Event Coverage Hot Rod Drag Week 2023

They announced Drag Week 2023

https://www.motortrend.com/events/hot-rod-drag-week-2023-official-route-and-general-information/

Down south this year.

Tech Inspection, Registration, Test 'n' Tune / Sunday, Sept. 17

Darlington Dragway (Hartsville, SC) — 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time for registration, tech inspection, and test 'n' tune (tech open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., test 'n' tune begins at 2 p.m. )

Day 1 Racing / Monday, Sept. 18

Darlington Dragway (Hartsville, SC) — Gates open 7:30 a.m. local time, racing hours 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time.

Day 2 Racing / Tuesday, Sept. 19

Rockingham Dragway (Rockingham, NC) — Gates open 7:30 a.m. local time, racing hours 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time.

Day 3 Racing / Wednesday, Sept. 20

Bristol Dragway (Bristol, TN) — Gates open 7:30 a.m. local time, racing hours 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time.

Day 4 Racing / Thursday, Sept. 21

Carolina Dragway (Aiken, SC) — Gates open 7:30 a.m. local time, racing hours 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time.

Day 5 Racing (Finals) / Friday, Sept. 22

Darlington Dragway (Hartsville, SC) — Gates open 7:30 a.m. local time, racing hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time, followed by awards.

See you there!

 

Makes it EVEN MORE IDIOTIC that NHRA closed the track in Commerce, GA

 

Man... Drag Week is like one of those "bucket list"/"unobtainium", pipe dreams of mine.

I have nothing to run other than my old F-100 with a VERY STOCK 351, street tires, and a close to factory style suspension. Wouldn't really pull a sick whore off a piss pot, but I'd love to thrash her down the track at least once, just to say I did.

I'm guessing it'd run in the high 30's in the quarter mile.

Oh, who am I kidding? High 30's in the eighth is more likely. Folks would get bored waiting for my junk to clear the lane for the next race.

And, I'd be exhausted from whipping the steering wheel around in order to keep her in a straight line.

Would make a decent push truck though, I guess. Just need a block of wood with a piece of old conveyor belt screwed to it strapped to the front bumper.

I can turn a wrench or two, so if anybody needs an extra pit monkey, let me know.

I'll be living vicariously through you guys.

Have fun, and BE SAFE!!!

 

Well, @ccain , here's an idea for you. Load that F-100 up with avocados and tortilla chips and haul ass for South Carolina. You'd have the makings for a giant guacamole dip for the awards ceremony. Heck, spread a tarp in the bed and make it right there. You'd be the most popular guy there until the beer ran out .

 

Yeppers, I agree. Since Memphis and Commerce closed down, closest NHRA quarter mile big track to me is Gainesville FL, and that is probably 350 miles away. Memphis was about 180 and Commerce was probably 225 away.

IHRA has been getting a lot of the 1/8 mile tracks around here. Still might get to see some decent racing, even without the big names.

 

Hot damn! Now if my cam will just show up--

 

In 2019 on HRDW there was a guy running a 1919 Franklin. He ran around 28 seconds at 45 mph. I've seen a stock 1930 Model A run 28.40 in Washington at Good guys Nostalgia drags. If your truck is slower than those, you should install some pedals to speed it up. Or hit the gas to accelerate instead of just leaving it at idle

 

That's going to be quite a loop. 739 miles and 12 hours and 34 minutes driving the short way on the long wide roads and drag week doesn't go the short way on long wide roads. Sounds like fun though.

 

Drag week is usually somewhere around 1,000 miles.

 

That is right around what I figured that they would have to do if not a bit more. Plus a lot more driving time than 12-1/2 hours.

 

A lot of the extra driving time is spent doing things other than driving. Like fixing cars, and hanging out various places, shooting the shit with other racers.

 

Don't want to start a shit fight, but IHRA ruined sportsman drag racing in Australia because they only want big names racing. Supposedly to get bums on seats watching.

 

Jim are you planning on driving Plan 2? My wife and I are taking my 37 no trailer, I think it will be a great trip. We will be leaving early and make a vacation out of it, so if any HAMB members on the route let me know. I will be looking for some Old Milwaukee beer and some whiskey stops on the trip.

Tony

 

I don't know yet what I'm going to do....since it's an odd numbered year, I could drive. But man, that's a long drive! and my car is getting old and tired, too.

 

Thanks for the heads-ups, Jim. My brother lives in Aiken so it would be a great opportunity to see my brother AND see some great drag racing in the same trip!

 

Inquiring minds want to know the significance of an odd-numbered year?

I always enjoy watching you on drag week from up in Canada. Haven't made it to an event yet, it's always so far away from me.

 

No significance...but in 2015, 2017, 2021 I drove Plan II to Drag Week.

 

The eastern leg isn’t too bad, mostly level with a few hills, but that western side from Bristol south has some big hills and mountains. Pulling those mountains with a high hp engine and a trailer in tow will be interesting for sure. May be more drop out from the drive than from racing breakage.

 

I've been on the spectator side for the last couple Drag Weeks since the route was relatively close. Probably not this year although I'll still follow it online.
For any of you in that part of the country who have never been: Even if you just make it to one or two stops, GO!
I know it's not really a HAMB-friendly event - lots of newfangled racing tech. But it's really an eye-opener with respect to what these folks do to go the distance. And of course, you can always connect with the HAMB'rs who run it. I had the honor of talking to @squirrel for a couple minutes last year at Cordova which was very cool!
Win-win!

 

Drag week can not be fully described to someone who has never been to one of the stops.
I can tell you, though, you will not attend an event that has MORE cars that can run in the 9's, or faster in the quarter mile, AND drive to the next track.

 

Hey squirrel, since you're gonna be in the area, don't forget Lloydfest is October 6th-8th! Come on up early, I'll put your ass to work

 

Could be superstition, or it could be that every other year I need a break either from driving the car, or from driving the truck hauling the car on a trailer.

 

Just checked, from West Branch Iowa to Darlington- 1042 miles 15 1/2 hours.

 

Uh oh, I paid money, now I have to go

 

Tried to find the registration but their web site totally sucks Oh well maybe next year.

 

Registration is only open at this time to folks who won a place last year...the rest of the world will get to register in another week (or so?). They'll probably announce it soon. Then you need to be on the ball if you want to get registered, they usually sell out in 10-15 minutes. But the neat thing is that if you don't get signed up, you can still show up the Sunday morning before racing starts, and they'll let you register on site (using your smartphone). They let 400 people sign up ahead of time, but only 325 of them show up, and the other 30-50 people who show up without being registered ahead of time, always all get to sign up once they're there.

 

I'm thinking to trailer it with the truck .... never know when you need a extra transmission or parts on the road

 

Here's the official announcement for registration, which opens MARCH 25 AT 9 A.M. EST/6 A.M. PST

 

Well I guess thats why I did not find it. Thanks.
Ran the Hot Rod class in 14