Bubba
Nitro Member
Hi, folks;
Recently, I was in Tucson, Arizona, attending Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School. Driving a dragster was something I had wanted to do for a long time and I wasn't going to pass up this chance!
The drag racing school was more fun than I could have ever imagined.
It started surreal as Frank Hawley himself greeted us with a handshake as we approached the classroom. Two-time NHRA Funny Car World Champion! The classroom portion was very informative; I've followed drag racing for 45 years and I learned a few new things.
The class (there were 13 of us) then went outside to get an intro to starting line procedures, right from square one, the burnout to staging the car. Also, how we should handle the first run (to the eighth-mile) and the shutdown area.
Next, suit up! We were given our firesuit, helmet, headsock and gloves. I wish I had a pic of me in that setup.
The cockpit of the dragster was explained next and, once we were in the car, were given a "blindfold" test to see it we could reach for the controls instinctively. The steering wheel and foot pedals were adjustable.
Getting the dragster fired up for the first time and rolling into the water box was a moment I'll never forget. Seeing the long dragster body with the chrome spoke wheels in front was something I had seen numerous times in video but, this time, it was ME doing the driving.
The burnout was great fun: foot to the floor, spin, smoke the tires. No problem getting the car stopped before the starting line. I'd stop the car a couple feet behind the pre-stage line, check that the shifter was in low, pull down the helmet visor and creep into the starting line beams. Wait for the flash of the three-amber lights and GO!
On my first pass, I wasn't prepared for how hard the car left the line. The 60 foot time was in the 1.53 second range. My first pass to the eighth-mile netted a 6.737 second @ 100.71 mph run. Even with coasting the second half of the track, I still recorded a 11.913 @ 77.21 mph; much quicker than my 16.02 @ 87 mph previous best.
Frank was happy with how I performed so I was allowed two full quarter-mile runs. The numbers of those: 10.573 @ 126.20 and 10.557 @ 126.83.
All in all, a fantastic day, one I will never forget. A life defining moment for me. Frank was pleased with my performance; he said I was deliberate and it was obvious I had done this before. Just not that quick and fast, Frank!
Next step, going back to the school to get a NHRA Class 4 license which would permit me to drive dragsters capable of elapsed times of 7.50 seconds to 9.99.
Recently, I was in Tucson, Arizona, attending Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School. Driving a dragster was something I had wanted to do for a long time and I wasn't going to pass up this chance!
The drag racing school was more fun than I could have ever imagined.
It started surreal as Frank Hawley himself greeted us with a handshake as we approached the classroom. Two-time NHRA Funny Car World Champion! The classroom portion was very informative; I've followed drag racing for 45 years and I learned a few new things.
The class (there were 13 of us) then went outside to get an intro to starting line procedures, right from square one, the burnout to staging the car. Also, how we should handle the first run (to the eighth-mile) and the shutdown area.
Next, suit up! We were given our firesuit, helmet, headsock and gloves. I wish I had a pic of me in that setup.
The cockpit of the dragster was explained next and, once we were in the car, were given a "blindfold" test to see it we could reach for the controls instinctively. The steering wheel and foot pedals were adjustable.
Getting the dragster fired up for the first time and rolling into the water box was a moment I'll never forget. Seeing the long dragster body with the chrome spoke wheels in front was something I had seen numerous times in video but, this time, it was ME doing the driving.
The burnout was great fun: foot to the floor, spin, smoke the tires. No problem getting the car stopped before the starting line. I'd stop the car a couple feet behind the pre-stage line, check that the shifter was in low, pull down the helmet visor and creep into the starting line beams. Wait for the flash of the three-amber lights and GO!
On my first pass, I wasn't prepared for how hard the car left the line. The 60 foot time was in the 1.53 second range. My first pass to the eighth-mile netted a 6.737 second @ 100.71 mph run. Even with coasting the second half of the track, I still recorded a 11.913 @ 77.21 mph; much quicker than my 16.02 @ 87 mph previous best.
Frank was happy with how I performed so I was allowed two full quarter-mile runs. The numbers of those: 10.573 @ 126.20 and 10.557 @ 126.83.
All in all, a fantastic day, one I will never forget. A life defining moment for me. Frank was pleased with my performance; he said I was deliberate and it was obvious I had done this before. Just not that quick and fast, Frank!
Next step, going back to the school to get a NHRA Class 4 license which would permit me to drive dragsters capable of elapsed times of 7.50 seconds to 9.99.
read economy downturn! Still great memories! It took to the third sprint, 100 or 200 feet that you could start to focus on the wider view! Came back the next day and did three great 1/4 mile runs!
