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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: battlebaby4 on April 13, 2008, 11:55:27 AM

Title: Has gas prices affected reenacting?
Post by: battlebaby4 on April 13, 2008, 11:55:27 AM
I  felt this question was best for the general area of this forum since all reenactors have to travel to and from reenactments.
 Gas is having a effect on my unit and me. It is hard to spend 70.00 in gas to go to a event far away plus pay a 25.00 event fee. Then add in food.
 We had to skip Torrance,PA for this reason. We are trying to carpool to more events. The only summer roadtrip for us will be Thunder over Michigan in August.
We're looking into renting a large van, splitting the gas and rent fee.
 95% of the events we do this year will be local stuff. parades, living histories and events under 2 hours from homebase Erie.
 How is the gas effecting you and your unit? Is it harder to try a new event because of it? or go to one that is falling off in participants.

 Pat
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: Sturmkatze on April 13, 2008, 04:38:53 PM
Yes, I have to say that it affected partly, my decision not to go to Lafe this year -- yeah, work was most of it, but 1000+ miles driving?! Not in a car that gets 15mpg.

If I didn't live only 30miles from the WWI site, I probably wouldn't be going. Money is tight these days  ;-(
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: Antonescu on April 17, 2008, 09:52:32 PM
I find it interesting that everyone is "surprised" by the rise in gas prices. If you paid attention you could tell that prices would be going higher after the jump last year. Only use the car to go to my family, in-laws or to see houses other than reenactments. At most out 2 weekends a month. To be honest, the price of gas isn't affecting me that much.
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: Sturmkatze on April 18, 2008, 12:01:09 AM
$3.45 tonite. WHAT BULLshite! And what will anyone do about it? It's not like I live somewhere w/ public transportation. No, we need something that will break the commodities traders and cause oil prices to plummet. What about yon huge oil find in the Dakotas?
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: Antonescu on April 18, 2008, 05:54:39 AM
LOL, try $3.79 at the gas station two blocks from by past the Queensboro Bridge. Find more oil? Hell why can't we do synthetic fuels? The Germans came up with stuff during the war due to shortages in fuel so why can't they do it with the new technology?
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: Rockman on April 18, 2008, 09:56:02 AM
I've been kind of wondering about why synthetic fuels haven't been pursued more agressively.  Hell, if the Germans could do it with 1940's technology, it shouldn't be that big of a deal to gear up with the technology available now. Maybe affordable fuel isn't quite as profitable for the Oil Barons..... just doesn't have the same smell as obscene profits.  -But we know the smell of B.S. when it wafts our way!.....
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: Sturmkatze on April 18, 2008, 10:16:26 AM
Synthetic fuels are quite expensive, which is why they only do stuff like that during wartime when they have no other choice.

Here (http://www.nextenergynews.com/news1/next-energy-news2.13s.html) is an interesting article, one of many I found on google about the new oil field. Now, if only the Bush/Clintons don't let their cronies keep us from seeing any advantages with on this...
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: Antonescu on April 18, 2008, 09:12:36 PM
Synthetic fuels are quite expensive, which is why they only do stuff like that during wartime when they have no other choice.

Here (http://www.nextenergynews.com/news1/next-energy-news2.13s.html) is an interesting article, one of many I found on google about the new oil field. Now, if only the Bush/Clintons don't let their cronies keep us from seeing any advantages with on this...

Damn, the US government should buy the land up ASAP if able then drill it. Make a deal with the refineries and oil companies to provide gas here in the us for like $2.00 per gallon for 50 years!
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: Sturmkatze on April 19, 2008, 12:18:22 AM
Why are you not at WWI?? Bad Rob, BAD! I came home to let my dogs out... going back early.
M.
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: Huntar on April 19, 2008, 12:46:59 PM
it hasn't affected my decisions to go to events.

if you enjoy it, do it. don't worry about what it costs unless you wont be able to eat for a week.
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: Bonnie aka blnzrfn on April 19, 2008, 07:12:30 PM
LOL......My family has a new diet plan its called high gas prices   :'( .........We've cutback on places we had planned on going  ;-( .....and we offered up our 10 acres for a training weekend (instead of going to some state park)  because everyone is trying to cutback...
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: Antonescu on April 20, 2008, 06:32:08 AM
Why are you not at WWI?? Bad Rob, BAD! I came home to let my dogs out... going back early.
M.

