Thought you might find this interesting since everyone complains about the
high cost of racing nowadays…
I recently borrowed a scrapbook from Ernie Bass, Jr. that his mom put together
of clippings etc. of his dad’s racing exploits from 1963-1970 and this article
was in the scrapbook from the Orlando Sentinel newspaper dated Sunday, July
17, 1966 written by staff writer Ben Stewart… The Orlando Sentinel and
Orlando Evening Star (while it existed) actually did a really good job of
covering local racing back then… As you read this, remember that it was
written nearly 50 years ago… But, things never really change, only the
dollar amounts do! Enjoy!
RACING STOCK CARS TAKES A LOT OF $$
by Ben Stewart
Ever wonder what it costs to build and maintain a stock car used for racing?
Quite a bit more than it appears on the surface.
As most stock car racing enthusiasts who attend the weekly races at Orlando
Raceway know, the class in which an auto competes is a big factor in the car’s
cost.
For example, it costs considerably more to build and maintain a Late Model car
than one which races in Early Model (1949-1956) competition.
Those who enter Late Model competition need at least $2,000 to prepare a car
for racing. The cost for a Late Model can go as high as $3,000, according to
Lewis Green, owner of the 1957 Ford driven by Ernie Bass of Orlando.
“A car such as ours costs around $2,500 to build, using new parts,” Green
noted. The No. 7 Bass-driven auto has a 352-cubic inch motor.
A BIG INVESTMENT
A Sportsman model auto requires an investment of at least $1,500, says veteran
driver Phil Orr of Orlando. “Included in this cost are $63 each for the tires
and $18 apiece for the wheels,” Orr said.
Drivers who do not have the financial wherewithal to compete in Sportsman or
Late Model competition often find their niche in the Early Models. Marty
Spengler of Winter Park, a popular driver at the local raceway, estimates his
1955 Ford cost $400 to build.
Spengler added, “You can save about $200 in the cost of building a car if you
have friends in the business.” He noted that “a driver needs to earn from
$50-$100 a week to keep a car in good running shape.”
Spengler has done slightly better than this by earning around $1,000 since the
racing season began in April. Before last Friday night’s program at Orlando
Raceway, Spengler was high point man in the Early Model class at both the
Orlando and Eau Gallie tracks.
Drivers on the small track circuit can expect anything from a blown engine to
a blowout while racing. Most of the drivers race two-three times weekly on
the quarter and half-mile tracks in the area.
A LOT OF UPKEEP
When a driver has finished racing for the week, this does not mean the car can
be forgotten until the next race. As Pat Bass, a mechanic for his brother
Ernie said, “There is never an end to work on these cars.”
Tires must be replaced every six or eight racing dates, and the engine must be
kept in tip-top order, along with many other things.
Nothing less than a perfect car will do if a driver is to stay in racing.
Next time you racing fans go to a race keep in mind that a lot of money and
time goes into the preparations of the cars passing before you.
