I've been to Maple Grove several times for the NHRA event. I agree that it's something that has to be experienced in person to really appreciate it. Haven't gone recently because ticket prices have pushed it out of range to bring my family. It's crazy expensive.
The change to 1000' doesn't bother me much. It didn't add much to the E.T. and didn't really change the racing that much. I think they'll go back to 1320 at some point, when all the tracks have sufficient run off room.
Considering how fast they are going at the 1000 foot mark now is the amount of time they have in the run off the same as when they were running 1320? I think they are going to have to start limiting the cars as most tracks just don't have the room to expand to give these cars the room they need.
Yeah, people have to experience TF/FC to completely understand the appeal in drag racing.
I was lucky to be at Bristol for the Spring Nationals as a kid before they started spacing the crowds away from the starting line.
My eyes couldn't focus, my heart felt like it stopped and then was kick started again. My skin crawled. When they nailed it felt like I was kicked in my entire body.
I also got my picture taken with Bob Glidden in the staging lanes in his Probe. He is a really cool guy who always had time for his fans.
bravenrace wrote:Mitchell wrote: If you don't smile from feeling the top fuel shockwave for the first time, something is dead inside of you.It IS one of those things that has to be experienced in person, and every car guy should do it at least once in their lives.
Truth. I still vividly remember standing on the 'hill' behind the start line at Blaney Drag Strip up here and feeling the earth shake when the Top Fuel cars came to the line. Ths shockwave from the launch was a helluva experience.
Klayfish wrote: I think they'll go back to 1320 at some point, when all the tracks have sufficient run off room.
Will NEVER happen as long as Englishtown is on the schedule.
I went to my first drag race ever to videotape it for one of the racers. I setup at the start line for the Top Fuel guys. About 2 feet away or so. Guess what? You can't film from that close with a tape-based recorder (we were using 3/4" tape back then) because the vibration shakes everything so badly! The air pulsates so much that you can hardly breathe correctly! It is a 100 on the awesomeness scale.
The fastest drag car I've ever seen in person was almost 10 years ago at a NOPI event (back when they were "import" drag racing as opposed to drifting).
I saw a fully race-prepped Saturn Ion run 6 flat. Holy shiznit, that was fast.
A friend of mine works for Kalitta Motorsports. Thanks to her, my wife and I got to experience top fuel drag racing for the first time at Indy this year.
It was very impressive.
Ranger50 wrote:Klayfish wrote: I think they'll go back to 1320 at some point, when all the tracks have sufficient run off room.Will NEVER happen as long as Englishtown is on the schedule.
When they first made the change they talked like it might be temporary, but more recently I've read that they have no plans to go back to the 1/4 mile, and frankly I don't care. It's good racing the way it is, and it's safer. And I agree that there's no way it will happen as long as Englishtown is on the schedule.
Sky_Render wrote: The fastest drag car I've ever seen in person was almost 10 years ago at a NOPI event (back when they were "import" drag racing as opposed to drifting). I saw a fully race-prepped Saturn Ion run 6 flat. Holy shiznit, that was fast.
You should get out and see a top fuel race. These cars leave so hard and go so fast that you'd swear they were defying physics.
They are. So are the engines.
I went through a cosine wave in my feelings towards drag racing. As a kid, I remember watching TF and others on TV...my parents aren't car people at all, so we never went to a race of any kind growing up...still, all those races on the tube mostly satisfied my appetite for speed. Monster trucks, tractor pulls, funny cars...didn't matter- line 'em up and watch 'em go FAST.
As I got older, my tastes "refined", or so I thought. Drag racing was too simpleton, too boring, and required no talent. NASCAR, too. I liked cars that turned, left AND right, and ignored any type of racing that didn't involve same.
When I moved to SC about 5 years ago, I began re-discovering drag races and roundy-rounds. Not sure what caused the shift- possibly it was the fact that there's a drag strip or a 3/8 mile oval track in almost every town down here. And they're actually fun. Heck, for seven bucks I can slam whatever heap I want down the 1/8th mile track 20 minutes from my house any Thursday night. That's pretty cool. And pretty much anyone can build a roundy-round car, and race it. It's the democratization of motorsports, and that's what makes it appealing.
I've still never been to a "professional" drag race, but I'm definitely open to trying it at least once. I also have recurring dreams of stuffing a warmed-over big block into a tiny car and seeing what I can do.
Life- it's about variety. And, like riding a bicycle, the only way to keep up is to keep moving.
I took my wife, front row/starting line spot at the Southern Nationals. I smiled big when I saw her wear a oh so stylish all white outfit. She loved the racing, but was not at all happy about looking like some sad Dalmatian, from the smoky black tire tar that rained down. 
Rob_Mopar wrote: I can still smell the nitromethane. It's awesome.
Wow it has been YEARS since I went to any NHRA event....(Summernationals back in 1977) but I still remember the dizzying overpowering odor of burnt nitromethane
Ive been to a couple on Pomona and the feeling is like nothing else. Also was amazed at the pits on how insanely fast they disassemble/assemble the engines and the first time they fire it up...wow (I said ...deaf, barely can breathe and with watery eyes)
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