Drag Racers, Why do we race ?

vic guilmino · 01-11-2018, 01:11 PM

i just LOVE to go down the track fast or slow
or around in circle
i just LOVE to race

ALMACK · 01-11-2018, 01:17 PM

I love to drive.
Period.

If I could afford to road race, I would do that.

Drag racing turned out to be the cheapest and most convenient way to have fun behind the wheel.

I sometimes question why I am the only one in my family that became a gearhead ....

I didn't have relatives, friends, or neighbors that drag raced.

But somehow I got the bug at age 15.

Steve1118 · 01-11-2018, 01:31 PM

When I was 12, I was with my cousin when he purchased a brand, spankin' new 64 Hemi Dodge A865 aluminum nosed car and was hooked immediately.

Now, here I am, 54 short years later and still racing a Hemi 65 that I bought in 1969. It's probably kept me out of jail during my wild years, met and have known hundreds of great guys and gals. It's a milder motor, not as quick and low, low maintenence, and health problems have had an impact, but, we're still here.

Now, at 65, I'm still having fun and enjoying many of the same folks I have for years and years, and am missing the ones who can no longer be with us. Pulling a trans out isn't as much fun as it was, but going to the races, hanging with the guys, and driving the car is still as much fun as it was. Maybe looking at through rose colored glasses, but I feel sorry for the youngsters who did not live and race through the golden years.

Get to race with my sons, and will canonize my great wife of 36 years for all the crap she endured. I thank God every single day for all the blessings I've been given, and wonder what I've ever done to deserve them.

This sport has given me back much more than I had ever hoped. I cannot imagine not being involved.

tim worner · 01-11-2018, 01:38 PM

Addiction

CMcAllister · 01-11-2018, 02:18 PM

Certainly wasn't born into it. Family still couldn't care less. Always liked mechanical stuff as a kid; bicycles, minibikes, lawn mowers, anything. Went to work in a gas station at 16 and got a car. All the older guys had Camaros, Chevelles, Mustangs, Super Bees, with huge cams, 4 speeds, header mufflers, big tires, went the local strip and the hook was set.

It's a lot more complex and difficult to do well than it looks to the casual observer ("what's so hard about just going straight?") and that's what has kept me hooked.

That and the noise. And the people. Anyone I consider a real friend, I met in racing.

Mike Pearson · 01-11-2018, 04:21 PM

I enjoy the challenge and the competition. I don't have a top of the heap qualifying car so my benchmark is my past performance and trying to improve on that with what I have to work with. I also like the challenge of racing the best of the best. I have been lucky enough to win a few races along the way against some really tough drivers. This makes a win or round win that much sweeter. I also like getting away and camping at the track during the events. Its a nice get away form the work day struggles. we have met some good people along the way.

1matcoman · 01-11-2018, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tim worner

Addiction

Yep!

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMcAllister

.......
That and the noise. And the people. Anyone I consider a real friend, I met in racing.

And this, too!!!

GTX JOHN · 01-12-2018, 01:02 AM

All the above!

PLUS:

My Dad/Brother/Myself were always Drag Racers......
In 1970 we had three Red 70 Cudas parked in
front of house (Two 440/6 and One Hemi) AND
a 1968 Hemi Dart SS/BA parked in our little garage.

They both have been gone around 30 years.......
But I still feel them riding with me on every pass
down the track!

Hope my boys will feel that someday too about
me.

It has always been just what we do.

goinbroke2 · 01-12-2018, 09:56 AM

Why do I drag race?
well..

I do a couple appendectomies in the garage and everybody gets bent out of shape yelling I'm not a doctor.
I get some plutonium and start building a home reactor to power my place and all of a sudden I'm on a watch list and a potential bad guy.
I use my property to make a replica of hill 262 in Viet Nam to paint ball with bunkers/punji pits/razor wire/guard towers and all of a sudden I'm a wacko that needs to be raided.
DRAG RACING??? THAT'S NOTHING THE COPS SAY!

I think they're relieved I've taken on a more mundane hobby.......

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy watching the cops trying to get into my bunker that they chased me into as I watch them from the spider hole that's behind them. Great fun...but sometimes you have to take it down a notch and do stuff a little more safer like drag racing...or knitting...or something.

Dave Gantz · 01-12-2018, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tim worner

Addiction

Here's the bottom line.

