I have a question for you racers, one-way mail-in drag racing?
I know making a drag racing car is generally much more work than an open track car, given the lesser variables in the race, which means you have to really fine tune your car for performance, which takes a lot of time and money.
I'm trying to decide if I will do any mail ins on this new drag track of ours, or if I just keep running my own cars, or maybe just do a pick your ride type deal each week. I don't return cars cause of the time involved to send out multiple cars internationally plus the exorbidant cost to do so, but the cars I receieve I tend to race a lot and use for multiple events - case in point the Outlaws video below, some of the cars in this race have been with me for years and had many, many races on my various tracks, so you do tend to get a lot of screentime.
So my question for you all is, if you know you won't get your drag car back, would you be willing to still build and send it all the way to NZ? Also, as you'll see in the video, we don't just drag race, you have to contend with the police trying to take you out, and they will get better, faster and harder to beat as the racing continues. I'll decide if any mail in would be Outlaws (one and done racing only) or if it would be a more traditional two runs and fastest time wins if there is enough interest. Just curious on your thoughts.
Discussion
I agree with Alva, I would send a car to see it run.
I'd be happy to mail in a car or two just to see them race on the new track ;-)
- Hahaha. Sure? The freight is quite expensive ;) — Chaos_Canyon
- Hahaha. Sure? The freight is quite expensive ;) — Chaos_Canyon
- I'll take out a 2nd mortgage.... — EnZedRacing
You should already have one of mine with the truck "House Paint", but I would be glad to send you a few more. Did you have any thig in mind as far as Hyper cars, classics, Rat Rods, Fantisy castings?
I got a few ideas for stuff to send.
- I’m still thinking about what a new mail in might be in this track. May not be outlaws, might have some different classes based on beginner rip n roll with graphite, regular with graphite and weight and pro that’s open but all real cars and look up to the driver or it may be set brands. Just looking to see if people are interested before I fully decide. You may also have the option to submit a cop car — Chaos_Canyon
I am 50/50 probably on cars coming back. I sometimes mark that cars don't need to come back (drag or road course) and I usually base it on the cost. I do not have any money into my cars I send out that would break the bank, and they have no fancy parts that I want back, so most can stay with the host for whatever purpose.
Some cars I do request back and send money to return them, but if I was to go oversees with a car, I would probably let it stay there. I can always buy that car again if I got an urge to do so.
However, I have seen where a host might post that the winner gets the cars. In that case, should I win one of those races, I would see my car again even though I didn't specifically ask for it back. It would just be included as part of the winners prize in a race that did this.
Really like the car, or value to me for any reason; I will send money to ship the car(s) back. Others I send out where I may have more of the same car, or not much into it, I may not consider paying to have it sent back to me.
- Thanks for the reply. If I’m sending cars it’s traditionally been all cars go to the winner of the comp. — Chaos_Canyon
"I don't return cars cause of the time involved to send out multiple cars internationally plus the exorbidant cost to do so"
What was really depressing about sending you cars, was when it was done racing and I offered to cover the return shipping, you still refused.
- Sorry about that but it was expressly laid out in the call for racers that they don’t get returned. When I’ve sent a single car to enter a race in the US, it costs between $55-$70nzd one way tracked. And recently international shipping has got worse. With the time I spend working at my day job, then putting on races and getting videos out each week, it doesn’t leave a lot of time for my non-work life — Chaos_Canyon
As long as it's expressly stated in the rules instructions, I think people will enter. It is nice to get cards back but and I understand the shipping constraints for you. You such a wonderful job with your storytelling and production. In my opinion, it's worth it to see cars race on any of your tracks. Just keep us builders in mind when contemplating the race rules. I.e mainline castings that aren't that heavy. Perhaps consider a weight limit around 40g to 50 g to keep cost down.
- Thanks for the feedback. I have tended to limit weight to 50g as all my tracks are handmade, so too much weight can start breaking stuff. I am thinking about the possibility of doing it in three classes, basically stock with graphite, then the next class is added weight, more custom (if you want) with graphite and you can polish axles if you want, then a pro level which is still weight limited (likely 50g) but any method of axles, lube etc but all cars would just have to be real or look like they could be real. — Chaos_Canyon
I'd be interested. I've always enjoyed your tracks and Pazuzu put up a decent fight last time.
Maybe to make things a little less expensive for everyone, we could pool our cars together and send a single "care package"? Everyone chips in to whoever is trusted to send the box?
- Ideally what I'd really like is someone I could completely trust enough to rep Chaos Canyon in the US, where racers send their cars to a US address, then all come over in one package, then I send one package back and that same person sends the cars back to the racers. It will still be more expensive than send only locally, but collectively would make it a lot cheaper and you'd get your cars back. The thing is it's hard to put that level of trust to someone I've never met and have no control over. If they go radio silent with peoples shipping money, then that reflects on me and my brand, so it is a high risk, hence my current no returns policy. I know a couple of our Winner takes all events, the winner has been willing to send peoples cars back to them which is the other option, if the winner can be bothered. — Chaos_Canyon
- I’ve had that exact same thought more than once. — alva1370
If I ever pull finger enough to finish a project, I'd be happy to "one way" a vehicle or two over to NZ.
You'd have to write us a cheat sheet or something to ensure that when the parcel(s) arrive, you don't end up having to pay customs charges/taxes/whatevers.
- The tax rules have certainly changed in the last year. If I send anything worth more than $150nzd then it attracts tax/duties and tariffs. So far packages sent here haven’t been an issue for me but it’s because it’s usually only a couple cars at a time if builders get together to send in one pack, or else it’s individual cars so we’ll below any thresholds — Chaos_Canyon
Good looking track. I have no problem sending cars one way if I see them on a race track every now and then.