Which Drag Strips have you been to for a race meeting (1 Viewer)

[Hutch]

NATIONAL TRAIL RACEWAY, Columbus, Ohio.
AUTO CLUB FAMOSO RACEWAY, Bakersfield, California.
AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA, Pomona, California.
THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, Las Vegas, Nevada.
ORLANDO SPEED WORLD DRAGWAY, Orlando, Florida.
SUNSHINE DRAGSTRIP, Clearwater, Florida (eighth-mile)
QUAKER CITY RACEWAY, Salem, Ohio. (IHRA).
YOUNGSTOWN OHIO DRAG CITY, Youngstown, Ohio.
SANTA POD RACEWAY, Northamptonshire, England.
SHAKESPEARE COUNTY RACEWAY, Warwickshire, England.
NEW YORK RACEWAY, Yorkshire, England.
BLACKBUSHE AIRPORT, Surrey, England. (National Drag Racing Club -before they had a drag strip)
Royal Air Force ELVINGTON, Yorkshire, England. (NDRC-before they had a drag strip)
Royal Air Force NORTH LUFFENHAM, Lincolnshire, England. (NDRC-before they had a drag strip)

What is your Favourite?

Mine is THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY although l've been to SANTA POD RACEWAY & SHAKESPEARE COUNTY RACEWAY more times.

 

[BlueStangGT]

Wow, you're gonna get some long lists in this thread.

NHRA Nats
St. Louis
Topeka
Las Vegas
Dallas

Other
Darlington SC
Rockingham NC
Jackson SC
St. Louis (Madison Il)
Mid America MO
KCIR (Kansas City MO)
Cecil County MD
Thunder Valley (Noble OK)
Dallas TX
Kennedale TX
Alamo Dragway (San Antonio TX)
River City (San Antonio TX)
Houston Raceway Park TX
Firebird AZ
Speedworld AZ

As far as a favorite is concerned that's a tough call. Vegas is clearly the nicest of the facilities but Carolina Dragway in Jackson SC has a great deal of charm and is one of the friendliest places I've ever been. Gateway in St. Louis is where I first put a car down the track. Consequently I met a lot of nice, helpful folks there and was able to learn volumes about racing in general and my car specifically. Also, listening to Kepner call the occasional Wednesday night T&T and describing in great detail the most obscure combinations that were running was always educational.

The absolute worst, without a doubt, is Alamo Dragway in San Antonio TX. I believe it has mercifully been closed.

 

[Toejam]

I'm assuming your referring to Mater meetings?

Pomona 1-2
Gainesville
Houston
Vegas1-2
Chi-town
Denver
Indy
Dallas

 

[Hutch]

I'm assuming your referring to Mater meetings?

I'm assuming your referring to Mater meetings?

Joe l'm not referring to Mater meetings. l'm referring to Drag Strips you've been to for a drag race meeting.

 

[BlueStangGT]

It was pretty clear to me John. I think Joe must've had a Bud for breakfast or something.

 

[Joker]

Houston Raceway Park Houston, TX
Houston Motorsports Park Houston, TX
Houston International Raceway (the old one) Dickinson,TX
Angleton Raceway Angleton,TX
Pine Valley Raceway Lufkin, TX
Temple Academy Temple, TX
Texas Motorplex Ennis, TX
GreenValley Raceway Texas
Kennedale Raceway Kennedale, TX
Memphis Motorsports Park Memphis, TN
Oreilly Raceway at Indy Indy, Indy
Beech Bend Raceway Bowling Green, Kentucky
San Antonio Raceway San Antonio, TX
LoneStar Raceway Sealy, TX
Gainesville, FL
Montgomery, AL
Atlanta, GA
Heartland Park Topeka Topeka, Kansas
Several in Louisanna but I dont remember there names
and many, many more that I cant remember.

My future visits:
Pomona, Las Vegas, Bristol

 

[Jenn]

It was pretty clear to me John. I think Joe must've had a Bud for breakfast or something.

I must have had a miller lite because I thought the same thing.

Just a difference in Terminology.

 

[Toejam]

It was pretty clear to me John. I think Joe must've had a Bud for breakfast or something.

You would be correct, what is a Race meeting for us uninformed?

 

[Rollout96]

You would be correct, what is a Race meeting for us uninformed?

Methinks over the pond they refer to races as race meetings. Just my guess.

 

[Joker]

Methinks over the pond they refer to races as race meetings. Just my guess.

I think your right Jay. Thats what I was thinking.

 

[Mr. Jean]

Here are some that I can remember.
1. Lions Drag Strip
2. Orange County International Raceway
3. Pomona Raceway
4. Irwindale Raceway
5. Ontario Motor Speedway
6. Fontana Drag City
7. Famoso Raceway ( March Meet )
8. Fremont Drag Strip
9. Sears Point Raceway ( never raced here, but raced the rest. )
10.Sacramento Raceway
11.Woodburn Dragstrip
12. Top Gun in Fallon.
13. ???? I'm sure I've forgotten a few.

