The opening meetings of the Victorian and South Australian drag racing seasons have been cancelled due to "lack of entries" following the jumping of entry fees at both Calder and Adelaide International raceways. Entry fees have leapfrogged by a massive 65 percent over last season's prices, from $85 to $140. Racers in both centres are up in arms following the receipt of entry forms.

Entry fees for national open meetings at both tracks were $65 in 1996-97 and for the 1997-98 season they rose to $85, a hike of 30.7 percent, and while most racers were unhappy they accepted it.

"The worst thing is the lack of respect shown by Calder Park management," said one Victorian racer. "The rise in entry fees is bad on its own, but when we found out that prizemoney was staying where it was in 96-97, that was the final straw. In real terms, entry fees have skyrocketed by 115 percent, all of our other costs have jumped as well, yet prizemoney has remained where it was two years ago."

A meeting of Melbourne racers was organized and held at the Celtic Club in Melbourne on Wednesday, September 30. Nearly three hundred racers attended the gathering, only to learn that the first events of the season, scheduled for Saturday, October 10 in both Melbourne and Adelaide had been cancelled earlier in the day. Some at the meeting had only received part of their entry details the previous day and were still considering the impact of the new charges.

"The general feeling over here is that this is the start of something big," said one South Australian racer. "But what has really annoyed us is the way we were informed of the price rise, without any consultation."

Earlier this year both Calder Park Raceway and Adelaide International Raceway withdrew their off-street drag racing events from the ANDRA schedule, claiming the fees levied by ANDRA were making the events unprofitable.

"ANDRA has always been extremely sensitive to the plight of the tracks - on occasion, the co-operation we've provided has drawn criticism from our own members," said ANDRA CEO Tony Thornton. "Increased ANDRA charges are usually reflected in higher entry fees and we are also mindful of the need to help the tracks keep admission costs to the fans as low as possible."

While ANDRA has almost doubled the insurance protection provided for events around the country in the last seven years, the cost to the tracks has actually been reduced by 35 percent. Over the same seven year period, overall event fees charged by ANDRA at this level dropped by 4.7 percent. Although prizemoney is a major factor in outgoings for the larger events, those payments have not risen appreciably in the last five years.

"As an organization, ANDRA is largely funded by its members," Thornton added. "Membership costs have risen by more than 60 percent through the nineties and license holders are paying 40 percent more than they were in 1991. We've also absorbed some of the insurance costs that used to be part of track expenses.

"Any suggestion that ANDRA is unfairly taxing the promoters is unacceptable. We are sympathetic to the tracks because they are such an integral part of what we do, but our first reponsibility is to the Australian drag racers. With the further devaluation of the dollar in our case, and other economic challenges shared by all Australians, changes in the cost structure of drag racing must be dealt with carefully.

"ANDRA accepts that Calder Park Raceway is an expensive facility to operate and Adelaide International Raceway has undergone major development in recent years but this new entry fee is more than double that paid by our racers in other states. Willowbank Raceway in Queensland is charging $67 for its October 10 event, and they've also made significant capital investment in the last three years."

Thornton, in company with South Australian Divisional Director Harry White, and Victorian DD David Baker met with Calder and AIR track owner Bob Jane on Wednesday, October 7.

Following the meeting Thornton told DRAGSTER, "We have been able to confirm our calendar of meetings for Adelaide and Calder for the next season, and the event structures will ensure that Group Two vehicles will get a good opportunity this season, which was a matter of concern.

"However, there was no budging on the entry fee issue, and that is a concern. I am most concerned about the impact this will have on Group Three racers, who I think we will see racing a lot less frequently this season."