When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Been going to a few drag & HPDE events this year, new-be to both
It surprised me on the different attitude & operations each have
Drag racing - very casual about car safety
- no requirement on helmet specs
- have to wear long pants
- side windows must be up
- no A/C
- first timers get no instructions
- the guys are good ol boys
- cars range from old to the newest
Track events - scrutinize every little detail about car
- strict on helmet spec
- can wear shorts
- side windows must be down
- can run A/C
- require an instructor for many sessions
- drivers are more serious
- cars are more modern & $$$$
both are lots of fun to participate in
I prefer doing the HPDE, but prefer to watch Drag racing
Drag racing has always been more of a 'everyman' sport, anyone can just drive in and race. There are helmet specs and many car 'rules' that local tracks do not enforce on 'street' nights to get people in the door. Pretty much long pants, DOT helmet, all your lug nuts and no leaks and you are good to go 11.50 ET or slower at most local tracks. Once you decide to go and race at real events then the cost factor goes way up with mandated safety parts for the car, inspections, licensing and driver safety gear.
As far as instruction drag racing is pretty self explanatory, no real need as most can just learn by watching for a few minutes. Most people have already done 100s of stoplight drags daily driving Road racing you have curves after long straights that can get many people in trouble, plus many expensive cars all around you. Drag racing is limited to two cars going in a straight line for a 15 seconds or less with guard rails/walls on each side - not a huge risk factor compared to a track with many curves and many cars lasting for several minutes.
I'm the opposite, I'd rather participate in drag racing and watch road racing. To each his/her own, I have fun doing either. Be happy you have a choice, with all the noise restrictions and high insurance its amazing there are still many road tracks and dragstrips for the little guys to play on.
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21
Originally Posted by Kamran
"Flame suit" on mode; Drag racing is like premature ejaculation! Takes lots of preparation, but last less than 10 seconds! Track racing/HDPE: lots of foreplay! Until you're completey worn out and exhausted!
The only track HPDE that ever allowed me to wear shorts was, ironically, Spring Mountain Corvette Performance Driving School, probably because of the heat. Mid-Ohio and Nelson Ledges has always been long pants.
Drag racing is like premature ejaculation! Takes lots of preparation, but last less than 10 seconds!
Track racing/HDPE: lots of foreplay! Until you're completey worn out and exhausted!
Originally Posted by Woodson
You forgot:
Minimal skill required to go fast.
Plenty of skill to go fast.
+1
Drag Racing just doesn't excite me. Love track time and HPDEs though. Back when I ran a 328i, I could beat some folks running M3s and even an M6 on one occasion simply because skill played a huge part. On a drag strip, that skill quotient goes away and the majority of the result is down to the car.
On a different note, I have a coworker with a Tesla S 90D that is always willing to drag race but really doesn't want to go to the track haha.
There was a lot of trash-talking and posturing at the drag street near me. I didn't like the atmosphere at all.
The road racing/HPDE crowd is much more collegial and friendly.
I've had no experience with drag racing, but at the track days I do photography at, everyone is very friendly and I feel like they are much more open to talking about their cars.
Last edited by four0nefive; 11-05-2016 at 04:30 PM.
I've done/do both and enjoy both. Worth doing each one and then pick which one (or both) you like to do. The choice isn't necessarily mutually exclusive. I know a lot of guys who do both and enjoy it - along with high speed 1/2 mile and standing mile events.
Drag Racing just doesn't excite me. Love track time and HPDEs though. Back when I ran a 328i, I could beat some folks running M3s and even an M6 on one occasion simply because skill played a huge part. On a drag strip, that skill quotient goes away and the majority of the result is down to the car.
On a different note, I have a coworker with a Tesla S 90D that is always willing to drag race but really doesn't want to go to the track haha.
He or she simply can't. Tesla S cars overheat in the very first lap, and get to the limp mode. Motor Trend kept trying on different Tesla S models to get a lap time on record, but so far, they have not been successful.
I did drag racing, but not with a rear wheel drive car. I used my Subaru STi back in the day, and it was a blast. Before I made the blunder of switching to a very light flywheel, I was able to rocket from the starting line like no other. I just hate the idea of having to do burnouts with RWD cars for good results. An mind you, if you don't do the burnout, people 'judge' you with their eyes
I never tried drag race again since I sold the STi about 8 years ago. Drag race is also very hard on the driveline, and turns me off on every trying it again.
