Craig Austin

Wow, lots of energy is being used to help rein in the obscene profits of bike race promoters. If you want to write a letter about something, here's a subject.

Exxon Mobil earned more than $1,287 of profit for every second of 2007. Do THAT math.

And they announced today that they broke their record for profit in a quarter as well. By the way, to ease the pain they must be feeling, they also get large federal subsidies, paid for by you, me, and the OBRA race promoters. Now THAT's typical American.

-C

________________________________

From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org on behalf of T B
Sent: Tue 4/29/2008 11:24 AM
To: Kristin; obra@list.obra.org
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Tuesday PIR retraction

So now bicycle racing is only for the Rich? Sounds like a typical American.

________________________________

Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:23:52 -0700
From: kristinw@gmail.com
To: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Tuesday PIR retraction

Certainly for some people paying race fee after race fee adds up really fast, which is why I have much appreciated the ability to volunteer my time in exchange for a free race or two. I think most promoters seem willing to work with you if its that much of a hardship. Although if you have a (few) multi-thousand dollar bike(s), I think you can probably afford to pay a few hundred a year in race fees. Or you can just take up running, it's a lot cheaper.

Although I do have to say.....8 miles??? Does that even count for points?



Kristin


On Tue, Apr 29, 2008 at 9:03 AM, Jeff Henderson wrote:

This is an interesting discussion that used to annoy
me to no end - because I am a race director and
there's a lot of ignorance out there.

No one is valuing the promoter's time. You can add up
all of his costs, but I don't believe he shows up at
the track Tuesday night and a race magically happens.
He has to arrange for everything he pays for, as well
as a hundred other things.

I organize a duathlon (run-bike-run) on a race track
in NY. When I first approached Watkins Glen
International with the idea for the Fly by Night, I
was told the track costs $7,000 per day, with a
three-day minimum for weekends. Eventually, and with
much time and effort invested, I obtained a compromise
whereby my race would run in the evening, after the
Porsche Clash, for a bargain fee of $1,500. That was
four years ago, and last year was the first year I
turned a profit. And my entry fee starts at $55.

If you want to learn more about the finances involved,
you might find this article interesting:

http://www.flybynightdu.com/fly_by_night_opens_books.pdf

You have choices. I don't question the $15 because the
promoter has created something I very much enjoy. If
the cost outweighs the enjoyment, I don't go.

hope this helps,
Jeff

--- Jeff Tedder & Shari

wrote:

> All good points everyone is making....
> Also compare PIR races to the cost of doing a TRI or
> Duathlon race...Spendy...
> Then come back and say PIR is to expensive....
> Having PIR races is a big asset to OBRA as far as
> getting new women and men out racing that probably
> would never try a road race because of being
> intimidated....And now we have a great new surface
> to race on....I would be thanking Jeff instead of
> complaining...If you want to Play you gotta Pay....
>
> Jeff Tedder
> Hammer Nutrition Products
> Solid Core Training
> 503-246-2388
> cell 503-473-7650
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Kevin Hedahl
> To: obra
> Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 8:44 AM
> Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Tuesday PIR retraction
>
>
> You are also forgetting officials fees in the
> calculation, or did you think that obra officials
> were volunteers? Also, don't forget porta-john
> costs, noise permits, etc. Yes, there is money to be
> made by organizing cycling racers. But it is also
> true that:
>

> a.. the overall pay isn't very good compared to
> a professional "job",
>
> b.. health insurance is not provided,
>
> c.. you don't get sick days,
> d.. no 401k,
>
> e.. and nobody seems to appreciate what you do.

