Your best drag racing memory?
Discussion
Alastaro 2004. We'd originally gone over as spectators, but had been roped into crewing for Knut. We'd damaged an engine, and had been working on the car throughout the night. A couple of hours sleep, and then back to the track for qualifying the next day. 5.03s and happy faces all around.
Beating Chris Hodgkins at Santa Pod for my first proper round win. I'd won rounds before, but only through my opponent red lighting, breaking out or otherwise getting something wrong. This was a proper race. I pulled a 0.002 light and ran 0.01 off my dialin. Chris was equally on the ball, running some great numbers, and it was very close. I crossed the line something like a couple of hundredths ahead of him.
Easter Thunderball 2008. My first time out with my own car and it snowed. I was wandering around the pits with a huge grin on my face. OK, so we might not have been racing, but I wasn't paying someone else a fortune for the privilege of sitting and waiting for the weather to improve while the car I'd hired to race sat in the pits going nowhere :-) When the weather did improve, I did very well, getting to the final and then throwing it all away at the final hurdle. But it was a very enjoyable meeting.
Beating Chris Hodgkins at Santa Pod for my first proper round win. I'd won rounds before, but only through my opponent red lighting, breaking out or otherwise getting something wrong. This was a proper race. I pulled a 0.002 light and ran 0.01 off my dialin. Chris was equally on the ball, running some great numbers, and it was very close. I crossed the line something like a couple of hundredths ahead of him.
Easter Thunderball 2008. My first time out with my own car and it snowed. I was wandering around the pits with a huge grin on my face. OK, so we might not have been racing, but I wasn't paying someone else a fortune for the privilege of sitting and waiting for the weather to improve while the car I'd hired to race sat in the pits going nowhere :-) When the weather did improve, I did very well, getting to the final and then throwing it all away at the final hurdle. But it was a very enjoyable meeting.
Tell you what.Its so weird that this thread has been started. cos I've been thinking about starting one about this exact subject. But hey someones beaten me to it.
The most memorable drag racing moments of my life was when my dad was crewing for Andy Frost when he was running in the old pro street eliminator class and in qualifying he ran 9.2 with Red Rictor 1. Ill always remember that pass till the day I die. Beacause after that run people came up to him and were ecstatic about him pulling that out of the bag from nowhere. Plus the fact that I was the one who torque wrenched the wheels on for that run. Good times bring on Red Victor 3.
Adam Williamson
The most memorable drag racing moments of my life was when my dad was crewing for Andy Frost when he was running in the old pro street eliminator class and in qualifying he ran 9.2 with Red Rictor 1. Ill always remember that pass till the day I die. Beacause after that run people came up to him and were ecstatic about him pulling that out of the bag from nowhere. Plus the fact that I was the one who torque wrenched the wheels on for that run. Good times bring on Red Victor 3.
Adam Williamson
A couple for me, if im allowed 
My first ever 'race' in TMD, was not feeling well at the prospect, and ended up leaving with an .04 light and outrunning doug bond to the 1/8th and would have won if we hadnt of melted a piston!
2nd, and possibly best life moment so far , not just racing, was round 1 at the finals in 2003 in Top Fuel.
Racing kim reymond whod kicked everyones arses royally round europe all summer and in qualifying ran an unheard of 4.64 @317.
Left on him by a tenth and won! I was so excited in the car i nearly forgot to make the turn off!
What made is so special was that everyone who helped up was there, including sponsors and friends, and it was our way of saying thanks for all the faith they showed
In the semi the clutch linkage fell off during the burnout, but thats another story
My first ever 'race' in TMD, was not feeling well at the prospect, and ended up leaving with an .04 light and outrunning doug bond to the 1/8th and would have won if we hadnt of melted a piston!
2nd, and possibly best life moment so far , not just racing, was round 1 at the finals in 2003 in Top Fuel.
Racing kim reymond whod kicked everyones arses royally round europe all summer and in qualifying ran an unheard of 4.64 @317.
Left on him by a tenth and won! I was so excited in the car i nearly forgot to make the turn off!
What made is so special was that everyone who helped up was there, including sponsors and friends, and it was our way of saying thanks for all the faith they showed
In the semi the clutch linkage fell off during the burnout, but thats another story
Tet said:
Beating Chris Hodgkins at Santa Pod for my first proper round win. I'd won rounds before, but only through my opponent red lighting, breaking out or otherwise getting something wrong. This was a proper race. I pulled a 0.002 light and ran 0.01 off my dialin. Chris was equally on the ball, running some great numbers, and it was very close. I crossed the line something like a couple of hundredths ahead of him.
Tell me which meeting and I'll dig out the data My best memory was the 1993 season in Street Rover. That year I won every
Championship round I entered, won a brand new complete Rover 3.9 V8 straight
from the Rover factory, won the championship and set what was at the time
the ET record in Street Rover of 10.62 in the final.