 

[d'kid]

Here are some that I can remember.
1. Lions Drag Strip
2. Orange County International Raceway
3. Pomona Raceway
4. Irwindale Raceway
5. Ontario Motor Speedway
6. Fontana Drag City
7. Famoso Raceway ( March Meet )
8. Fremont Drag Strip
9. Sears Point Raceway ( never raced here, but raced the rest. )
10.Sacramento Raceway
11.Woodburn Dragstrip
12. Top Gun in Fallon.
13. ???? I'm sure I've forgotten a few.

Ditto, but scratch 9,11, 12
Add
Virginia Int. Raceway
Richmond Dragway
US 13
Budds Creek
Beaver Chreek, PA
Cecil County
And a couple of strips down in the Carolinas that escape me...
oh Yeah
Suffolk, Va
and
the 1/5th? at Pungo(more than an 1/8th, less than a 1/4)

 

[Al smith]

Don't know about meetings. Over here NHRA's rulebook section 19-1 makes us call them "events" Some tracks listed I spectated. Others I crewed.

1) Old Bridge Township Raceway Park
2) Connecticut International Drag way. Now a test track, first round win ever
3) New England Drag way, back during NHRA wcs series. good memories there, first win.
4) Maple Grove Raceway (favorite)
5) Cayuga Raceway (least favorite way back then. Now called Toronto Motor-sports Park)
6) Maryland International raceway (back when it was a NHRA wcs track)
7) Atco Raceway (first time there was during the Billy Meyer IHRA ownership season of rain out disaster, IHRA officials wearing black and white striped shirts much like NHL referees
8) Cecil County Drag way. "the strip with a tree house"
9) Numidia drag way
10) Gainesville, First time I was there was for Garlits swamp rat XXX debut. simply amazing race
11) Beech Bend in Bowling Green Kty.. Clinched division one title by winning race. still have hat, Only Crew was me and driver/owner that race. Yup there was corn growing after the last turnoff. Saw my first figure eight stock car race at the track Saturday evening, which was pit space during the day.
12) Bristol, what a neat place. Too bad they disowned our class afterward. Guess I will never see it again.
13) Atlanta,, been very very good to us.
14) National Trail Raceway (Columbus oh) a couple times crewing but before that as a spectator I could tell you many stories about camping out in a tent during (what we didn't know) was a tornado. Watching drunks mud bog in their Broncos and do donuts in the muddy field across the street. Running blockades after a beer run to retrieve our tent after a flood-out.
Was hoping to visit Virginia Motor sports park this season but it didn't work out. and never once been to Indy. Would like to even though they say its a six day ordeal and a s***hole.

 

[Rollout96]

Here are some that I can remember.
1. Lions Drag Strip
2. Orange County International Raceway
3. Pomona Raceway
4. Irwindale Raceway
5. Ontario Motor Speedway
6. Fontana Drag City
7. Famoso Raceway ( March Meet )
8. Fremont Drag Strip
9. Sears Point Raceway ( never raced here, but raced the rest. )
10.Sacramento Raceway

That first part is mine almost exactly (growing up in Lancaster). I think the only 2 I can add is LACR and Seattle.

Thanks for saving me the memory jogging!!!

 

[Mark Walton]

My first post to the 'mater. Greetings from longtime lurker/Super Stock racer.

Raced:
Mid America Dragway - Arkansas City, KS
Wichita International Raceway - Wichita, KS
SRCA Dragstrip - Great Bend, KS
Hutchinson Dragway - Hutchinson, KS (very short lived)
Little Apple Raceway - Manhattan, KS (now Midwest Raceway)
Heartland Park Topeka - Topeka, KS
MoKan Dragway - Pittsburg, KS
Kansas City International Raceway - Kansas City, MO
Thunder Valley Dragway - Noble, OK
Tulsa Interational Raceway - Tulsa, OK (before it was renamed to Tulsa Raceway Park)
Tri State Raceway - Earlville, IA
Nebraska Motorplex - Scribner, NE
Kearney Raceway Park - Kearney, NE
Thunder Valley Dragway - Marion, SD
Bandimere - Denver, CO
Texas Motorplex - Dallas, TX
Gateway International Raceway - Madison, IL
Indianapolis Raceway Park - Indianapolis, IN (before it was renamed to O'Reilly Raceway Park)
National Trail Raceway - Columbus, OH

Attended:
Eddyville Raceway Park - Eddyville, IA
Firebird Raceway - Phoenix, AZ

Favorite track? They're all so fun, it's hard to pick one. I'd have to say it's a toss-up between Denver and Earlville, purely from a "racer friendly" standpoint.

 

[Rollout96]

My first post to the 'mater. Greetings from longtime lurker/Super Stock racer.

Greetings and welcome in!

 

[Mr. Jean]

Hello Mark. Welcome to the Mater.

Hey Jay. Your welcome, saved you some typing too.

 

[Rollout96]

Hello Mark. Welcome to the Mater.

Hey Jay. Your welcome, saved you some typing too.

