quote:

I was shown what the spark plugs looked like after a run, they completely burn up 1/3 of the way down the track and the engine finishes the race on combustion detonation.

Not too different from a model engine on glow fuel. For that matter, the cars' fuel itself is not too different from model glow fuel (nitromethane and methanol).

I remember at that Bristol drag race there being souvenir shops that sold, among other things, internal engine parts previously used in a Top Fuel engine such as con rods. They had a disclaimer on them saying they were not to be reused.

Went to Edgewater drag strip near Cincinnati many times. For five or six years took my son to the Spring Nationals near Columbus and Summer Nationals in Indy. Always bought tee-shirts,probably have a couple dozen. Too bad none of them fit me now. Saw Kenny Bernstien break the 300 mph mark. Don't like that they changed the length of the track to 1000 feet.

the NHRA events are something else, the Top Fuel cars are unreal fast and super loud. As advised you will want ear covers/plugs, you might want both.

Be sure your tickets include pit access, lots to see and good walk around.

The noise and physical impact of a Top Fuel car can be felt all the way up to the top of the stands, you want to be higher up as possible IMO so you can see the race from start to finish, get seats out at least to the 660 marker and you'll get a full impact.

^^^I find you get the 'full impact' BEHIND the starting line...Just sayin'

Never been live except on the outside of a speedway and heard the noise. Can only imagine what it sounds like real close. So no opinion on where to sit

But. I have been fascinated by drag racing technology for a long time. I remember when they were making like 5,000 horsepower and Kenny Bernstein went 300mph for the 1st time back in 1992. Every body thought was wild. And now they make like 11,000 horsepower and Britney force consistently runs in the upper 330’s. Double the HP and only 10% more speed ? Laws of Diminished returns and the laws of physics are butting heads. If they could figure out a way to make 20k horsepower and keep it from launching I don’t think it would get much quicker.

I'm SHOCKED to see that for Top Fuel and Funny Car the race is 1000' now!
What did the NRA do about time and speed records?

And isn't it about time they started a 1/3 mile track ?

It's long over due i.m
O.

Film their reaction when Top Fuels run,priceless...

6 year old might be ok with it but 4 year old when the crack that throttle is going to scare the crap out of him, those cars are so crazy loud that you can feel it in your bones, go watch some videos of warm ups in the pits and watch people jump. also the smell of the fuel is breath taking and will water your eyes in seconds. Great intentions but I would go find some go carts to play on.

quote:

Originally posted by armored:
I'm SHOCKED to see that for Top Fuel and Funny Car the race is 1000' now!
What did the NRA do about time and speed records?

The speeds where just getting to be to much for the amount of shutdown area on most tracks no matter how they tried to slow them down.

Making the track 320 feet shorter did slow them down for a while but more importantly gave them an extra 320 feet to get them slowed down.

quote:

Originally posted by armored:
I'm SHOCKED to see that for Top Fuel and Funny Car the race is 1000' now!
What did the NRA do about time and speed records?

This was more than 15 years ago now, I think.

UPDATE.
I went to the NHRA Drag race on Saturday at RT. 66 Dragway, my 6year old Granddaughter decided to take a pass, but my Son and his Son, who is 4years old happily went along.
He had a blast and enjoyed every minute. Never a tear or a protest, he never flinched from the sound, heat, or large crowd. We got to the track about noon. My Son and Grandson did not want to go home until the end, we left our seats about 7:30pm, a full day.

We got to our seats in the grandstands about 3/4 of the way down the track just as the AA Fuel Dragsters started off. I expected that to be the do or die moment for my Grandson as far as if we were going to stay or leave. The noise and concussion sure got my attention but didn't seem to phase my Grandson.
My Son had never experienced a race and really enjoyed it.
Keeping the various ear protection I brought on my Grandson was the biggest problem.He seemed more interested in removing the gel ear cups off the Clark ear muffs than wearing them. My race was always getting the gel back on the muffs and back on his head before the next run.

We got to the track around noon, it was Chicago's first Hot day of the year, in the 80's and very few clouds.
I pumped lemonade in my Grandson along with several Corn Dogs and a Hotdog with fries. He was HAPPY.
After a time of sitting in the stands his urge to wonder took over sitting. My Son and him went for many walks around and enjoyed meeting all the people, and seeing the race cars up close. My Grandson discovered the stones under the bleachers and decided that that was way more fun to do than sit and watch the race. He eventually met another small boy who had a large plastic Dragster that he had bought there.
They raced the Dragster in a level area of the bleachers.
My Son shocked me when he asked if I wanted to come back on Sunday, I told him that I had enough after the one day.

They both want to go again. My Grandson wants to see Monster Trucks so I will have to keep my eyes open for a race around here.

I was disappointed that such a magnificent racing facility teeters on the brink of being leveled. The Facility In Joliet IL. is owned by Nascar. There is a Drag strip, a NASCAR track, and a dirt track. All relatively new construction.
From what I learned NASCAR was going to level the entire site to build a runway for the NASCAR track. Since there are no NASCAR races there anymore there entire facility has been shut down for years.A Fan I was talking to that lives very near the track and a big NHRA fan told me that NASCAR is in such decline that he felt they would never use that facility again especially since they decided to race in the streets in downtown Chicago. The NHRA leased the Drag strip for this event as they did last year. Supposedly the NHRA will be back next year.

I felt it important to try and expose my Grandkids to things that may disappear during there life. Auto racing, I'm sure will eventually become a target for conservation activists. I'm sure they will push for all electric race vehicles, NO internal combustion engines because they are evil.That will I'm sure bring car racing to a halt. Same as firearms and other things that the newer generations seem to frown on.
If the kids don't get to see and experience these events they will never miss them and they will go away.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: armored, May 19, 2024 03:55 PM

I'm glad you got to go and enjoy it with your son and grandson! It's truly a celebration of American power and noise...I need to get back to a race again sometime.

Here are some pic's
https://i.postimg.cc/Jzjd3pmG/JACKSON.avif
https://i.postimg.cc/PxSr9JWB/...2-1716055158956.avif

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:
I'm glad you got to go and enjoy it with your son and grandson! It's truly a celebration of American power and noise...I need to get back to a race again sometime.

I thought the AA/Fuel, 11000 HP was the ultimate, other than a maned space flight, in MAN VS MACHINE!

Awesome! I'm glad everyone had a great time. Top fuel racing is something everyone should experience at least once.