Norwalk 2018 only 1/8 mile

Did anyone else see Norwalk will only be running 1/8 mile for Pro & Super Pro next season?? This is a result of a Finish Line Club survey of some sort. With a facility that nice that can handle TF & FC they are running only 1/8 mile. Looks like I will not be patronizing that track anymore. What a disappointment for many other racers I'm sure. Please I think we need to let them know how we feel or is it just me.
Thank You, Ken Michalik
http://www.summitmotorsportspark.com/#4

I like 1/8 mile better. Less oil downs, less mustangs smacking into walls, faster clean up time, less wear and tear on the car.

I agree with 474 duster

My understanding is that they surveyed the racers and this is what the racers wanted.

Bill

They surveyed the weekly points guys. I dont doubt they like 1/8.
If monster Mopar were to go that way i would be done.
Most occasional racers like 1/4 mile

They did that hear a few years ago, they run the sportsman class 1/4 mile but the money classes run 1/8th. I prefer to test and tune 1/4 mile but I have grown OK with 1/8 mile bracket racing.

I can't recall what norwalks shutdown is like because I only made one pass in 2016 on drag week but I am sure it is like here. Here we have to drive 1/4 mile to get off the track after making an 1/8 mile pass. It is easy on brakes at least.

All the big money races around here and down south are 1/8th mile. Our track does an 1/8th mile and 1/4 mile series and the 1/8th mile series has atleast 1.5 times more cars. Its easier on equipment, the program runs quicker, when something does happens the clean ups are shorter. Some people like the 1/4 for the extra speed, I prefer the 1/8th because you get to glance at your opponent once and have to make a decision off your gut for the finish line without time to think about it..over thinking - the best way to loose lost of races

Its leaning that way everywhere Ken. Your local track Quaker City runs their box class 1/8 mile. Keystone switched their box class to 1/8 mile too after a dragster lost his brakes and totaled his race car. Funny thing is I have to run 1/8 mile (9.40's) and there are a couple of 8 second door cars in no box class. LOL. Not sure but I think Dragway 42 switched to 1/8 mile for their box class too but I'm not positive on that one. I've gotten used to it at the bigger races so its not an issue to me. The faster your care is the more fun 1/8 mile racing is for me. Racing by myself and having to pack a chute would make it seem like work. At least Norwalk passed out a survey and took a vote.

superchuck, there is no evidence to back up anything you said. There have been articles written that showed that it takes longer to run a 1/8th mile program on a big track like Summit, as the cars slow down and coast a long way to the first turnout.

The main reason the points chasers like 1/8th mile is that the bracket finals is 1/8th. The track is happy because they get a discount on insurance if the cars go less than 150 MPH.

I’m sorry to tell you this but you are totally wrong. The second both cars are staged the next pair in the box are told its time to heat your tires. No one is waiting for anyone to get off the track unless one of the cars in front of him breaks. I race almost every weekend and have seen the proof. At this years Halloween Classic every class had first round in before trick or treating started for the kids at 8 pm and we got a late start because of rain. 1000-1100 cars

Well all I can say is I will not race 1/8 mile ever. If that's what it comes too then I will build a show car. 1/8 mile racing is the craps!!! Hate everything about it, as said/stated before the tracks just want the insurance discount. Racing is supposed to be a 1/4 mile. That's what it was designed for from the beginning.
Thank You, Ken Michalik
https://www.summitmotorsportspark.com/ne...ine-club-survey

I’m sorry to tell you this but you are totally wrong. The second both cars are staged the next pair in the box are told its time to heat your tires. No one is waiting for anyone to get off the track unless one of the cars in front of him breaks. I race almost every weekend and have seen the proof. At this years Halloween Classic every class had first round in before trick or treating started for the kids at 8 pm and we got a late start because of rain. 1000-1100 cars




Sorry to disagree, but I also race every weekend and travel a lot for races. on a 1/8 mile track the program will run quicker. On a 1/4 mile track without a turn off for 1/8 mile racing it will always make the program run longer. I have never seen a 1/4 mile track running 1/8 mile send cars with others still on track. Most cars are coasting after the 1/8 mile.

i am sorry you feel that way , lucky we all live in a area that have has many tracks to choose from many racers have no track to go to any more

Norwalk has a long 1/2 shutdown so 3/4 mile on 1/8 mile races and you will never convince me that an 1/8 mile program isn’t quicker to run. Sorry but it’s true. Less track to prep, less engines blowing up from prolonged rpm.

