NHRA Race Advice
Discussion
Having somehow failed to attend both the FIA Main Event and the Euro Finals this year, I'm thinking of taking a trip Stateside to get my annual drag racing fix. I've been to a couple of NHRA races before (Dallas and Houston), but want to try somewhere different this time. First choice is the Arizona Nationals in February next year. Anybody here been to the Phoenix race? Worth going or not? I get the feeling that the class fields may be smaller at this event (and I know it was not on the GSA Pro Mod tour this year), or am I wrong?
Other possibilities are Gainesville for the Gatornationals or the Las Vegas race in late March. I know the Vegas track well having completed Frank Hawley's Super Comp school there last year - would be good to go back and see the pros running there rather than just a small bunch of us amateurs struggling to get an S/C car down the strip in a straight line...
Any advice appreciated...
Other possibilities are Gainesville for the Gatornationals or the Las Vegas race in late March. I know the Vegas track well having completed Frank Hawley's Super Comp school there last year - would be good to go back and see the pros running there rather than just a small bunch of us amateurs struggling to get an S/C car down the strip in a straight line...
Any advice appreciated...
Ive just come back from Indy (US Nationals) if that is a option for you defo go. Absoloutely awesome huge fields in all classes 5 Nitro qualifying sessions 2 in the dark, was just a great experience can defo see why it is called the big go 
. Ive heard good reports bout Vegas the track is good and facilities are supposed to be top notch aswell, normally get a decent size entry out there in all classes. Hope this helps any further questions please just ask.
. Ive heard good reports bout Vegas the track is good and facilities are supposed to be top notch aswell, normally get a decent size entry out there in all classes. Hope this helps any further questions please just ask.NIRO LEWY said:
Ive just come back from Indy (US Nationals) if that is a option for you defo go. Absoloutely awesome huge fields in all classes 5 Nitro qualifying sessions 2 in the dark, was just a great experience can defo see why it is called the big go . Ive heard good reports bout Vegas the track is good and facilities are supposed to be top notch aswell, normally get a decent size entry out there in all classes. Hope this helps any further questions please just ask.
Vegas is awesome!! Ive never stopped going since my first NHRA visit in 2008. Big fields last year in Topfuel/Fuel Funny. It was 47.. Ive heard good reports bout Vegas the track is good and facilities are supposed to be top notch aswell, normally get a decent size entry out there in all classes. Hope this helps any further questions please just ask.Thanks for the comments, gents. I can confirm that the Vegas track is pretty spectacular from the startline (great view of the mountains whilst nudging into stage!), but never seen an NHRA race there. Would love to go to Indy for the US Nationals too but I'm too impatient to wait another 12 months!
Whoa, hold on. The Gatornationals is one of NHRA's major races, draws a packed crowd and is the opening Pro Mod round. Topographically, flat Florida doesn't hold a light to the spectacular West, but Gainesville is a very pleasant town and you've got Garlits' museum to see down the road at Ocala and Daytona Speedway and Cape Canaveral to visit over on the coast if that interests you.
Weatherwise, the end-of-season races at Vegas and Pomona are usually gorgeous, if that sort of time is suitable to you. Weather for the Pomona Winternationals and April Vegas race can sometimes be trickier.
I've not been to Phoenix so can't really comment. Word on various US forums seems to suggest it leaves something to be desired as a facility. Personally, I've always liked Pomona, and the races there are both in low season for flights to LA, if saving money is a consideration.
Mind you, Vegas great too.
Weatherwise, the end-of-season races at Vegas and Pomona are usually gorgeous, if that sort of time is suitable to you. Weather for the Pomona Winternationals and April Vegas race can sometimes be trickier.
I've not been to Phoenix so can't really comment. Word on various US forums seems to suggest it leaves something to be desired as a facility. Personally, I've always liked Pomona, and the races there are both in low season for flights to LA, if saving money is a consideration.
Mind you, Vegas great too.
OK, I'm getting bad vibes about Phoenix now from you guys. Anyone actually been to the Arizona Nationals though? What puts me off is it's quite an old facility, and I'm pretty sure it won't be on the GSA Pro Mod tour next year (really want to see those Pro Mods ideally).
Sounds like Las Vegas is my safest bet. But weather-wise it even rains in Vegas sometimes: I was sat at the startline in my S/C car when the heavens opened and had to abort my run. Didn't help my nerves...
Sounds like Las Vegas is my safest bet. But weather-wise it even rains in Vegas sometimes: I was sat at the startline in my S/C car when the heavens opened and had to abort my run. Didn't help my nerves...
liner33 said:
Fair point about the Garlitts museum but Cape Canaveral is pretty long trek , my point was about Gainsville itself
Indeed. Gainesville's a pleasant town in flat Florida. The Gatornationals is a major race on the calendar and well worth a visit on its own merits. Cape Canaveral is a good long drive, but I don't know how long Black-C5 is planning to spend on his trip or what else he might have in mind to do.Racing considerations apart, I do find the South-West more interesting to drive around than Florida.
The only 1 I have been to was Gainesville a couple of years back. Gainesville is a big facility with massive grandstands etc and the Gatornationals are one of the biggest events in the US. It's a pleasant enough town dominated by the big University there, I stayed in a Marriot which was near a bar called the Gainesville alehouse where the teams tended to congregate after the event {along with Gary Page and Barry Sheavils } so I enjoyed the evenings. The Garlits museum had a cracklefest on the Wednesday or Thursday night before the event so if you stay 4 or 5 nights you should have something to do each night. I agree Florida is flat but there are plenty of other things to see like Orlando, the Ford/ Edison houses, Kennedy space centre, Everglades, the Keys {very long drive but you can catch a ferry at Sarasota} although they are all a fairly long drive from Gainesville itself. The weather early in the year is hot by UK standards but not as hot as it can get and probably cooler than Vegas.
The Vegas facility looks good and of course you have plenty of shows/gambling/strip joints/sporting events etc there, you can also visit the Grand Canyon though like a lot of the Florida attractions it's a fair drive away.
Bill
The Vegas facility looks good and of course you have plenty of shows/gambling/strip joints/sporting events etc there, you can also visit the Grand Canyon though like a lot of the Florida attractions it's a fair drive away.
Bill
Thanks for all the advice, chaps. I won't have time for a long visit, so additional attractions in the area aren't important to me. Gainesville is sounding like a definite candidate now. I guess Orlando is the nearest international airport, and it looks like a 2 hour drive from there, which isn't too bad.
liner33 said:
Might want to check the weather for the time you go as well , long way to go for a rain-off and they are far from unheard of at Gainsville
Very true. But the only races on the calendar that are usually "guaranteed" rain-free are Vegas and Pomona at the end of the year -- and Pomona was rained off till the following weekend when I went in 1987.Tip: don't fly home till Tuesday. Keep Monday available as a rain date. NHRA will always try to complete on Monday if they can't on Sunday.
Further tip: driving between Orlando and Gainesville, the Garlits museum is right alongside the I-75 at Ocala.
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