WWI and Torrance were this weekend. On top of it baby shower in WV (BTW that is where I am with no cell phone service). Wife having cancer surgery and having a baby shower a month later takes top priority in my book. :angel:
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: Sturmkatze on April 20, 2008, 11:06:13 AM
WWI and Torrance were this weekend. On top of it baby shower in WV (BTW that is where I am with no cell phone service). Wife having cancer surgery and having a baby shower a month later takes top priority in my book. :angel:
I'm not saying it doesn't... we all just thought you were going to be there -- people were walking around (literally) asking "Have you seen Rob Haught?" I think guys in your unit were getting tired of people asking.

WHY would they hold a WWII event on the same weekend as WWI? How stupid! A lot of guys do both.  0|
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: Antonescu on April 21, 2008, 07:21:39 AM
Well I know that you weren't saying that. I am going to be there in November for sure though. Will be busy that month with Haydenville the last weekend in October then Newville then Torrance the following weekend (or Bedford if allowed to attend as Romanian).
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: atlanticwallblanks on April 22, 2008, 11:11:04 AM
I was walking around both events asking for Rob  0|

If I have your grenade launcher for a year does it become mine by default????

As for the events being on the same weekend, I know the event coordinator of Torrance and he decided that with gas prices, moving it one week forward wouldn't change turnout. He couldn't move it one week back as the farmer was planting the fields as soon as the event was over.  I think he is right but it still sucks that they were the same weekend.

I do think gas prices are having an effect.  WWI was way down last weekend. Torrance was slower. Combined they were down about 50%  There was not a lot of car-pooling going on either.  We make that rule number 1 in our unit. No more than 2 vehicles for everyone.  Problem with that is so many guys have small cars for better gas mileage that you can't car pool effectively.

Opec is at its breaking point, the Bush / Cheney oil machine is killing us.  (yes I voted for them   :-[)

The cumulative effect of the higher prices is hurting an already weak economy.  That will hurt events more as this goes on.

Robb
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: Antonescu on April 23, 2008, 07:20:00 AM
I was walking around both events asking for Rob  0|

If I have your grenade launcher for a year does it become mine by default????


LOL, could have just given it to Harry on Saturday. I'm in WV getting ready to head back to NJ this morning to spend 4 days with the in-laws. :'(

With the growing economies of India and China the competition is fierce. It is simple economics, supply and demand. Gas prices are up to stay unless they find a couple of huge oil reserves in the US and only use the oil for use here it seems. Going green is an option but is the warming climate due to man, nature or both? Very tricky and sticky situations here which is also driving the price up. Watch out for the left in November since they are communists disguised as democrats.
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: Sturmkatze on April 23, 2008, 09:21:50 AM
Watch out for the left in November since they are communists disguised as democrats.
Don't think McCain isn't a flamin' liberale dressed in Conservative clothes. Not much of a choice this time.
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: Huntar on April 24, 2008, 07:47:40 AM
mccain might be a liberal in conservatives clothing but he isn't so far away that he can be considered a communist. the dems....they're commies.
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: Sturmkatze on April 24, 2008, 09:48:34 AM
mccain might be a liberal in conservatives clothing but he isn't so far away that he can be considered a communist. the dems....they're commies.
No they're not all commies. Hell, I joined the Democrat party just so they'd answer my e-mails when I lived in Cali. 0|

I look at it like this -- perhaps I can change some things form the inside. I dunno. I know that I am not happy w/ the Republican leadership -- they don't "get it" and won't change. Now, don't think I like all the Socialist crap that the Dems do, but what can you do? I'm more of a Libertarian, but I like to have a primary... know what I mean. Polarization is not the answer.
Marsh
 yoy
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: Rockman on April 24, 2008, 08:05:30 PM
Well, the way things have been going, it doesn't look like a good ride either way.  Common sense doesn't seem to be part of the equation any more. It's too bad that we couldn't opt out on the ridiculous crap.  --" Maybe I don't need this ride after all" .... to paraphrase John Cusack....
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: Sturmkatze on April 24, 2008, 09:35:54 PM
yup  >:(
 ---/
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: Antonescu on April 25, 2008, 12:24:41 AM
Well, the way things have been going, it doesn't look like a good ride either way. 

It doesn't like a good leader at all ahead as well into the next elections. What has happened to those who can lead like Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Jackson, Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, FDR? Someone has to be out there!
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: Sturmkatze on April 25, 2008, 09:02:26 AM
Well, the way things have been going, it doesn't look like a good ride either way. 

