NASCAR--and Fans--Affected by Gas Prices

Many of the die-hard NASCAR racing fans find RVing to view their favorite sport is just the way to do it. But high gas prices have been chiseling into racing event attendance figures.

Jim Hunter, longtime NASCAR vice-president says, "Some of our hard-core old-line fans used to go to 6-8 races a year, but back then hotels didn't charge seven-day minimums, track prices were half of what they are now, and gas was a lot cheaper. Now I hear those same people say, 'I'll just go to my favorite few races, and I'll watch the rest on television.' "

But not just the spectators are feeling the fuel price pinch, so are the racers. While at Daytona race teams get free fuel to run their racers in a fuel-company sponsorship deal, they still have to drag their racers and gear from track to track. That amount can certainly add up.

But some RVers at Dayton say fuel prices aren't the concern their looking at: It's the new pet policy. Referring to a "no pets" rule going into place on the speedway's 'second turn' camping area, "The price of gas won't keep us from coming to the races, but we're not coming back next year if we can't bring our dog," says George, Kamansky who is here for the 15th consecutive year. "That's serious. Sure, everyone talks about the price of fuel, but that's not what will keep us away."

Kamansky should know. His dog has his own chrome plated Dale Earnhardt, Jr. doggy dish. Don't diss the fans, Daytona.

For more information, check out the Orlando Sentinel.

Photo pocketwiley on flickr.com

Unc' Says Diesel Prices Will Sink--Gas, Too

If you can believe the predictions, Uncle Sam says diesel prices won't float nearly has high as expected, and will actually sink before the year winds up.

The DOE (Department of Energy) says we should expect a peak of diesel fuel prices in April or May, somewhere near $3.30 per gallon. By year's end, 128 ounces of the precious fluid will have dropped to near $3.00. Last month the DOE projected that prices would be considerably higher, but production has increased, while demand has fallen.

What about an annual prediction? DOE says the average annual diesel price for 2008 will be around $3.21, while 2009 shows a whopping drop, with projected petrol prices at just (just?) $3.08.

You gasoline burners should see some relief too: The expected peak of gas is in May near $3.38, dropping to $3.00 in September, and bottoming out the year in December at $2.75. Can you believe it?

D.O.E. Says "Whoops!" on Fuel Price Guestimates

Betting on fuel prices is like betting on a pool game between two unknowns in a shady looking backstreet pool hall. A month ago Uncle Sam's energy wizards projected diesel prices for the 2008 year. Today they're running the estimates up 18 cents a gallon. Here's the breakdown:

January: $3.31
February: $3.29
March: $3.27
Whole Year: $3.21

In the last two weeks the average retail price of diesel has actually dropped 9 cents a gallon. Hurrah! But keep saving up your pennies.

Gasoline prices are expected to shoot back up to over $3.40 per gallon in time for summer drives.

Office Photo Courtesy ricardo.martin on flickr.com

GM Tow Vehicle Sales Drop With Gas Price Rise

GM says that sales of its big pickup trucks will probably never return to the high level set earlier this decade. The automotive manufacturer says gasoline prices have quelled the big demand.

In an interview with Blomberg News Report, a General Motors spokesman said, "We always thought this was where sales would be," referring to current truck and SUV sales levels. Blomberg reports that gas prices in GM's heyday were around $1.56 a gallon, while present averages show that precious petrol fuel up to $2.74.

With thoughts of requiring CAFE (corporate average fuel economy) standards to become higher being bandied about in Congress, many worry that big pickups will become a thing of the past, making big trailers and fifth wheels far less attractive to RV buyers. It remains to be seen how things will shake out.

Photo courtesy jm3 on Flickr

Diesel Owners Rejoice: More Price Drops at Pumps

According to the fed's pump watchdogs, the average price of a gallon of diesel fell off a half cent last week, now at a nationwide average of $2.863. This will hopefully set a trend, since the week before diesel jumped 2.1 cents, offsetting a 5.1 cent decline a week before that.

Do you feel like you're watching a yo-yo championship? In reality, the price of #2 diesel is actually down 16.4 cents a gallon from the same time last year.

Ethanol Jacks Food Prices--Alternatives Sought

The high demand for corn to produce ethanol fuel is having a major effect on food prices. With corn as the staple food of many groups, as more corn goes "into the tank" prices for daily food are rising. Recently Mexicans took to the streets to protest the skyrocketing prices of tortillas. Even "Norte Americanos" are seeing the impacts--'and it ain't just Orville Rendenbacher' that's going up: Hen fruit is up, and price hikes in beef and chicken are likewise attributed to the sudden popularity of corn in the car.

More research money and effort are now being poured into enzyme research, the Holy Grail of converting cellulose--the thick fiber in plants--into ethanol. Corn to ethanol is easy, but changing cellulose into liquid fuel requires enzymes to break down the thick stuff. Where to get the enzymes? From bug guts to urinary tracts, researchers are looking everywhere. Once the right key is found, some scientists claim making the swap from dino-fuels to plant fuel will be as easy as falling off a log. Provided they haven't already turned the log in ethanol.

For a fuller discussion of ethanol research, check out this Associated Press story.