With Ron Cates of Smoke on the Water Productions planning a new event in Las Vegas at over $100,000.00 and assuming he continues with his other big events as he did in 2010, we are looking at as much as $370,000.00 in prize money just from this one promoter. WOW!! Thank you Mr Cates.
Along with Ron Cates there are several other organizers that do offer great prize funds and we as cooks sure thank them as well for their efforts at finding sponsors and money for the larger events.
I think that one of these high paying contests in 2010 paid out a check of $20,000.00 for the winner and I would guess that with some money from each of his meats, that he could have taken home around $25,000.00 total for the event. And that ain't chump change!
Assuming the money is the same as 2010, the big events in 2011 of above 20K each will look like this.
Date.............City and State................(Miles from Po-Farm)........Purse
3/18-3/19....North Little Rock, Ar..................(558).................$100,000
4/8-4/9......Scottsdale, Az.........................(1673)..................20,000
4/15-4/16....Jefferson City, Mo.....................(344)...................26,000
4/15-4/16....Lula, Ms...............................(501)...................20,000
4/29-4/30.....Huntsville, Al........................(434)...................20,000
5/20-5/21.....Bonner Springs, Ks....................(480)...................53,000
5/27-5/28.....Johnson City, Tn......................(468)...................19,800
6/10-6/11.....Tryon, Nc.............................(541)...................20,000
6/25-6/26.....Washington, DC........................(633)...................20,500
7/1-7/2.......Daytona, Fl...........................(1009)..................30,000
8/12-8/13.....Brooklyn, Mi..........................(259)...................30,000
8/19-8/20.....Midwest City, Ok......................(724)...................25,000
Not Sure/Date...Las Vegas...........................(1838).................100,000
8/26-8/27.....Springdale, Ar........................(575)...................20,000
8/26-8/27.....Amelia Island, Fl.....................(925)...................20,000
9/2-9/3.......Mesquite, Nv..........................(1729)..................39,250
9/9-9/10......Grand Junction, Co....................(1303)..................20,000
9/16-9/17.....Pine Bluff, Ar........................(576)...................20,000
10-1-10/2.....Kansas City, Mo.......................(459)..................110,000
10/28-10/29...Talladega, Al.........................(568)...................50,000
11/4-11/5.....Shelby, Nc............................(577)...................20,000
You know, a fellow could just follow the money for just 19 weeks and assuming he has an invite for both the Royal and the GAB, could compete for a prize fund of above $743,000 dollars. Shazamm!
Rekon Old Dave and His Ribs and Bibs BBQ team could win some of this loot if he would Gopher The Dough in 2011? Sure is tempting.
Looking at the above info, I do live kinda central to most of this money and think that many of these contests are just one day or less drive from the Po-Farm. If I figure I can drive 600 miles in a day with my small trailer, I could possible make about 14 of these events which would pay a total of about $489,000 in prize money.
The big bucks are a calling....