One of my most memorable events (though not that good) was when I was testing my
old Jaguar Altered, (Shockwave), standing next to Dennis Priddles Funny car in
the Play Pen at the Pod, (yes, I'm that old). A crew member was sitting in the drivers seat of the Funny car, car wasn't on jacks and the other crew man blipped the throttle, which then stuck open....
The Funny car disappeared in a cloud of tyre smoke, slammed into the tow car,
a big Ford station wagon I think, pushed it through an armco barrier, the Ford
front end disappeared down a ditch and the Funny car drove under the Ford, damaging the chassis.
I was one of the first on the scene with a fire extinguisher from my Alterd, s
tting myself,
but luckily no fire and the 'driver' walked away, white as a sheet and visibly shaking.
Remarkably, they repaired the damage and were racing the next day if I remember correctly.
Championship round I entered, won a brand new complete Rover 3.9 V8 straight
from the Rover factory, won the championship and set what was at the time
the ET record in Street Rover of 10.62 in the final.
One of my most memorable events (though not that good) was when I was testing my
old Jaguar Altered, (Shockwave), standing next to Dennis Priddles Funny car in
the Play Pen at the Pod, (yes, I'm that old). A crew member was sitting in the drivers seat of the Funny car, car wasn't on jacks and the other crew man blipped the throttle, which then stuck open....
The Funny car disappeared in a cloud of tyre smoke, slammed into the tow car,
a big Ford station wagon I think, pushed it through an armco barrier, the Ford
front end disappeared down a ditch and the Funny car drove under the Ford, damaging the chassis.
I was one of the first on the scene with a fire extinguisher from my Alterd, s
tting myself, but luckily no fire and the 'driver' walked away, white as a sheet and visibly shaking.
Remarkably, they repaired the damage and were racing the next day if I remember correctly.
There's a few really, obviously winning the Super Modified title was a big moment, but I think my favourite will always be our maiden Super Gas victory at Super Series 2 in 2000. We were without any of usual crew members for that event so it was just me and my old man doing it alone, which included having to push the 3000lb car up the fire up road on my own once he was strapped in! Still being new to the throttle stop lark I gave it my best shot and we ran 9.901 in the first round, from then on in we didn't put a wheel wrong. Dad was on the money with his RT's and we eventually beat Kev Moore in the final, pretty fittingly it was Father's Day and also 3 years to the day since he nearly lost his legs in a motorbike crash. Neither Kev or my old man knew who'd won and it was a great feeling when the both emerged at the exit of the return road and I could give the thumbs up. I opened the passenger door, stood on the sill and we drove back to the pits together both beaming away.....a great feeling.
Running the 6.07 with Graham's Superbird to qualify number 2 at the Main Event will always be a fond memory too, I can't remember ever experiencing such a feeling of relief!!
Running the 6.07 with Graham's Superbird to qualify number 2 at the Main Event will always be a fond memory too, I can't remember ever experiencing such a feeling of relief!!
Cracking stories, love your one Lee, I love the relationship I have with my dad and you have the same. I don't know what I'd do without him to be honest.
Another high was running our 6.42 I go on about it all the time but we were so happy with it, lifted at 1000 foot and didnt really lean on motor at all. only 172 at the 1/8th but it went 4.04 at 1/8th
Another high was running our 6.42 I go on about it all the time but we were so happy with it, lifted at 1000 foot and didnt really lean on motor at all. only 172 at the 1/8th but it went 4.04 at 1/8th
hmm tough one.
Going to Hockenheim with the jnr dragster and getting to the final was pretty ace.
Racing John Everitt at night at the flame n thunder was amazaing for the atmopshere, throttle barks spitting flames, and launching wheels up into the darkness.
But the best is also the most recent, lining up against Joe, being best mates and racing together in juniors, doing a 330ft burnout and running my first 7 side by side was pretty special. Roll on the sixes
Going to Hockenheim with the jnr dragster and getting to the final was pretty ace.
Racing John Everitt at night at the flame n thunder was amazaing for the atmopshere, throttle barks spitting flames, and launching wheels up into the darkness.
But the best is also the most recent, lining up against Joe, being best mates and racing together in juniors, doing a 330ft burnout and running my first 7 side by side was pretty special. Roll on the sixes
for me it was the first race on the timewarp team, all the way over in Hockenheim. We were taking part in the night show and only the second time ever reversing someone up. Wendy had done the burnout and I hopped over the wall checked around then looked up for the point guy, with all the lights at the startline on I couldn't make out anything so had to guess my way back, thankfully got it right, a couple of dry hops later Wendy was off to the first 6 with the car! A couple of beers were had after that!
best memory concerns my hero Don Garlits
memory one - in the scrutineering lanes at the Easter meeting in 1976 and my car was being scrutineered by Tom Hales an up walks Garlits to chat over old times with Tom and leant on my roll cage for a good time while we all engaged in a natter!
Memory two - I was exceptionally lucky in 1990 and went to Bristol as a guest of the IHRA and got to do colour commentary with Brett Kepner, while I was in full flow a hand touched me on the shoulder,it was Don! we ended up all announcing for about half an hour which I have on video
great memories !