It doesn't like a good leader at all ahead as well into the next elections. What has happened to those who can lead like Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Jackson, Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, FDR? Someone has to be out there!
They don't want the hassles to their life of being president -- of having their life put under a microscope. Look at how Clinton and Bush have aged... it would suck.
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: battlebaby4 on May 17, 2008, 07:17:15 PM
Memorial Day is only a week away. With that here in PA with almost the highest State gas taxes we will be at 4.00 a gallon. Gangster Ed Rendell has a law that even if we PA folks drive less our state gas tax goes up automaticly. We have no say in it.
 For our trip to Michigan and the airshow, we're going to rent a 15 passenger van and split the gas. This is looking like the last major roadtrip for sometime for Easy Co. If gas heads over 5.00 a gallons I believe our great hobby will have alot of problems in having events. We have had to now pass on Odessa,NY in Sept. We wanted to tow my jeep there but I can't use a whole paycheck to do it.
 I don't want to sound like a" black copter person" but I feel our enemies have a new plan to defeat this country. Why blow us up instead run the country into debt. Change how we live our lives everyday. I hate to see us only reenact over the computer if we can afford it.

  Pat
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: Antonescu on May 17, 2008, 10:41:52 PM
Well this is something strange. A lot of people are blaming US oil companies for the prices rising. Now, as a kid I remember the 70's then the 80's when OPEC cut oil production, etc. So what can the US do?

1) revisit old oil sites from the 1800's/early 1900's to see about more oil; technology has changed a lot since then and the ability to reach further down is possible; would promote job growth in some areas such as KY, WV and PA for example

2) get to ND and region to begin drilling for the 250 billion of barrels we are sitting on there; new technology has made the drilling possible the the cost per barrel would be $30

3) allow exploratory drilling off shore in more areas; some of the little countries are doing it off their coasts and the government has blocked 85% from this

4) allow drilling in Alaska since there is more there to be found

Now we could all talk to the tree huggers/communists  0| who live in $1.5 million dollar homes, well paying jobs, nice cars to use enviromentally friendly methods (which I am sure they have already) or just go ahead, remove a lot of red tape, EPA ( :D) monitorization of drilling sites and get that black gold out of the ground. It is now a matter of national independence. Drill for more oil here at home and at the same time still move forward with new technology for cleaner air and new fueling methods (however with most of the corn going to ethanal production ,for which I have seen none of here, that in itself raises the price of corn products).
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: Antonescu on May 17, 2008, 10:47:36 PM

They don't want the hassles to their life of being president -- of having their life put under a microscope. Look at how Clinton and Bush have aged... it would suck.

The Founding Fathers set this country up to be ran by the people. Both parties are out of the loop with the people and the national morons who actually run the parties (look at Dean on the DNC). Too bad a middle-class, educated American who can tear apart both parties platforms, make his/hers stand out and seem logical to start a campaign now for 2012. Hell the little parties need to get together (minus the communists, socialists, fascists and ultra-nationalists) and support a candidate. If that person would win would send the DNC and RNC into a mad scramble.
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: groomporter on May 18, 2008, 09:16:13 PM
1) revisit old oil sites from the 1800's/early 1900's to see about more oil; technology has changed a lot since then and the ability to reach further down is possible; would promote job growth in some areas such as KY, WV and PA for example

Many of those wells were already re-tapped during the 1970's when they started injecting water or steam into old wells in an effort to force out any remaining oil.

Why don't we talk more about tax incentives to encourage more development of hybrid vehicles which can reduce oil usage?
  -The eventual reduced demand should reduce prices and help our economy.
  -Our reduced need could reduce our dependence on foreign oil, which could also help ease our foreign trade deficit.
  -Our primary vehicle fuel would not change, so there would be no need to change or recalibrate the fuel distribution system for some other fuel.
  -For those who believe in a human cause of global warming it could reduce green house gases, not to mention other pollutants.
  -If we can perfect the technology we can sell and/or license it overseas which can help our trade deficit.
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: Sturmkatze on May 20, 2008, 12:30:01 AM
My landlord is a manager at a Ford dealership and he told me today that they DO have a fusion pickup coming in '09... be nice wouldn't it? Hell, even a hybrid would be cool, but Ack!, they're so expensive and they really DO rape you at the dealers for things like this >:( Hell, if they'd just come out w/ a kit to convert existing vehicles to hybrids or fusion, they'd sell. There's a LOT of greed in the automobile industry, just like the oil industry. I will take particular glee in watching the oil industry suffer one of these days.
 ---/
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: atlanticwallblanks on May 20, 2008, 10:20:28 AM
  I will take particular glee in watching the oil industry suffer one of these days.
 ---/

Can't disagree on a persona; level, but much of the oil/gas price is set by speculators.  I very strongly fear that once the bubble burst, we will be in a depression like the late '20's....for the same reason.

