Went to my first NHRA drag race today and all I have to say is ..... OMG

My main fishing buddy and his family are real "into it" and he has been bugging me forever to go with them when they come to Topeka every year. I really have no interest in it, but today I decided to give it a go.

So when we first get there they take me over to the pits for the Top Fuel Dragsters and Funny Cars where you can literally stand about 10 feet from the cars while the crews work on them to prep them for the races. They took me over to John Force's pit (I guess he is like The Man when it comes to funny cars right now) and I had front row seat for when they started it up. Now my buddy's dad was all about me going up there front and center to witness the car starting up. They were telling me how extremely loud it was, but he especially exaggerates things a lot. So I stand up there and the first thing I notice is a lot of the people on the crew were putting on gas masks :-?. I started getting a little concerned, but there were literally 100 people surrounding this pit so I am thinking I must be OK. So they start it up and I guess it was kind of loud .... no biggie. After they have it going for a few seconds I start to see everyone around me plugging there ears ..... I'm like "Oh, it must be too loud for them ..... wimps". And about this time I start to smell the fumes from the Nitro burning. It became pretty hard to breath and my eyes start to feel like they are on fire. I look around for my group and they are no where near me. The fumes start getting real bad and I had to get away ..... just as I turn to get away from the fumes ..... They "goose" the throttle for a split second :o :o Absolutely indescribable sound but more so the feeling. It was more of a sound you feel. I had NO CLUE that was coming. Absolutely scared the crap out of me. I guess when they did that my eyes got huge and I made one of the motions where my hands went up and my body went down like I was going to hit the deck. I finally spot my group and they were all standing back laughing hysterically at me. So I was the joke of the day and I am sure they will be laughing at me for a long time to come. Those Nitro cars as some mean SOBs .

We walked through the pits a little more and watched them start up a few more cars .... at a distance this time We walked past John Force's set up on the way out and noticed a very attractive female signing autographs outside the Force pit. I'm thinking that must be some "eye candy" .... Nope, it was John Force's daughter, Ashley Force, and she drives a Funny Car against the big boys :o

What a HOTTIE!!!!!! I guess she is good too

Danica who???

We walked back over to our seats then to watch the Nitro cars run their first rounds (Top Fuels and Funny Cars). What an experience that is. The sound is unreal (I had ear plugs by this time ) and the feeling in your body when those cars pass you going 300+ is incredible. Something I am glad I experienced.

I doubt I will go every year they come to town, but I will be going again. I think it's one of those things you can enjoy from time to time even if you don't really give a hoot about it. So if you have a opportunity to go to one, I would recommend it. You will leave there looking like this ;D

NHRA & I go way back; I drove in the B-Modified Production Class & worked in the pits between races, there's nothing like the smell of Nitro-methane.

My favorite Hottie was Jungle Jim's Pam Liberman  

I was a fanatic back in the 60's and 70's. Fishing was the only thing to get me away from the drag strip. My buddies and I had three cars we raced, mostly stock and superstock classes. It got to be too expensive without sponsors so we sold everything. That's when I got my first boat.

The Fuelers and Funny Cars are the real entertainment, but on occasion the Jet Cars would race...........Now we're talking CRAZY.

I remember when everybody said that the ET's would never get out of the six second range, now I understand they are in the three's. What times did they turn yesterday?

Falcon

It got to be too expensive without sponsors so we sold everything.

What times did they turn yesterday?

Falcon

No kidding.  My buddy's dad follows all the different classes and was giving me break downs on what it cost to have a competitive team.  What sticks out is the Top Fuel and Funny Car teams .... he said it costs about 3 million a year to have a competitive team.  The fuel prices alone are unreal ..... he was saying each one of those cars burn about 40 gallons of Nitro each time down the track at about ohhhhh $120 a gallon.  I had no idea the amount of money that floats around that sport.  

As far as times... I think good runs were in the mid 4's.  I think a couple got as low as 4.3's.

I was at Topeka about 15 years ago and now exactly what you mean about the "burp" of the engine - it was always fun to stand back and watch the crowd get drawn in and then jump back.  The last time I was there, I had my Nikon 35mm camera and they let me wander all the way up to the starting line - went home covered in "Goodyear freckles" that day.  I love the drag races and you are right, you can't describe the experience, you have to experience it.

I've been a bunch of times. It's always fun. I was pretty big into the street strip scene back in the 90's. I've had a few quick cars. Nothing like a top fueler! Most of mine were 12 sec 1/4 mile cars. Here's a pic of my old Formula 350. It had a 355 with ported heads, 520 lift cam, headers, ETC...

I used to go quite a bit,I haven't been in a few years.I live about 5or 10 minutes away from NewEngland Dragway.

A buddy of mine raced there in the grudge matches,I helped him work on his car (62Dart,dualQad Maxwedge built on a 440block).I had a 69Dart ragtop I changed from a six/auto to a V8 4 speed car. Had two motors a 1958 392Hemi and a 1971 340 Xhead. I never wound up getting either motor in the car or raced it before I sold-it. My buddy passed away and I kinda lost alittle interest after that.

Some of the guys in my fishing club attend the local NHRA meet south of Richmond, Virginia and I may go with them this year.

I go to the NASCAR and Indy 500 and the Indy Race in Richmond so I like the speed, but they tell me that the speed, noise and fire are spectacular at the NHRA races and make NASCAR look like a kids game.

One of the guys at my church is the manager of the NHRA track so I will try to get us pit passes, if they have such a thing, or a tour.

Thanks for your information.  I appreciate hearing that you enjoyed the event and it is worth the money.

I am telling you in advance if you go ..... the Top Fuels and Funny Cars are LOUD. Even with this fair warning, it will blow you away ...... almost literally. Unbelievable!!!! Also be sure to upwind when they start those things up in the pits ..... unless of course you want to experience Nitro exhaust at least once.

It was definitely an "experience" and well worth the price of admission at least once.

Oh as far as "Pit Passes" go ..... I don't think there is such a thing.  It is a very fan friendly sport.  Admission into the Pits was free, at least at Topeka it was.  Like I said you can literally stand about a couple arm lengths away from the cars while they prep them and start them.  Now all the big teams have a "Sponsors" tent right next to their team's car where there is food, drinks, etc.  You have to have tickets to enter those.

I used to be into drags during the late 70's and into the 80's. Guys like Prudhomme, Big Daddy, Kalitta, Sox and Martin and of course, Shirley Muldowney.

Great stuff, the races are over waaay too quick for me though.  

No kidding about Danica who?  Forces daughters are beauty's.