I've heard people make the same arguments and some additional ones like, it's easier on parts, you use less gas and ext. which is cheaper, less breakage and ext.

To me, I love racing and I would prefer to watch more of it so; by racing less to be done at an earlier time does not make sense to me. I actually miss watching racing until 1-2 in the morning which was common at some of the events I attended years ago.

Racing is rough on parts, gas and ext. You break things and it's expensive, if you don't like that, find another hobby.

I also love spectating and do more of that than anything and 1/8 mile for the most part is just boring for me to watch.

Again, to each their own and I don't fault people for their preferences but, as long as I have a choice, for the most part, I will choose 1/4 mile.

Some of you guys are getting your feathers ruffled for nothing. Not saying it won’t change but at Keystone this year box class ran 1/8 mile, modified (no box) ran 1/4 mile. At Quaker City box class ran 1/8 mile no box ran 1/4 mile. In 2018 at Norwalk some races will still be 1/4 mile. Not sure what dragway 42 has done. But as you can see there are other options for those not happy.

There is plenty of 1/4 mile racing at SMP and with the new concrete going in this winter I think BB has top speed in mind for the future.

John, the bracket only guys can do what they want, it's their call. Whatever. Not really racing brackets up there, I really don't care. To each his own. I know they don't run Mod 8th mile.

As long as Greg continues to offer quarter mile for the big shows, and for us Nostalgia guys and test and tunes, I'm a happy camper, and I don't see anything changing up there.

I did find it kind of humorous, though, that at the FC Nationals this year (a phenonimal event, BTW) the S Pro diggers all ran 8th mile because they said they couldn't get stopped, but the FC's came out and ran 200mph right after them and stopped just fine. But, whatever...

Oh trust me I know. Things changed for us after a dragster was totaled after he lost his brakes at Keystone. We all end up paying (top class) but in reality it could have been any one of us. I love 1/4 mile too and can justify the switch to 1/8 mile at the big bracket races (500-1500 cars) because no matter what some guys will say it is easier to get through the race program. Most of these are 3 day events and between rain and oil downs it helps big-time. I will still get my 1/4 mile passes in, trust me.

☺☺☺

That might be more entertaining than watching Reaper have a nuclear meltdown every episode.

We don't mind it....It is easier on parts and stuff. Plus cool downs are quicker. Pretty much if you don't have by the 1/8th mile, you aren't going to have it in the 1/4...

I think, John, that some of the reasoning is mindset, many of the bracket racers today are a different breed of cat and race for different reasons. When we started, and some of us are still like this, we raced to run fast, compete, prove our 'brand' was the best, and have a good time, etc., and the cars had much more character, in my opinion. So many of these guys today see the car only as a tool to operate a race business, and that is the most important thing. A lot of the younger guys are not 'car guys' in the classic sense, who just love a hot car as we did. They created buy backs, electronics, and all the other stuff, and many of them would race a riding lawnmower if that was the hot tip. Now, this is going to get me flamed, I know, but I've been around a long time and this is what I see. To many of them, going to 8th mile is just the natural progression.

BINGO!! We have not had a track on Long Island for 15 years,we had 3.Still fighting for a new one trying for 1/4 mile,,,,,but would settle for an 1/8 cause it's better than NOTHING!

Now the closest track is E/town 75 miles away.If we roll by 6am it's 1.5 hours there,,,,,,,,3 to 4 hours back depending how horrific NYC traffic is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzqaRyRJ6Ew

I agree with this also. I grew up when most were brand loyal and would only race what they liked. And many were like me as when I went to a race and watched I wanted the car I liked best to win as did not care at all who was driving. Today I see many like my brother-in-law who dont know anything about cars but watches Nascar and votes for his favorite driver. Heck you cant even tell what kind of car they are driving. I also grew up on 1/4 mile racing and thats all we ever talked in my area since all mags road tested cars and judged their performance on the 1/4 mile. I dont get to race alot as I would race alot more if I could but when I do race I love the 1/4 mile since thats what I have always raced. Myself I would never step into another brand to race even if I was offered a great deal. Many Pro's of course will since racing is a business for them and they need to make money at it. But I have to own , drive and race the cars I love and race the 1/4 mile I love.
Myself I like the Nostalgia Super Stock racing the most and it seems they are all staying with the 1/4 mile since thats what they all ran in the 60's and 70's at major events. I do alot of street driving and go to a few cars shows but I would much rather be racing the 1/4 mile at the track then hanging at any car show but if it went to all 1/8 mile I know I would not race much if at all. Ron

Yep - 1/8 mile is easier on parts they said.
Yep - 1/8 mile is quicker they said.
Yep - 1/8 mile is less down time they said.
Yep - 1/8 mile is safer they said.

https://www.facebook.com/machineispassio...e=2&theater


Not much difference then 1/4 mile when you just try harder and harder to go faster in the 1/8 ...

I know it’s a personal opinion, but I do race every weekend all summer, and I feel the 1/8th mile events do run quicker than ¼ mile events.

At Keystone the switch to 1/8th mile occurred after the accident where a dragster lost all brakes (probably a line broke or a Master Cylinder problem). The issue was not that the Top cars could not stop. It was an effort to prevent serious injury should something like that happen again in the future. Without brakes, running 1/8th mile, the speed with which a car would hit the catch net would be dramatically less. That dragster that crashed would routinely be at 175+ in the ¼. I go 178 and I can stop without a parachute, as can most people. Most bracket dragsters do not want to pull the chute as it is a pain going rounds and packing the chutes. I see the action that Keystone took was completely safety related and prevention.

I was not there but I assume the 200 MPH funny cars pulled the chute. A hard tail at 200 MPH at keystone would have severe puckering trying to stop without a chute.

Bob Spelic

I don't mind 1/8 racing. To me the launch and hitting the shifts on time are exciting. Oh yeah trying for a good reaction time too. The last half of 1/4 mile I am just along for the ride.

I like racing period. If I only had a 300 ft. track to race at I guess I would be racing there. Some people do not have a choice. There is a track in Miss. that is about 65 miles from me that I have raced at and I like racing there. It is only 500ft. But there is five 1/8 mile tracks that are closer so I race at one of them.

We've been 1/8 mile racing the last couple of years. It's more intense than 1/4 mile racing, as you basically get one quick glance at the other guy, if that. It's a lot harder to drive the stripe, and the spreads between cars are a lot tighter. It's rare to get a big ET spread, so the other car is always closer. I do miss that high gear pull, however.

This just in from Sonoma Raceway. Sacramento should be 1/8th mile on New Years Day and most Jan. races in CA that are not rained out tend to be shortened programs.

On a side note the ante was upped $10.00 from last year and 1 time run was dropped from the schedule. The payouts were also increased $200.00 from last year and are guaranteed. Hope they get the car counts to keep moving forward with the new track manager Kyle Seipel.

Dragway 42 upped their payout to 2000.00 in 2018 for both classes for a 60.00 entry fee. Pretty nice.

2K car count specified? 64 minimum? That's still damn good to win! Especially in Pro!

seems settling for something is better than nothing is the way of the world now. Reminds me of the song "american pie". If you can't run 1/4 cause it takes too long, what does it say about your patience level, and if its to dangerous, what are you doing with a racecar anyhow? and if its too much work, I'm speechless.