NFB: how close is your drag strip?

[99v6cam]

Orlando Speedworld is a mere 10-20minutes away depending on traffic

[MN6WS6]

The problem we have around here is that the closest dragstrip is about 30 minutes away, but it's only 1/8th mile. To get to a 1/4 track, you have to drive about 1.25-1.5 hours. The problem with all that though is that we have too many people that want to run from a roll, or want to run from a dig to like 130, and not even 1/4 track can get you to those speeds unless you have 750 HP, a really light car, or a bike. What they need to do is open Brookley Field up on Friday and Saturday nights with it's NASA-approved emergency landing strip for the space shuttle. That sucker is something like 1.5-2 miles long. They could set it up with 1 mile ET traps and still have ALL DAY to get slowed down. But of course, nobody thinks about making something legal to keep the street racers off the streets like that.

[Craig 94 TA GT]

You're right. Most cities do not care, nor want to bother with drag strips. Noise, increased traffic, etc. are in their minds, rather than trying to cut down on street racing. Increasing the fines and penalties is their solution. It's true that street racing will never be eliminated (and possibly not cut down in some areas), but I just read an article about how Sears Point's drags cut down on street racing in Fairfield: "We used to see between 100 and 200 (street racers) on a Friday or Saturday night," said Fairfield Police Officer Robert Marin. "But when the drag races started up again (at Infineon) in March, there was an immediate drop-off. We might see maybe two or three dozen now."

I didn't even realize that there used to be 2 more local strips that closed down several years back. It doesn't make sense how racing is on the rise, yet the strips are diminishing (at least here). It must be nice for you guys who have strips so close

[MN6WS6]

Actually, it does make sense. The vast majority of street racers nowadays are imports, and the vast majority of them are FWD cars, so they pretty much have to race from a roll or run around on slicks. They don't want to race at a track because A) they want to go on 3 honks or a flag wave so they have time to boost or because it takes them longer than the tree time does to get ready to race, B) they can't race from a roll, and C) tracks are only 1/8 or 1/4 mile long whereas they think the race isn't over until they can't go any faster.

But the best ricer excuse I've heard:

"I get better traction on the street"

[Craig 94 TA GT]

lol very true. Not to get off topic, but here's a quote from the article I read: "It's so much better than on the street," Granado, 18, said Wednesday after sending his souped-up Honda hatchback zipping down the quarter-mile at 81.4 mph. "It's more exciting, and you don't have to worry about running from the cops."
I think Motortrend trapped my minivan at 82 mph LOL

[Rhode Island Red]

Nearest oone is New England Dragway up in NH a 2.5 hr drive (at fastest) but with Boston traffic it may take an additional hour

[FroSSty]

Mid-Michigan Motorplex is about an hour away...
US 131 Dragway is about an hour away but its ALL highway and more miles.

[DeWynter]

Brand new one just built in a town close to mine called Rimbey. The built two 1/4 mile tracks and an oval track. 20 minutes away.