Gas Prices

[RichardGraham]

Hey Folks,

Another question. Are the current (and perhaps long term) high gas prices affecting your inline hockey at all?

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

[SWAMPDONKEYS29]

Gas prices have not prevented me from playing, but they have certainly changed my approach to hockey. I drive a Suburban and it cost me $87 to fill it the other day.

When my team goes to tournaments, I'll usually offer to drive. I can comfortably seat eight people in my truck and i's nice to travel with the majority of the team together. Normally, I do not ask for gas money from the guys riding with me. Needless to say, that has changed since the surge in prices at the end of last summer. I'll still offer to drive, but now we all share the cost of gas.

Also, there is a league that I play in and another league that I referee that are both more than a thirty minute drive each way. After seeing how much it was to fill my truck the other day, I have decided to take my wife's smaller SUV whenever I travel to the two above mentioned destinations.

Until the prices come back to earth, I'll be forced to take these steps in an attempt to save a little money.

[fbr3of4]

Gas prices have not yet affected how often we play or how far we travel but the prices have certainly encouraged us to car pool. Everyone loves the independence of having their own vehicle so they can come and go at their pleasure but with the price of gas, more of us are traveling together and splitting the cost.
We're even sharing hotel rooms and staying in hotels/motels with kitchen facilities. Instead of going out and having team dinners at restaurants we're collecting a few dollars from each person and either ordering out for pizza, making our own pasta dinners or having a bar-b-que. Where else will you pay about $7 and get two or three meals?!
I guess the effect gas prices have had on our team has made us more cost conscious, has actually helped us save money and brought us closer together as a team.

[JohnHockey1798]

The only thing that the rising gas price has me considering is walking to work instead of driving. I live 5 minutes from my job so I can afford ro walk. I also need to loose a few pounds and what better way to do it then walking. I can not get the the rink I play at except to drive at least I only play once a week and maybe twice soon. We need to either find an alternative fuel or find a new place to get our oil.

John

Toga!! Toga!!

[WelshTimeKeeper]

Hi All

Just curious, what are you paying for "gas"?

last time I filled up with un-leaded, here in West Wales, UK, I payed .95(GBP)/litre

Which equates to £4.32(GBP)/imperial gallon

Which I think is about $7.89(USD)/(imperial) gallon

I can't find the conversion between US Gallon/Imperial gallon!

How does that compare with what you are paying?

<font color=blue>John</font color=blue>
<font color=red>West Wales, UK</font color=red>

[MDE3]

Conversion is .8 so your gas prices are about $6.32 for a US gallon. vs about $3.00 over here..it varies around the country +/- $.30/gal...so I am off to tune my little Cosworth headed 4 cyl now(2.3-16, which you may be familiar with)..to eek a few more miles out of a tank.

[WelshTimeKeeper]

<font color=blue>Thanks Mike</font color=blue>

I seem to recall from our New England visit of 2005 that fuel was cheaper on your side of the pond than over here.

Ummmmm, A Cosworth, I'm impressed, We make do with an Opel/ Vauxhall - Astra, not to sure what GM badge that is in the USA.

Anyway this thread is straying some way off the inline hockey theme, I wonder how long before Richard transfers it to the Grab Bag area?

Regards

<font color=blue>John</font color=blue>
<font color=red>West Wales, UK.</font color=red>

[RichardGraham]

Hi John,

Well, it was my own post that started it all. Guess I have to give myself some demerits!

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

[DannyG]

In all fairness, those of us driving to national tournaments this summer make it very relevant...gas went down to $2.75 locally today, and how bad is it when that's a "good deal?"

I am really not looking forward to the $5.00 per gallon situation, which it looks like we are going to get in the next couple of years.

My good buddy, who works at a local refinery, notes that they have been on 24 hr/day production for about two years now, and they pretty much make about $2 million a day.

bad for us, good for his bonus, was all he could say about it...

<font color=purple>DannyG</font color=purple>

[RichardGraham]

Hi Danny,

$2 million a day? That's more than IHC makes in a month! [img]/wtimages/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

[gwood2]

A couple of thoughts from an ice and inline player -
The pond season (for ice hockey) in Maine is now about 2 weeks shorter than it was for our fathers. And as energy prices increase, commensurate increases in ice rink fees will put the indoor ice game further out of reach for many lower and middle class families. In my opinion, the inline game will be the best chance for widespread participation (read: survival) of the greatest sport in the world.

[RichardGraham]

Hi Gwood2,

Good post, although it's unfortunate that rising energy prices are going to hit ice rinks (and other businesses) that people like us like to participate in. I'm sure that the experts are correct that there are no easy answers, but I'd be happy play a few less games to help us avoid drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge...

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central