I fully understand the reasons a promoter wants to charge a higher price for a pit pass. I don’t mind in the least paying the same for a pit pass as what a general admission ticket would cost as is done in England or New Zealand. This method of pricing is also the case at most ice races and most amateur road racing events. There the racing organization often provides some form of insurance to competitors and/or fans but doesn’t charge extra in the form of an inflated pit pass fee. Often, my admission is free to these events.

However, I object to paying for insurance that really protects the track and not me. I DO NOT NEED the track’s insurance. I am fully covered for any and all incidents by my own insurance. In point of fact, if the track had insurance it would probably screw up my claiming benefits from my own much better and more comprehensive insurance.

If I come to a track wearing a jacket why would I have any interest in BUYING a jacket from the track? I think you get my point.

The promoter has the racers by the tail. They’ve already spent $40,000 on their race car to race for $400 so what’s another 25 bucks for a pit pass. It is many of those people who don’t have any insurance or good insurance so the minimal amount offered by the track might be worth it to them.

The promoter should offer an option to those fans that were smart enough to bring jackets (have insurance) and not REQUIRE them to buy another jacket (pit pass) just to walk through the pit area. That option, for those prepared people, should be a pit pass offered at the same price as a general admission ticket.

Most tracks I am familiar with including the Knoxville Raceway either pay an annual insurance premium or race by race premium. Therefore once they have reached breakeven then every pit pass they sell, which presumably includes a cost for insurance, is pure extra profit. At many of the ice tracks/road races the competitors share the insurance costs but they don’t force me to pay for it.

The bottom line……I don’t want tracks charging me for something that is of ZERO value to me and telling me it’s for my own good.

Best,

Randy