[68Chevele]

At the track I go to there has been some controversy over the new 1/8 mile bracket racing and after the owner doing a survey, they have decided to switch back to 1/4 mile racing for all races. Now the crybaby dragster guys are balling their eyes out now on facebook and now are not coming back. One racer said "get with the times 1/8 mile is where it's at" LOL to that. The problem is that these big buck rear engine dragster guys are putting in 650 cu. in. engines and cannot slow them down enough in the 1/4, there are a lot of 1/8 mile tracks around but this group of about 125 racers are trying to pressure the local 1/4 tracks to do this. Last I checked except for the Pro classes in NHRA it's still 1/4 drag racing. I hate racing 1/8 mile, same money less track time.

 

[77 cruiser]

If I had choice I'd rather go 1/4 instead of 1/8.

 

[yelchevelle]

Never been to drag strip myself. For cars that can and are legitimately run on the street, are there any advantages to the 1/8 mile over 1/4 or is it just personal preference?

 

[68Chevele]

Never been to drag strip myself. For cars that can and are legitimately run on the street, are there any advantages to the 1/8 mile over 1/4 or is it just personal preference?

Yes, the guys that have the electronics in their cars are more deadly consistent in the 1/8 mile, that's why they are crying so much now at that track. When those cars are like .0002 on their dial ins cutting .001 lights it's hard to beat them and for me racing with delay boxes and timers is not racing.

 

[yelchevelle]

I don’t consider motor sports true sports, but that just takes the sport out of it!

 

[dyno jonn]

I don’t consider motor sports true sports, but that just takes the sport out of it!

Anything played with a ball is just a game anyway.....

 

[SSR71]

I don’t consider motor sports true sports, but that just takes the sport out of it!

Anything played with a ball is just a game anyway.....

Had this argument with someone a few decades ago regarding competitive shooting. My response. Sports and athletics are not one and the same.

 

[Ghaasl]

At the track I go to there has been some controversy over the new 1/8 mile bracket racing and after the owner doing a survey, they have decided to switch back to 1/4 mile racing for all races. Now the crybaby dragster guys are balling their eyes out now on facebook and now are not coming back. One racer said "get with the times 1/8 mile is where it's at" LOL to that. The problem is that these big buck rear engine dragster guys are putting in 650 cu. in. engines and cannot slow them down enough in the 1/4, there are a lot of 1/8 mile tracks around but this group of about 125 racers are trying to pressure the local 1/4 tracks to do this. Last I checked except for the Pro classes in NHRA it's still 1/4 drag racing. I hate racing 1/8 mile, same money less track time.

What track?

 

[rkd]

I find eighth mile just as competitive as 1/4 mile and somewhat easier on the car. Since I have the car set up mostly of eighth, I am happy to stay there. The starting line, launch and such are the same.

 

[55Redneck]

I haven't raced in a couple of decades but back then for me it was quarter mile only, never had any interest in 1/8 mile at all and probably never will. Over to soon.

 

[Alex_NY]

I wonder if tracks pay less liability insurance with 1/8 mile due to lower MPH by cars. Does anyone know?

 

[indymanjoel]

Just be glad ya have a track open to go to. Milan dragway closed near me. But Michigan has a few more tracks to play at.

 

[Kawickrice]

I have a tshirt that reads
Racing.......
Because Football, Baseball and Basket ball only require One Ball

 

[Alwhite00]

Just be glad ya have a track open to go to. Milan dragway closed near me. But Michigan has a few more tracks to play at.

the Ubly Dragway is literally 1/4 mile from my house.

 

[68Chevele]

What track?

Rock Falls in Wi.

 

[Monkey]

the Ubly Dragway is literally 1/4 mile from my house.

So you can race twice to the track and then do 1/4 mile race and then race twice back home. Nice.

 

[Saltherring]

What kind of rear end gears must a "street-strip" car run to compete in 1/8 mile racing....4.56...4.88 perhaps? How many guys who actually drive their cars on the street want to run those gears? Few, I would think. Whereas, the owner of a manual trans car with 3.73 gears, or an automatic trans car with 3.31 gears, can actually have fun AND compete in 1/4 mile racing, while driving a car that is fully streetable.

 

[68Chevele]

What kind of rear end gears must a "street-strip" car run to compete in 1/8 mile racing....4.56...4.88 perhaps? How many guys who actually drive their cars on the street want to run those gears? Few, I would think. Whereas, the owner of a manual trans car with 3.73 gears, or an automatic trans car with 3.31 gears, can actually have fun AND compete in 1/4 mile racing, while driving a car that is fully streetable.

I never change gears for the 1/8 mile, it's a complete waste of time and money, let me tell you why. In 1989 I had a Malibu wagon that I raced at out local 1/8th track and with 3.73 gear the car ran 8.0's a week later I swapped out the 3.73's for 4.56's and thinking the car would pickup a bunch, how does .006 gain sound? what a waste of time and money. When I switched converters the car picked up 3 tenths and when I went back to the 3.73's another tenth, lesson learned there for sure. Have a good friend who's brother has a really nice '67 Camaro he has raced forever in the 1/8 down in the southern US. 6.0 gears with a killer SBC and it only goes 7.30's. I am willing to bet if he gears it less the car picks up. My old Nova I ran at the 1/8 had 2.56 rear gears and I ran it like a power glide, dang car ran 8.35 at the 1/8. Maybe a singing 10K small cube SBC might like those deep gears, but most bigger engines do not need them. My peanut port no compression 461 BBC runs 7.0's in the 1/8 with an effective 3.73 gearing, no need to change gears there. One thing for sure a 6.0 rear gear is not streetable lol.

 

[Stokerboats]

At the track I go to there has been some controversy over the new 1/8 mile bracket racing and after the owner doing a survey, they have decided to switch back to 1/4 mile racing for all races. Now the crybaby dragster guys are balling their eyes out now on facebook and now are not coming back. One racer said "get with the times 1/8 mile is where it's at" LOL to that. The problem is that these big buck rear engine dragster guys are putting in 650 cu. in. engines and cannot slow them down enough in the 1/4, there are a lot of 1/8 mile tracks around but this group of about 125 racers are trying to pressure the local 1/4 tracks to do this. Last I checked except for the Pro classes in NHRA it's still 1/4 drag racing. I hate racing 1/8 mile, same money less track time.

Much less wear and tear on your drivetrain with 1/8th mile. The 2nd half of the 1/4 mile is just a sunday drive anyway. Lol

 

[540 Olds]

No need to change any gears when a calculator can tell you 1/4 mile results from 1/8 mile info...
For most of us on this forum, multiply 1/8 mile time x 1.57, and add about 24mph...you'll be well within the ballpark of our 1.5- 2.0 60 foot, .400 plus reaction times.....

For the serious racer/s bracket guys, yes, it can be an inconvenience/PITA. I like 1/4 mile better, but just having a track anymore is big PLUS, as so many are closing down.