When was your first time at a dragstrip?

Ragtop · Dec 23, 2011

Detroit Dragway about 1960 or '61. TV Tommy got beat by (I think) Big Daddy. The announcer said Ivo wanted to come back out and make a "smokeless pass" to show everyone he could got quicker and faster than anyone had ever run at Detroit but it would mean burning up a $200.00 Shaeffer clutch to do it! $200.00! Nobody could believe he would blow two bills to put on a show but he did. Unbelievable pass for those days when everyone was smoking the tires almost the full 1/4. I can't remember how quick or how fast but it blew everybody away.

chuckekelly · Dec 23, 2011

1955 At Lawrenceville,il.World series of drag racing.Old army air force base.Iwas in the air force.

Mac30 · Dec 23, 2011

I was 6 yrs old (1985) my first Time out at Great Lakes dragway in WI. Use to go with dad to watch him race. Use to have alot of fun with him and his buddies there. We would go about once a month.

Not a dragstrip but My Grandpa use to take me to the dirt oval every sat when i was not at the dragstrip during the summer at Santa Fe Speedway in Willow Springs Ill since I was about 5 years old.

I was blessed to be born into a family of gearheads.

cheepsk8 · Dec 23, 2011

Drove my 57 Chevy 327/4 speed/ 4:56 rear to Harrisburg Il, 57 miles one way,changed to cheaters in the parking lot and laid down an 8.08 best pass in the 1/8th mile. cost me $25 to get in , $20 more to buy back in after getting waxed by a Mustang and 50 bucks for gas and eats. I was 17 and the year was 1978. PS that was about 2 weeks wages.... PRICELESS!

BadgeZ28 · Dec 23, 2011

My first one was Madras Dragstrip in central Oregon. I think it was the summer of 1961. The first big race I attended was the North American Fuel and Gas championships at Puyallup, Washington. Big, Ivo, the Greek and many more fuel cars were there. That was 1963.

the-rodster · Dec 23, 2011

1973, Indianapolis, I was 8.

I saw a car go 344 in the quarter.

I think the record still stands.

Rich

nostalgia59 · Dec 23, 2011

Sometime in 1962. We lived in Carson just a few miles from Lions Drag Strip. Cars like this Comp Coupe ruined me forever....

roseville carl · Dec 23, 2011

60 Half Moon Bay, remember it welll..................

leon renaud · Dec 23, 2011

My first time i was around 55 went with my son when he ran his first drag car we built a 72 Chevelle watched him run and then spent the day in the pits looking at cars.I still go once in a while and do the same.I watch a few races but spend most of my time in the pits.I keep telling myself someday I will make a couple passes just to see what it's like.I tried stock car before kids came along etc.

STEVE1103 · Dec 23, 2011

Island in NJ, was about 16 or 17, friend had a 55 Ford, 6 cylinder with 2 carbs with an offset scope we made so the hood would close. Did go to stock car races in Vineland NJ, to watch my uncle run when I was around 10.

Ed Wrath · Dec 23, 2011

1968 Santa Pod Raceway in the UK. I was 12. Bakersfield this year brought the memories flooding back.

3AMideaz · Dec 23, 2011

A few years ago I was at an "all mopar" car show at Topeka, KS. It had rained all morning and they made the announcement that any one who wanted to could take their car down the track to help dry it off. One of the guys in our group owns an unrestored 65 or 70,000 mile 68 Charger R/T Hemi. I jokingly asked if I could take the charger & he said sure & flipped me the keys!
Mr. Announcer guy was telling everyone to keep it under 70 but they ran the tree down for the cuda in front of me & he made a good hard pass so...
I figured I'd probably never get to do this again so I pulled up to the line, rolled into the throttle kinda easy and then just buried the throttle. That 2nd 4 barrel kicked in & that car woke up! The faster it went the harder it pulled. I was used to a little ol 318 small block without much top end but Good Gawd Ethyl that Hemi had some grunt!
I had a big stupid grin on my face for about a week after that...

2935ford · Dec 23, 2011

Lion's Drag Strip early 60's. I was mid teens.

kustom kolors · Dec 23, 2011

In 1970 , age 14 I went to Mantorp Park's first sanctioned dragrace. Fourty years later I went to the last (most likely). During these fourty years I have only missed four - five races. Mantorp used to be the biggest track in Sweden but the sport outgrew it. I was hooked that first time so I have been involved in drag racing ever since, but not driving, as crew member in the -70's to early -80's then as a judge or referee or what it's called in english. Now I work as starter on Swedens newest and biggest drag strip: the Tierp Arena.

rustyfords · Dec 23, 2011

I was probably just days old....1969.....Edinburg Speedway, Edinburg, TX

waterhorse · Dec 24, 2011

1967 Lions Drag Strip, night race. I remember the lights, chrome, fire, smoke, noise, and candy paint. Still hooked. I was 11 at the time.