I had to drop out of my first event this past weekend due to fuel costs.  I had to drop Tolland Mass.

Diesel went up 40 cents a gallon here in one day.  With the F-350 we need to haul the weight of the blanks (30 pounds /1,000 averaged out) we couldn't do more than sell enough for gas money.  Whats the point?  Damn I hated backing out, it made me sick to my stomach because I do what I say, but my hobby is't working for the gas companies.  0|

Robb
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: Antonescu on July 12, 2008, 07:05:28 AM
Gas is at $4.45 a gallon now near me. I am not blaming the oil companies since this is a free-market economy and supply/demand is now influenced by the global economy. Don't forget, how many people own stocks in energy and natural resources as part of a retirment/pension portfolio? It takes a year to get a rig up and drilling for oil and the US has plenty of it. What about clean coal technology? It's been out there for years now so why haven't we started turning coal to oil?

On another note, when you stop off to get gas at Citgo just remember this little bit of info and decide if you want Chavez and his cronies to get all the money.

CITGO
Started by an American oilman, it is now owned by the government of Venezuela. Henry Doherty started Cities Service Company in 1910 as more of a wholesaler of gas and electricity than an oil company. In 1965 the company started calling itself CITGO. In 1986 Petr?leos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA), the national oil company of Venezuela, bought half the stock. Then in 1990 it bought the other half.

(https://www.reenactor.net/images/no-citgo.jpg)
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: atlanticwallblanks on July 12, 2008, 09:21:04 AM
Rob, i think you need to look at the info about Citgo.  I could care less about them, but they are the one and only reason that Chavez is blowing it out his arse when he makes threats to cut off oil.  Besides, if he does that, how would he pay for his over priced, 3rd rate export versions of second rate Russian equipment that they will never be able to use operationally by time they figure out how to use them?

There is a reason everyone is letting him get away with everything, and it more than just the humor of listening to him.

Fuel has some down a bit here recently.  It is still hard to load up the F-350 diesel and drive 9 hours to an event. (Blanks are very heavy and you need a large truck to carry enough to make it worth your time)  As bad as it sounds, if it isn't worth my time, I can't go simply because I don't want to work for the gas companies.

What I import...I now pay more for the supplies than I sold it for last October.  Next time the talking heads in Washington tell you that a weak dollar is good for the economy remember that when you see the price of your blanks and think about how insane the prices are.

Robb
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: Antonescu on July 21, 2008, 07:53:49 AM
Well was reading some information on using water to power your car along with gasoline. Here are the links to some of the sites:

http://www.gas4free.com/aff/?hop=sshtml (http://www.gas4free.com/aff/?hop=sshtml)

http://water4gas.com/2books.htm?hop=sshtml (http://water4gas.com/2books.htm?hop=sshtml)

http://www.runyourcarwithwater.com/?hop=sshtml (http://www.runyourcarwithwater.com/?hop=sshtml)

Anyone out there know of someone who has done it? Maybe Robb you can try it to see how it works since you haul alot of ammo around and give us a "consumer report" on it! ;)
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: atlanticwallblanks on July 21, 2008, 04:07:23 PM
Rob, I do think that the only viable source of powering vehicles is Hydrogen.  (I haven't looked at your links yet but that is what I think they are about).

By the time my 3 Honda's die on me I think it will - read- Hope it will, be a good source.

Right now the F-350 needed to haul the rounds over the PA and NY mountains is killing me on diesel prices.  If it looks like it will work, hell yea, I'll get in line for one right away.  They just need to make one powerful enough to haul weight.

I'll look at your links though, I'm always open to new ideas.

