Coolest track you've been to?

90mustangGT

I felt sorry for girls because
Founding Member
Jan 15, 2002
2,773
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89
Dallas, GA
What's your favorite/best/coolest dragstrip you've ever went to?

:track:

I've only been to a few. Southeastern in Dallas, GA(closed), The Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, GA, Paradise in Calhoun, GA, and Silverdollar in Reynolds, GA. I visited Yellow River near Athens which closed before I was born, but is quite famous.

I loved the Dallas track because it had lots of history, it was close by, and it was almost all street cars, mostly foxbodies. Too bad it closed. It wasn't just some hole in the wall dragstrip, at one time it was the big track in this area. Really sad to see it close years ago.

The Atlanta Dragway is so far away, on the other side of Altanta from me, and it's a ricer's mecca. Nice track but the sound of fart can's really gets annoying and they slowly buzz down the track. They have the Track Nazi's working in the Tech booths. I mean, you better be on NHRA spec and not have a single carpet fiber out of place or they won't let you run. It was the first track I ever ran at, when I was 17 I drove down it, in my 1994 Ford Escort LX... ran a 19.1 at about 70 something mph. I wasn't serious, just wanted to know what it felt like to run down the track. I took my old 90GT down that track a few times and ran a 14.2 when it was pretty close to stock. I'll tell you, that was a lot different than my Escort. I think my mph was about 97mph as I recall, and it scared me the first time, seems like you are going so much faster with the narrow walls on each side.

Silverdollar is not so bad in the tech department, but they are far away. More laid back for sure. Nice 1/4 track with the lowest elevation in the area. Finally, there is the only "local" one near me in Calhoun, GA, Paradise. Also an old track, and uphill track. The cool thing is the tech inspection... there is none. You have to bring your own materials to put the numbers on your car. The only rule is you have to have a helmet, and it doesn't matter how fast or slow you are. I think they do require a cage once you get in the low 6's on the 1/8th. A lot of women at that track.... and they come one of two ways, HOT or HIDDIOUS. There is nothing in between. Not that is what I go to the track for but something I couldn't help but notice.

So tell about your experiences.



Silverdollar
 
I've only gone as a spectator, but I've been to LACR, Pomona, and Epping. I always had a good time going, be it a test and tune night, or a big event.

I have been going back and forth on what races to go to this weekend. New England dragway is having the Fall Funny Car Nationals.
New England Dragway - Epping, NH

And a local airport that used to have drags, is bringing racing back after forty years.
Orange Airport Drag Strip Reunion, Orange, MA.

Unfortunatley they are both on Saturday. Wish I could do both.
 
I can't really say as i only frequent 3 tracks and i don't know if any of them have anything special enough to be called the coolest. Edgewater and Tristate are the two i've been to most, but there's one here in northern KY called Thornhill that's pretty cool, supposedly it's the oldest strip in the country or something like that. It's crazy on bracket nights...very old school all business racing.
 
I've been to a bunch in the 4 States I've lived in so far. Bradenton, Orlando, Gainsville in Florida, Englishtown NJ, Maplegrove PA, a couple lesser known tracks in Maryland and Ohio, Milan MI, Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk OH, Dragway 42 in OH.

I think any track still open and racing is Cool and I'd love to take a traveling vacation just to go visit a bunch more........they are my favorite places to go!

The best so far for me tho has got to be Summit Motorsports Park In Norwalk. Its always clean and the folks that run it are really friendly. They have activities for the kids run by the staff, and a playground for them too.
AND you can get a POUND of Ice cream for just a buck! I like to take pics of the cars doing their burnouts before they stage and you can get right up next to them on the Pit side so there are no walls or anything in the way. Way Cool!

Just my two cents:)
 
I went to the NHRA race at Bandimere this summer, and that was awesome. The pits are a bit tight to navigate, but being nudged up against the mountains is pretty sweet. Plus, they just re-did the track and all the lighting in '08. Definitely beats Gateway in St. Louis where we had been going the last 5 years until they took it off the schedule this year.
 
Beech Bend in bowling green,KY.
I'd say it's my favorite because it's the nicest of the 3 or 4 tracks I frequent. I've been to the NMRA finals there a few times and Pontiac nationals. They're hosting LSfest this weekend, regretting not taking the trip.
 
I have been to Englishtown NJ(a long time ago), Orlando FL, Gainesville FL, Commerce GA, and Las Vegas, NV. The Gatornationals is extremely crowded, was lucky enough to be in Vegas last year during the Nationals and was amazed that it was not crowded. Very nice track, good restrooms, decent food and clean.

Paul
 
only two that ive been too are I57 in Benton Il and the local track, Accelaquarter in Harrisburg, Il. both are nice tracks, 1/8 mile, reasonable prices and good food. Just got the lights up at the 'quarter, looking forward to some night races next summer.