30 replies to this topic

[Roy Dietsch]

$9.25 a gallon! What a joke! I spent $170 on fuel ($96 more then I would have) because people are running rocket fuel!

There has to be a better way. Can't we all agree that we buy fuel at a certain gas station in Plymouth instead? Or how about a common fuel tank like they have in karting? Put 5 gal in take 5 gal out.

I know a good chunk of that $9.25 went to Road America, combined with the "Closed Paddock" issues, and pit bike fee's they are really starting to cut out the guys who don't have big budgets.

Disappointed,
Roy (Lucky Kid)

[Zauskycop]

$9.25 a gallon! What a joke! I spent $170 on fuel ($96 more then I would have) because people are running rocket fuel!

There has to be a better way. Can't we all agree that we buy fuel at a certain gas station in Plymouth instead? Or how about a common fuel tank like they have in karting? Put 5 gal in take 5 gal out.

I know a good chunk of that $9.25 went to Road America, combined with the "Closed Paddock" issues, and pit bike fee's they are really starting to cut out the guys who don't have big budgets.

Disappointed,
Roy (Lucky Kid)

I agree Roy...I saw that 9.25 and my jaw hit the ground. And back where I was, no one even considered teching us. I guess that means I will just run whatever fuel I want next year...back to the nice $4 a gallon stuff.

BTW, nice start there and moving up. I got a bad run on the start and hung up a bit in traffic.

[Roy Dietsch]

I agree Roy...I saw that 9.25 and my jaw hit the ground. And back where I was, no one even considered teching us. I guess that means I will just run whatever fuel I want next year...back to the nice $4 a gallon stuff.

BTW, nice start there and moving up. I got a bad run on the start and hung up a bit in traffic.

Thanks, my wife gave me one back for the weekend. I really needed the second when it started raining. I ended up losing two spots on the last lap! (although one was under yellow )

[Jim Drago]

I posted a link on June Sprints registrations (opens at noon today) over in the Racing News section, but neglected to mention that there will be a spec fuel rule in place for the 2011 June Sprints. So, FYI, from the supps:

"17. The following classes will be required to use a spec fuel (93 octane no ethanol): FE, SM, SRF. Fuel must be purchased at Road America from the designated supplier as delivered in the spec fuel truck, located near the gas pumps. Spec fuel availability hours will be posted at registration, the Orion Tech Center, and the gas pumps. Tests to verify compliance may include, but may not be limited to: color, specific gravity, and dielectric constant."

As you debate the pros and cons, please remember not to shoot the messenger!

Thanks,
Tom Maycock
Chicago Region Competition Committee

Tom
I know there are a lot of very disappointed people in SM and SRF with the cost of the Spec fuel. Being one of the biggest supporters of the spec fuel, I must say I am disappointed as well. I don't think anyone has a problem with marking up the fuel, but when the 93 pump gas is the most expensive fuel you can buy at the track, it feels a little like we are being taken advantage of. The two largest classes were required to run the fuel, Chicago region should consider this when entries fall next year as they certainly will. I have heard many in both classes complaining about this issue. Spec fuel was around $6.00 a gallon at the Runoffs and not quite sure how we got to $9.25 a gallon, but I feel we deserve at least an explanation.
Jim

[Roy Dietsch]

Spec fuel was around $6.00 a gallon at the Runoffs and not quite sure how we got to $9.25 a gallon, but I feel we deserve at least an explanation.
Jim

In my chats with the fuel guy, a lot of it was RA's cut. He said that they kept charging him more and he added it to the price.

This is hearsay, but I beleive it. RA is going downhill in the way they operate. Maybe if they didn't nickel and dime everyone, attendance would go up and they would make money the right way.

$0.02
Lucky Kid (Roy)

[NigelStu]

Tom
I know there are a lot of very disappointed people in SM and SRF with the cost of the Spec fuel. Being one of the biggest supporters of the spec fuel, I must say I am disappointed as well. I don't think anyone has a problem with marking up the fuel, but when the 93 pump gas is the most expensive fuel you can buy at the track, it feels a little like we are being taken advantage of. The two largest classes were required to run the fuel, Chicago region should consider this when entries fall next year as they certainly will. I have heard many in both classes complaining about this issue. Spec fuel was around $6.00 a gallon at the Runoffs and not quite sure how we got to $9.25 a gallon, but I feel we deserve at least an explanation.
Jim

I fully agree with you Jim (and Tracy/Roy). Cost was WAY too high for pump gas. Wasn't one of the points of running a spec fuel to save the majority of competitors some money and equal things out?