Robb
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: groomporter on July 21, 2008, 07:26:38 PM
Well was reading some information on using water to power your car along with gasoline. Here are the links to some of the sites:

http://www.gas4free.com/aff/?hop=sshtml (http://www.gas4free.com/aff/?hop=sshtml)

http://water4gas.com/2books.htm?hop=sshtml (http://water4gas.com/2books.htm?hop=sshtml)

http://www.runyourcarwithwater.com/?hop=sshtml (http://www.runyourcarwithwater.com/?hop=sshtml)

Anyone out there know of someone who has done it? Maybe Robb you can try it to see how it works since you haul alot of ammo around and give us a "consumer report" on it! ;)

You might want to read this transcript of a podcast debunking the subject
http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4087
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: Antonescu on July 22, 2008, 08:13:30 AM
Well was reading some information on using water to power your car along with gasoline. Here are the links to some of the sites:

http://www.gas4free.com/aff/?hop=sshtml (http://www.gas4free.com/aff/?hop=sshtml)

http://water4gas.com/2books.htm?hop=sshtml (http://water4gas.com/2books.htm?hop=sshtml)

http://www.runyourcarwithwater.com/?hop=sshtml (http://www.runyourcarwithwater.com/?hop=sshtml)

Anyone out there know of someone who has done it? Maybe Robb you can try it to see how it works since you haul alot of ammo around and give us a "consumer report" on it! ;)

You might want to read this transcript of a podcast debunking the subject
http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4087

Didn't really believe the ones I listed and for sure do not believe a podcast/blog written by anyone. Some people have tried it and hoping that someone out there has and can shed some light on it. Read the journals the scientific community puts out for the true answers (most of the time). Blogs, podcast, etc. are open to anyone it seems to be an "expert" on a subject.

The way America has always gotten out of tough times was to use our creativity. If there is a will then there is a way and will see this type of technology come to the surface. Until then, get off the bio-fuel kick since it will take 20-30 years for alternate sources of energy to be useful the way we need it. Continue developing it but also drill for oil here in the US (combine the various ways). An economy that has been oil based for years will not change in a couple of years (well my lovely DNC says yes) without loss of jobs, business going under, etc. Hybrids are nice but more useful in the city than in rural America, start digging coal and turn it into oil (the tech is there and just waiting to go). So many ways but the Democrats are pushing their way which seems to be a great one since no one has any faith in a Democrat controlled congress (below Bushs' rating).
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: atlanticwallblanks on July 22, 2008, 11:12:27 AM
I guess it helps to look at the links first  :-\

My only thought...if they work that well, all the car companies would be beating down the doors trying to get these things installed to improve gas mileage and get a leg up on the competition...since they are not installing them or talking about them  would guess there is sort sort of problem or that they simply don't work.

Besides, if we all started using water we would hear Al Gore screaming about the cars killing babies in African droughts.  Al Gore --->  oo-P

Robb
Title: Re: Has gas prices effected reenacting
Post by: Antonescu on January 09, 2009, 09:30:58 PM
Well it looks like the price of gas has gone down a lot. Now the issue isn't gas anymore though we still need to do something to make sure we are not tied to the Middle East anymore or even Venzuela.
Title: Re: Has gas prices affected reenacting?
Post by: Balaklava on April 20, 2011, 07:51:31 AM
Is the previous discussion still relevant ? Here we are 3 years later and $4 per gallon in most places is the "norm". Another topic that reflects government policy and manipulating our lives .... Did you all know the life of the electric car battery is 5 years or less, replacement cell costs $16,000.00 (!!!) and by then time you need to replace the battery cell the car value won't be squat.

Cheers, Johnnie, 93rd Highlanders 1812-1858.
Title: Re: Has gas prices affected reenacting?
Post by: Karl Helweg on May 16, 2011, 05:52:47 PM
More and more every day.  Being land locked here we have to fly or boat to most all events so since airfares have not been climbing as fast as gas here we will probably still make our planned events in the L. 48 this year but driving or flying in Alaska might just stop for a while.  Auto gas is $4.25 in town and over $8.00 in remote sites.  100LL avgas was $6.10 last weekend so flying to the closest groups in Canada will $450.00-600.00 which is still cheaper than a ferry ticket and driving.  The weird travel math here is that we can fly to Pennsic near Pittsburgh, where we have a camp in storage, for the same or less than the closest ten outside groups to us.   

My plan is to shift my reenacting budget from gas to more gear and tools.  Hopefully with more toys I can play harder at the few events that I can attend. 

On a happier note, I can make a short flight to Whitehorse in the Yukon where they offer round trip non-stop flights to Europe for about $1,000.00.