Event Coverage New Drag Strip In So Cal

330 feet?

Hello,

Wow, a football field long and that is all it takes… ha! Make sure your car has a C&O Stick Hydro or something similar. The opponent, despite the power difference will not get out as fast as your car and you, if you are in control at the starting light.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIQ9ME68QdI Cherry Ave Drags Sound

Many moons ago, a 409 61 Biscayne was purchased by one of our friends. Instantly, envy set in and we all wanted a 409. But, my Impala had 300+ hp, 4:56 Positraction gears, a C&O Stick Hydro and a teenager with great reflexes on the starting line. But, only after many races at Lion’s Dragstrip and encounters on the street. The big black 58 Impala fooled a lot of people, thinking it was a stock cruiser.

Now, we raced at the officially marked ¼ mile course called, the Cherry Avenue drags. That was the norm. It was a mile long straight away, with over a ¾ of a mile to shut off, slow down and make a fast exit at the first sign of the black and white cruisers. The surrounding land was of no disturbance or a public nuisance on noise complaints. One side was a ½ mile long huge cemetery. The other side was another open field cemetery that ran from the 1/8 mile mark to the mile marker and some businesses.

Most races are over by the 1/8th mile and the rest is just pure power with the gas pedal down on the floor. Exhilarating to say the least.

Jnaki

The race between the 409 Biscayne and the 58 Impala was no contest. I knew I could never beat the 409 in the ¼ mile. So, my business was all start and get a big lead to keep up the power through at least the 1/8th mile. Then the 6 red brake lights came on and the race(s) were officially over. It happened and I was in the lead with the 409 coming up to pass me nearing the 1/8th mile marker. But, he saw my taillights and that was it…

So, this new very short track could have a top eliminator for someone that sets up his hot rod for a fast, quick start and stay healthy through the traps. Although it is fun to shift a 4 speed, it is more fun to just stomp on the gas pedal and take off to a victory. My Impala had a 4:56 Positraction gears that gave me the impetus to get out in front. All I had to do was get a good start and the motor did the rest.

These days, gear ratios of 5’s are able to be used. Even the 4:56 gears were not your everyday driver gears, but was done prior to the weekend encounters. YRMV

It would be like accelerating on your neighborhood high school football field, as long as it had a good shut off area, beyond.

Note:

Like all good things, despite the emptiness of the surrounding lake and fairgrounds, there are packed in homes across the main highway and sound travels. It is just another place for drag racing until someone from those homes start complaining and then it, too will go away.

 

330 feet, they hoping for jr dragster's only, meanwhile jersey is down to one track, island dragway

 

Exactly. A good way to learn the basics of driving and setting up your car (tires, suspension, gearing, etc.) for proper launch.
The 330' will be more about this and not pure horsepower. Sure to see a lot of upsets where a lesser powered car with a good driver will beat a high powered car with a bad launch that doesn't have enough runway to make a top end charge.

Hopefully, the improved driving skills and really getting to know your car will help prevent disaster when some of the grudge matches ultimately end up getting settled later some night on a nearby industrial road...

 

Mendota Raceway Park just had their first event here in Central California in August, and I think there's an event this weekend too (Oct 28). 1/8th mile.
I haven't been there, but some of my compadres have.
My son and will no doubt be going there to get runs in on the Ghia in coming months.

 

things change - Bandimere / Thunder Mountain Drag Strip in Colorado just closed down after 65 years. More developement near track made land buyer offers too good to pass. not closing because of noise complaints because up until now local developers had to agree to no complaints. Son of John Jr and Lorraine hopes to build another track near Denver.

 

There was a piece of farmland nearby me that had a short abandoned piece of federal highway that had been rerouted. I always thought it would be perfect to set up clocks and freeway type entrance gates that were activated by tossing coins in a basket. You and your buddy could toss in coins, stage up and race a "block", get an e.t. slip with your 60 foot times, make some tuning changes and do it again, ad infinitum.

Long time drag racer - quarter and eighth mile type. But I also built a little street rod (2350# car and driver RTR) with an engine that makes gobs of torque - just what you need for quick sprints. I got just as big a kick out of embarrassig some guy in a $100,000 supercar running up to the next stoplight as making a full quarter mile pass in my dragster. I think the new drag strip could work and get all but the most hardcore douchebag gambler street outlaw racer off the highways.

