Thread: I miss real drag racing

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I live about an hours drive from Mo-Kan, where The HAMB held their yearly drags, and I've been giving serious thought about spending a weekend there and forget about NHRA and all of their BS.

Originally Posted by NTFDAY

I live about an hours drive from Mo-Kan, where The HAMB held their yearly drags, and I've been giving serious thought about spending a weekend there and forget about NHRA and all of their BS.

I was over on the HAMB site when they were starting their HA/GR dragster builds. All they wanted to do was run some 3-speed transmissions with flatheads or inline sixes and go 12.00 or slower like when all of us first started drag racing. They wanted the cars to be reminiscent of the early cars such as the Bug, with a single hoop roll bar over the driver with rearward anti-lozenging bars and side bars like is required in an 11.49 closed car of today and using 5-point belts and arm restraints, good helmet, gloves, neck collar, fire jacket, scattershield, pumpkin cover and sit ahead of the rear axle. But noooooooo, NHRA wanted them to have a full cage just like every other belly button front engine dragster you see today.

I got in touch with Jake Hairston at NHRA and tried to get them to consider amending the rules for these fellows so they could just go out and have some fun, but to no avail. Jake said that the NHRA cannot publish specific rules for every group that comes down the pike.

I'm like many of you on here. Fed up. The most fun I have had lately is sitting in the stands at a rootin', tootin' demolition derby. I don't remember when I laughed so hard.

Another venue that is going to get some attention from me is the local run what ya brung dirt circle track races. Back to basics.

Looks like others are a little jaded about the current stuff too. Take the advice of all your buddies who have been there, go to a Nostalgia race, the HAMB Drags, Billetproof Drags, etc. You will be swept back 40 years to a much more simple time when racing was less complicated and FUN. You will not be able to wait for the next time. I know I can't wait til Oct to uncork the headers and give it a go myself.

Don

Thanks for posting up the photo of the HA/GR Don. Now you see, there's a car that you could probably cobble together for $3,500 or less and go out there and run 13's with all day long and never break anything. Just go out and have fun like we used to.

Knowing what I know though, I would extend the frame rails back a little so that I could add some "C" bars to the top of the "B" bar and run them down the back to the frame rail stubs at more than a 30 degree angle to prevent collapse of the "B" bar.

There is something to be said for keeping it simple and looking like the old cars, but there is also something to be said for not bearing the weight of the car on your noggin.

Yes Don and Tech, I agree about getting back to basics. Thanks for the photos also Don, that flat head front engine rail gets my blood boiling, just the finish on it is awesome. Another thing that excites me is organised street racing.like the days when you line up against the guy at the traffic lights and race to the next set. Boy was that fun, and wasn't so much about speed but reaction time and quick gear shifts. Bring it on!!

I agree with the masses. I have not returned to the U.S. Nationals in 5 years. I never missed one since 1967. The track was packed, reserved sold out, went general admission. No seats on the non tower side so we made the treck across the bridge. We went down to about the 1000 foot club. There was an entire section of bleachers with maybe a dozen people sitting at. We were told they were reserver for Mac Tool Company and could not sit there. We missed the entire 1st round, pro stock cars and bikes, funny car, and top fuel. I will never waste my time and money on another National event or a Mac Tool EVER. I have not watched one on TV either for more that an hour.

I agree...
There's a little, family owned 1/8th mile track 20 miles from my place..
$15 entry for test & tune...
Just go have fun.
1/8th doesn't tear stuff up as bad as the full quarter..
Jeff

Originally Posted by Whiplash23T

Yes Don and Tech, I agree about getting back to basics. Thanks for the photos also Don, that flat head front engine rail gets my blood boiling, just the finish on it is awesome. Another thing that excites me is organised street racing.like the days when you line up against the guy at the traffic lights and race to the next set. Boy was that fun, and wasn't so much about speed but reaction time and quick gear shifts. Bring it on!!