Drag racing is crap

[burnedout]

Drag Racing was, and in some respects still is, the defacto standard for street competition.

Many of you guys posting here did not grow up with serious American iron. No, not some Toyota or Nissan on a 1/4 mile strip. I'm talking about Hemi 'Cuda's, 427 Chevelles, 409 Impalas, 428 Fords on the street. Stoplight to stoplight. Friday night drags out on some little used stretch of highway. This was a matter of pride! America!!!! Before the oil shocks of the early 70s...........

And very easy to do. Doesn't require some yuppie race track like LeMans. Just requires two cars. As it so happened, Detroit produced a wide variety of muscle cars and accessories during the 60s and early 70s. Much like Intel and AMD throw out new CPUs with various 'MMX' this or 'SMD' that, Ford, Chrysler, American Motors and General Motors were producing lot's of 11 sec 1/4 mile cars. 11 sec with a few tweaks.

I've done both. GT and Drag Racing. I formerly blasted down the highway in Germany in my BMW and probably have more miles under my belt at speeds over 100 MPH (165 KPH) than anyone on this board. Daily driving on the Autobahnen for 10 years can provide such an claim. Racing against Mercedes-Benz and Audi cars is indeed fun.

Each serves it's own purpose. But for the quick adrenaline rush, nothing beats true Drag Racing.

 

[Static911]

Does pedaling my BMX bike as fast as I can from light to light constitute as drag racing?


static911

 

[Tominator]

<< Does pedaling my BMX bike as fast as I can from light to light constitute as drag racing? >>



Dang right it does! It's the spirit of competition.

 

[toph99]

<< I'm talking about Hemi 'Cuda's, 427 Chevelles, 409 Impalas, 428 Fords on the street. Stoplight to stoplight. Friday night drags out on some little used stretch of highway. >>



/me drools

i wish i had a car worth racing i always loved watcing drag racing on tv, no tracks around here that i know of

 

[jjones]

<<
Many of you guys posting here did not grow up with serious American iron. No, not some Toyota or Nissan on a 1/4 mile strip. I'm talking about Hemi 'Cuda's, 427 Chevelles, 409 Impalas, 428 Fords on the street. Stoplight to stoplight. Friday night drags out on some little used stretch of highway. This was a matter of pride! America!!!! Before the oil shocks of the early 70s...........
>>


yeah, baby! bring it on!

Love those days. I was too young (in my early teens) but I got to hang with my big bro and he had one of the quickest street cars in Minneapolis in the early 70's. 427 Chevy Nova, edelbrock highrise, double Holley 650's and a 4/11 rearend; not to mention the high performance everything in the engine. The thing I loved the most was his cherrybombs. You could hear that car revving from a mile away.

 

[JC]

Firstly, I like all forms of auto racing.

Secondly, you "find it boring" guys, I'd like to check your pulse after a run in a wheelstanding, sub-10 second car.

JC

 

[LAUST]

No one is saying Auto-X is pretend racing. He's saying Gran Turismo is pretend.

Exactly, I love ALL motorsports, I'm not limited to what I THINK is cool I hate to watch any of it on TV, I LIKE to watch it in person, I LOVE to actually do it

Take advice in this thread from Fastz28, Zenmervolt, Theslowone, Radeon, Bozack, Demon Xanth, Brutuskend, Ladies Man, Red Rooster, Zipp, Tominator, Notfred and Static911. They have actually gone out and experienced it by thier information in their posts.

People who say "There isn't much to it but driving in a straight line" Yeah, right, those are the one's who are out in the 1st round and hide the fact they think if they like the racing thats held as Elite (F1 especially) that they are in a higher order, yeah, right none of your names are Andretti so room to talk is in the Zero factor .

