Gator Nationals

[ws6drbob]

It was my first time ever going to a drag strip and I must say I am hooked for life now. I was like a kid at disney world. Hot ladies, beer, 4 sec top fuel racing... what else can ya ask for. If any of you guys that have never been ever get the chance to go a NHRA event I totally suggest you do it!

[Injuneer]

I caught the qualifying on ESPN2 this morning at 1:30am. Looked like the pro stock cars and bikes were turning some unbelievable times.... new ET and MPH records in both classes. Did you get to see either of those runs? Andrew Hines made the first 6-second bike pass with a 6.991 @ 196.16. Good to see American iron on top again, even after they put the heavy weight penalty on the Harleys last year.

Seems like Greg Anderson figured out what he was doing wrong, setting new Pro Stock records of 6.633 @ 208.23mph. An article in this week's issue of National Dragster indicates that the Pro Stack 500ci engines are now being pushed as high as 10,000rpm, churning out 2.75HP/ci (1,365HP) and making VE's of 1.30 !!!!!

I was hoping Warren and Kurt Johnson would stay near the top of the pack, but it seems like Anderson and Line are back on top.

[ws6drbob]

Did you get to see either of those runs? Andrew Hines made the first 6-second bike pass with a 6.991 @ 196.16. Good to see American iron on top again, even after they put the heavy weight penalty on the Harleys last year.

Yep I got to see all of it, but at the time i didn't know it was a record until the announcer said something and that was when I knew just how lucky i was that i was there to catch something like that.

Seems like Greg Anderson figured out what he was doing wrong, setting new Pro Stock records of 6.633 @ 208.23mph. An article in this week's issue of National Dragster indicates that the Pro Stack 500ci engines are now being pushed as high as 10,000rpm, churning out 2.75HP/ci (1,365HP) and making VE's of 1.30 !!!!!

Besides the Top Fuelers, Pro Stock was my favorite thing to watch. I just thought It was amazing when the top fuelers would break loose about at about a 1/4 of the way down the track then they would coast the rest of the way and still pull off like a 10 second quarter mile at like 90 miles an hour But watching the pit crew break down the top fuel engines and put them back together was the hightlight of my day.

[Injuneer]

We get the Nationals here at Old Bridge Twp. Raceway Park (aka "Englishtown") NJ June 16-19. I used to go every year, but missed the last couple of years. The track is about 6 miles from my home, and we can hear the Top Fuel and Funny Car runs. Its interesting, because you can hear both the burnouts and the actual passes. I always liked to go in the middle of the afternoon on Friday, when the crowds were non-existant. You could get up front at just about every pit location and get great views of the action.

[Blevyou know]

Yeah, I watched it lastnight. I've been to about 4 NHRA events and there is nothing in the world like feeling a Top Fuel in the pit of your stomach.

[Joe 1320]

I was there watching the nitro Harleys run side by side. Awesome.

The the nitro dragsters were having a little difficulty getting a clean pass, funny cars seemed a little more settled. Those that stayed hooked past the transition were knocking down some numbers. Also of note was "the Greek" at 74 years old running 315 mph. Not too many oildowns either. The weather was fantastic, crowds were plentiful. The Gainesville general admission side actually has the choice spot to watch the launch. There is no auxlilary traffic lane so when you are at the fence, you are literally right beside them. Awesome vantage point.

For me, there is nothing like the experience of firing up a nitro car on a cool, crisp morning and listening to that puppy crackle.

Things have gotten pretty commercialized though....