what the real answer is to the lack of
> people coming out to volunteer their time to "work"
> a
> race, but the SCCA fees and related costs certainly
> have to have some bearing on it.
>
> Lee
>
> --- ben schneider <benjschneider2@...> wrote:
>
> > No Bob,
> >
> > I appreciate your response.
> >
> > I remember the day when Lake Erie members were not
> > required to have SCCA club membership, and there
> > was
> > more respect for the organization. I agree with
> you
> > that there is a lack of respect for us today, and
> > corner workers are fewer, and seem to be taken for
> > granted. I remember, at one time, that during most
> > races, there was a "TIME OFF" position in the
> > rotation
> > for personal needs. Now if there is little track
> > clean up, we are on duty from one race into the
> next
> > with little pause.
> >
> > Now there is $3.50 fuel, and an ever increasing
> cost
> > just to exist. Maybe it is just a personal problem
> > and everyone else's income have kept up with these
> > increasing cost. Mine has not. My communities mean
> > income has been dropping abut $1000 a year for the
> > last six years, down to about $25,800 last year.
> > Running a service related business, chasing less
> > disposable income, I have been have a tough time
> > covering just the necessity costs, and yet these
> > costs
> > keep increasing. I have no personal, disposable
> > income anymore, and can not justify paying $75
> more
> > to
> > work just four club races at Mid-Ohio.
> >
> > The insurance that is supposed to come with
> > membership? Having tried to get reimbursed for
> > medical cost, from an injury sustained at a SCCA
> > National Club event, was fruitless. After repeated
> > tries, I gave up. I consider the medical coverage
> > useless. I believe the insurance which we purchase
> > is
> > more in the way of liability insurance for the
> club;
> > not its membership.
> >
> > If it takes Club membership to volunteer, I am
> > going
> > to have to work a NON club race like Cleveland, so
> > they will pay my dues. I remember working at
> > Mid-Ohio
> > during the Cleveland race last year, and Lake Erie
> > was
>
=== message truncated ===




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