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| Irwindale Raceway | Login/Join |
| DRR S/Pro |
Every so often you have something really surprise you, something that you imagined one way only have it turn out to be the opposite. That was the case I experienced yesterday when I went to Irwindale Raceway. This was the most professionally independently run race track I have been to in decades. Everyone was friendly, gracious, professional and well organized. The cars (and there was a huge amount of them) were very fast, underscore very fast! The races were very close and actually really exciting to watch. This is probably the reason the stands were packed with spectators and standing room at the guard rails . I don't know what the spectator final count was but it was huge . I want to say that a lot of this was due to the Track Officials, Announcer, Track management, Track prep and especially to Steve Sherman and his "Match Race" program. This place was ready to "Hold a serious event"! If you own, or run a drag strip get on a bus, a train or an airplane and spend a weekend at Irwindale when they hold a "Match Race" event. What ever the travel expense is, it will pay you back in dividends to see how to do two important things: #1 Make a lot of money #2 Give the racers and spectators a great experience that will bring them back. Changed my mind yesterday, this drag strip rates a Triple A rating. Thanks folks for a great experience. Bob | ||
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DRR S/Pro |
I always thought it was a muffler only track being in the middle of the city. Just got to hope it stays open, I know a few years ago they were suppose to bulldoze it and the stock car track to build a mall or something | |||
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| DRR S/Pro |
From what I encountered yesterday Irwindale Drag Strip will remain open they are too successful. The plan to use the property for a Mall went into the trash can when they discovered toxic materials in the ground. I guess that some rabbit crapped on the ground. The only thing they could do to improve the track is widen the shut down area into a two lane return road. As it stands the shut down area isn't bad, it could just use a little improvement. Bob | |||
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DRR Sportsman |
The track is less than a 1/2 hour trip from our shop in Bellflower. It would be great if they had a more robust starting line hook and a longer shut off [both very expensive (cement, etc.) or physically impossible (adjoining property).] Being able to do 1/8th mile TnT with our ProCharger Top Dragster is tough, both off the line and shutting down. They have 330 foot ET and MPH clocks and when we last ran there with our old nitrous combination, it was just adequate, shutting off at the 330 foot lights. Ready great and friendly people, but not something that we can regularly use. The only regularly running track in the greater LA, OC, SB, county area! | |||
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| DRR Top Comp |
David, they let you run your dragster there?? I called there last year and they gave me a flat "NO"...... No mufflers and too fast were mentioned at the time... . Dave F J B | |||
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| DRR S/Pro |
Good afternoon David, it's great to hear that you conversion from nitrous to a Pro Charger is going well. Yesterday Irwindale had a Pro Mod make four runs, the first was a 500 foot "Get acquainted pass" so it hit the tire pretty hard, sorry I didn't get the numbers. The 2nd, 3rd and especially the last looked like they had it figured out, it ran a 3.90 @ 195 and handled it like it was no problem at all. A 3.90 and 195 is a little faster and quicker than most NHRA T/D numbers at 660 feet. 3.90 would put you well under the 6.10 cap and that was with a heavier Pro Mod car.. The grip was as good or better than any track I've ever been to, a guy could lose his shoes trying to walk near the starting line, the prep was first class. Rob (T/S) watched the wheel speed numbers change as the day progressed, ended up with a 4.42 @ 660. Grip is not a issue. As for the track shut down, if you pay attention the shut down should not be a problem. I know you the have experience and capability of handling the track, it won't be a problem for you. You might ask Ryan Priddy what he thinks, he was there yesterday. I know you respect his opinion. Bob | |||
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| DRR Pro |
Bob, Glad you had a great time! I wish I would have known more about the bracket race they had on Sat. I would have raced it & stayed the night. I got up at 2am this morning & made the 4 hour trip there & back for the Summit Series today. We had everything above, except the crowd & the very fast cars. 2BKING Pretty hard to race when my "shyt is blown up"; ED's FAKE FACTS/NEWS! 
