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Nothing irks me more than the local news using the term "drag racing" when reporting about the activities of the current bunch of troublemakers, this group seems to hold a much lower respect of the law and public safety.
Well Said. I agree. I was a street racer for decades, Still have street cred. Not all but most young people engaged in this do NOT GET IT!
True My comment was more in line with how this new crowd aren't even racing, they are purely just being destructive.
Hello, 1959 films are just so cool. This event, wherever it was held seemed simple, two cars lined up and blasted down the dragstrip. It looks to be in the countryside with no homes or towns to bother. But, it seems like an organized event with the class designations or at least identifying numbers given to the participants. Everyone looks like they were having fun, from the 59 Chevy convertible to the black Chevy sedan that won several races. When we wanted to race on a Friday night or Saturday late into the early morning, we did not have a ton of people lined up to watch. The notoriety came from word of mouth later in the following days… that was enough for most. When we first started going to the local drive-in restaurant parking lot, a lot of local hot rods were there. But when someone was going to race, it was either go and watch or wait until the parking lot cleared of several back row spaces and then pull our car into those coveted spots. The “backrow” parking spots were the best viewing of any spot in the lot. If it was someone we knew, we would know the outcome as they left. But if it was someone new, we would hear about it from someone. The activity was exciting, but the scene was not one of "go to every challenge to see who wins." We knew 95% of the hot rods and we heard what was new on the old hot rods as new builds. The only one that surprised all of us was the 348 powered 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery. When that hot rod came rumbling into the lot, it was eye opening and most were in awe. A new build from someone at our high school that very few if any knew about during the build process. That was a first. The only time there were several other cars parked on the side of the street at the starting line was the 409 Biscayne versus a black 58 Impala with the C&O Stick Hydro. One was trying out his new car after we taught him how to shift the 4 speed faster. The other was a dragstrip veteran with drag racing starts and knowledge that could be used against overpowering odds. A 409 vs a 348? Who was kidding whom? I knew the outcome was going to be the talk of the drive-in crowd and for all probability, it was going to be a run away if both started at the same time. Having driven the 409 Biscayne and knowing the power it had, there was no hope for me, other than a super quick start and hanging on for dear life. But I knew the new driver and he liked fast cars, but did not want to go race his at Lion’s Dragstrip. Cruising around was just fine for him. But, since my friend and I taught this guy how to shift, listen for the peak power prior to a quick shift would make the 409 virtually unbeatable. It was about to be the King without even racing, as no one had anything that could match it power for power. Our race got off to a great start for me. No so much for the 409. The C&O Stick Hydro blasted the modified 348 out quickly and took a car + lead and increased as the 4 speed in the Biscayne was having some difficulties. By the time we got to the ½ way mark, I could see the 409 coming on strong and then let him see my 6 red taillights flashing, for the victory. I knew I would be passed by the end of the ¼ mile mark. So, the red lights meant the race was over. The race was all in fun and we all had a good laugh at the gathering. I kept my reputation from my 58 Impala and now we all acknowledged the fear of the 409 when anyone came into the drive-in parking lot. A king without racing was a cool thing. It was just what the teenage owner liked. He did not have to prove to anyone how fast his 409 Biscayne really was. We all knew… ! Jnaki As far as the gathering in this wooded area for the drag racing gathering, it was not just a run of the mill, my car versus your car. There were classes and designations for each car as noted on the windshields. Who knows what they meant, other than identifying the car + class. But a long i.d. with a series of numbers and letters was evident, watching the cars zip by in the film. At the drags, then the gathering at the parking lots, some teens left their white shoe polish designations of classes on the windows, as they came through the local drive-in restaurant parking lot. The odd thing was, they either did not race or they somehow got by the timing tower time slip guy that usually erased the window designations...) So, it was planned or the organizers wanted something to keep the identifications for their records to see who would win at the end. The black Chevy was seen in two races as did the red Plymouth. So, that was it for multiple winners. Kudos to the cameraman/camerawoman for taking these colorful shots and action. It was a good time to be a teenager and now we are all in our last elimination race to the finish line. Time waits for no one and we are enjoying life as it is/was since those teen years. Note: Some of those in the films were older than teenagers as noted, but the clothing styles still were locally original...YRMV
I agree. Several years back when a Detroit newspaper headline read something like "Spectators Killed by Drag Racers" on city streets I wrote a letter to the editor that was printed pointing out that these jerks were not really drag racers, and to please stop calling them that and don't besmirch our sport of legitimate drag racing. Please write a letter expressing your disappointment at similar distortion of the facts.
You wanna see "idiots" getting kicks, go on a search for the Saudi Arabia highway drifting stuff on Youtube. America, past and present, has nothing on many countries in the behavior department. It's just that more is expected from us. D
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