 

If you watch any “reality TV drag shows” …..everything is a 1/8 mile.

 

For the true stoplight to stoplight experience, please do not prep the track.

 

I don't imagine somebody street racing on 135th and Main in Compton (south of LA) It's going to drive all the way to the Inland Empire to go 330ft.
The idea is good and I hope it does well but I am skeptical to say the least. Even at 45 years old I still get why people street race especially when there is no good venue to make a pass that is even remotely comparable to the street.
California for the last 75 years has constantly attacked the automotive hobby, It has taken away areas that were legal to drag race due to noise ordinances, It has redeveloped land that was some of the best racing in the world and at this point California is now pretty much fully developed and I don't see any way for a quarter mile track to happen and that even includes the not so cool ⅛ mile strips.
About the only area someone could develop a large bit of land for a drag strip would be the niddle of the desert and if all is known CARB (California air resource board) and the EPA would probably stop somebody from developing a few hundred acres desert for a drag strip anyways.
I hope this new drag strip survives and does well but I am skeptical who wants to do 330 ft? I live 15ish minutes away and I don't think I would drive to do 330 ft.

 

A long time ago in a different Galaxy ...we used ta street race on Tewantin Street on the other side of Hobby Airport, several folks would block off the side streets, it was all warehouses and no traffic

We met in the GE warehouse parking lot, went down to the end of the street an lined up

Was around 1/4 mile past the GE parking lot, Officers let us race if we kept off the street

No burning out on the grass, all trash must be picked an all was well...

There were always azzholes that fooked it up sometimes, the Police would ban us an train Police dogs the next week

Trash started comin in an spinnin out on the grass, they were asked nicely not to, they drove by cussin and shootin the bird

Then came back an parked, a few guys went over an tried to explain we would be banned for a week

They wanted to fight an got strummed, then went an got a bunch of the buddies to come back
Almost a 50 to 50 gang fight till our guy offered to go behind the warehouse an fight the the 2 guys by himself

I wont post his name but he looked like John Travolta an could kick some azz
They relented an the other guys left, it went downhill soon after

Dumbshites ruin everything thing it seems

Last time I went, there were folks 3 deep lined up all the way down the street, accident waitin ta happen



Ricky.

 

don't think that the people running this short track are looking for long haulers to show up. but , it is a good alternative to do some low budget local racing. for young people this could really be exciting.

 

UPDATE: I think the pictures from the Bias Ply Drags held at Street Legal Dragway, shows that the 330' track can in fact be a Hoot! A drag race isn't based on a specific distance...it's just based on going from Point A to Point B. If you don't believe that you're just a bench racer. Scroll to see more pics on this post. Or visit
https://www.oldcustomcars.com/blog/bias-ply-drags

 

^^ Thanks for pics & link

 

I guess you don’t need a helmet because you never even get to freeway speed. A pretty fast car may get up to 60-70 mph? I’d still support it if that’s the only show in town.

 

I don't watch none of that garbage..... I try to lead a reality free life....

 

Wow, looks like a lot of cars showed up. Wish it was closer. Maybe next time I'll try and get down there.

 

I don't know why there's so much grief over 1/8 th mile tracks. It's easier on the running gear, takes up less real estate to set up and over here in Australia the insurance premiums and safety gear requirements are lower so entry fees are affordable.
Yes, I've won quite a few 1/8 th mile races because the other competitor overpowers the track or is too busy waiting for their turbo to spool up but I do like to drive my car onto the trailer at the end of the day.
I watched an 1/8 th mile Top Fueller held at Mildura's Sunset Strip track on YouTube the other day. The crowds loved it and it certainly made the crew chiefs rethink their tuning.

 

An old time drag racer, Don Gallant From Newington, Connecticut told me, " run a big block Chevrolet" in the i/8 mile as it doesn't hurt the motor, and costs less over time. It will be easier on the motor and your pockect book.

 

I don't know if 100 ft drags is still in operation at Waterford Speed Bowl [Waterford,CT] on the main strait of the 1/3 mile [I think] paved circle track. Friday nights, run anything. Xmas tree, dial in your time bracket racing. From lawn tractors to dirt bikes, quads, ATV, Harleys, Chevelles, Mustangs, only things I didn't see run was Snowmobile or Karts. Run at random or choose your competition.

