09-24-2009, 12:12 PM
Hey guys,
The Monkey Wrench team and I want to hit up the track one more time before the season is completely up.
We wanted to get an idea of how many of you would be interested in going to a Test and Tune day at a drag strip. For those of you who are new to drag racing or racing in general, Test and Tune is the opportunity for you to take ANY CAR down the track and get an E.T. on that car. It doesn't matter if it is your race car, beater, daily driver, or hand me down piece of junk. As long as it passes tech you are able to run it! It's a great opportunity to hit some really high speeds in a safe environment and it will definitely give you some numbers to brag about. :wink: For most tracks, it costs anywhere from $15-$30 to run your car, and in most cases that allows you to get in as many runs as you can throughout the course of the day. Test and Tune is really chill and low key, and doesn't have the same pressure and stress that race days have. For the most part, everybody is out to have a good time and figure out where their cars are at, especially at the end of the season. It's really a great way to learn more about your car and what you are capable of.
The issue is that there are not a lot of 1/4 drag strips close to Harrisonburg. Here are the options.
Closest drag tracks:
1/8 mile track: Eastside Speedway, Waynesboro VA ---> Test and Tune most weekends through October (November not posted yet). <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.eastsidespeedway.com/">http://www.eastsidespeedway.com/</a><!-- m -->
1/8 mile track: Sumerduck Dragway, Culpeper VA -->Test and Tune every Sunday through October (November not posted yet). <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.sumerduckdragway.com/schedule.htm">http://www.sumerduckdragway.com/schedule.htm</a><!-- m -->
1/4 mile track: Richmond Dragway, Richmond VA --> **We'll have to call for Test and Tune details** <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://richmonddragway.com/ver9/?page_id=508">http://richmonddragway.com/ver9/?page_id=508</a><!-- m -->
1/4 mile track: Virginia Motorports Park, Petersburg VA --> Test and Tune most Fridays and Saturdays (we would be aiming for Saturday, November 7th). <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.virginiamotorsportspk.com/drag/ScheduleResults.aspx">http://www.virginiamotorsportspk.com/drag/ScheduleResults.aspx</a><!-- m -->
There are other tracks, mostly 1/8 mile, scattered around, but these are the ones that I have gotten the best info about and reviews from. Eastside is obviously the closest, Sumerduck is about about 1.5 hours away, Richmond is about 2 hours away, and VMP is about 3 hours away.
The advantage of an 1/8 mile is obviously a shorter distance, semi-slower speeds than 1/4 mile (depending on how your car is built for it) and lower times. Is it safer than a 1/4? Yes and no. The 1/4 is a little more accurate when it comes to gauging a car's time based on low and top end speed, and is usually the golden standard for E.T's. We would honestly rather hit up a 1/4 mile track, but that is a lot of driving for one day considering that none are really that close.
Regardless, all cars running on the track must pass NHRA rules. If your car is mostly stock, or will run above 12 seconds in the 1/4, you should be fine. Here is a link to the rulebook if you are worried about your car passing tech:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://my5ltr.tripod.com/NHRArules.html">http://my5ltr.tripod.com/NHRArules.html</a><!-- m -->
I think that is a somewhat abbreviated version, but it gives you the main idea.
Let me know what you guys think and if anybody would be interested in running, and also if you all would prefer a 1/4 or an 1/8 or what. If people are willing to travel for the 1/4 mile, then we will definitely go there. Also, if you are not interested in running but just interested in spectating, let us know and we might be able to work out rides depending on where we go. We're planning on going late October or Early in November, so that will give everybody enough time to coordinate and decide what they want to do.
I know this isn't something you all usually do, but it's a lot of fun and a great chance to see what you and your car are made of. Let me know what you guys think!!!!
The Monkey Wrench team and I want to hit up the track one more time before the season is completely up.
We wanted to get an idea of how many of you would be interested in going to a Test and Tune day at a drag strip. For those of you who are new to drag racing or racing in general, Test and Tune is the opportunity for you to take ANY CAR down the track and get an E.T. on that car. It doesn't matter if it is your race car, beater, daily driver, or hand me down piece of junk. As long as it passes tech you are able to run it! It's a great opportunity to hit some really high speeds in a safe environment and it will definitely give you some numbers to brag about. :wink: For most tracks, it costs anywhere from $15-$30 to run your car, and in most cases that allows you to get in as many runs as you can throughout the course of the day. Test and Tune is really chill and low key, and doesn't have the same pressure and stress that race days have. For the most part, everybody is out to have a good time and figure out where their cars are at, especially at the end of the season. It's really a great way to learn more about your car and what you are capable of.
The issue is that there are not a lot of 1/4 drag strips close to Harrisonburg. Here are the options.
Closest drag tracks:
1/8 mile track: Eastside Speedway, Waynesboro VA ---> Test and Tune most weekends through October (November not posted yet). <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.eastsidespeedway.com/">http://www.eastsidespeedway.com/</a><!-- m -->
1/8 mile track: Sumerduck Dragway, Culpeper VA -->Test and Tune every Sunday through October (November not posted yet). <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.sumerduckdragway.com/schedule.htm">http://www.sumerduckdragway.com/schedule.htm</a><!-- m -->
1/4 mile track: Richmond Dragway, Richmond VA --> **We'll have to call for Test and Tune details** <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://richmonddragway.com/ver9/?page_id=508">http://richmonddragway.com/ver9/?page_id=508</a><!-- m -->
1/4 mile track: Virginia Motorports Park, Petersburg VA --> Test and Tune most Fridays and Saturdays (we would be aiming for Saturday, November 7th). <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.virginiamotorsportspk.com/drag/ScheduleResults.aspx">http://www.virginiamotorsportspk.com/drag/ScheduleResults.aspx</a><!-- m -->
There are other tracks, mostly 1/8 mile, scattered around, but these are the ones that I have gotten the best info about and reviews from. Eastside is obviously the closest, Sumerduck is about about 1.5 hours away, Richmond is about 2 hours away, and VMP is about 3 hours away.
The advantage of an 1/8 mile is obviously a shorter distance, semi-slower speeds than 1/4 mile (depending on how your car is built for it) and lower times. Is it safer than a 1/4? Yes and no. The 1/4 is a little more accurate when it comes to gauging a car's time based on low and top end speed, and is usually the golden standard for E.T's. We would honestly rather hit up a 1/4 mile track, but that is a lot of driving for one day considering that none are really that close.
Regardless, all cars running on the track must pass NHRA rules. If your car is mostly stock, or will run above 12 seconds in the 1/4, you should be fine. Here is a link to the rulebook if you are worried about your car passing tech:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://my5ltr.tripod.com/NHRArules.html">http://my5ltr.tripod.com/NHRArules.html</a><!-- m -->
I think that is a somewhat abbreviated version, but it gives you the main idea.
Let me know what you guys think and if anybody would be interested in running, and also if you all would prefer a 1/4 or an 1/8 or what. If people are willing to travel for the 1/4 mile, then we will definitely go there. Also, if you are not interested in running but just interested in spectating, let us know and we might be able to work out rides depending on where we go. We're planning on going late October or Early in November, so that will give everybody enough time to coordinate and decide what they want to do.
I know this isn't something you all usually do, but it's a lot of fun and a great chance to see what you and your car are made of. Let me know what you guys think!!!!