OK John.... You do the math.

You run your car 1/8 mile in 6 seconds and get out of the gas and coast to the end = you said 3/4 mile.


I run my car 1/4 mile at 9 seconds and coast to the end = you said 1/2 mile.

Who gets off the track FIRST??? NOT you pal no matter what you say the numbers do not work.

Next = Prolonged RPM??? So when only running 1/8 mile you are not changing gears and pushing you engine as hard as anyone running 1/8 mile - WRONG!!! What RPM do you shift at? Do you shift lower because you don't want to push the limits of the engine? There are some FAST 1/8 mile cars and they are built and geared for that. That's why there are many that do not want to run 1/4 mile if they mostly run only 1/8 mile. Apparently some have issues with maintaining a car to run 1/4 mile but can if they only run 1/8 mile? Apparently you did not build it good enough.

Lets just wussify everything we do in life to make it easier on the cup cakes.

Play 1/2 a football game = less bodily injuries and game is over faster to get to the bar.
Play 1/2 a baseball game = less prep for the game and it's over faster to get to the bar.
Run 1/2 of the Indy 500 so less wrecks and tire usage and it's over faster to get to the bar.
School only 1/2 days so kids brains are not over worked and it's over quicker so they can get in trouble faster - LOL
Only go 1/2 way with your spouse so it's over quicker - see how that works for you!

You get the point ---- it's not being done the way it was INTENDED>

Trust me I didn’t like it either, at first. But two years in a row I lost at 16 cars at 4am on Thursday night at the Halloween Classic. Now Racing is over around midnight. As the two cars heat their tires the other guys are going down the track. Zero waiting going on. I like to brag about my 1/4 mile times as much or more than anyone but now I will have to lay those numbers down on test n tune nights. If I had a 7 second 1/8 mile car I would quit tomorrow but I don’t and won’t.

As the two cars heat their tires the other guys are going down the track. Zero waiting going on.


So the other years the starting line people were not on the ball??? They can warm their tires but still are not to leave until the other cars are off the track and I would get off sooner then you.

Yes I hate 1/8 mile and I will park my car if I can't run 1/4 mile.

Well you make three guys that told me they will quit including Kenny
All Moparts members too

While I prefer 1/4 mile I definitely will not quit just because most tracks are going to 1/8. Like you said there are T&T nights and and still at least 1 track by me that is 1/4 if I want to drive there.

But what will happen is if the tracks that used to be 1/4 but switched to 1/8 is further away I will just go to the closer track. I will only go to Summit Motorsports for special events and probably the same for Dragway 42. I have another 1/8 mile track closer that I enjoy going to so thats who will get my money.

Max Maniac, ya hit the nail right on the head! I mean right on the head. If NSS goes to the 1/8, well, that would be tough to stay with it.

I would comment more, but, I wanna save my keyboard keys........

Max Maniac, ya hit the nail right on the head! I mean right on the head. If NSS goes to the 1/8, well, that would be tough to stay with it.

I would comment more, but, I wanna save my keyboard keys........

I've race on both length tracks, the local track is 1/8 mile and the three other tracks here in Oregon are 1/4 mile. All the race cars I've raced where in high gear before the 1/8 mile on 1/4 mile tracks so I'm done shifting and waiting for the finish line to get to me so I can drive it the way I want to, on the brakes or bopping the throttle. The 1/8 mile tracks don't give me as much time to look and decide what to do to win
Both lengths are enjoyable, neither one is better than the other in my opinion

To me racing 1/8 is half track. Didnt like fuel cars going to 1000 foot, dont like the sport of drag racing being reinvented to make it not 1/4.
I bet if fans were polled, 90+% would prefer the faster speeds of 1/4 mile

I have run both and had fun.Here on Long Island we used to have 2 QM tracks and one 1/8 mile.Now the closest track is 80 miles away.I would take anything that is close. 5s in the 1/8 @ 120 is a hoot!

In high school, our 12 second 1/4 street cars were not fun in the 1/8 now 9 second 1/4 street cars are a blast in the 1/8 imo.

While I am not that familiar with Norwalk, I am familiar with IRP or Lucas Oil or whatever they're calling it now.You shut down after the 1/8 and you can't get off the track and out of the way for another 40 miles.The ET ticket booth is still down at the end where it always was. Seems to take forever.

Yall need faster cars.
4.80's at 150 is a blast.

