Thread: What's the best track in the US and why?

Tweet

Just curious what the best track in the US is. The only two tracks I have visited are SIR and PIR in the NW. They are ok, but others have so much more history. Which ones are the best?

Originally posted by Brent Mills
Just curious what the best track in the US is. Which ones are the best?

Guess I'll toss in a few that I thought were great tracks, like Pomona or Lions in Long Beach, also Orange County International Raceway(OCIR)(1967-1983), all in So. Calif..

Pacific Raceways, now SIR in Kent, Wash. is another good track(weather permitting) When I first went there they were using a "flagman" to start a drag race instead of a "christmas tree". Its also unique in that it has a pretty good road course.

Lions was another one that bit the dust but not sure when it closed.

Pomona, home to the Winternationals was another great track with a lot of history in drag racing. I haven't been there since the mid 70s so I'd bet its changed a lot. Anybody been there lately??

I really liked OCIR, it was just about a mile south of where we lived in Irvine and I spent many a weekends there watching some of the best in dragracing do the 1/4. It was too bad they had to close it down in 1983. I would of really liked to have gone to the last race there. This ominous sign at the track said it all:

I have not been to many tracks, but was extremely impressed by Watkins Glen. Have been there several times and the track layout is a lot of fun to watch cars. Once I have my car ready I will try driving it.

Originally posted by techinspector1
World's fastest drag strip....Firebird International Raceway, Phoenix, Arizona. Tony Schumacher, 330 mph.

Richard, That must be that good clean dry air you guys have in the Phoenix area. When did he do that run?
Larry

Fav tracks, in order.
1. Watkins Glen
2. Limerock Park
3. Laguna Seca
4. Sears Point
5. Road Atlanta
6. Willow Springs, (because it's close)

Its a shame that Lions in SoCal had to close. You can't compare the old tracks with the new because of new surfaces, launch pads, etc. But Lions had one thing going for it that very few tracks had and that was the density of the air. A bunch of us were talking about it the other day at one of the hot rod shops, and everyone agreeded you didn't have to lean hard on the engine because the air was so good. I would imagine that Fremont in San Jose was the same. We'll never know what the new track surfaces and that location would produce. Lions did have a lot of records set there. Oh well.

The best track is the won you win on.......Don

In the midwest, it has to beCordova. Been operating since the early fifties.

Kent is pretty darn good when we get a good spot for the camper trackside. Hope, hope. I had a lot of fun at Puyallup back in the day and Bremerton is very much like the old days except they run a good quick program. Working the races at Shelton was fun too. Arlington was fun but nobody brought any food, just me and the other pit grunt brought cases of beer. The car ran well but the driver was unhappy because he had to stay sober. That flagman was very likely Louie Orlando.

I like Indinapolis Raceway Park. Nice track, raced it a few times. The launch pad is REALY sticky, would be with at least and inch of rubber from those burning rubbers.

The best starting line was in norfolk va

I may be bias as I live only a few miles from Route 66 near Joliet, IL. It's a relatively new track but I like it. Will be there for NHRA Nationals in 2 weeks Sept 27th weekend.

We haven't had a good drag strip in the San Diego area since the old carlsbad raceway until now.The Barona Indian tribal counsel leased a piece of land to some fellas and we have a great 1/8 mile but soon to be 1/4 and it is Nhra sanctioned.This last saturday there were five different nostagila fuel,alcahol dragsters.One old time nhra fuel alcahol driver Bruce mcdowell is back in the new bushie ,mcdowell dragster after 13 years from the circuit. Topolino body with blown small block,a few pro street type cars who had the front ends way up in the air,good races

hey brent i'm from nw too. the quality of tracks in washington and oregon is depressing. try going to mission in BC, beutiful track, n ice facility, EXCELLENT traction and air...... the first 9 second stock run and the first 5.5 in alcohol funny car were made there.

I like Laguna Seca. I got to drive a friends C4 Corvette there during a HUGE car show.

The "corkscrew" looks much more intimidating when you are ON it instead of LOOKING at it. I think its a 38 foot elevation change.

My times sucked, it wasn't my car, and I was too young to really appreciate it.

I will go again, I will. I will. I will. I will.