01-11-2018, 01:11 PM	#1
vic guilmino Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: wv Posts: 884 Likes: 42 Liked 56 Times in 21 Posts	Re: Drag Racers, Why do we race ? i just LOVE to go down the track fast or slow or around in circle i just LOVE to race __________________ Vic Guilmino 1129 STK

01-11-2018, 01:17 PM	#2
ALMACK VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 1,941 Likes: 132 Liked 369 Times in 127 Posts	Re: Drag Racers, Why do we race ? I love to drive. Period. If I could afford to road race, I would do that. Drag racing turned out to be the cheapest and most convenient way to have fun behind the wheel. I sometimes question why I am the only one in my family that became a gearhead .... I didn't have relatives, friends, or neighbors that drag raced. But somehow I got the bug at age 15. __________________ Alan Mackin Stock 3777/ SS 3377 P/SA & SS/PA Fox Thunderbird I/PS '95 Mustang GT

01-11-2018, 01:31 PM	#3
Steve1118 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Walton's Mountain Posts: 116 Likes: 2 Liked 13 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Drag Racers, Why do we race ? When I was 12, I was with my cousin when he purchased a brand, spankin' new 64 Hemi Dodge A865 aluminum nosed car and was hooked immediately. Now, here I am, 54 short years later and still racing a Hemi 65 that I bought in 1969. It's probably kept me out of jail during my wild years, met and have known hundreds of great guys and gals. It's a milder motor, not as quick and low, low maintenence, and health problems have had an impact, but, we're still here. Now, at 65, I'm still having fun and enjoying many of the same folks I have for years and years, and am missing the ones who can no longer be with us. Pulling a trans out isn't as much fun as it was, but going to the races, hanging with the guys, and driving the car is still as much fun as it was. Maybe looking at through rose colored glasses, but I feel sorry for the youngsters who did not live and race through the golden years. Get to race with my sons, and will canonize my great wife of 36 years for all the crap she endured. I thank God every single day for all the blessings I've been given, and wonder what I've ever done to deserve them. This sport has given me back much more than I had ever hoped. I cannot imagine not being involved. Last edited by Steve1118; 01-11-2018 at 01:34 PM.

01-11-2018, 01:38 PM	#4
tim worner Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: duncannon Posts: 837 Likes: 14 Liked 126 Times in 20 Posts	Re: Drag Racers, Why do we race ? Addiction __________________ Tim Worner SS 1747

01-11-2018, 02:18 PM	#5
CMcAllister Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Fulton County, PA Posts: 615 Likes: 17 Liked 920 Times in 259 Posts	Re: Drag Racers, Why do we race ? Certainly wasn't born into it. Family still couldn't care less. Always liked mechanical stuff as a kid; bicycles, minibikes, lawn mowers, anything. Went to work in a gas station at 16 and got a car. All the older guys had Camaros, Chevelles, Mustangs, Super Bees, with huge cams, 4 speeds, header mufflers, big tires, went the local strip and the hook was set. It's a lot more complex and difficult to do well than it looks to the casual observer ("what's so hard about just going straight?") and that's what has kept me hooked. That and the noise. And the people. Anyone I consider a real friend, I met in racing. Last edited by CMcAllister; 01-11-2018 at 02:21 PM.

01-11-2018, 04:21 PM	#6
Mike Pearson VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,453 Likes: 615 Liked 1,939 Times in 583 Posts	Re: Drag Racers, Why do we race ? I enjoy the challenge and the competition. I don't have a top of the heap qualifying car so my benchmark is my past performance and trying to improve on that with what I have to work with. I also like the challenge of racing the best of the best. I have been lucky enough to win a few races along the way against some really tough drivers. This makes a win or round win that much sweeter. I also like getting away and camping at the track during the events. Its a nice get away form the work day struggles. we have met some good people along the way. __________________ Mike Pearson 2485 SS

01-12-2018, 01:02 AM	#8
GTX JOHN VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boulder City, Nevada 89005 Posts: 2,734 Likes: 2,803 Liked 2,487 Times in 698 Posts	Re: Drag Racers, Why do we race ? All the above! PLUS: My Dad/Brother/Myself were always Drag Racers...... In 1970 we had three Red 70 Cudas parked in front of house (Two 440/6 and One Hemi) AND a 1968 Hemi Dart SS/BA parked in our little garage. They both have been gone around 30 years....... But I still feel them riding with me on every pass down the track! Hope my boys will feel that someday too about me. It has always been just what we do. __________________ John Irving 741 Stock 741 Super Stock Last edited by GTX JOHN; 01-12-2018 at 01:04 AM.

01-12-2018, 09:56 AM	#9
goinbroke2 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: NS CANADA Posts: 895 Likes: 1,651 Liked 394 Times in 154 Posts	Re: Drag Racers, Why do we race ? Why do I drag race? well.. I do a couple appendectomies in the garage and everybody gets bent out of shape yelling I'm not a doctor. I get some plutonium and start building a home reactor to power my place and all of a sudden I'm on a watch list and a potential bad guy. I use my property to make a replica of hill 262 in Viet Nam to paint ball with bunkers/punji pits/razor wire/guard towers and all of a sudden I'm a wacko that needs to be raided. DRAG RACING??? THAT'S NOTHING THE COPS SAY! I think they're relieved I've taken on a more mundane hobby....... Don't get me wrong, I enjoy watching the cops trying to get into my bunker that they chased me into as I watch them from the spider hole that's behind them. Great fun...but sometimes you have to take it down a notch and do stuff a little more safer like drag racing...or knitting...or something.