How Did 1320' Become The Distance For Drag Racing

[clwill]

several times Wally P. and I talked about this...Seemed to me to be solely based on stopping distance remaining.

Thanks Dave, great to hear from someone who knows the real story. Interesting that even today, some 50+ years later, that the question isn't about how to go fast, but about stopping.

 

[Doug in the woods]

Is it possabble that the 1/4 mile was adopted due to mathamatics?
easy to calculate how fast a car is traveling in mph =1/4mile x 4
lets see 1/4 mile in 15 seconds = 60 mph (cars were slower then)

 

[d'kid]

Is it possabble that the 1/4 mile was adopted due to mathamatics?
easy to calculate how fast a car is traveling in mph =1/4mile x 4
lets see 1/4 mile in 15 seconds = 60 mph (cars were slower then)

Doug,
remember, the speed traps were 132 feet, 66 before the finish line, 66 feet after. That's where the term 'running it out the back door' came from. It was not the average speed of 1320 feet from a dead stop; 0mph, to terminal speed.

speed traps today are the last 66 feet before the finish line.

d'kid

 

[stanman]

Just a quick note....several times Wally P. and I talked about this...both on, for the media and off the record speaking personally with me...and his story was consistent....the 1/4 came as a response to the length of the available facilities that were in use or planned for the time. Never did hear him...either in private or public say anything about city blocks or comparisons to oval tracks. Seemed to me to be solely based on stopping distance remaining. Remember...this came on the heels of his involvement with SCTA and the dry lakes...where stopping distances are measured in miles!

MaC

Thanks for setting the record straight, Big MaC!!

Maybe my recollection was based to much on personal experience!?!?