My trip to NHRA event

[Steve85]

WOW! If you are into extreme automotive engineering and sudden death competition, go at least once.

I stood by the fence 30 yards from 2 cars at 280+mph, about 600 feet from the start line. You can literally feel it in your body, the exhaust pulses, as they go by. Standing at the start line when the light goes green, instantly 14,000 HP lights off and you feel the compression of a small explosive. It scared me, and I have been at the starting line of many drag races.

In the pits, you watch teams 10 feet from you completely rebuild the engine, reset the clutch pack, repack the chutes and test fire the motor in less than 75 minutes. I helped one team that was running late get the car turned around to get it hooked to the tow vehicle.

Oh yeah, keep your head on a swivel, you will see people the likes of which you only thought existed in the movies, really bad B horror movies.

[ScottyB]

that's got to be a fantastic experience. i'd love to see these things in action too! i wish i had a link but i remember there was a list of top fuel facts circulating the internet for a while -- there was some insane stuff on there.

how was the atmosphere? more nascar party-ish, or kind of laid back, or more like a car show where everyone is mingling around and getting close to things?

[lillitnn92]

i've been wanting to go to at least one NHRA event my self. if my memory serves correct though, they only estimate them having 8,000 HP. no one really knows because there isn't a dyno that can measure one of the engines or something like that.

wait you're talking the two together aren't you? doh!!

[NTIman]

I went a few years ago to an NHRA sanctioned event at Maple Grove. Well worth the money.

[LorenaBeana]

AND, if you think an NHRA event is cool, you should try a tractor pull! I know that sounds redneck (maybe I've been in NC too long) but it's the same type of thing as drag racing, except in this case you're trying to get your torque to last the distance of a "full pull" which I think is 300 ft. The winning tractor in one of the events I went to had a helicopter engine in it - sounded like we were on a tarmac when that thing was on. Anyway, I'd say that as motorsports people, you gotta experience a tractor pull once in your life.

[Steve85]

My dad, not into cars especially, used to take us to the Montgomery County Fair for the tractor pulls. I was always blown away by the noise and such and knowing what I know now it is just ridiculous that they put 4 engines on them.

Maybe that's why I'm a suburbaneck.

[.RJ]

AND, if you think an NHRA event is cool, you should try a tractor pull!

Tractor pulls are awesome - my dad used to take me as a kid

:thumbup: Lorena!