New here, but have been reading for a long time. I would like as many of you who choose to answer a question. I have purchased a race car for my boys, 40/33 years of age. It will probably run a low 9 after the upgrades I’ve made.They have both been to Frank Harleys school but did not get to make many passes due to rain out. It was at Topeka, and they did fine. Question is this, “ If you were at a track with steel guardrails, instead of concrete, would you drive elsewhere to a track with concrete side rails. Thank you to all who take time to respond.

I wouldn't be overly concerned about the steel or concrete guard rails or dividers, I have had a one or two incidents at the track with a slower car ( mid to high 11s) that got into tranny grease from a car that had crack the tranny case and leaked it onto the track. I hit it in the top of 3rd gear on a 4 speed car around 85 MPH, I was sure I was going to hit one of the guard rails but God was with me and I got out of the grease in time to save it
My current S/P car runs high 8s in the 1/4 mile at 150+ MPH so thing happen quicker requiring better reactions and decision making.
Most of the wrecks I've seen at drag strips on non Pro cars running slower than mid 7 seconds in the 1/4 mile are driver errors not lifting and or correcting in time to avoid crashing the car
I have broken a lot of parts when racing, the worst is when the motor fails at 100 + MPH at or near the end of the 1/4 mile and parts brake the block and oil pan, water and oi under the tires is not good, but it is survivable
IHTHs
On your deal if there are any 1/8 mile tracks nearby race at them for a part of year and then go to the 1/4 mile tracks, most racing parts break on or near the starting line or in the last 300 Ft. of the 1/4 mile
Good luck and race safe

I've raced at both, I'd guess it's down to choice. If I didn't have confidence in my vehicle or my driving abilities, I'd have to weigh up the risks. TBH, if I was running a new build or a much faster combo, I'd likely go to the place with concrete barriers until I had the seat time to "know" the vehicle or combo.
It's a viable opinion that the concrete barriers are safer than steel. The main issues appears to be A: the "join" in the steel barriers, these can cause more damage to a vehicle if it rides the barriers for any length of time. Never seen it myself but I hear tales of the joins "peeling" back the vehicles bodywork when an incident has occurred. And B: I've also heard that cars can get under the steel armco barrier, bringing the vehicle to a more abrupt stop which can cause further physical injury to the driver due to increased deceleration.
Of note, In the UK the FIA will not sanction drag racing events for certain faster classes if the track does not have continuous concrete barriers.
HTH's

I would look at the overlap of the guard rails. They should be installed so the starting line overlaps the downtrack, etc. I am sure it is rare, but a section of guard rail got into a car and killed the driver many years ago in Iowa.
The main thing to impress on a new driver is NEVER try and drive out a pass when the car makes any move but straight! The run is already junk, and the numbers won't match other runs. If you can feel the move, lift instantly, save the car and driveline .
Second, if you lift, never get back in it. Ease into it to get to an exit.

I still race at tracks that have steel guard rails. yes concrete rails are safer, but the main thing is not to hit them. all of the tracks I race with steel rails are 1/8 mile tracks so the speed is slower, but I still manage to run 110 to 114 mph. As mentioned the main thing is make sure your boys do not want to be hero's, if it gets loose let off the gas, and never change gears when the tires are spinning hard, again just let off the gas run is junk anyway. Almost all of the wrecks I have seen were in part due to the driver not lifting soon enough. Getting a car up on a steel guard rail at speed really chews one up, as apposed to concrete where you just bounce off, or slide down it. My advice to guys starting out is to drive a slower car for a while, before stepping into something as fast as a 9 second car. It is kind of like driving on ice and snow, you have to feel when the tires are slipping before they break completely loose. My problem is when it starts to spin in high gear, usually on cold or say a damp track at night when the dew begins to set. If the car begins to drift at speed and it snaps straight when you let off the gas, it was spinning.

To be quite frank.. with the amount of drag strips closing at an alarming rate I don't think any of us should be not supporting a track because of the type of barriers it has. We have to do all we can to support them. My local / home track has steel barriers,I have been racing there over 35 years and have seen many crashes not one had more damage due to the type of barrier it hit. A good majority of those crashes were due to the driver not lifting when a problem arose trying to salvage the run.

There are a LOT of tracks around my area. Mostly small 1/8 mile outlaw tracks w/ good racing and guardrails (at best).

I finally made it to George Rays this past weekend. They don t even have guardrails, they have chain link fence attached to railroad ties and stumps…lol

I’ll still run there when I get a car.

Dennis

I watched a guy get killed on guard rail. Also had a friend killed when he was speared with guard rail. I don't like it. Nobody tries to hit the wall. But if there comes a time that t it's going to happen, I'd fell much better about my chances on concrete barrier.
Doug

I agree with DVW I feel better about my chances on concrete barrier but I am lucky all tracks in my area have concrete barriers.
I would go to a track with one if it is a reasonable distance away. I remember in 2020 when tracks started opening back up someone hit the wall each time I went.