I would like to take my 11 yr old boy to the Hamb drags or the meltdown drags in Byron. I doubt we can make both, and are car won't be driveable for either. Which one would you reccommend? Is either kid friendly? Thanks
the hamb drags are kid friendly, at the track. the night life is somewhat as long as you don't mind the drunks. all good people , just a few idiots in every group though.
The Meltdown Drags are a three day event. There is a cruise night where drag cars can cruise to Sams drive inn. There is a car show, swap meet, and drag racing all three days. Besides there is also a huge North vs South race too. Check out the website www.meltdowndrags.com and also the Meltdown drags thread. Meltdown Drags vintage drag meet. July 18,19,20 2014
There are lots of kids there too. Most of the guys involved with running the event have kids. Here is my daughter sitting in my old Chevy II. Meltdown Drags vintage drag meet. July 18,19,20 2014
Definitley The Meltdown Drags !! Great Family fun, past years ive seen lotsa kids, my whole family attends every year, Great concessions, clean restrooms , Friendly Staff, And Good ICE CREAME !! lol Gotta Keep KIDS interested they're the future of our hobby !!!
Check out the official meltdown thread on here there is quite the variety of cars coming to the meltdown this year. people coming from all over the us and Canada. Other countries as well. Definitely going to be THE must attend event again this year. Hope to see you there. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
My vote is the Meltdown event. Not having been to the HAMB drags makes me a bit biased - even though we are considering it ... Meltdown is huge and at times overwhelming. Even though it's not specifically kid friendly (no - face painting, pony rides, slides etc) there are a ton of kids there and stuff for them to do - as long as they like cars. Not to mention the great smokies, burgers and ice cream... Guys like myself and Mark Kruppa encourage kids to participate with his dragster as do others. When my Scout isn't moving it tends to have a steady stream of kids (and adult size kids) sitting in it taking pictures. The night life is far tamer than I would have guessed but that's ok too. If your boy is a car nut and doesn't mind a long, possibly hot day of nonstop activity, noise and an endless parade of uber-cool cars and trucks - than the Meltdown is the event I would recommend
The Meltdown Association members are working non stop 24/7 for people like yourself! They want you, your son, your whole family to attend a very traditional 60's event that will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire day. This has been mentioned numerous times throughout the 5 years of this event, and I quote: "I came to the Meltdown this year as a spectator, next year I will for sure be bringing a car!" That's what the Meltdown is all about, making yourself want to be apart of something that keeps getting larger and larger every year! 3 Days of racing, a cruise into town to a Rootbeer stand that all race cars can attend and not get hackled by the cops (how many times you seen race cars driving through town that arent in a parade?) and the overall atmosphere of the pits, you won't be disappointed that's for sure! We hope to you see you there!!
I am in the same boat... I am closer to the Hamb drags but everyone so far has said the Meltdown is the must attend event for this sort of stuff. I was talking to a friend that said he has been to all the nostalgia stuff and the meltdown is exacly how it was in the old days. And No bands or drunk people. Just a ton of great people. That make me even more interested. We will see. I am planing on trying to go.
Meltdown is great - my sons range in age from 11 to 18 and they all loved it. We are planning on camping this year. That's not a knock on the HAMB drags, we haven't made it yet, and it is definitely on the list.
I'd say it's a no-brainer. You're in Il., and that's where the Meltdown is. Long drive to Mo. for the HAMB Drags; though I think the HAMB Drags is the more traditional show. At least you're not in my shoes; stuck up here in Wa. State, and can't make either. Butch/56sedandelivery.
Meltdown drags it is! Thanks for all the replys. It is about the same distance to the HAMB drags. We will have to give it a go when or if we get our car driveable.
looking forward to meeting you, now your going to have to figure out how to get here every year. There is no way you will ever miss this event again.
Sounds like a good time. My boy is a hot rod nut. Says the same thing I do born too late in life. We went to Cordova last fall. I don't think we will miss that again. Spent alot of time looking at the gassers. He sat in a henry J thought that was cool.
While we all think the HAMB drags is a really good thing, we of course are biased... Don't just listen to what we have to say, look at what we have already done. There's tons of video footage up on youtube, do a search for the words 'meltdown drags' and see for yourself! Also ,there is a list of preregistered cars on the Meltdown Drags facebook page if you would like a preview of what is coming to the event.
There are already over 270 cars registered and it's only Feb. Last year there were 400 drag cars and this year will blow that away.
I think he will be excited. Ive shown him some videos of Quain Scotts car and we read through the moonlighter build. Should be a great time.
I've been to both. No question it's the Meltdown. There is just more to do throughout the weekend and the amount of time spent at the track is way more than at the HAMB drags.
Yeah 400 cars is great if you're a spectator but I like actually racing my car and getting as many runs in a possible. Ryan limits the cars to 200 at the HAMB Drags and they are all hand picked. This year will be my 12th straight year of me cruzn and racing one of my cars there. The HAMB Drags is well worth the drive from Detroit each and every year and I wouldn't miss it for the world. Also, I leave Michigan for the HAMB Drags weekend when in fact there are two AWESOME events in Michigan that same weekend, The Woodward Dream Cruz and the Relix Riot but I'm not giving up the HAMB Drags to attend that's how GREAT the HAMB Drags weekend is. With all that being said the HAMB Drags and the Meltdown drags are on different weekends so there really is no reason not to attend both especially if you're into traditional styled hot rods, customs, race cars and the people that own them cuz when it all boils down to it, its about the people for me.
Never been to the hamb drags YET, it is on my bucketlist. Last year there was a guy that made 14 or 15 passes at the meltdown with over 400 cars. With 17 staging lanes the cars flow through pretty fast. Also 3 full days of racing. Like stated above, Try both! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Tricky's girl made 13 passes on one day alone....400 cars....17 lanes....they keep them flowing...it's NOT a test and tune night where you are there with 10 people...but you can keep getting right back in line all day long!
While on my "Bucket List", I have not yet made the HAMB Drags.....but want to. However, I think the Meltdown absolutely is a must see..and IMHO you as well as your kids will love it.. (for all of the reasons listed above)
The Hamb Drags is one of my favorite events, have been to all except the first and ran a car. The crew Carl has at Mokan is the best I ve ever seen. This year Im going to both so I will know which I liked the best. What I don't like is the tow is twice as far to the Meltdown.
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