Drag racing is the cheapest and easiest form of racing to get into hands down. I have a friend that does strictly open-track events in his '06 Z06 and there is nothing cheap about it. A set of tires is $800 and they last 3 events tops if you're good to them. Brakes and rotors go by-by real quick and you are using a ton more fuel. Plus, with drag racing you only need to know how to launch, drive straight, shift gears, and stop (I know, I'm over-simplifying). With a road race car you have so many other driving techniques to master and you have to make sure you don't hit anybody while you're doing it. But, I think it all boils down to the price to play. It's simply much higher in road racing.

 

I'd also add it's easier (*cough) to modify and tune an engine for wide open throttle
blasts as opposed to throttle changes on different track types.

For those starting out, they can learn to tune for narrow RPM windows and
setup transmissions and chassis' for linear acceleration.

 

Its also a universal gauging method for people to judge the performance of there cars. If I post I ran a nine second quarter with my street car people are impressed. If I say i ran a 1:55 lap at mid ohio sports car course that wouldnt mean squat to 99% of the people on the internet. (even though it might be a track record)

 

Well, let's see. The first exposure that most of us have to racing cars, as a participant, is about age 16 when we get our first license. Now, look at where and how that happens. It is from traffic light to traffic light or a prearranged meeting with one of our buddies on a back road. The contest is almost always a straight line test of acceleration; ie: drag racing. That first rush of excitement is never forgotten. At that age, most of us did not have money to put toward racing in any other form; but you really didn't need money to drag race...only the car and the urge was required.

The next progression comes when monetary income gets a little better. Now, we are in a position to start adding some mods. Since we are already into straight line competition, the natural desire is to go faster in that same arena. Even with the extra income, we still are not in a position to buy/build/own a separate car dedicated only to racing. Sooo...we put our mod money into our daily driver; and continue to drag race it without too much danger of destroying it at a weekend race meet. If we do it right, we soon begin winning some races and the word gets around that we have a quick car that is not to be taken lightly. Human nature being what it is; we all like the feeling that comes with that reputation.

Later in life some of us might achieve a financial position that allows for serious racing; and some of us might not. Those that do not, will continue to drag race even though they never excel; because it is still fun. The more fortunate may decide to build another car that is dedicated to racing. In most cases it will be a drag car simply because that is the type of racing that we have been into since the beginning. We are familiar with it; and know that we can do it better if we don't have to start the learning curve all over if we switch to another form of racing.

Real gearheads can certainly enjoy all types of racing; but normally will continue to participate in the one that gave them that first rush. You may not fit the mold I have described; but I would guess that most of the members on this forum do.

 

cool thread...what got me into drag racing was the fact that there was a local track within 15 min's of where i lived, and i like the 1 on 1 competition brought on from drag racing. granted i have never been circle track racing before and its probably a load of fun, just not my game i guess. To me, there's no better way then a good ol' drag race to get a grudge match taken care of. besides, what other form of automotive racing can you get a car to do a wheelie!

Jon

 

Thanks everyone for the good comments. I'm more of a gear head and into automotive technology in general. I like to work on anything and fix it, optimize it or improve the breed. I used to be a full time Detroit Diesel mechanic and I've been an engineer for the past number of years. One thing has not changed for me and that is I like to wrench. I'm building a 408 normally aspirated stroker for my truck right now. It will be tailored for torque between 2,500 and 4,500 RPM's as that is what I want for a heavy vehicle. But, I've never been a racer and the Daytona 500 Race got me to wondering about this.

Thanks again,
Steve

 

I think what brought my attenion to drag racing, was like the rest, it's something I can do with a car, and still take it out on the street a little. Granted, the street use is getting to be less and less as the car becomes faster, but it's the progression of things I guess.

There's actually a local 1/2 mile circle track that's closer to me then a dragstrip.. but the problem with circle track racing is that you literally need a crew of guys to support one of those cars, and a crew of guys to chip in the $ involved to race at any level... and I've just never had any other friends that were into the whole racing thing big enough to want to fork up the $ to go try it.

 

Because when you see some competition out on the street, you race right then and there to see whos faster, stoplight to stoplight or freeway, whatever. You dont however, pull over and ask him to follow you to the nearest twisties to see who is crazier. Generally speaking....

To me it most closely approximates how we compete on the street. Its our natural guy one-upsmanship at work

 

I have a short attention span ... LOL

 

drag racing interests me so much more because i love rowing through the gears and for some reason downshifting and turning doesnt interest me. i help work on a urc sprint car and thats enough circle racing for me idk if its the same for autox but to set that sprint car up right u gotta be a genius i couldnt do it. so i stick with the straight line.

 

Holy old thread!
Exactly! I also agree that drag racing is much easier to get into (take a street car with no changes and you'll be able to drag race for less than road race), although we have open days here at Gainesville's road course and they don't cost much more than $40-60. I'd think since more drag strips are 1/8 mile down south than 1/4 mile, the land you'd need to build a good road course might be harder to obtain/$$?

Derek

 

Drag racing was just the way I was brought up. I've never been into circle track, auto-x, or any other type of road racing. It just doesn't intrest me, at all. I don't even watch Nascar. I'll take a day at the strip over anything.

 

Because this is https://ls1tech.com/forums/drag-racing-tech-34/ . There are other places for road racing. FRRAX,https://ls1tech.com/forums/road-racing-35/ - plenty of anti drag racing over there!

 

yea but he means in general drag racing is so much bigger in this whole forum in every section and not just in this forum in alot of forums as well as off the internet ive had ppl ask me wat my car runs and they rnt talkin bout on a road coarse.

 

I get into way to much trouble if my car can handle and go fast at the same time. When i drive my drag car on the street, i know not to push a corner or lay down the hammer with on-comming traffic in the other lane.

I have also been doing this since i was 14 and i love to wheelie. No better feeling then wheels up. I will most likely be doing this when Grim comes for me.

 

I would absolutely LOVE to run circle track. We've got 2 all out drag cars with another on the way. Fact is I accelerate harder than any road course car and do it for waaaaay cheaper. Given my budget I could never have much for a road course setup and the closest one is several hours away... I have a drag strip 4 miles from my house and another two within 1:30 of my house. It's just flat out more practical and I get a VERY good bang for my buck. Not to mention I love the 1 on 1 competition of bracket racing.

I don't have anything for a fast street car, just not something I'm into really. The roads here suck for playing with something like that.

Still, I'd kill to run a setup road course car and run in an actual race but it's just not practical for me.

 

what he said

 

Check out midwest chassis fabbed 9"

 

going in circles makes me nautious... no thanks.

Someone nailed it earlier... it's my dailly driver and it takes too much to make it safe and worthwhile to race on a roadcourse. It's all about the benjamins.

 

You just need a ride in a ten-second car.