Steve
memory one - in the scrutineering lanes at the Easter meeting in 1976 and my car was being scrutineered by Tom Hales an up walks Garlits to chat over old times with Tom and leant on my roll cage for a good time while we all engaged in a natter!
Memory two - I was exceptionally lucky in 1990 and went to Bristol as a guest of the IHRA and got to do colour commentary with Brett Kepner, while I was in full flow a hand touched me on the shoulder,it was Don! we ended up all announcing for about half an hour which I have on video
great memories !
Steve
swad said:
Tell you what.Its so weird that this thread has been started. cos I've been thinking about starting one about this exact subject. But hey someones beaten me to it.
The most memorable drag racing moments of my life was when my dad was crewing for Andy Frost when he was running in the old pro street eliminator class and in qualifying he ran 9.2 with Red Rictor 1. Ill always remember that pass till the day I die. Beacause after that run people came up to him and were ecstatic about him pulling that out of the bag from nowhere. Plus the fact that I was the one who torque wrenched the wheels on for that run. Good times bring on Red Victor 3.
Adam Williamson
It was a long time ago but i'm glad you have good memories of it mate.The most memorable drag racing moments of my life was when my dad was crewing for Andy Frost when he was running in the old pro street eliminator class and in qualifying he ran 9.2 with Red Rictor 1. Ill always remember that pass till the day I die. Beacause after that run people came up to him and were ecstatic about him pulling that out of the bag from nowhere. Plus the fact that I was the one who torque wrenched the wheels on for that run. Good times bring on Red Victor 3.
Adam Williamson
A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then that's for sure,and a lot more to go..
Taking part in our first ever mainstream event in 2008 after just HKS jap only events. All of us were completely silent & open mouthed as we drove in & saw the sheer size of the event & numbers of teams taking part & obviously the crowds next day etc - same event lining up with Frosty & having a hoot.
Finally getting that Skyline record this year after busting our balls since 2007 :-) - now to get that 350z motoring towards the 6's in 2011 !
Finally getting that Skyline record this year after busting our balls since 2007 :-) - now to get that 350z motoring towards the 6's in 2011 !
Edited by trackday addict on Friday 3rd December 21:27
Where to start, like lee, all the years I spent crewing with my old man in supergas, even more so now as I'll never that back, but probably the most unforgettable moment for me, because of the mixture of emotions, was the first time we ever ran a 7.50 (7.58). My old man always knew the car would run it but we never found it until after he was gone. I was so happy that we finally proved him right, but sad that he wasn't here to see it.
Winning Hockenheim in supergas in 98 was pretty cool to, especially as I had won the super series event at Shakey the weekend before.
Ahhh........good times! :-)
Winning Hockenheim in supergas in 98 was pretty cool to, especially as I had won the super series event at Shakey the weekend before.
Ahhh........good times! :-)
Hmmm tough question! Got a couple though...
Main Event 2005 In juniors, qualified first with a perfect light and went on to win the meet, was my first win and did it in style!
This year, running our first 7 was a pretty awesome feeling and the best bit is I know theres more in there! Also this years thunderball getting to my first Super Pro final was fairy awesome, everyone in the crew were super happy all day when we kept going the rounds and my dad was over the moon. Can't wait for the first super pro win! (and championship...)
Main Event 2005 In juniors, qualified first with a perfect light and went on to win the meet, was my first win and did it in style!
This year, running our first 7 was a pretty awesome feeling and the best bit is I know theres more in there! Also this years thunderball getting to my first Super Pro final was fairy awesome, everyone in the crew were super happy all day when we kept going the rounds and my dad was over the moon. Can't wait for the first super pro win! (and championship...
)Standing trackside at Flame & Thunder to get these shots -
505 by Fast an' Bulbous, on Flickr
506 by Fast an' Bulbous, on Flickr
508 by Fast an' Bulbous, on Flickr
507 by Fast an' Bulbous, on Flickr
509 by Fast an' Bulbous, on Flickr
505 by Fast an' Bulbous, on Flickr
506 by Fast an' Bulbous, on Flickr
508 by Fast an' Bulbous, on Flickr
507 by Fast an' Bulbous, on Flickr
509 by Fast an' Bulbous, on Flickr
Edited by central on Saturday 4th December 12:03
Edited by central on Saturday 4th December 13:18
Lots of memorable days for lots of reasons but the one that really sticks in my mind is the race between me and Mark Perkins in the 2008 national finals in SE; old school match up between late model camaro and mustang, both running nitrous, 1st run into the 8's for both of us and only a gnats cock between us at the stripe.
Although I lost by the afore mentioned gnats appendage, it was the best race ever for me.
Close joint second was being lucky enough to watch the first side by side 300mph TF pass at the pod and to see Sammy Miller ripping it up in Vanishing Point.
Although I lost by the afore mentioned gnats appendage, it was the best race ever for me.
Close joint second was being lucky enough to watch the first side by side 300mph TF pass at the pod and to see Sammy Miller ripping it up in Vanishing Point.
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