I like 1/4 mile.
I like 1/8 mile.
A sub 10 sec (1/4 mile) car would likely not be much fun to race at an 1/8 mile track for me.
1/8 mile guys generally have their act together with the chassis.

I know the sport has changed, speaking for myself after almost 50 years of doing this, I'd rather eat a bowl of ground glass than run half a drag race. That's OK for those who like it, but I sure don't.

I think there is a different mindset today, when I started the deal was to get a cool car and learn how to race it, make it consistent, and go kind of fast. Now, it seems the mindset is that the car is a 'tool', just something to use and go gambling with it. If a Hyandi is a better tool, then we'll get that. Now, I realize most bracket guys don't care about drawing spectators, and they don't. I mean watching a bunch of look alike dragsters race 8th mile is as boring as watching paint dry.

I find it ironic at Keystone, my home track, during the FC Nationals this year (great event, by the way), the S/Pro guys shut off at the 8th because they have a hard time getting stopped, but the FC guys ran right behind them and went 200 in the quarter and got stopped just fine. That irony struck me, but whatever.

I'm not too worried about NSS, which is what I run, (we run a Nostalgia program monthly at Keystone), because not many NSS racers run the local brackets anyway. Most are like Russ and myself, not remotely interested in 8th mile. To us, it's still half a drag race. As long as our programs are not touched, I really don't care.

But, I do think that if the bracket guys still continue to demand specialized cars and rules specifically to fit their venue, it will only be a matter of time before they run out of takers. So, for what it's worth, that's my thought. But, I'm an old dinosaur, so what do I know?

Personally I like 1/8 mile racing, I think it's more challenging to drive the stripe. Everything happens faster. I like 1/4 mile too but it wasn't as exciting to me. The last time I ran the 1/4 my dart was running 11.60's, once I passed the 1/8 it was like a Sunday afternoon drive until I hit the stripe. My Dart should run low 10's now so it may be a little more fun.

There is a lot more than brackets that run the 1/8 around here, there are many heads up races running .400 or .500 pro tree depending on the class. Best of all these races are door cars. IMO if it's not exciting to see a door car (non promod) running 200 or more mph in the 1/8 hoe the he!! can you get excited about going 130 in the 1/4.

I'd race 330' if it was all that there was.

I am never going to make a living drag racing. Neither are 99% of the members on here.
I enjoy putting the car in high gear and racing higher speed than 1/8 mile affords a typical car most of us have.
I made the point above..... i bet if asked, 90% of fans would rather see any class run 1/4 than 1/8. Especially if whatever event thats happening is run at a 1/4 mile facility.
Glad i am old, and have gotten to race for 40 odd years 98% of the time on the 1/4.
Dont think i have ever in my life had a drag racing fan, casual guy at a car show, etc. etc ever ask me what my car runs in the 1/8 mile. The general population has no thought of anything but 1/4.
When they advertised the new Demon, not one breath about what it runs in the 1/8..... just the 9.60's in the 1/4.
Its sad to see the true intention of the sport get eaten up, by as one poster said, just a tool to do a job.

From what I've seen there isn't much stripe driving in the 1/8. Most take a 6.50 car with big tires and a brake and runs dead on with a .00x. Doesn't take much to dial dead on in the 1/8. Personally it bores me.
Doug

Sorry to say I quit drag racing when they wanted me to race a clock rather than my buddy down the street.

Well 1/8 mile hasn't hit the UK strips yet, however 1/4 mile just prolongs the agony of watching nothing but brkt/index racing, racing clocks is not what the sport was/is about in my opinion, all we have left that resembles any form of "racing" is CE and PM with TF once/twice a year. The bike classes put on a better show!

Here we go again.

How many fans show up for a PDRA show not many and that is the best 1/8 mile racing going I’d rather stay home and go for a motorcycle ride then race 1/8 mile when it’s no faster of a show the 1/4 mile you still have do go to the end of the track to turn off

Make the trip to South Georgia or Holly Springs for any of the big heads up racing and report back on the crowd and the quality of racing.

[i]Make the trip to South Georgia or Holly Springs for any of the big heads up racing and report back on the crowd and the quality of racing.

Gotta go with that, 1/8 mile HU is cool its not so much the distance with me, but the type of racing.

I still enjoy those even better in the 1/4

My feet are my evidence. I spend more time in the staging lanes on them when we run 1/4 mile.

