DON’T SHORTEN THE TRACKS
Hi Jeff, Just read your Blast. And everyone is entitled to his/her opinion.
As long I can remember (over fifty years) the standing 1/4 mile has been and always will be the length of a drag strip. Sometime in the late sixties or early seventies when the second land rush began is when the smaller 1/8 mile tracks started showing up more. A lot of small towns have 1/8 miles. Did you check where they are at or just how many tracks there was? I'd check the population of and around those tracks. And how many tracks have closed?
The other reasons are land values, housing development (Riverside Raceway for one), noise issues, people encroachment and many others.
A lot of these tracks are privately owned and sometimes that's all the room they have. As for the speed, how many races have you seen won or lost by MPH? (except a tie) Drag racing is E.T. How quick are you from point A to B.
The 1/4 mile isn't the problem, the teams and the sponsors and fans are. Everyone wants fast, fast, fast! That's not all drag racing is about!
How about the INDY 100, wow I bet that would go over real good.
OK, so the biggest problem with the cars is speed, so let's slow them down. Let's limit them to a 10,12, or 14-71 blower, 80% nitro, single mag. I'll bet that will get them back to a reasonable speed and E.T. and it might save a life. Let's try it. Ask one of the big teams to make a few runs with their setup as is and get a bench mark, Then switch blower setup only, to a 14-71 and see what the difference is. It might work and save money too.
Eric died doing what he loved and I'll bet being the quickest was far more important to him the fastest.
The real biggest problem I see that drag racing (NHRA and IHRA) has to contend with is people. People building next to a live active Drag Strip only to complain about the noise and get it closed.
Just like building next to an Airport and complaining. Something is real wrong here. Was it there before you moved in? Did you know it was there? Then move!!!!!!
One of these days Pomona's going to come under the gun (if it's not already) because of people, housing, land value, or noise. These are the big problems as I see them. I think the 1/4 mile should stay, but if a club, property owner, or group or who ever what's to build a 1/4 or 1/8 mile track then NHRA and IHRA should bust their butts helping them. NHRA/IHRA have done an excellent and costly job of making the racers safe. So the next step is getting back to reality and slow the cars down not shorten the tracks.
Just my opinion.
John Crump
TRY IT, YOU’LL LIKE IT
You must be one crusty old geezer
ADVERTISEMENT
The thing I liked even better was that things moved along so much more quickly. That “hurry up and wait” scenario that is so prevalent in drag racing was greatly reduced. Things moved along in a timely fashion. Imagine the impact on a national event type of show.
Some folks have never tried it so are basing their opinions on an uneducated perception. Others certainly have every right to prefer the 1/4 mile. I just think the safety and logistical advantages make it a very attractive alternative.
Don (Herb) Seamans
Quispamsis, NB Can.