Well Yield yes Mechanics IS part of MOTOR sports. "Mechanically Inclined" you've heard of it, there is nothing wrong with it, and people who drag race are some of the most mechanically inclined people I have met in my life. Without mechanics you people who can't even find a hood latch don't get to even drive yep sorry to put it to you that way but the Driver needs the mechanic, the Mechanic doesn't need the driver. In drag many of the drivers are their own mechanics BOOM

Also to those who think taking a turn is a Challenge! LMAO!! you don't have a clue do you, the CHALLENGE comes from the COMPETITION, you go out on the track alone, turns are nothing, if you think they are hard great, wait till someone like me comes along who yawns in the turns passes you up. when I wake up and smell whats being shoveled it's when I get passed by someone better then me.

It isn't much fun if all you are doing is going in a straight line without much other involvement

There is more involvement then you could EVER imagine, under that hood there is a new wolrd to explore, things like Heads, CAM's, Intake's, Fuel Rails, Coils, Timing Chains, Flywheels, Intermediate Steering Shafts, Belt tentioners. Alternators, Radiators. There is a whole world you don't know anything about under there. And it takes someone who has a clue to make all those things and many more work together as a whole and to be consistant and reliable while doing it.

If your Opinion is you say you don't want to try it or it looks boring then fine thats your opinion, don't try to tell me it takes no skill and that you have more then a drag racer, yeah right, 90% of those saying that are prolly 130lb computer nerds who think their hand-eye coordination that gets em to win races in GT3 is enough to get em to race at Indy one day.

 

[TurboQuattro]

I agree...but there are a lot of fans so I wouln't knock it. As for actually participating I autox and it's much more fun, and doesn't matter how fast your car is, it only matters how well you drive.

 

[LAUST]

<< Firstly, I like all forms of auto racing.

Secondly, you "find it boring" guys, I'd like to check your pulse after a run in a wheelstanding, sub-10 second car. >>


Thats for sure, I don't know how those guys do that without knowing whats going on

 

[trmiv]

<< Take advice in this thread from Fastz28, Zenmervolt, Theslowone, Radeon, Bozack, Demon Xanth, Brutuskend, Ladies Man, Red Rooster, Zipp, Tominator, Notfred and Static911. They have actually gone out and experienced it by thier information in their posts. >>



Don't forget me.

While drag racing isn't my thing, it most certainly isn't "crap." I used to race racing karts, and now I race NASCAR Grand American Modifieds on oval tracks, so I am in fact a real live race car driver(Imagine that, someone that actually does something he comments on ). Even though I'm not a drag racer, I would love to take a few passes in a high horsepower drag car at the strip. I used to race karts with a guy who now races NHRA Funny Cars (Bruce Sarver), maybe I should get a hold of him and see if he would let me take a few passes in his funny car if I let him drive my modified. Can't hurt to ask.

 

[LAUST]

<<

<< Take advice in this thread from Fastz28, Zenmervolt, Theslowone, Radeon, Bozack, Demon Xanth, Brutuskend, Ladies Man, Red Rooster, Zipp, Tominator, Notfred and Static911. They have actually gone out and experienced it by thier information in their posts. >>



Don't forget me.

While drag racing isn't my thing, it most certainly isn't "crap." I used to race racing karts, and now I race NASCAR Grand American Modifieds on oval tracks, so I am in fact a real live race car driver. Even though I'm not a drag racer, I would love to take a few passes in a high horsepower drag car at the strip. I used to race karts with a guy who now races NHRA Funny Cars (Bruce Sarver), maybe I should get a hold of him and see if he would let me take a few passes in his funny car if I let him drive my modified. Can't hurt to ask. >>


I prolly missed a few names, those were off the top of my head while I was going down reading em all, there was alot Bull Sheeet to go through so you have to excuse me

Actually I'm getting into your old sport right now, I've been renting Karts up at Erie, they are only the Centrifical Clutch ones but still very fast, I have got to take a few 125cc Shifters out too, amazing those things can pass cars like they are nothing and with only a 125cc motor

 

[trmiv]

