WOO-HOO!
Thanks!
“ZMax” is the sponsor of the track. I can’t remember if it’s the track sticky stuff (it will pull your foot out of your shoe if you walk on it before it is set,) or a car polish...seems like it should be the latter!
Most Drag race tracks ARE clean because it’s a “safety issue.” And most of the fans comply with the “rules” as the track announcer lays them down, especially before a national event.
If you’re part of the “pit crew” (indicated by a colored wrist band) you can get onto the track in order to photograph or video the racer you are the pit crew for. Otherwise, you have to stand behind the wall.
You also don’t want to stand behind the cars during a burn-out, as you’ll get “cooties” on you...rubber from the tires, and sludge from the track!
If it’s mostly a local event, or sponsored by a car maker (Chevy does a lot of them) you will see more of one kind than others, and local clubs will come to show off their cars. Lots of restorations and antiques.
The cars that “nobody in their right mind would want to race” (LOL!) are probably the pride and joy of the owners, who spend their last dime on a part of some kind. It’s an addictive sport, for sure!
Most of the entries are in “brackets” of speed and time. The drivers use white shoe polish on the windows that designate the time they think it will take to get to the finish light. Sometimes, if a faster car races a slower car (luck of the draw) the faster car will have to wait a second or two for the slower car to leave before it gets a green light.
It’s a lot of fun to go and learn things, and I’m sure, when you get farther into your auto class, you will have more opportunity to see more races.
I’ve been going to drag races for most of my life (when I went to my first one, it was on a county road, out in the farmland!) but I still ask questions. I still have to look at cars, engines, and equipment, and once in a while, if the announcers aren’t too busy, I can go up and bother them.
It’s a fun place to kill some time, and I appreciate you taking the time to tell me! (I was SO excited for you! LOL!)
Anoreth is very fond of fast cars. I have to remind her regularly that the Purple Thing *isn’t* one!
I had a coworker in the insurance business who rebuilt and raced Corvettes. It’s like a cult!