I expressed my dislike to the fuel guy when I filled my jugs the first time. During that conversation, he mentioned that he filled his truck up with the EXACT SAME FUEL they take out to the local stations. (and that RA was a culprit for the price hike - "RA makes more money per gallon on this gas than I do")

I'm willing to pay a bit of a premium for the parity a spec fuel can provide, but more than double for what turns out to be the same stuff I can get out of the pump down the street is really hard to swallow.


Someone I was talking to over the weekend mentioned that the only way (or maybe best way) to correct the price issue is to get a very large voice. Can we start a 'fuel price' petition? Maybe get some $$ back from RA, or at the very least ensure that RA doesn't charge exorbitant fees at the Runoffs and future races where spec fuels are required.

[davew]

I talked with both the gas truck driver and the Cheif Steward of the event. I got very similar stories from both people. So I am assuming it is the truth. And I am intentionally throwing Road America and its manager under the bus.

The Chief Steward requested permission from Road America to have the fuel tanker at the track. Once the track management (George Burgethies)sp) found out how many cars would be required to use the spec fuel, he saw dollar signs and told Chicago Region that the spec fuel would be sold by the track. With the track making any profits. And the track setting the price.

Anyone who purchased fuel, saw that the attendant put a punch card into the dispensor to record the fuel purchased. This was so that Road America had an accurate count for their profits.

I had 7 cars at the event, one ran 2 classes and one ran the test day (2 sessions for $300. But that is another story) and my fuel bill was almost $1200.00 !!!!!!!!!!! I was told by the fuel attendant that Road America was making over $3.00 per gallon.

There was a protest made on Thursday. The protest was denied but I believe it is going to be appealed. It will accomplish nothing, even if the appeal is up held.

In my opinion, complaining on this forum will do no good. It may make us feel better, but nobody with the authority to stop this from happening in the future, reads this forum. I will be writting to the President of SCCA, The President of Chicago Region and Road America track management. I haven't decided just who yet.

As the title sponsor of the race, I thank everyone who attended for coming. As a member of Chicago Region, I apologise for the fuel situation.

Dave

[Jim Drago]

I'm willing to pay a bit of a premium for the parity a spec fuel can provide, but more than double for what turns out to be the same stuff I can get out of the pump down the street is really hard to swallow.

They also did not have to pay over the road taxes on the fuel since it wasn't for street use, that drops the price by over a dollar a gallon, best guess.

[Tom Maycock]

What Dave reports is what I was told as well. I was more than a little upset myself when I first heard about the price, and the reasons for the price.

It's possible that this something we as a region should have been able to exert more control over, but I can't say for sure without knowing the details of what went down. Obviously there are (many) limits to our bargaining power.

We always have to try to balance the needs of our members and participants against RA's need to succeed as a business (which is in everyone's best interest in the long term), but speaking as an individual, not as a rep for the region, this is one that I sure wish had gone the other way.

I've been kicking around a couple of things I might ask our Competition Committee to consider to try to ease the pain a bit, but I'm not sure if they will be feasible and/or find favor. We'll see.

In any case, thanks to the SM crowd for putting on a good show on Sunday. As a fan, it was fun to watch.

PS. Jim, that was my wife and I dining with Brian and Jennifer Ghidinelli on Saturday night at Paddock Club. Brian gambled on rain tires for the race--he missed it being a brilliant move by about 10 minutes or so!

[dstevens]

As of Jan this year the average addition of gas tax in the US isn't quite .50/gallon. Out here unless the fuel is specifically stated as off road vehicle only the tax is applied. Sounds like the track hosed you guys on the fuel. That's about what they sell VP C12 at the Bullring. A local chain sells 100 octane unleaded for $6/gallon at the pump. The fuel depot for the chain has 110 octane leaded for $7.50/gallon.

[Roy Dietsch]

I am going to contact the department of consumer protection and report price gouging. Here's the contact info if others want to do the same;

Wisconsin
State Offices
Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
608-224-4979
Toll free in WI: 1-800-422-7128
TDD: 608-224-5058
E-mail: hotline@datcp.state.wi.us


Regional Offices
Dept. of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection
920-448-5110
E-mail: datcphotline@datcp.state.wi.us


Bureau of Consumer Protection
Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
414-266-1231