LOL... THAT you did!!!!

 

[Jenn]

Houston Raceway Park Houston, TX
Houston Motorsports Park Houston, TX
Texas Motorplex Ennis, TX
Kennedale Raceway Kennedale, TX---Home of the Killer Bs
Memphis Motorsports Park Memphis, TN The safety safari loved me after the amount of oil we dumped on the track
San Antonio Raceway San Antonio, TX
LoneStar Raceway Sealy, TX---been a while since I've been there, actually met a woman there who was so happy to meet a 'foreigner'
Heartland Park Topeka Topeka, Kansas---Not my favorite place
SRCA Dragstrip - Great Bend, KS---Okay, I'm not a big fan of Kansas in General.
Rockingham NC
Thunder Valley Dragway - Noble, OK
Bandimere - Denver, CO--Favorite track because Fred won the national there
Pueblo, CO
LVMS Las Vegas (before and after the renovation)
The D7 track in Utah, West Valley I think.
Alburquerque N'tl Dragway
Roswell Dragway
Amarillo Dragway
Arroyo Seco, Hobbs, NM
I don't remember what' it's called but it was in Carizzozo, NM
The Rock, Rockingham NC
Birmingham, AL The Million Dollar Race!
Firebird in Chandler AZ
Route 66 Raceway, Joliet IL
SIR, in Tucson, AZ
Fallon, NV
Idalou Motorsports Park, Lubbock, TX
Hallsville Raceway, Hallsville, TX

Could be more, this hurt my head...luckily, I could take Justin's List, and cut and add.

 

[none]

I've been to the following tracks, ranking them from least favorite to most favorite

8. Bristol Dragway- I'm probably the only person that thinks this track is overrated, lots of hills to walk, small pit area which gets crowded easily, mediocre racing surface, saw more tire smoke in one session than I did all weekend in Chicago. The cars look small when you're sitting in the crowd. 84 steps from the tunnel to the top of the grandstands.

7. Bandimere Speedway- The facility is very nice, however the elapsed times aren't any good because of the altitude. I don't like that the entire facility is reserved seats, they have metal grandstands that get very hot and uncomfortable in the July sun.

6.Atlanta Dragway- I honestly think this place gets a bad rap, with the race being moved to late April I predict this will be one of the 5 best races next year. They have top end seating which for me is a plus. Pits are spread out good. A couple of things I didn't like were #1- People stand making it hard to see sometimes. #2- The bathrooms leave a bit to be desired. The on track action was very good there this year, low ets of 4.44 in Top Fuel and 4.68 in Funny Car.

5. Infienion Raceway- It's a good Bruton Smith track, but just because it's a Bruton Smith track doesn't put it at the top of the list. They really nickel and dime you at this place, this year anybody with GA had to pay a mandatory upgrade to get a reserved seat. Early in the morning or at night is when the track is at it's best. The big grandstands are too far away from the track. The seating on the right side is very close to the track, however many people stand making it difficult to see the entire track. Infienion also loses points for not having top end seating available to it's paying customers. Very scenic facility but enough drawbacks to slide it down to #5 on my list.

4. Old Bridge Township Raceway Park- This is the first track I've ever been to. I like the top end seating they have, the pit area is layed out good. The racing surface is not as good as it was 4-5 years ago. The track records are soft in the fuel categories (this may be a result of having the race in June now) The race needs to be placed in a different part of the year as we haven't had a great race here since 03. The bathrooms aren't great and it's in a hot time of year, but there is a lot of history at this track, enough to make it to #4 on my list.

3. The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway- IMO the best of Bruton's 3 NHRA tracks. It has a paved parking lot, a pit area that's spread out, and a very good racing surface that will only get better after they repave it. The bathrooms are very clean. Ticket prices are slightly higher here than at other venues. I also don't like the fact that they only have one section of top end seating and you have to have some sort of credentals to sit there. They also have many useless rental cops patrolling the area. The right side stands are okay, they are close to the track but they don't go far enough down track. It's these drawbacks that prevent the Strip from having the top spot on my list.

2. Route 66 Raceway- Excellent facility, very easy to get in and out of, the big grandstands also provide a lot of shade. The track is easily the best prepped on tour. The whole facility is clean and spread out. What keeps Route 66 from the top spot on my list, is they only have stadium seating, which is okay but I don't think it's all it's cracked up to be and they do have high ticket prices.

1. Maple Grove Raceway- The cars sound better here than anywhere else, the view from along the pit side fence, looking slightly downhill is the best view out of all the tracks I've been to. When Tony and Doug ran 4.44 and 4.48 this year, it looked like the cars were coming right at you. The track is very scenic too, as it's set in the valley with all the trees around. The ticket prices are still reasonable. Many places to find shade throughout the venue. Only negative is that they only have portable bathrooms, but other than that it's hard to find anything not to like about MGR. The track always produces monster times with only Pomona and Chicago have quicker track records. The races in October here were some of the best I've been to, too bad NHRA didn't move this race a month later instead of a month earlier.