> Seriously, if you think the price is to high then
> don't race. If you want in on the 5-figure salary
> they are making, then throw a race. Then you'll find
> out how much work goes into planning and organizing
> a race and never complain again.
>
> /kevin hedahl
>
>
> On Tue, Apr 29, 2008 at 7:46 AM, Rick C Johnson
> wrote:
>
> Man, you gotta love our capitalist system! Is
> this a great country or what?
>
> Rick
>
>
> T B wrote:
>
> > Ok. I did the math. I just had to see for
> myself. AND WOW!!! This past
> > PIR was a low attendance. According to the
> numbers given and all, it
> > was only a profit of about 330 bucks. On
> nights such as the Tuesday
> > prior, it seems to be almost 1300 dollar
> profit for one race. That
> > seems a ridiculous amount for a weekly race to
> profit when single day
> > races struggle to break even. A weekly series
> should focus on being
> > affordable. Yes, to most of yall, whats 15
> bucks. But it makes people
> > like me, broke and starving, ponder whether it
> can be squeezed into an
> > ever tight budget.
> >
> > My math;
> >
> > 300 for PIR + 50 for the truck + Officials =
> Give estimate of 550 Dollars
> > 550 + 2.25 (x) where X is number of riders
> (lets say 150) = 337.5
> > dollars for insurance
> > Total cost of event is 337.5 + 550 = 887.50
> dollars (which i have to
> > admit is a pretty hefty bill to have on a
> weekly basis. its actually
> > almost outrageous and makes it a wonder it can
> occur)
> >
> > So, taken there are 150 riders (which seems to
> be a fair average to
> > estimate if not a low average for the entire
> season).
> >
> > 150 x 15 = 2,250 gross
> >
> > 2,250 - 887.50 = 1,362.50 dollars net profit
> for ONE night. WOW!!! I
> > mean...WOW!!! Im in SHOCK! I need this job
> ASAP!!! (assuming i didn't
> > make an error in my math)
> >
> > Am i making anyone's water boil yet :)
> >
> > I just had to do the math just for s and g's
> and out of boredom
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > From: cmurray@obra.org
> > To: bikexcr@hotmail.com;
> cobrakai43@gmail.com; obra@list.obra.org
> > Subject: RE: [OBRA Chat] Tuesday PIR
> retraction
> > Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:27:49 -0700
> >
> > Part of the problem is the expense.
> > The PIR track costs almost $300 a night to
> rent. The truck rental
> > is $50, the first aid person and the
> officials all get paid. So I
> > would imagine that the cost for a PIR is
> $550 before the first
> > rider shows up. It costs $2.25 per person
> for the liability
> > insurance and surcharges.
> >
> > There is no charge to use Alpenrose. We do
> not use the truck and
> > the race organizer is a first aid
> provider, so the costs are much
> > less then PIR. It is only $5 entry fee for
> juniors, adults pay $10.00.
> >
> > Do the math. If the race organizer doe
> snot make a profit there
> > will be no events for you to race.
> >
> > Candi
> >
> >
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > *From:* obra-bounces@list.obra.org
> > [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] *On
> Behalf Of *r r
> > *Sent:* Monday, April 28, 2008 9:03 PM
> > *To:* Cobra Kai; obra@list.obra.org
> > *Subject:* Re: [OBRA Chat] Tuesday PIR
> retraction
> >
> > I am going to take this email as an
> opportunity this jedi has been
> > pondering over about PIR as well....Why 15
> bucks a shot every
> > Tuesday? That seems a little steep for a
> weekly event. Unless PIR
> > wants some ungodly amount to use the
> venue, 15 almost seems like a
> > drastically over priced for what it is.
> Yes, i know you can buy a
> > season pass, but some of us are not in
> Portland for the entire PIR
> > season, but want to do more than one PIR a
> month. At least the
> > Eugene weekly series is 10, But by far the
> best deal is 5 bucks to
> > race on the track. Now thats a steal. And
> there are officials and
> > everything there just like PIR, the only
> possible difference is
> > that PIR wants money for us being there.
> But as far as i see it,
> > there is no reason a weekly series race
> should cost almost as much
> > as other events that are only held once a
> year.
> >
> > Just some of my thoughts and others that i
> have gathered over time.
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:51:51 -0700
> > > From: cobrakai43@gmail.com
> > > To: obra@list.obra.org
> > > Subject: [OBRA Chat] Tuesday PIR
> retraction
> > >
> > > Cobra Kai would like to retract
> comments. Flyer was read while
> > practicing self-asphyxiation with Miyagi's
> brown belt and he did
>

=== message truncated ===>

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