Throughout the 80s my husband and I would go to the Gatornationals and Spring Nationals (in Atlanta) every year, that was back when they didn't have all the huge sponsor trailers and you could stand so close you could touch them. Watching them work on the cars in between rounds, Gary Ormsby, Joe Amato, Bernstein, Big Daddy, Darrell Gwynn, Eddie Hill, all the greats. When John Force was always a bridesmaid and never a bride. We had a ton of fun watching people in the pits stand right behind the car as they cranked it up and poured the nitrous in the engine. When that s*** started blowing out it would scatter everybody it was a riot ! Y'all know what I'm talking about ! You could also stand at the fence at the starting line and way past the stands if you wanted to. When Bob Glidden had his monumental wreck and rolled in Atl we were halfway down the track at the fence watching him roll past. We saw the 300 mph barrier broken. We also went to Bristol one year and this was when the stands were all concrete, no metal, and the acoustics down in that cut were incredible. I feel sorry for y'all having to pay money to be held at arm's length when we could practically stand on the track with them back then.
In the 2019 Australian Winter Nationals I got the chance to crew for a top fuel drag bike team. After one pass I was watching the top fuel dragsters roll out, had grown up apart of the sport. But this day, one of the dragster crew members invited me to stand with them on the start line. It was like nothing I had ever experienced! Standing by the start line as a spectator is exhilarating, but stand with the crew so close behind on of these monsters in absolutely incredible. Will remember that experience for many years to come.
I just love those 2 ladies plugging their ears while the cars are just idling.......they are totally unprepared for the immense sounds they are about to experience!
THUNDER VALLEY!!!!! Its a great complex to experience motor sports, there and right next door at BMS. Beautiful country, excellent people, shout out to Bristol!
My favorite track. Worked for Kelley Motorsports N/FC back in 2009 and bumped out Robert Hight (might be the last time he didn't qualify). Never forget working on the car and getting to watch the Q2 session from our pit stall next to the time boards.
been this close to one funny car once... that was unreal... this gotta be one of the biggest rush when it comes to motorsport you can have as a spectator.
A few years ago I did the Doug Foley drag racing experience at Charlotte ZMax dragway. It was the day after one of the big NHRA events. As part of the training we walked on the track where the cars take off. They were sort of a slow time and as I was standing on the track around the corner came a top fuel dragster to do a practice run. it was the Al Anabi race team I can't remember the name of the driver. Anyway no one was around watching so I moved a little closer as the dragster staged. I literally stood about ten feet away from the engine as it launched. Now that's close.
David Christ , Been to the mile high nationals at bandimere, so sad no race this year, just an example how close the drag race communities are, I happened to meet my bandimere at a regional race, what a great person!!! Ask John Force!😉👍
David Christ , yeah! I am pissed though they are having national events at indy, yet not other tracks! Bullshit political crap! By the way you know trump likes drag racing?😉👍
The first time I did this was at Irwindale raceway in California around 1974. I was standing beside the side road where they pushed the the cars up to the starting area. Just as the rail passed me the driver pop started the beast and it blew nitro out of the exhaust pipes and right into my eyes. I heard the burn out and the launch but just saw a burning blur.
New England Dragway in Epping NH has to be the most dangerous track on the NHRA circuit. The fans on the pit side can't be more than 20ft from the starting line.....it's crazy.
@@robertperry4751 Totally agree bro. I've been waiting my whole life for the NHRA to finally come here. To have it cancelled this year really bummed me out. 13 months waiting since last year now to wait another.
This is how close we sued to stand in Vegas. cheap seats!! we stand all day anyway.Now that its a 4 LANE I'm not sure .I'd like to try Chicago...But VEGAS is GREAT if you get a chance.
That is the classification of the dragsters and funny cars. They are in the "Top Fuel" class. The "fuel" part of it is the fuel they burn, nitromethane. Technically you can run any fuel you want but they burn nitro as it produces the most power. These days fuel cars are generating over 11,000 HP. Nitro motors are a very different animal.
My brother in law and I headed out to the finals couple weeks ago here in Houston (Baytown) but got a late start (10:00). We had planned on leaving at 8:00. When we got close to the track the line was 3 miles long. We turned around and went to breakfast lol.
www.sccoia.org/articles/top-fuel-dragster-fast-facts/ And those are older facts, they are pushing over 10,000hp now. They are incredible machines. Also the fact that they sometimes measure over 3.0 on the Richter scale.
Haha. Not just a loud noise. It is a full body experience. You eyes will be streaming, sound is louder than a rock concert and your whole body shakes as it creates a mini earthquake.
At least go once. I only went once probably 40 years ago and I still remember the "punch" in my ribs and some internal organs and I was well up in the bleachers. Back then the rails had 2500 HP and hit 250 MPH typically. I've only gone gliding once but that was memorable too. Now if I'm near a drag strip, it's because it's next to the road track where I take the motorcycle ;)