<<

Actually I'm getting into your old sport right now, I've been renting Karts up at Erie, they are only the Centrifical Clutch ones but still very fast, I have got to take a few 125cc Shifters out too, amazing those things can pass cars like they are nothing and with only a 125cc motor >>



It's all power to weight ratio. Can't remember what the weight is for 125's (depends on the rules too) but it can't be over 400lbs with driver. So you are talking like 40-45 horsepower pushing like 380-400 pounds, that is an awesome ratio. I've actually never raced a 125 in competition, just driven some of my friend's karts that raced that class. I raced the centrifugal clutch classes like Reed and Rotary (with a 100cc reed valve Parilla, nice about 40 horsepower like the 125), Yamaha light, Piston port light, super stock. I won my national championship in a centrifugal clutch class called Jr Piston Port when I was a junior. I haven't raced karts for 5 years though. I loved doing it, but I am SOOOOO glad to be in full sized race cars now.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

When I hear people say "racing isn't a sport" because it's just guys driving cars, it annoys me. Golf is just guys hitting a ball with a stick, same with baseball, where you can stand in a spot on a field for 5 minutes, then sit on a bench for 5 minutes and be considered "playing". Noone ever contests these sports even though they are often less physically demanding than racing.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Drag racing is fun only if you participate on the track or if you are watching it live.

However, after a while it does get boring. Its fun for the seconds that it lasts...14 seconds and your done!

I'd prefer racing on the track since it lasts longer, but you can't say drag racing is crap. It does require skill, however its to short. They should make it 1/2mile or something..so you can reach a higher speed.

 

[burnedout]

yeah, baby! bring it on!

Love those days. I was too young (in my early teens) but I got to hang with my big bro and he had one of the quickest street cars in Minneapolis in the early 70's. 427 Chevy Nova, edelbrock highrise, double Holley 650's and a 4/11 rearend; not to mention the high performance everything in the engine. The thing I loved the most was his cherrybombs. You could hear that car revving from a mile away.




A 427 Nova must have been one very, very mean ride! I can imagine that car just launching off the line

I was lucky and caught the tail-end of the era. Those were the days, indeed. I wasn't really into it that much. Had a couple of Mopars; a 340 Dart and a 383 Plymouth Road Runner. Both were 4-speed too! Had to sell the Dart when I started college............ the first time.

Nowadays, my brother is very much into drag racing. He has a '57 Chevy with a bored out 454. He also has an '85 Vette. Runs at the strip all the time. He called the other night and told me about doing the driving experiences with NASCAR type cars at Disney World in Orlando and at the Daytona Speedway. He said it's a trip.

 

[Cyberian]

<< However, after a while it does get boring. Its fun for the seconds that it lasts...14 seconds and your done!
>>

Much like some popular indoor sports.

 

[LAUST]

<< I was lucky and caught the tail-end of the era. Those were the days, indeed. I wasn't really into it that much. Had a couple of Mopars; a 340 Dart and a 383 Plymouth Road Runner. Both were 4-speed too! Had to sell the Dart when I started college............ the first time. >>


Dude the 340 was SOOO the awesome Smallblock, I can't belive Dodge went ahead with the 360 instead, the 340 was Sooo much better.

Their Big blocks were the bomb too, the 440 sixpack was my fav, you could drive that block to an inch of it's life and it would keep holding up, Slap a set of Indy heads on it and that thing could fly, those are some of the tallest heads I think I've ever seen in a car in my life, But that thing needed all that air, what a bad machine!!

My fav is the Charger But they were all cool as hell, those were the days when MAGNUM meant something, now it's a label on a cerial box basically

 

[RedRooster]

<< However, after a while it does get boring. Its fun for the seconds that it lasts...14 seconds and your done!
>>



I feel sorry for your future/current wife/girlfriend. That endurance will be the bane of you.

edit: oops, I forgot the

 

[burnedout]

Dude the 340 was SOOO the awesome Smallblock, I can't belive Dodge went ahead with the 360 instead, the 340 was Sooo much better.

