Splitting Costs

[Paul Austin]

The comical scene in the Storm Chasers series, where Sean has to buckle down and share a room, along with this thread got me wondering. It's probably been brought up many times before, but with gas prices climbing, how many of you partner up and split costs, especially rooms?

I realize some of you have chaser spouses who are naturally your partner, but I know many of you chase alone. Have you ever partnered or at least considered it? Kind of like a weeks-long car pool? Instead of tens of miles per day, hundreds?

Something can certainly be said for the freedom to make your own driving, chasing, and night stay decisions. The trade-off is in the savings. I'm not really pushing the idea. I'm just curious about the breakdown. How many of you are part of a team that splits costs?

 

[Shane Adams]

I am 50/50. It just depends on the situation. Many times I'm with Mick and Chad, so we split everything three ways....actually we just take turns and roll that over into the next chase, but it's the same thing basically. Other times I'm solo. I like it both ways, because as you say, each has its own rewards.

 

[Mike Peregrine]

The "I'm a loner Dottie, a rebel" line cracked me up ... Pee Wee is my hero.

But that fits me best. I'd rather just shell out the bucks and call the shots. That way I don't feel bad when I bust hard (which I'll admit happens more than I'd care to admit). And I just like being out there on my own.

 

[Brett Adair]

I've had great luck with my chase partners and we generally agree on a target area and don't have many problems with the decision of one another. We generally split the cost and it makes it much easier on all of us since we are more often than not in one vehicle.

I'm sure we will see several others begin this practice as well. Most already do it.

 

[Mike Hollingshead]

I'm probably one of the biggest "go it alone" people there is. I like my own car, myself behind the wheel, and making all the decisions. I'd probably just stay home if I had to do it another way. In all the chases I've had, only once did I go with someone else. That was a pretty short chase. The biggest aspect of it that I don't want to have to screw with, is deciding when to go home or not to. I can get really persistent after the chase if it hasn't gone that well. I will go and wait for something to work out photography wise, longer than most probably would.

Other times, I have found myself getting pissed at data problems, gps problems, or traffic, or just anything frustrating, and saying screw the day....early. Those days I'll head back just because I've gotten so pissed and frustrated. Not many like that, but there are a few(last chase near Tulsa was that way....May 29, 2004 trying to punch south through the nc KS storm was another....knuckle buster days...trying to make a few anti-hail dents to the roof from the inside...seriously have no clue how I've never broke anything). I don't mind tag alongs or caravans all that much, but I have to be my only real concern in decision making. I don't do much else outside of chasing anyway, so spending a bit more on it ain't that big of a deal to me.

 

[Terry Tyler]

wont find me splitting costs with anyone...

hell, in most cases...i end up not just footing the whole gas bill, but paying for someones car/time etc...

 

[Tyler_Costantini]

I have always taken people with me! So they can take the 12am - 5am shift!!!

+ Gas is $3.10! I chased alone many times.. I would rather have someone with me just to pass time faster. Also they can work the computer! I have A bad habit of DWC...

 

[Dick McGowan]

I try to fit 4 comfortably in my car, and we usually get a 2 bed hotel room, if we decide to stay the night, with 2 on the floor, then one for each bed, then alternate days. But I usually say that the driver (me) has to be the most alert and comfortable, so I get one of the beds more often than not . Gas is split equally among us all, I don't "charge" for the miles I put on my car, mainly because I like to drive, and don't feel uncomfortable when others do, and am tense to watch others. I have to drive, unless I'm dead tired from driving 16 hours straight with another 5 to go, then we'll alternate. Darin and I make all of the "decision" making on targets (although sometimes not agreeing!), and the few other guys that tag along don't ever disagree. My car gets great gas mileage, so one fill up is all we'll need prior to initiation which usually runs 45-50 bucks for 450 miles of highway driving. It generally works out good, and the car I drove this year seats pretty comfortably. On the weekend of May 4, 5, 6, we got by pretty well with 125 bucks each, (3 of us) and that included two cheap motels and 1350 miles of driving and food. Sure as heck beats the heck out of my old blazer, which gets less than half of that. So we sacrifice 4-wheel drive for a car, if it's going to cost us twice as much. You just have to be more careful and always plan ahead for the paved roads that aren't there!

 

[Craig Maire II]

I have no problem with splitting costs, sharing rooms etc. and have had a number of great people chase with me. Besides helping to ease the cost of fuel, hotels etc. it's always nice to have an extra pair of eyes and someone to help hold the camcorder

 

[Susan Strom]

I'm a social person, but when it comes to chasing, I'm definitely a lone wolf. I do have a little cell phone posse though/fellow chasers, so when I'm out in parts unknown at least somebody knows where I am. Chasing by myself works best for my productivity, even if it is more expensive. I have found chasers have such different agendas they like to follow. That is perfectly okay, but most don't seem to be up for mine, 2am staring off the Mogollon Rim or rain-soaked MCCs or even GV stuff after the daytime LP/HPs in Kansas. Late at night on these systems the lightning is often alive & kicking and can take me until dawn to finish. I also relish the solitude of the Arizona desert. Quite paradise during a storm.

