Las Vegas Drag Strip
Discussion
Just back from a week in Vegas on my 'Marry-moon'.
Spent weekend attending NHRA races at the drag strip with my 'Merrycan' pals.
Previously attended race meets at Pomona but have to give LV the edge due to its proximity to Nellis Airforce Base. Why? Well, not many places i can think of where I'm watching 20,0000 horsepower unleashed in front of me whilst a B1 is in the circuit or the Thunderbirds are recovering from a practice.
If you can, go!
Spent weekend attending NHRA races at the drag strip with my 'Merrycan' pals.
Previously attended race meets at Pomona but have to give LV the edge due to its proximity to Nellis Airforce Base. Why? Well, not many places i can think of where I'm watching 20,0000 horsepower unleashed in front of me whilst a B1 is in the circuit or the Thunderbirds are recovering from a practice.
If you can, go!
Been out there twice for NHRA now
Stayed on the strip, but ended up waking up in an RV next to the track on the Monday after the racing, with a horrendous hangover to lots of jets taking off which was pretty surreal.
Took a wander down to the track to find myself just behind the start line as Matt Hagan was firing up for a test run, security were "awesome" and let me stay there for an hour or so for other fuel test runs, what a way to shake a hangover !
Cant wait to go back one day !
Stayed on the strip, but ended up waking up in an RV next to the track on the Monday after the racing, with a horrendous hangover to lots of jets taking off which was pretty surreal.
Took a wander down to the track to find myself just behind the start line as Matt Hagan was firing up for a test run, security were "awesome" and let me stay there for an hour or so for other fuel test runs, what a way to shake a hangover !
Cant wait to go back one day !
The April race at Las Vegas has long been a smaller event than the October race, but that might change this year when it goes four-wide for the first time, mirroring the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at Charlotte Motor Speedway's Z-Max Dragway held later in the month. A new two-lane track is being constructed alongside the current Vegas strip, the same arrangement as exists at Charlotte.
'Four-wide' is a gimmick disliked by the racers but favoured by the owner of both tracks, Bruton Smith. At Charlotte, I'm told, he promotes the four-wide race heavily, achieving a sell-out crowd, at the expense and to the detriment of the conventional, two-wide race held there in September.
I attended this past year's Four-Wide Nationals at Charlotte, eager to discover what four fuel cars running side by side must sound and feel like. Oddly enough, it's not wildly different, since two cars alone are already excessive. It's like turning the amps up to 11 when 10 is already earth-shattering.
'Four-wide' is a gimmick disliked by the racers but favoured by the owner of both tracks, Bruton Smith. At Charlotte, I'm told, he promotes the four-wide race heavily, achieving a sell-out crowd, at the expense and to the detriment of the conventional, two-wide race held there in September.
I attended this past year's Four-Wide Nationals at Charlotte, eager to discover what four fuel cars running side by side must sound and feel like. Oddly enough, it's not wildly different, since two cars alone are already excessive. It's like turning the amps up to 11 when 10 is already earth-shattering.
Here you go: http://www.lvms.com/tickets/nhra/nhra-toyota-natio...
Thursday 25 - Sunday 28 October.
As my earlier post above reminds me, I did go to LVMS in May for the track's inaugural 4-Wide race. It was a terrific event, packed out for all three days, and a complete contrast to my first taste of NASCAR six weeks earlier at Atlanta.Yes, I'm an enthusiast for the drags, but I had expected to be impressed by NASCAR too. The beautifully appointed Atlanta grandstands were three-quarters going on four-fifths empty and the atmosphere was nil. Those in the know said the race was one of the year's least eventful, and they weren't kidding. My seat cost $99. For a further $100, I could have had a pre-race pit pass which would have allowed me a view of 36 cars with their bonnets up.
Contrast that with the Vegas drags, where you enter the track through the pits (free) which were already humming with life and activity at 8.15 in the morning. The stands were packed for the Pro sessions and the atmosphere was palpable, with fans cheering their heroes as they towed back down the return road (if you haven't attended a drag race, there's no use cheering your heroes when they're racing as you wouldn't be heard). I've been attending NHRA drag races for several decades so I know it's a great show, and my NASCAR experience emphasised that several times over.
I hope you enjoy the Toyota Nationals in October.
Thursday 25 - Sunday 28 October.
As my earlier post above reminds me, I did go to LVMS in May for the track's inaugural 4-Wide race. It was a terrific event, packed out for all three days, and a complete contrast to my first taste of NASCAR six weeks earlier at Atlanta.Yes, I'm an enthusiast for the drags, but I had expected to be impressed by NASCAR too. The beautifully appointed Atlanta grandstands were three-quarters going on four-fifths empty and the atmosphere was nil. Those in the know said the race was one of the year's least eventful, and they weren't kidding. My seat cost $99. For a further $100, I could have had a pre-race pit pass which would have allowed me a view of 36 cars with their bonnets up.
Contrast that with the Vegas drags, where you enter the track through the pits (free) which were already humming with life and activity at 8.15 in the morning. The stands were packed for the Pro sessions and the atmosphere was palpable, with fans cheering their heroes as they towed back down the return road (if you haven't attended a drag race, there's no use cheering your heroes when they're racing as you wouldn't be heard). I've been attending NHRA drag races for several decades so I know it's a great show, and my NASCAR experience emphasised that several times over.
I hope you enjoy the Toyota Nationals in October.
Don't book your tickets just yet though. I was told they will start releasing the better tickets (ie. grandstands closer to the start line) in August. The website currently only shows tickets available in the stands further down the track. I used to prefer the view from the "General Admission" stands, but presumably they've now moved these further back since the track has been made four-wide for the April event? And I'm guessing the Toyota Nationals will just use the two lanes nearer the main grandstands?
Yes, they do generally run a shuttle bus. I've never taken it so can't give details. However, if you go to their website at www.lvms.com, they have an online Chat feature and I imagine they could clue you in there. Available from 5pm our time.
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