I'm not an 1/8th mile guy, but it's going to take over most of the sport, like what 9 ball pool did to a game of pool.
, Lets face it 1/8 is much more exciting, a 12 second street car is still fast on the street, but at the 1/4 track...it's boring as H.E.Doubl3e hockey sticks.... in the 1/8 mile the dimwits don't have time to tweet about their "drag Race Experience while doing their "drag race" experience

I really enjoy the 1/8 mile. my car is built for 1/4 but I will take the 1/8 mile times all day.

My only question is do they CHARGE less
since your only racing on half of the
track.. this is my money.. if they charge
the same then they are ripping me off

I run both. I don't care for the 1/8. As far as running the program quicker? Do the math. Same amount of cars and they are slower past the 1/8. How could it ever be a quicker program?
Doug

Agree 100 percent

They are still charging the same as far as they show on there page. So again another turn off to the budget racer. My question is will outside events be regulated to 1/8 mile. If the promoters want 1/4 mile racing will it be offered. None of that has been answered. Hate to say it, looks like drag racing is quickly going away for guys who just want to see what there cars are capable of in the 1/4 mile. Not all tracks mind you, Quaker does run Top class 1/8 mile, but on Fridays they offer 1/4 mile w/gamblers races. So that appears to be the direction I will follow.
Thank You, Ken

I am sure they would still run test and tune 1/4 mile. Lots of 1/8th mile racing on 1/4 mile tracks around here, but test and tune is still done 1/4 mile.

Less oil downs and cars being towed off the track. Were you at MMW this year? Remember the guy that oiled down both lanes because be broke but stayed in it and kept switching lanes..... all the way down? Pepperidge farms remembers

Less oil downs and cars being towed off the track. Were you at MMW this year? Remember the guy that oiled down both lanes because be broke but stayed in it and kept switching lanes..... all the way down? Pepperidge farms remembers [/quote]


Yes I was there. It had nothing to do with the race being 1/8 or 1/4. He started oiling right from the hit. Same story at MMW Kentucky. A car oiled right from the hit. Neither car should have been still rolling down the track after a few hundred feet. So a couple of people who should know better caused the delay. Both of them would've oiled the entire length even if it was an 1/8th as they continued right through the shutdown area.
Doug

Hey Max,
I am with you. I am not interested in racing 1/8 mile. It's all over just as it's just getting started. As for all of you complaining about breakage? If you can't afford to go faster, run a slower car!!! As for 1/4 racing I don't know what Norwalk is doing but as long as 42 and Quaker City have their T&T nights with the 1/4 mile gambler races I'll be there. Due to the fact that I am now involved in this industry I will not go 1/8 mile racing until I have too. Max, I just got back from TN. last week. I was there to film a segment about my transmission blanket (robinhoodblankets.com) for Performance TV & Motor Head Garage which will be aired next year.

Most of the tracks here in the N.J. area are 1/4 mile and i haven`t heard of any of them converting to 1/8 mile. At my local/home track Super /Pro runs 1,000 ft. all other classes are 1/4 mile due to a short shut down area. On occasion we have ran 1/8 mile due to track conditions its not too bad, but its over quick when you are used to 1/4 mile. I run at South Mountain during Chryslers at Carlisle which is 1/8 mile and have been pretty successful there always enjoying it but thats In my low 15 second (1/4 mile) 9.70-80s ( 1/8 mile) pickup.

Just my dumba$$ comments, but 1/8 mile feels like a street race from a stoplight where there isn't enough room to let it eat. Then you go to a 1/4 mile track and can really let it go wide out.

I know there have been lots of successful 1/8 mile programs at various tracks over the years, and the grudge race scene seems to thrive on it. But unless I built a car specifically for 660', I'm always going to prefer a 1320' pass (for whatever reasons, rational or not). It's not debatable, it's an opinion.

I prefer 1/4 but Ill run at an 1/8 mile race, from what Ive seen 1/8 mile guys dial soft and are pedaling at the finish just as much as quarter mile guys, may not be that way in Michigan DVW, most top end stripe driving comes from being off on the 60' times anyway and the reaction time. Only time my car is off on the last 1/8 is usually wind related, 660 to 1320 are really consistent otherwise.

What Max said is dead on. I love the top end charge of a Hemi.
I have and will race 1/8 mile, because I always know there is a 1/4 race in the future to look forward to. If F.A.S.T. or Drag Week was changed to 1/8 mile, and I only had 1/8 tracks around here, I'd quit.