I'm pretty happy with HPDEs, especially when they are in open track format.
I watched Arfons and Garlits when I was a kid... got all the drag racing out of me. Now, track racing? I'm still hooked....
Arfons brought his jet car to my tiny little local track in Ohio around 1969 when I was a kid. I was a big road racing fan because of a Revell slot car set I got for Christmas a few years earlier, but there was no way I was going to miss a jet car.
I'm not sure if that was the exact same car, but it looked kind of like that. It was much cooler, though, because I saw it at night. It was an awesome spectacle.
There was also a Allison V12-powered, 4WD Thunderbird funny car called Allison Thunderland. Wasn't very fast but reduced rubber to dust in no time.
The only track HPDE that ever allowed me to wear shorts was, ironically, Spring Mountain Corvette Performance Driving School, probably because of the heat. Mid-Ohio and Nelson Ledges has always been long pants.
I have driven Watkins Glen, Pocono, Sebring, Carolina Motorsports Park and VIR and none of them permit short pants. I really wouldn't want to run short pants, better to have something between your skin and flames than not.
Arfons brought his jet car to my tiny little local track in Ohio around 1969 when I was a kid. I was a big road racing fan because of a Revell slot car set I got for Christmas a few years earlier, but there was no way I was going to miss a jet car.
I'm not sure if that was the exact same car, but it looked kind of like that. It was much cooler, though, because I saw it at night. It was an awesome spectacle.
There was also a Allison V12-powered, 4WD Thunderbird funny car called Allison Thunderland. Wasn't very fast but reduced rubber to dust in no time.
Before he had the jet car he had an Allison Powered car that looked somewhat like the jet car. In the late 50s he came to the drag strip near where I used to live to run the car. The shut down area included a steep hill that gained around 100 ft. His chute failed and he went off the end of the track into some trees.
Drag racing has always been more of a 'everyman' sport, anyone can just drive in and race. There are helmet specs and many car 'rules' that local tracks do not enforce on 'street' nights to get people in the door. ....
As far as instruction drag racing is pretty self explanatory, no real need as most can just learn by watching for a few minutes. Most people have already done 100s of stoplight drags daily driving
I'm the opposite, I'd rather participate in drag racing and watch road racing. To each his/her own, I have fun doing either. Be happy you have a choice, with all the noise restrictions and high insurance its amazing there are still many road tracks and dragstrips for the little guys to play on.
As you note local tracks do not always follows the rules. NHRA has very strick rules, re helmets, at what achieved speeds/times below which you need a roll cage, how it is the be constructed etc. Dragsters going 300+ mph in under 4 seconds are very safe.
I love to watch both types of professional racing but being at the Charlotte Motor Speedway watching 4 AA/Fuel Dragsters and Funny Cars side by side and "Feeling". 40,000+ hp is unbelievable. Watching 2 C7's even Z06's side by side on a 'bring what you have' Wednesday night at the local drag strip, not very impressive.
Now those cows that watch me hit redline in 3rd gear on an empty rural farm road ARE probably impressed!!
I have done them both and if I had to pick one it would be drag racing. Just sitting there staged anticipating the Christmas tree light, launching it, grabbing the gears, foot to the floor makes for one hell of a 12 second rush.
Make a mistake and you are pretty much done which adds to the excitement.
Participants are different than what you find at most road racing events. A bit of trash talk, some side bets, but always willing to help you out if they can.
I have done them both and if I had to pick one it would be drag racing. Just sitting there staged anticipating the Christmas tree light, launching it, grabbing the gears, foot to the floor makes for one hell of a 12 second rush.
Make a mistake and you are pretty much done which adds to the excitement.
Participants are different than what you find at most road racing events. A bit of trash talk, some side bets, but always willing to help you out if they can.
11-05-2016, 11:13 AM
Drag vs track racing
Road racing you have curves after long straights that can get many people in trouble, plus many expensive cars all around you. Drag racing is limited to two cars going in a straight line for a 15 seconds or less with guard rails/walls on each side - not a huge risk factor compared to a track with many curves and many cars lasting for several minutes.
I've had no experience with drag racing, but at the track days I do photography at, everyone is very friendly and I feel like they are much more open to talking about their cars.
