Very Loud Fun

[graygun]

This weekend at the Texas Motorplex is a major NHRA drag racing event. http://nhra.com/

Decibel levels are very high and speeds of 320+ mph can be attained in about 3.8 seconds. Seeing it on ESPN 2 does not deliver all the experiences of sight and sound. Many classes of vehicles will be in the race,from "stock" to Top Fuel.

Track is west of Ennis and about 34 miles south of Dallas on route 287. I think I'll go up on Sunday. :shock:

 

[Bull Barrel]

They are here in STL next week.

 

[graygun]

Are you going?

 

[Danjet500]

Been to several of these events over the years when they had the Budweiser Nationals at National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio and more recently at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. The nitro cars are something to see, hear and especially feel. I had the pleasure of sitting next to Joe Gibbs at Columbus one time. He's a very cordial and friendly gentleman.

 

[wwb]

I ain't sayin' I'm old or anything like that, but I remember when the 7-second mark was broken.

 

[graygun]

Once at this track,Don Garlits and his wife were sitting a few rows behind me during the first round of Top Fuel. He had tried to make the field in another guy's TF'er and just missed on the last attempt due to a broken blower belt.

 

[RKB]

This weekend at the Texas Motorplex is a major NHRA drag racing event. http://nhra.com/
Decibel levels are very high and speeds of 320+ mph can be attained in about 3.8 seconds. Seeing it on ESPN 2 does not deliver all the experiences of sight and sound.

Or the SMELLS! Burning nitromethane has a distinct, never-forgotten aroma that will water your eyes. I miss it so. I can't do the events any more, those aluminum bench seats play hell with my old lumbar region. I was raised on drag-racing, the strip at Edgewater outside Cincinnati was in my back yard and I started working there when I was nine, parking cars. Worked at various jobs there until Vietnam interrupted my plans in 1970.

 

[wizofwas]

I've been to the Swamp a few times for the drags. There is nothing like being there. And you can get close to the drivers at drag races. We've talked to A2 (Ashley Force) when she was still running a nitro dragster in the alcohol class. Karen Stofer and a few others. FWIW, Angele What's My Last Name This Week will be on a bike for the first time in years at either Texas or St. Louis.

 

[graygun]

Yes,Angelle is back...just read about that last night. She did two days of testing and ran a 6.90 .

A friend and I talked with Karen Stoffer about three years back on a Saturday evening. No one else was around and she'd just come out of the transporter to see what was up. Too bad she is no longer racing.

 

[Fox Mike]

Nothing like being there! I have spent some time at Maple Grove and Maryland International Raceway both as a spectator and a competitor. Noise level is beyond belief when the BIG BOYS are running. You 'feel it' rather than hear it.

You mentioned Don Garlits and it brought back a memory from a family trip we made way back when. One of the stops was the Don Garlits museum in Ocala Florida. If you are anywhere near there, make it a point to visit. It is a 'must see' type of place if you are into drag racing.

 

[graygun]

Nothing like being there! I have spent some time at Maple Grove and Maryland International Raceway both as a spectator and a competitor. Noise level is beyond belief when the BIG BOYS are running. You 'feel it' rather than hear it.

You mentioned Don Garlits and it brought back a memory from a family trip we made way back when. One of the stops was the Don Garlits museum in Ocala Florida. If you are anywhere near there, make it a point to visit. It is a 'must see' type of place if you are into drag racing.

I'll try to make it there...maybe next year. I was at Maple Grove in '93 for the big race and have been to MIR,lastly in 1988.

 

[wizofwas]

You mentioned Don Garlits and it brought back a memory from a family trip we made way back when. One of the stops was the Don Garlits museum in Ocala Florida. If you are anywhere near there, make it a point to visit. It is a 'must see' type of place if you are into drag racing.

Been there, done that. Well worth the time, if you like drag racing. You can't miss it, it's just off of 75 south of Ocala.