Phillips County Motor Sports, Inc.

Economic Development for 2010

PCMS operates the Hi-Line Drag strip, located south of Malta, MT and has completed its fourth year of successful racing. The numbers were 35-45 units, (cars, pickups, bikes, Jr. dragsters, snowmobiles) when we first began. At that time PCMS showed $1.2 million in income and turn-around monies for our area. We thought that was phenomenal after two years of operating the track.

                Now we have an average of 75-85 units per race and the final race of the season hosted 100 adult racers and 18 Jr. dragsters.

                Track Manager John Carnahan, figures the average unit, trailer, drag unit, and pulling rig, to be valued at $50,000 and the Jr. Dragsters average $10,000. With 100 adult units for the last race, there was a value of $5,000,000 and the Jr. Dragsters numbered 18 for a total of $180,000. For those of you who were curious as the value on the pit side, you now have a better idea of the money sitting there to entertain you.

To take it one step further, the miles from the Canadian visitors are staggering: 51,800 from Saskatchewan based on the 35 registered drivers, and 17,820 miles for the six Alberta cars registered with the Hi-Line Drag strip, based on five races, however, the Hi-Line Drag strip hosted seven race weekends with a total of 14 days of racing. Even though some races were rained out, the majority of the drivers stayed for the following day. 

Figuring fuel at $4.00 (diesel mostly), it comes to $287,200 for the Saskatchewan drivers and $71,280 for Alberta. Half, or more, of the fuel is purchased in Montana and most of the gallons are purchased in the Malta and surrounding area.

Accommodations average $65.00 during the summer time and using a conservative figure of 20 rooms, as several have campers or motor homes, it brings in $9,100 during the season. Meals figure into the fray at around $6,314 and additional purchases at the convenience stores gets into the $6,150 range.  

This is the Canadian drivers only and does not take into consideration the additional pit crew which travels with the units plus the Canadian spectators, who truly enjoy drag racing. This number can be from two to 10 per unit.

Now, for the U.S. drivers, using the numbers of 85 drivers with perhaps 30 coming from the Provinces, making the working number 55, the figure for motels are estimated to be over $25,025, meals $8,470, convenience store purchases over $8,000 and fuel is an estimated $277,200 with a large part purchased in Malta.

                Income for the track ranges in the $100,000 area with expenses to match as we are a non-profit corporation.

                The estimated dollar figure is $697,959 times a turn-over of a conservative value of four shows $2,611,836.

PCMS is confident we are a driving force in the area and serve a purpose in the community.