Angry Frenchman · Jan 1, 2012

My frist time was at New England dragway in Epping N.H. me and a friend drove my 1970 ss nova there for wensday night street fight. we went back five more time that summer. lots of fun! Jared

48FordFanatic · Jan 1, 2012

In 1967 I was 17 visiting a girl who had moved from Maine to Epping,New Hampshire. On Sunday afternoon sitting on her parent's back porch (although she was a cute blonde who deserved my full attention) I was distracted by the high pitch whining of engines somewhere close by. It was New England Dragway! I was hooked on the dragstrip....and the blonde.

specsintexas · Jan 1, 2012

In or around 1970 or 1971, I was hanging out with Pat Gaines and Dale Bloomgarden. They were on the LimeFire Funny car pit crew. As I remember, LimeFire was a 197X Plymouth Barracuda fastback funny car with a Chrysler 440 wedge motor. In any case, I drove out to the old Fremont California drag strip in my 1962 Ford Galaxie convertible with the LimeFire Funny Car team. For some reason, we ended up using my 1962 Galaxie as the LimeFire race tow vehicle. I loved the excitement and attention as I got to drive several times in front of the crowd with the LimeFire car in tow. What a great rush. What a great crowd. What a great memory.
Thanks Pat and Dale.

BLUDICE · Jan 1, 2012

1971 U.S.Nationals - parked my trail bike next to a tree behind the staging areas and climbed up to watch the burn outs - TF was still doing FIRE burn outs then. Ran my first race in 2010 at BunkerHill Dragway one of the oldest dragstrips in the country.

Big Bad Dad · Jan 2, 2012

About 1972 or 73, my Dad took me to the strip at New London near Lynchburg Va. The two cars I remember from that day were a bad ass little deuce coupe and a '70 Big Block SS Chevelle. The guy in the Chevelle unhooked the pipes from his headers and just let them hang and bounce. They were not tied up in front at all. Even my young 13/14yo ass new that was stupid! I asked my Dad why they let him run and he said he didn't know either. The Started threw the guy off the line when he came back to make his second pass! LOL
I dont know why I remember that particular incident so well, but 10 years later, I was flogging my 69 Coronet R/T on the same track.

Brewton · Jan 2, 2012

My parents took me when I was about 1 year old (1968).... My Uncle had a '55 Chevy that ran C gas(not sure). Then I guess the first time I remember going was when I was 8. By this time my uncle was racing Top Fuel. I've been going to the track ever since.

Sent from my iPhone using TJJ

32 hudson · Jan 2, 2012

I think I was 13/14 at the time about 1964. My grandfather would drop me off on a sunday afternoon at the local drag strip / airport at Sanford , Maine to watch the races.

BISHOP · Jan 2, 2012

Not a drag strip, but a roundy round track outside of Texarkana. My parents took me and my brothers to see the Chitwood Trill Show. I was around 5 or 6yrs old...1972 or 73..That was the spark that started the fire, I was then eat up with everything automotive.

Got into drag racing motorcycles in the 80s, lots of great memories...

ZAPPER68 · Jan 2, 2012

Saskatoon International Raceway...1967 when I was 15 years old. I have some good memories from back in the day at SIR.

chevy3755 · Jan 2, 2012

1964

gassercrazy41 · Jan 2, 2012

probably when I was 7 or 8 years old, but i liked cars way before that

KWashburn · Jan 2, 2012

1992 Slick 50 Nationals in Baytown, Texas. I was about 10 years old.

550Coupe · Jan 2, 2012

My first time at a drag race, 1963 Nationals at Indianapolis. I was eighteen. I'll never forget it. Fuelers burning rubber all the way down the track, gassers, super stocks! Even the ride down there was memorable. Riding down the then new I 69 in a 63 Catalina, 389 four speed, the needle buried at around 120. Head lights bear down on us really fast then back off, then bear down again. He's done toying with us and this white 63' 427 Galaxie blows by us like were standing still. The beginning of a great weekend and my baptism into drag racing.

The Arizona Old Crow · Jan 2, 2012

Bout 58 0r 9, Half Moon Bay, Ca. I was about 12....that was the start of a lifetime obsession!

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When was your first time at a dragstrip?

Ragtop
Member Emeritus

from Windsor Ontario Canada

chuckekelly
Member

from lawrenceville,il

Mac30
Member

from Gainesville, GA

S.F.C.C.

cheepsk8
Member

from west ky

BadgeZ28
Member

from Oregon

the-rodster
Member

from Glasgow, KY

nostalgia59
Member

from Yuppie infested Torrance,Ca

roseville carl
Member

from roseville calif

1935-1937 Ford pickups

Northern California HAMBers

Vintage Dragster Association

Front Engine Dragsters

leon renaud
Member

from N.E. Ct.