1980 Camaro Taking the Best Working Small Tire Shyt Box & making it Greater Than Before! 3000 lbs. Pump Gas 436 | |||
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| DRR Elite |
Seems like with that local population base they would have to mess up pretty bad to not make money....IF they can pay the taxes and IF they keep the ghetto crowd out. I'm glad they are doing well according to the advertisement...err post. But you won't find this fella anywhere close to LA. Good that drag racing is alive and well there though!! Foxtrot Juliet Bravo | |||
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| DRR S/Pro |
They also install 500 foot clocks so you have another split time to work with. Rob was 3.72 and a 3.73 @ 500 which became a 4.42 @ 660. Bob | |||
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| DRR Sportsman |
I raced there in the late '50s when it was 1/4 mile. Good times. | |||
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| DRR S/Pro |
That would be the original Irwindale raceway, that track closed and became Milker Brewery in the early 80s, this track is a couple miles down the 605 freeway from the original track. I am still shocked they are allowing race cars without mufflers with those high rent houses just to the north in Bradbury, those people used to cry about the noise back in the 70s | |||
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DRR Pro |
That explains a lot. I was thinking when I started reading this thread that I remembered that place being closed a long time ago. ____________________________ 2017 and 2018 Osage Casinos Tulsa Raceway Park No-Box Champion 2018 Div4 Goodguys Hammer award winner | |||
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| DRR Top Comp |
I'm hoping they're letting faster/no muffler cars run there now. I've tried calling there a few times today but no answer. I wonder if the dragster that ran there this weekend was just a friend of the owner deal? Don't want to get too nosey and get someone in trouble lol . Dave F J B | |||
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| DRR S/Pro |
Hey Dave: From my experience Saturday noise doesn't seem to be an issue, I don't recall anyone running mufflers. I can't see any reason why you couldn't run your car there, they had quite a few high four second cars. You will need a GPS (kidding) and a tow vehicle (not kidding) to get back to your pit space. Nice place to race! Bob | |||
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| DRR Top Comp |
Is there something way out of whack about the pits Bob? I've raced on my own for the last few years and got the car radiator'd and double battery with 130amp alternator so I can drive it to the lanes and back to my pit without issue. . Dave F J B | |||
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| DRR S/Pro |
Dave you should take a Saturday next time its open and drive out there without the dragster and check out the situation yourself before dragging the car out there only to find out its not a good fit | |||
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| DRR Top Comp |
How funny !! Tim from Irwindale just called me back and suggested the same thing. He said the trip back to your pit space is longer than normal but not like a mile or anything. He also said "bullshyt" if it passes NHRA tech it can race here. Has always been that way. So for years since Fontana shut down I've been thinking SoCal racing was done. I'm pissed I wasted a couple of racing years, but VERY happy/excited there's a track a little over an hour away.... Someone there told me no to the dragster and their website still says Mufflers required.....so I don't how I misunderstood but I really don't care....I have a local track again !!!!!  . Dave F J B | |||
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| DRR Sportsman |
We have been running the heads up car at Irwindale for a couple of years. In fact it holds the NA10.5 track record there. Although they will not let us lower anymore we have already been faster than the record. Not sure I can belive the clocks there but we have a good time and its a good place to test for us. Here is avideo of the record pass from someone in the stands, Place has some issues but they put butts in the stands. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGilcavnpJQ "I am not ashamed to confess I am ignorant of what I do not know." Marcus Tullius Cicero | |||
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| DRR Elite |
Al, they have a brand new port-a-tree timing system at the track now. L8R, Mike | |||
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| DRR Sportsman |
Let just say we have not been able to come close to running better numbers ANYWHERE else we run. Which is all over the states. Maybe we just get to run in unicorn air there but me thinks its not the case. But hey if folks wanna believe an NA10.5 car with a SB at 2730lbs can run 1.06 60' then so be it. I'll let them. We enjoy having a place to test for sure. Just saying dont get to caught up if you happen to run personal bests there that you cannot duplicate elsewhere. My only reall issue is all of the races we run are no time deals. I guess to "save egos", the excuse its for the fans dont hold water. "I am not ashamed to confess I am ignorant of what I do not know." Marcus Tullius Cicero | |||
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