Drag Racing: An Insight

 

Originated in the United States, Drag racing is quite like motor racing in which two contestants race from a start point, side by side, on a drag strip. The drag strip is a flat, straight course, with a usual length of 1/4 mile or 0.4 km. During the race, both elapsed time (in seconds) and final speed (in miles per hour or mph) are recorded. The selection of the winner is simple – the one who crosses the finish line first.

The US, National Hot Rod Association is the governing body of the race and issues guidelines for the race. The authority is also responsible for hosting drag racing events all across the United States and Canada.

What’s so interesting about drag racing?

Cars and racers compete, but no two cars are exactly alike. Dragsters are custom-built, so can be precisely the outcome of blood, sweat and motor oil. While the cars are modified, the winner is not decided based on the looks rather by what’s there inside. A traditional hot rod or race car doesn’t make any difference, but the power. Drag racing is open to all makes and models, in various divisions, classes, which also include Smart Cars, and even Trucks. What matter the most here are the engine and the parts powering it.  

The first organized Drag Racing sport began in the 1930s on the dry lake beds in Southern California.  It got more respect and fame in 1938 after Wally Parks brought into light Southern California Timing Association (SCTA).

1950 was the year when the first commercial drag strip got opened in California. In the same year Parks was the editor of Hot Rod Magazine and urged local hot rod clubs to come together with SCTA to create a larger national level organization for better safety, and then came NHRA.

International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) is a smaller rival organization that also sanctions events along with NHRA.