STEVE1103
Member

from Islip NY & Lakeville PA USA

Ed Wrath
Member

from Irvine CA/ Stansted UK

3AMideaz
Member

from The Tall Corn State - not the potato state

2935ford
Member

from New Brunswick, Canada

kustom kolors
Member

from Avesta, Sweden

rustyfords
Member

from Conroe, TX

1952-59 Ford Social Group

waterhorse
Member

from Out in Orcutt

Angry Frenchman
Member

from Pawtucket, R.I.

48FordFanatic
Member

from Maine

specsintexas
Member

from Buda, Texas (Austin Metro area)

BLUDICE
Member

from Plainfield, IN

Attached Files:

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Big Bad Dad
Member

from Fincastle, Va.

Brewton
Member

from Ruston, LA (North LA)

32 hudson
Member

from Amesbury, Ma

BISHOP
Member

from Blood Stained Texas

ZAPPER68
Member

from BC

chevy3755
Member

from central Ohio

gassercrazy41
Member

from Hampton, Illinois

KWashburn
Member

from Midland, TX

550Coupe
Member

from Buffalo,N.Y.

34 Fords

Holley 94 Group

The Arizona Old Crow
Member

from Mammoth, Arizona

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When was your first time at a dragstrip?

Ragtop Member Emeritus from Windsor Ontario Canada

chuckekelly Member from lawrenceville,il

Mac30 Member from Gainesville, GA S.F.C.C.

cheepsk8 Member from west ky

BadgeZ28 Member from Oregon

the-rodster Member from Glasgow, KY

nostalgia59 Member from Yuppie infested Torrance,Ca

roseville carl Member from roseville calif 1935-1937 Ford pickups Northern California HAMBers Vintage Dragster Association Front Engine Dragsters

leon renaud Member from N.E. Ct.

STEVE1103 Member from Islip NY & Lakeville PA USA

Ed Wrath Member from Irvine CA/ Stansted UK

3AMideaz Member from The Tall Corn State - not the potato state

2935ford Member from New Brunswick, Canada

kustom kolors Member from Avesta, Sweden

rustyfords Member from Conroe, TX 1952-59 Ford Social Group

waterhorse Member from Out in Orcutt

Angry Frenchman Member from Pawtucket, R.I.

48FordFanatic Member from Maine

specsintexas Member from Buda, Texas (Austin Metro area)

BLUDICE Member from Plainfield, IN

Attached Files:

39215_117391494978129_100001218379538_120452_576148_n.jpg

Big Bad Dad Member from Fincastle, Va.

Brewton Member from Ruston, LA (North LA)

32 hudson Member from Amesbury, Ma

BISHOP Member from Blood Stained Texas

ZAPPER68 Member from BC

chevy3755 Member from central Ohio

gassercrazy41 Member from Hampton, Illinois

KWashburn Member from Midland, TX

550Coupe Member from Buffalo,N.Y. 34 Fords Holley 94 Group

The Arizona Old Crow Member from Mammoth, Arizona

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Ragtop
Member Emeritus

from Windsor Ontario Canada

chuckekelly
Member

from lawrenceville,il

Mac30
Member

from Gainesville, GA

S.F.C.C.

cheepsk8
Member

from west ky

BadgeZ28
Member

from Oregon

the-rodster
Member

from Glasgow, KY

nostalgia59
Member

from Yuppie infested Torrance,Ca

roseville carl
Member

from roseville calif

1935-1937 Ford pickups

Northern California HAMBers

Vintage Dragster Association

Front Engine Dragsters

leon renaud
Member

from N.E. Ct.

STEVE1103
Member

from Islip NY & Lakeville PA USA

Ed Wrath
Member

from Irvine CA/ Stansted UK

3AMideaz
Member

from The Tall Corn State - not the potato state

2935ford
Member

from New Brunswick, Canada

kustom kolors
Member

from Avesta, Sweden

rustyfords
Member

from Conroe, TX

1952-59 Ford Social Group

waterhorse
Member

from Out in Orcutt

Angry Frenchman
Member

from Pawtucket, R.I.

48FordFanatic
Member

from Maine

specsintexas
Member

from Buda, Texas (Austin Metro area)

BLUDICE
Member

from Plainfield, IN

Big Bad Dad
Member

from Fincastle, Va.

Brewton
Member

from Ruston, LA (North LA)

32 hudson
Member

from Amesbury, Ma

BISHOP
Member

from Blood Stained Texas

ZAPPER68
Member

from BC

chevy3755
Member

from central Ohio

gassercrazy41
Member

from Hampton, Illinois

KWashburn
Member

from Midland, TX

550Coupe
Member

from Buffalo,N.Y.

34 Fords

Holley 94 Group

The Arizona Old Crow
Member

from Mammoth, Arizona