Thread: Things That Ruined Drag Racing!

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Originally Posted by mopar34

I enjoy going to the drags at our local drag strip (Cecil County Dragway) from time to time, unfortunately no one else in my family does. I catch the nationals on tv, usually by myself as no one else wants to watch. Then occasionally, I return to my childhood days and go back home where on a clear Saturday nite you can head out to Flatland Road and with a drop of a flashlight you can barrel ass down the road next to someone who just wants to show you he's got a better car. No money, no prizes, no trophies, no pinks, just a lttle old fashion fun on a country farm road in the middle of nowhere. Still having fun and being a little crazy after all these years.

Yup, if it's confession time, then I'm guilty too I guess... I grew up street racing, hard to give it up even though it's nuts to do it. I do choose the more seculded parts of the countryside now, anyway... Back "in the day" Minnesota Avenue in Sioux Falls was race central......

Actually,
Most of my racing time was on the street.... It's been a while... like 10 or so years. I have lots of friends that still race at the local track back home in La ... I could easily spend every Thurs, Fri, and Sat night out there with them ... Spectating .. turning a few wrenches, Eating what ever is burnin on the grill or in the Big Black Iron Pots ... Watching the passes ... Smelling the burnt rubber and fuel.... Maybe one day soon I'll get something togather to run again. My point is .... I cant recall ever thinking of any drag race as being so boring that I wouldnt want to watch it... I don't aim to, but even when I'm flipping past PINKS (The Drama Ridden BS Drag Show) on TV, I always seem to have to stop and watch the cars run down the track. I say ... There may be a few glitches in the system .... but it's better than NUTTIN" .... so I'll Make the BEST of it...

Gary

I doubt the "money" guys will bother w us , theres no below 11 second classes - strictly street- run what ya brung stuff, hell, I can count the "slicks" equip'd cars on one hand,(tho there are more n more street slick cars) believe it or not, a full smoky run gets more wows + clapping than a 10 sec car, like I said its for F U N, no big bucks - either spent or gained (other than the side bet or two) mostly nuttin but braggin rights for a week. At the one track I am thinking of , the big guys won't bother there either -1/8 mi. nuttin but a test strip to them, they are there, but just tuning.
Dating saftety equp. in 500 up hrspwr 10 sec or faster,200 MPH or more cars = Pro/ Stock -Gas-Comp, F/C or FD I see .But in a 6 or 8 runs a year 12 sec or slower street car? -H_ll NO. the Big name track up north had a "muscle weekend even designed for street rods and 60's muscle to run just to see what they could do, never got past the second year as it was meant to be. Totally invaded by the purpose built bracket cars ,now its just another bracket weekend ,I quit going after the second year.

Yup, know what ya mean!!!! Nostalgia Racing started out the same, as a hobby.... Now look where it is.

Best of luck to you guys, sincerely hope you can keep it fun....and get some kids involved to show them just how much fun competition at any level can be. When we go drag racing, we make it a point to take one "newbie" along everytime we go.....

If you read my reply I like bracket racing if its tight. 9 second cars running 9.5 or 10 seconds. But when a car can run 6 seconds and are running 9.5 bracket its boring to watch. I never said it was easy for I know its not. The stands are empty when this is going on so I am not the only one who feels this way. Watch this weekend at Pomona for your self. I think it would just be alot better if a six second car would run in a 6.5 to 7 second class. A 9 second car in 9.5 to 10 second class. Thats all.

The big chase downs are fun, depending on whether you are the chaser or the chasee!!!! Friday night Gambler's race at Fargo, ND. Final round I dialed in a 9.88, car I ran dialed in a 17.50!!!!! I didn't think that tree was ever gonna start coming down!!!!!!

I hate to say this but even organized nostalgia is getting to be nothing but extended super gas classes (which I like, just not at a nostalgia event), I guess its just the natural progression of things , but I miss the actual STEEL door slamming drag cars, of course the true old ones can't run - no up to date saftey equip and even if they did have it they would fail due to fatique testing ,Its sad, but you can't bring back the old gas days or old gas class cars, not anymore Best you get to do is a SLOOOOW exhibition run , a static display and a short fire up. Been there too.

I like watchin' the miss-matched bracket cars. The crowd likes 'em too, judging by the cheers when it's close at the traps. The only down side I see is the chance the fast car could get out of shape, cross the line and take out the slow car

were thinking of a final mismatch cash race for our track top street,race and bike run for a cash prize . the one that was closest to their winning et in their class gets the buy and then they run down from there.put up 200 bucks and they can go for it if they want.
something different for the fans and the racers to keep it fun.
i like racing the big street bikes,they have such an amazing top end run down.

Agree, drag racing should not restrict racers to 500 cu inches, 85% nitro, etc. etc. 'just to keep it even' All cookie cutter cars, with billboard sides. Sorry, but these guys are not real drag racers. Go to your local strip on a Sat or Sunday and you will see the true drag racers,,,,, no sponsors! You blow something up, you shell out and fix it. Seems like the NHRA doesn't want to hurt anyones feelings!
Bracket racing sux! When a Yugo can win top honors by turning consistent 17's against a fueled alted, something is wrong!
No limits! You win or lose based on your 'enginuity' and skill [money too!]
Manual trans are not as fast as an auto, but then who cares! Be different!
But that's just my opinion,,,,
Kolie

John Force and the boys are about as real as drag racing can be!!!! Not all of them, especially Force, started out with multi-million dollar operations.... Bracket racing is fine, just remember you are racing yourself, the car in the other lane should be the least of your concerns. No limits???? Wouldn't work. You'd be picking up cars and drivers in a big fiery pile.... The nitro limits and cubic inch limits are there for safety concerns... Racing with no limits would leave 99% of us sitting at home on the weekend becuase we wouldn't be competitive. Manual transmissions are inherently faster then automatics based on less drag and less rotating mass. The illusion is that manual transmissions are not as consistent as automatics, but as I've said before then why do the Pro Stockers seem to be able to repeat times to within a few hundreths round after round?????

Racing with the money out of your back pocket makes you no more or less of a drag racer then a heavily sponsored pro car. All it means is that you compete at a different level....

Dave you need to check out the modern day PS tranny/clutch. They have more in common with the typical automatic than one of your M20's.

Originally Posted by Mike in Motown

Dave you need to check out the modern day PS tranny/clutch. They have more in common with the typical automatic than one of your M20's.

Haven't run an M20 in 25 years.... Much prefer Liberty's, Lenco's, the old Doug Nash Comp trannies and the like.... No idea what a PS tranny clutch is..... Many years ago there were Clutchflites, something along that line or?????

Originally Posted by Mike in Motown

Dave you need to check out the modern day PS tranny/clutch. They have more in common with the typical automatic than one of your M20's.

Pro Stocks usually run Lenco, Liberty or G-Force five-speed clutchless manual transmissions. Multi-disc clutch to get off the line and trannys that can be shifted on the fly w/o the clutch. Sorta' like what Dave mentioned.

did you win

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

The big chase downs are fun, depending on whether you are the chaser or the chasee!!!! Friday night Gambler's race at Fargo, ND. Final round I dialed in a 9.88, car I ran dialed in a 17.50!!!!! I didn't think that tree was ever gonna start coming down!!!!!!