However, while people are still going to rope, the costs the producers are incurring are rising, too.
"The cost to get a steer from El Paso, Texas, to Greeley, Colo., has gone way up, as has the cost to feed that steer," Telleen said, and added that they're not planning to raise the entry fees or stock charges.
"We're all in it together and inheriting the wrath of increased fuel costs," he said. "I'm hopeful people will still go and my partner, Dale Atkinson, and I will work harder so they're glad when they get to one of our ropings."
It appears, for now, the fuel costs aren't dramatically affecting people's behavior when it comes to roping as their profession or their hobby. But there's no doubt it's on everyone's mind and that any edge drivers can get-they'll take.
Tips to Improved Fuel Mileage
Vehicle Maintenance:
• Check and Replace Air Filters Regularly - Replacing a clogged air filter can improve a vehicle's fuel mile- age by as much as 10 percent. The air filter keeps impurities from damaging the inside of your engine, as well.
• Keep Tires Properly Inflated - Check tire pressure once a week to maintain optimum air pressure and to make sure the wheels are in alignment to prevent tires from dragging. This can improve mileage by around 3 percent. Under-inflated tires can lower fuel mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1-psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer. Tires are the most fuel-efficient in the second half of their life, when some of the tread is worn down. Also, radial tires can return as much as 8
percent fuel economy over bias tires.
• Use the Recommended Grade of Motor Oil - Using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil can improve fuel economy by 1-2 percent, and likewise, using a lower grade oil than recommended can decrease your fuel mileage by 1-2 percent. Using a higher-grade oil than recommended can also lower your fuel mileage by 1-1.5 percent. Also, look for motor oil that says "Energy Conserving" on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.
• Keep track of your fuel economy. A drop in your car's fuel economy can be a sign of engine trouble. Keeping track of your fuel economy on a regular basis can let you know when something is malfunctioning.
• Park in the shade. Minimize evaporation of fuel and keep your car cooler in the summer by parking in the shade.
Driving:
• Avoid Aggressive Driving - Aggressive driving (speeding, accelerating or braking too quickly) wastes fuel. It can lower mileage by up to 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent during city driving. Sensible driving is always recommended for on-road safety.
• Observe the Speed Limit - Fuel mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph can translate to an additional $0.10 per gallon. The difference between driving 65 mph and 75 mph could easily result in 1-2 mpg difference under many circumstances.
• Avoid Excessive Idling - Idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Vehicles with larger engines (pickup trucks and SUVs) typically waste more fuel at idle than do vehicles with smaller engines.
• Use Cruise Control - Using cruise control on the highway helps maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save fuel.
• Use Overdrive Gears - Using overdrive gearing typically causes the engine speed to decrease. This saves fuel and reduces engine wear.
• Use High Gears - Use the highest gear to achieve the lowest engine rpm. This will generate adequate power to maintain road speed with a given load.