Their Big blocks were the bomb too, the 440 sixpack was my fav, you could drive that block to an inch of it's life and it would keep holding up, Slap a set of Indy heads on it and that thing could fly, those are some of the tallest heads I think I've ever seen in a car in my life, But that thing needed all that air, what a bad machine!!

My fav is the Charger But they were all cool as hell, those were the days when MAGNUM meant something, now it's a label on a cerial box basically

heh. Good memories! 440 Six Pack was awesome.

Yes, the 340 was excellent. Really good bore and stroke combo there. You are correct, the 360 was a comparatively poor replacement. But, a 360 wasn't too bad with an electronic ignition kit, carb and headers. Made for a decent street motor with the right mods. Not a good as an old 340 though.

And yes, the Big Block 'RB' engines were super. Let's see........... 413, 426 Max Wedge, 426 Hemi and 440 Six Pack. I remember when this "well-to-do" street racing enthusiast friend of ours bought a new Hemi Superbird back in 1970. What a car.

 

[Tominator]

Stand 30 to 40 feet away from a rocket car as it goes to afterburner and does the 1/4 in 4 seconds at 280! Your bones vibrate!

Where in raod racing can an everyday guy build a competitive motorcycle or car and take it racing?

I'm not talking of buying a bunch of bolton parts...How about a friend's bike...

Hand built frame....12 inch slick in back. 2 Honda 750s in a 'V' with a 6-71 GMC blower in between! That'd the type of stuff you see in drag racing.

 

[Jzero]

Drag racing is boring.

But then again, I kayak-surf.

How many people think that's exciting, whether they've done it or not?

Different strokes for different folks. No opinion is any more or less valid.

 

[CraigRT]

<< friend of ours bought a new Hemi Superbird back in 1970. What a car. >>



OMG that car is DOPE.

Dodge muscle cars without a doubt completely rule all other muscle cars.. my room is filled with Mopar models (and 1 Ferrari)

I have on my shelf, '69 Road Runner, '71 GTX, '69 Charger R/T, '70 SuperBird, '70 Challenger R/T, 2 Viper RT/10's, a Viper GTS, 2 Dodge RAMs and a Prowler.
and of course my Ferrari F40.

 

[Cyberian]

<< Drag racing is boring.

But then again, I kayak-surf.

How many people think that's exciting, whether they've done it or not?

Different strokes for different folks. No opinion is any more or less valid. >>

I saw it on TV once and it sucked.
All you do is sit in a little boat and ride down a river.



















j/k man, I wish I was young enough to try it!

 

[LAUST]

<< heh. Good memories! 440 Six Pack was awesome.

Yes, the 340 was excellent. Really good bore and stroke combo there. You are correct, the 360 was a comparatively poor replacement. But, a 360 wasn't too bad with an electronic ignition kit, carb and headers. Made for a decent street motor with the right mods. Not a good as an old 340 though.

And yes, the Big Block 'RB' engines were super. Let's see........... 413, 426 Max Wedge, 426 Hemi and 440 Six Pack. I remember when this "well-to-do" street racing enthusiast friend of ours bought a new Hemi Superbird back in 1970. What a car. >>


Man the Superbird, those are great, Now that was a WING One guy used to run one at Bandimere last season and the one before, he didn't make it at all this season cool to see

There are not many Hemi Mopars that actually race here but they show up on Cruise nights everytime. Great Cars. Great Motors. I've never gotten to see a 413. before don't know much about em.

 

[Ornery]

Yep, burnedout nailed it. Stoplight to stoplight is FAR more common than any other type of race in the country. If your car is going to look the part, it ought to be able to back it up. How often you going to be able to show your stuff on your daily commute unless you drag? That's basically the ONLY form of racing that 95% of drivers will be able to participate in, 95% of the time!