As an add-on to my previous comments, I was watching some YT videos last night of the SO crew (and others) doing a bunch of 1/8-mile races at a couple of different tracks. They'd launch, and just when I'd be waiting to see if someone had the power to run down the person in front... it was already over. I can't go as far as to say "660 Sucks", but it's certainly missing something in my mind... which I guess is the last 1/2 of the track.

In Street Outlaws, they make a 4-5 second half a race seem like 20 seconds the way they chop it up and repeat it 1/2 second at a time 40 times. That's why I don't watch it. You put up with 20 minutes of stupid bs just to see a race, then you never see the whole race. It's like they strapped a bunch of cameras to the backs of squirrels and turned them loose on the track to film it. If they ran a 1/4 mile, maybe they could just show the whole race.

I’m beginning to plan time off at work for 2018 which includes taking time off for racing events some of which are at Norwalk.

Not in all cases, but for some, if the events are going to be cut down to 1/8 mile, I plan on skipping the events.

My interpretation of what has been listed on this thread and Norwalk’s web site is that the decision to go to 1/8-mile racing only effects the Edelbrock Super Series but, I was not 100% sure.

I decided to e-mail one of the race operations people at Norwalk (Evan Bader) to confirm what events may or may not be affected; here is the reply that I received: (FYI- I did mention some specific events in my e-mail so; he addressed some of the events that I mentioned)

“These changes are for the Edelbrock Super Series, but could impact how some of the other outside promoters choose to run their event. That being said I believe events like Monster Mopar and Pontiac will remain 1/4 mile, but that decision is up to the promoter. NMCA I would assume will defer to our track rules for their bracket program so that race I feel has a better chance of being run 1/8 mile than 1/4 mile.

Long story short I do not think it will change too many events, just our Edelbrock Super Series.”

Figured I’d share this here so everyone is informed.

For some reason that I cannot really figure out, the bracket guys seem to love the 8th mile stuff.

They say it's a quicker program, but I don't see it. You've still got to get down to the end to turn off. And, to watch, there isn't enough of it to really get into it, anyway. not that bracket racing is a big spectator draw, anyway. But, I guess to each his own and if that's the way it's going to be, so be it.

Personally, I'd rather eat a bowl of ground glass. If it ever got to the point where 8th was all that was available, I guess that would be my cue to park everything and hang out at car shows with the rest of the geezers.

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.

I would be curious to know how many races a year the guys who have a problem with 1/8th mile attend. I like them both. But I am always happy to hear when it’s an 1/8th mile race. Also I’ve been to quite a few races in my day and the 1/8th mile races have consistently been finished sooner. As for Norwalk....it’s not that long a shutdown at 150+.

I for one never missed a Fri, or Saturday, yeah, we used to be able to run a full 1/4 program starting at 6:00 on fri and be finished at by 1:00am with 2 time trials on a fri., since I was 18. In the last couple of years my kids consumed more of my time and unfortunately they don't care for racing.

I pit with 4-5 other cars/families, and those which can, and do still want to run, skip the 1/8 mile days, which meant that we didn't race since Aug. We are lucky and appreciative though that our track still runs an 1/4 mile program occasionally and we'll be there those days.

Seems when I go to the track now the majority has RV's and enclosed trailers and acts like they are some professional team and they run their cars like professionals (take forever, need 8 people on the starting line, and 2 to put their bracket car in the beams, not to mention the sea of quads/ golf carts). Programs went much quicker when it was simpler.

My good friend has a mid 7 second rail, drives to the staging lanes by himself, burns out , stage, and runs and drives back to pits all on his own.
But it is America. Truly, thank God for that! Just my

Racing has changed over the years and in my eyes a lot of it hasn't been for the good of the sport, but I guess good for the tracks. We now have racers that double enter races week after week. Lots of no box racers BRAG about being able to beat the box guys but meanwhile week after week the double entered cars get double time trials and HITS on the tree. Adjustable trans-brake buttons that can be dialed in with extreme accuracy. High stakes gambling with sometimes even multiple cars. I sit there at the "high dollar" races that I either attend or watch on the internet at races with 570.00 entry fees and the amount of cars that double enter and I just shake my head. These guys are tough too as they should be. Engines and transmission professionally built every year, usually sponsors supply parts at cost and or free. The game has passed me by but I still enjoy taking my single swing at the golden ring. If I lose first round I will usually spend my 20-25 dollar "buy-back" money since I'm there. Running 6.0's is still fun for me in the 1/8 or 1/4 mile but who knows, the oldman may have something left in the tank to step up his program and make the 660 foot pass a little more interesting.