What is your favorite Dragstrip?

[johnnys1977]

Originally Posted by grumpy

US 30 was a cool strip. The new one had a sweet launch pad. Route 66 is a pretty nice place to. Indy will always be near the top for me.

Detroit dragway is special since its the place my wife and I first meet.

US 30, now that brings a tear to my eye. Nothing but weeds now. The last time I was over that way I stopped and payed my respects. You could still see rubber and a faint hint of the starting line. The AHRA shield was still readable too!
Let's not forget Oswego. Last time that way I hauled a load of trees out of the Nursery that was there. Now I hear it is becoming/became a housing subdivision.
Also been hearing that Union Grove may have afight coming over noise restrictions!

[piette]

Originally Posted by johnnys1977

Also been hearing that Union Grove may have afight coming over noise restrictions!

That fight has already started. Back in November already the city called a suprise meeting to discuss the noise issue. Too bad for them word got and from what I hear a good number of racers showed up. The issue with union grove is not limited just to Great Lakes Dragway though, its several noise makers in Union Grove, businesses and such. A study had been performed and as I recall Great Lakes Dragway wasnt all that particularly loud at peak.

I think it had to do with some developers coming in and causing a ruckus about noise.

I see the same thing happening to our track up here, Wisconsin International Raceway. These idiots build right across the street from a track that has been there since 1968 and then complain about noise. So far the city has agreed it is there own problem for building there, but enough people will sway decisions. What a bunch of crap.

Jeff

[Ms Grumpy]

I totally agree. With Detroit Dragway, some of the racers tried to get it declaired a historical site, because of the time it had been around and the racers who had raced there. But they did not have a big enough voice, and the dragway soon became an industrial park. It sucks....

[Hank70SS]

I grew up in Harper Woods, northeast of Detroit. So we went north to Motor City Dragway, instead of Detroit Dragway. My cousin sent me an email not to long ago with pictures of the place now. The track is still there but surrounded by tall brush. Unless you know where to look you would never find it out in the empty fields.

[DougA]

Originally Posted by piette

That fight has already started. Back in November already the city called a suprise meeting to discuss the noise issue. Too bad for them word got and from what I hear a good number of racers showed up. The issue with union grove is not limited just to Great Lakes Dragway though, its several noise makers in Union Grove, businesses and such. A study had been performed and as I recall Great Lakes Dragway wasnt all that particularly loud at peak.

I think it had to do with some developers coming in and causing a ruckus about noise.

I see the same thing happening to our track up here, Wisconsin International Raceway. These idiots build right across the street from a track that has been there since 1968 and then complain about noise. So far the city has agreed it is there own problem for building there, but enough people will sway decisions. What a bunch of crap.

Jeff

I have been to many,many dragstrips over the years,as driving a truck cross country for 35 years,I get laid over on the weekends,if I'm close,I usually go to the local dragstrip.The most entertaining one I've ever been to was Union Grove back about 25 years ago.Have never seen so much beer consumed in one place,I fit right in,lol.The owner,I believe was Broadway Bob,he was riding around on the nose of a jet car called the Green Mamba.There was also a combine demolition derby going on,plus one of those giant mechanical flame throwing robots eating junk cars.And crazy drag racing.They don't have venues like that anymore,I hope they save the place.

[piette]

Originally Posted by DougA

I have been to many,many dragstrips over the years,as driving a truck cross country for 35 years,I get laid over on the weekends,if I'm close,I usually go to the local dragstrip.The most entertaining one I've ever been to was Union Grove back about 25 years ago.Have never seen so much beer consumed in one place,I fit right in,lol.The owner,I believe was Broadway Bob,he was riding around on the nose of a jet car called the Green Mamba.There was also a combine demolition derby going on,plus one of those giant mechanical flame throwing robots eating junk cars.And crazy drag racing.They don't have venues like that anymore,I hope they save the place.

Broadway Bob no longer owns it, but he is still there almost every time it is open as far as I know. He operates a "toyshack" on the property yet. Its all toy cars and such. That guy was wild!!! The stuff he would do to rile up the crowd was amazing. Also the Green Mamba is still around as well. I see it once year at my local track yet, they bring it in for the last night on the circle track of the year, its called the "eve of destruction". Its just a madhouse of car destruction and mayhem. Every year they stack 4 or 5 cars ready for the crusher on top of each other, and the green mamba backs up to them, lights the jets and burns the entire pile down to nothing but a huge molten mess. Its pretty cool and the kids around here think it is the greatest thing ever!!

Jeff

[Derek69SS]

"The House of Hook" Cedar Falls, IA

1/4-mile track about 90 miles from here... generous enough with the VHT that I could pull off 1.84 60' times on 17" street radials.

[bw396ss]

"In the day" (whatever that means) is was US 30 for those of us in and around Chicago land. I also hear Route 66 near Joliet is really nice as well.
Ah the good ole days.

[jnorton]

My dad use to race at Dragway 42 in west Salem, Ohio back in the 60s and the very early 70s. I don't remember too much about it, but I know it's still active.

I am more familiar with Norwalk (now Summit Raceway Park). I finally raced there, in the Chevelle, on a test and tune night about 6 years ago. That my was first and last time downn a 'big boy' drag strip. The tranny wasn't shifting right and she ran in the 16s. It's pretty cool seeing it on TV and thinking "Hey, I ran there before!" Hopefullt when I get my car done, the place will still be standing so I can improve on my timeslip.

[Animal69]

US131 Dragway in Martin, MI. Back in the day when the Popular Hotrodding Championships were run it was the place to be. In 1968 I left part of my oil pan, crankshaft, and rods (not to mention a lot of oil) at the starting line. My 301 in a Model A didn't like me dropping the hammer at over 7 grand!