 

If it gets anyone off the streets it is a good thing in my opinion.

 

Our big once a month Heads Up RWYB event is 1/8 mile….and they go anywhere from 170-203 MPH…plenty exciting for me…I’ve raced 1/8 mile and it put a smile on my face..many times the race is over at that point anyway and like others have said, easier on parts, the car, etc..
I’ll take anything I can get anymore…Dragstrips aren’t exactly popping up on every corner…

 

I admire the good intentions but 330 ft? Boring. You ain't even got rolling yet. There's a whole other race out there on the big end. That's where the excitement really builds. The 1/4 mile is where drag racing belongs period. The lawyers, insurance companies, local governments, and land developers have ruined racing and they collected a lot more money doing it. The foolish appeal of outlaw street racing is alive and well and this ain't gonna do much about that.

 

Pffft! 1/4 mile is boring, 5-7 miles at Bonneville is where the REAL racing begins! LOL

NHRA moved the goal post from 1/4-mile to 1,000 feet to "slow" the cars down. Funny, they're still going 300 MPH in 1,000 feet! They could probably do it in 330 ft at some point...

Too lazy to figure it out, but what's 330-feet equate to, a first/second gear pass or are we grabbing third on the way out the gate? Either way, sounds fun to me and a different challenge as you're either building something that'll rev up quick and hit the powerband or something that makes power down low.

 

That's all well and good if you've got a fat wallet or a shitload of sponsors. Have you wondered why interest in the big end of town racers is dwindling? People want to watch real racers, not overpaid steerers.

 

You don't need a fat wallet or sponsors to run and have fun racing on a quarter mile track. There's plenty of classes out there for it. Sure it takes a little money but getting that money is part of the challenge. Nope, haven't noticed interest dwindling for traditional 1/4 mile racing, not one bit. Real racers want to go faster and that is what people want to see. Steering any type of race car at speed takes some skill and/or natural talent especially when things go sideways. If you're lucky enough to get paid to drive someone must think your worth it.

 

Yeah, good staging and starting line practice, maybe chassis setup for 60’ times if they prepped it a little.
After racing at Lions quarter mile facility everything less seems incomplete. Drive it to the track, go through all four gears and wind it through lights. That’s a run, and that takes 1320 ft. Shutting off at half track? Now quarter track? Easier on parts? Maybe valve springs, but you’re still going to stress the drive train.
I don’t know, maybe if I lived real close. Hell, my driveway is 360 feet, paved. Out here where I live there’s a thousand places to go through the gears if you’re so inclined. I don’t need to drive for hours and wait in line to go through first and second gears.

 

I think there is way more skill in racing a 330' and 660' than there is 1320'! Most races today are won and lost at the line with Reaction and Traction. I've seen stock cars beat high horsepower cars in the first 60 feet and the race is over. The challenge is getting traction on a no prep surface. You have to tune the suspension and figure out tire pressure and even figure out the right RPM to launch at. Sure having a Supercharger or Turbo is great for the top end to make up for mistakes. But mistakes on a short track make it harder to recover from. If you blow off the the tires and loose traction at the starting line its over. Maybe these type of cars need the distance to win a race, because they probably can't win the short distance race? Don't get me wrong I love 1/4 mile tracks too and they are good if you have them, but they sure don't have 1/4 miles in SoCal left to go to.

 

I agree quicker reaction times, good traction, and lower 60ft times create a big advantage that is hard to recover from and do result in a lot of round wins. Reaction times, properly tuned suspension for the track surface (which includes tires) all apply, no matter how long the track is. The skills are the same. Most stock cars are never going to out 60ft a properly tuned high powered car unless the person in the high power car smokes the tires. A stock car might get to 60ft first if the person driving the high powered car is asleep at the starting line.

I just posted my thoughts on whether or not the new 330 ft. facility would have a realistic positive out come and result in less street racing. Me no think so.

It's a damn shame that all these tracks have closed. If people like racing 1/8 mile, great. If they get a kick out of racing 330 ft. I say have fun. Some people will always try to justify something less when they can't have the real thing.

 

Just stupid 330 ft.