OMR autocrossers at the drag strip
Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 1:22 pm
Hi Y'all,
Several of OMR's intrepid autocrossers invaded MoKan Dragway over between Joplin and Pittsburg last Friday for the weekly fun drags, to see what their cars would do in the quarter mile. Present were yours truly, Mark R., Opie V., Mark F., and Opie's brother Mike, who is a former OMR autocrosser and Autocrosser of the Year winner. So, to set the stage for my story, there were a Mustang, a Corvette, a Camaro, a Firebird, and a '65 Malibu present, along with an assortment of cars ranging from a street rod to some 9 second drag cars, and including a '49 Olds, a school bus, and a few super bikes.
But first a bit of history. Go on to the next paragraph if you don't want to hear about the '60's. I began my racing career, to whatever extent you can call it that, at this very venue in 1964, winning a trophy on my first time out in my '58 Ford Fairlane. Of course my parents didn't know, but after some anxious moments later that day seemed to accept that I was going to do car crazy things regardless. I took drag racing seriously in the late '60's when I was in college, and spent some good money on headers, gears, and slicks. The "gold standard" at that time was for a stock car to be able to get into the 13's in the quarter. I never made it there in my '67 Mustang 289, getting only to 14.3. Well, that has been an unfulfilled quest ever since.
So, I had an agenda for last Friday, as did some of the others. All intended just to have a good time, but Mark F. was determined to get into the 12's with his ESP Firebird. Mark R. wanted to drive home with a still-functional clutch, and Mike V. just wanted to make a good showing. And the results? Mark F. was fastest with a 13.06, just missing a 12 second pass. I achieved my long-delayed goal by getting a best of 13.72. Mark R. got a 13.78 and his clutch seemed fine. Opie and his torque-motor Camaro was fastest to 60 ft. and the eighth mile mark, and also bested his brother with a 13.85 to a 14.3. In the actual head-to-head racing, Mark F. was dynamite at the start (helped I'm sure by recent Pro Solo experience) while I seemed to be left sitting there too often. (It all happens fast and smoothness there is not an operative concept.) I think not walking the course made a difference. Ha!
As they say, a good time was had by all. No broken parts or bruised egos. But you know, I now know why I left drag racing a long time ago. It is not as interesting as autocross and kinds of racing that involve corners. Yes, I respect what it takes to do well, and the engineering involved, and the skill of the launch, and the technology that goes into low ETs, and the gamesmanship that is involved in bracket racing. But the course is always straight. The driver in me was not really that engaged. The launch is everything I kept hoping for a slalom or something to appear halfway down the track. That would have surprised a few folks!
Anyway, perhaps some others would like to try their hand. There were even a few front drivers there too, and one WRX.
See you next autocross.
Several of OMR's intrepid autocrossers invaded MoKan Dragway over between Joplin and Pittsburg last Friday for the weekly fun drags, to see what their cars would do in the quarter mile. Present were yours truly, Mark R., Opie V., Mark F., and Opie's brother Mike, who is a former OMR autocrosser and Autocrosser of the Year winner. So, to set the stage for my story, there were a Mustang, a Corvette, a Camaro, a Firebird, and a '65 Malibu present, along with an assortment of cars ranging from a street rod to some 9 second drag cars, and including a '49 Olds, a school bus, and a few super bikes.
But first a bit of history. Go on to the next paragraph if you don't want to hear about the '60's. I began my racing career, to whatever extent you can call it that, at this very venue in 1964, winning a trophy on my first time out in my '58 Ford Fairlane. Of course my parents didn't know, but after some anxious moments later that day seemed to accept that I was going to do car crazy things regardless. I took drag racing seriously in the late '60's when I was in college, and spent some good money on headers, gears, and slicks. The "gold standard" at that time was for a stock car to be able to get into the 13's in the quarter. I never made it there in my '67 Mustang 289, getting only to 14.3. Well, that has been an unfulfilled quest ever since.
So, I had an agenda for last Friday, as did some of the others. All intended just to have a good time, but Mark F. was determined to get into the 12's with his ESP Firebird. Mark R. wanted to drive home with a still-functional clutch, and Mike V. just wanted to make a good showing. And the results? Mark F. was fastest with a 13.06, just missing a 12 second pass. I achieved my long-delayed goal by getting a best of 13.72. Mark R. got a 13.78 and his clutch seemed fine. Opie and his torque-motor Camaro was fastest to 60 ft. and the eighth mile mark, and also bested his brother with a 13.85 to a 14.3. In the actual head-to-head racing, Mark F. was dynamite at the start (helped I'm sure by recent Pro Solo experience) while I seemed to be left sitting there too often. (It all happens fast and smoothness there is not an operative concept.) I think not walking the course made a difference. Ha!
As they say, a good time was had by all. No broken parts or bruised egos. But you know, I now know why I left drag racing a long time ago. It is not as interesting as autocross and kinds of racing that involve corners. Yes, I respect what it takes to do well, and the engineering involved, and the skill of the launch, and the technology that goes into low ETs, and the gamesmanship that is involved in bracket racing. But the course is always straight. The driver in me was not really that engaged. The launch is everything I kept hoping for a slalom or something to appear halfway down the track. That would have surprised a few folks!
Anyway, perhaps some others would like to try their hand. There were even a few front drivers there too, and one WRX.
See you next autocross.
haha
