Weather permitting, I wanted to watch some drag racing. Weather was not cooperating though, and right up until 5 minutes from walking out that door with my dad, I was undecided. Do we head to Norwalk, where there was a 30% chance of storms, and the radar seemed to confirmed, it would be wet. Or, do we head west to Kalamazoo, MI and check out the Gilmore Museum, playing it safe? I rolled the dice, because I wanted to see some racing!
We got to the track and found racing hadn't got underway yet, due to rain, as of 11 am. It would be 5 pm before the cars would break the beams. All wasn't lost however, as the rain delay allows you to stroll the pits and see ALL of the cars. It also gave me a chance to talk to some racers about the classes, and even meet Bangshift's very own, Chad Reynolds. Chad seemed like a cool guy, totally into the scene, and someone who gets it.
The folks at Norwalk proved once again why they operate one of the elite tracks in the country. Rain be damned, their crew was on top of it all day, and finally won the battle late afternoon. The traction, man, I'd bet there isn't a track in the country that hooks harder! The prep they put into getting the track sticky is unreal. You can hear the shoes of the workers sticking to the track as they walk. Combine that with the new tire compounds, such as the x275 class, and these cars perform like never before.
Purple monster?
Here is one of the "Won and Done" cars, a new show hosted by Rich Christenson. I will say, I've always been a bit annoyed by him, but he creates some top notch shows. This one however, may not be one of them. The whole giving them car lengths, then the cars going before he even drops his arms, well, is just stupid. Though I could be wrong, I've always got the impression that Rich doesn't know shit about cars, he's simply an attention whore that loves wearing shmedium shirts in front of the camera.
Another of the "Won and Done" cars, though I'm pretty sure it also raced in a class later. Perhaps the Limited Street category.
Here she is, in all her glory. The first 1/4 mile I ever ran down, and one that I hope to get my Camaro down next summer. Just look at that pad!
Not your typical Cadillac.
I'm pretty sure this isn't an engine out of a CTS-V. Haha
A Buick Regal T-type, though with a Chevy motor now, racing in the x275 class.
Above is one of the cars running in the x275 class, a class in which I really wanted to see at this event. I was somewhat disappointed there weren't more cars in this class, as it seemed there were only about a dozen or so. I was however shocked by the times they were running. I wanted to see what a car could do on these Mickey Thompson ET Streets, since that's what I want on my Camaro by next year. I knew they were running fast, but damn! Quickest ET I remember seeing was a 4.8 second 1/8 mile at about 150 mph! These cars all ran in the 1/8th. That translates to about a 7.6 second 1/4 mile! I didn't realize they were quicker than that 8.50 class and was blown away they were doing it on 275's! Considering wide tires drive like shit on the road, I'm glad I will be able to do what I wanna do on 275's, and also for our future drag car. I don't see us ever financing a 7 second car, though perhaps an 8.50 car, and there is no reason to tub the car when we can fit a 275 inside the stock wheel wells.
My father-in-law has an SST...not like this one though.
55 Chevy, running the Outlaw class I think.
Larry Larson, of Hot Rod Drag Week fame. I think he has won 5 titles now?
Dark Horse indeed. At 706 ci, you would think it was pretty big, but there were plenty of 800+ ci engines running this event.
Another x275 car, a Monte Carlo.
Chad Reynolds of Bangshift.com, in town offering free live coverage of the event via Bangshift.com. He seemed like a cool guy, totally into the scene, and extremely impressed by the staff at Norwalk.
Jr Dragster, something my daughter may get into one day.
A Mustang LX running the 8.50 class.
I hold no brand loyalties, thus, I was not afraid to talk to this Mustang owner from Canada. He was the first I had talked to that filled me in on the fast times these cars are running these days. I also found out just how much power it takes, 1,350 hp in this 2,900 lb car, to compete in this 8.50 class. This car did so via a Procharger, with what I consider a HUGE intercooler mounted in the passenger seat. I've been out of the loop for awhile, and only to that track a couple times in the last 13 years, so this is the first I've seen such a setup. Though not quite as fast as the x275 cars, it was just as exciting.
You're starting to see quite a few of these 3rd gens finding their way to the track.
The staging lanes were filled, and as we closed in on 5 pm, racing was about to begin!
These cars were running close to 250 mph, and much faster than anything I had expected to see.
Though they run fast times, and carry their front ends for a ways, the wheelie bars may for rather uneventful launches. Sure, they're fast, but I'd rather watch slightly slower cars yanking the wheels. I've concluded that the 8-10 second cars are my favorite, but will even include the wheel yanking x275 class, as one particular Mustang stood her up on the rear bumper, before crashing down and covering the track with antifreeze (that part was a bummer).
Nice Impala.
Sharp Mopar. One of the nicest at the track.
This is the wheels up racing I like to see! This was part of the "Won and Done" filming, as you can see that tool Rich jumping like a little school girl between the lanes to your far right.
The Pro Imports were even getting it in! Yanking the wheels off the ground and running the numbers. Though only represented by maybe a dozen cars (tops), they held their own in terms of getting down the track.
Yes, that is a Ford Probe. Once speculated to be the Mustang replacement, thankfully that didn't happen. It was a fairly nice design, well ahead of its time in my opinion. Had it been rear wheel drive and v8 powered, who knows, maybe it would still be around.
Wheels up!
There's the heavy Ram, proving it too can yank the front off the ground.
Yep, wasn't expecting times/mph like this! Amazing how far drag racing has evolved.
The Jr Dragsters getting there time on the track.
Perhaps it's a sign of my age, but I think this 3rd gen Camaro looks just as at home as the 69 next to it. Perhaps its because the design now dates back over 30 years, and was last built over 20 years ago.
For my buddy Wes. Proof that he isn't the only one out there that thinks a Fairmont is cool.
The announcer stated multiple times that there were over 200 cars that turned out for the event.
Another x275 car.
Purging the nitrous!
One of the last runs we caught before heading for home around 10 pm. I heard that the racing continued for several hours more, until rain brought it all to an end, not just for the night, but for the event.
All in all, I'm glad we picked the track over the museum. We have all winter to do museum visits, and racing season is coming to a close. I'm still blown away by how fast the cars were, and VERY impressed with 1/8 mile racing. Having never watched 1/8 mile, I quickly realized that most of the action happens in that first 1/8, the speeds aren't that much lower than a full 1/4 mile run. It motivated me to try and hit Onondaga next year, to try out 1/8 mile for myself.
Something else that perhaps left me a little concerned, was talking with that 8.50 Mustang owner. He said he bought the car about 5 months ago, after rolling his previous Mustang about 9 times. The owner said he had about $75K invested in the car, and sold it for $9k, as the majority of the car was destroyed. It had me wondering whether or not racing my Camaro is worth it, given the possibility that something bad could always happen. I know I'd be sick to my stomach if I cracked it up, or even worse, totaled it. That said, as long as I stay in the 10 second range, I think I minimalize the risk. Our drag car however, after watching these races, I'm more motivated to go even faster. A stout BBC that we can spray the hell out of, would get us damn close to that 8.50 range, and running with the big dawgs! One thing is for sure, we won't get running wider than a 275 tire after witnessing what they can do.
With both racing and cruising season practically done, it's time to stop just thinking about what I need to get done this winter, and get started one what needs to be done. Next time I report in, it will hopefully be from the garage. Until then.
2013 Shakedown at the Summit