 

[Jesse Risley]

I don't go solo as much now that gas prices are rising more every year. However, if someone wants to ride, they have to be able to read a road map!

I have no problem sharing rooms, as long as all parties agree to a "sock stuffin" rule in case of excess snoring.

 

[Brandon Sullivan]

I have not been doing it long enough to say one way or the other really.. As far as my own vehicle, Me and one maybe 2 people. But I do the driving, and I tell where we are going. I have no problem chasing in groups, but I want my own vehicle so if I want to look at something that others dont. I can go by myself!!

 

[Paul Austin]

This has been interesting. I knew that a number of you are pretty strict loners, and a good number prefer company. But I'm a little surprised by the low number of votes for the fourth choice . Of course, now that I think about it, finding just one available room for my group during a busy weekend can be a daunting task sometimes. I did figure a lot of votes would fall in the middle. So which one of you had the bad experience? Oh do share .

As for myself, if any of my regular chase team members (Marc Austin, Sarah Austin, Sharon Pearce, Kai-Aisle Sønstabø, and Thomas Dolmer) are available, I enjoy the company and extra pair of eyes and hands. I voted the last option myself, but I'm a little more careful about who goes with me than I once would have been.

For those of you who only fly solo, I can appreciate the beautiful solitude and independent freedom you must enjoy sometimes. Managing forecasting, navigation, driving, video, photography, documentation, etc. alone is an impressive feat. My hat's off to you.

For a group such as ours, traveling 1200+ miles one way just to reach the alley, and enduring periods of unspectacular weather during our 2-3 week window makes the group decision a no-brainer. On off-days, we find something interesting or fun to do (and anxiously await the on-days). And splitting hotels and fuel four ways is huge. Any other vacation would cost me at least as much as I spend annually chasing.

 

[Jeff Snyder]

I guess I'm also in the majority -- "it depends". I went out solo many, many times the first few years that I chased, and I think it forced me to learn a lot about chasing (and basic meteor.) very quickly. After all, when you bust, there usually isn't anyone else to be blame but yourself. Similar to others, I like the idea of calling my own shots -- given the time and money involved, I'd like to know that I can only blame myself if I bust. In addition, I enjoy driving, and I guess I just don't get bored often. In addition, I find it much easier to go solo before storm-time, since driving home after a chase can get a little tiresome. Overall, though, I find my driving to be quite peaceful -- roll the windows down, turn up the radio, and check the data every 15 minutes so I can keep up-to-date

All that said, I do enjoy company, and some intelligent chaser-discussion can be beneficial when it comes to adding more opinions to the forecast process. In this regard, I've found a relatively small group of fellow chasers (who are also largely grad students and friends) with which I often share opinions and thoughts. Chasing with others is much easier if you all respect each others' opinions... I surely would have busted some days if I just did things "my way"; collaboration with others in my chase "group" has saved a couple of chases. Then again, it sometimes goes the other way (i.e. I should have stuck with my guns more), but that's just the way it goes. After the chase, it's nice to have some friends along with whom you can shoot the breeze. Heck, I've had some very odd post-chase discussions through the years, but it all helps the time pass. In addition, chasing with a small group certainly helps during those active periods, particularly when I'm down from persistent busts or disappointments. I've found that my motivation to chase solo is heavily influenced by recent activity... If I've anticipated the day in question, and I haven't had a string of bad days, I'm much more willing to go out solo. Conversely, if I've had several bad days in the recent past (e.g. 2-4 busts in the 7-10 days), I'm much less willing to head out if nobody else from my chase group can go out with me. Heck, at the end of the 2002 spring (a spring in which I seemed to cap bust repeatedly), I didn't even feel motivated to go out for later GOOD days. I guess that's just the psychology of this hobby.

Now that gas has worked its way to $3/ga, offsetting cost is nice as well. I really don't consider solo chasing if the target is >250 miles away. I'll swing a tank or two of gas for a solo chase, but much more and I'd really prefer to find at least one other person with whom I can split costs.

Most of my chases are single-day outtings (<1000 miles roundtrip), so I don't have a whole lot of experience with overnight hotel trips. I had a few this past spring and don't have any bad experiences (aside from a shady motel or two). I like to know personally the people with whom I chase, since I know that I won't be surprised by a "this is scary -- let's go back" or a "I know it's only 8pm, but I need to get housework done before tomorrow" line.

 

[David Drummond]

The longer the distance to the target area is from home, the more I would like to have company along. Not so much for the expense splitting (which is certainly nice) but just because it make the trip go faster to have someone with a shared interest along.