I doubt the Drag Strip is going to be built. Too far from a large populated area (LA) and one big mountain to tow over, then back home. A weekly Bracket Series would really be a "hard sell".

I don't see it happening.

Bob

quote:

Originally posted by Mike English:
Barry, Tim Huddleston was the guy who ran Irwindale and he is now running Kern County Raceway

Thanks Mike!

quote:

Originally posted by RPROGAS:
I doubt the Drag Strip is going to be built. Too far from a large populated area (LA) and one big mountain to tow over, then back home. A weekly Bracket Series would really be a "hard sell".

I don't see it happening.

Bob

Takes me 5 hours from vacaville to Famoso. How far is Lost Angeles from Famoso? Say Pomona ?

Just looked it up, only 2 .5 hours!

Barry

Famoso is 275 miles from Lakeside (San Diego)
Kern Raceway is 341 from Lakeside
Las Vegas is 368 miles from Lakeside
Phoenix is 336 miles from Lakeside
Tucson is 410 miles from Lakeside
Dallas / Indy / Bowling Green / Maple Grove might as well be on the moon.

When I first started drag racing Lancaster Raceway was about 40 miles from my home in Reading, and I thought THAT was a long tow. Maple Grove was about a 27 mile tow, and I complained about that so 350+ miles one way is, at 84 beyond my horizon.

I have a really nice race car, trailer and motorhome for sale.

Bob

I remember Mason Dixon, 75&80, Capitol, Aquasco, all less than 50 mi from home. Now live in NC and although lots of tracks there is very little racing. Especially on a weekly basis. Used to race 4-5 days a week and sometimes 2 tracks in one day. Good old days are gone for us old guys.

Bob, not where you got your mileage but Famoso and Kern County Racewsy are both roughly 190 miles from my house. 1 off the 5 and one
Off the 99. And Im probably 50 miles from you coming up the 15

quote:

Originally posted by RPROGAS:
Went there one time with Rob's T/S, car ran in the mid 4.50's/154. There was a Corvette ProMod pitted next to us that ran 3.90/195 tryin' to die. Well organized with a HUGE spectator turnout and I do mean huge! Lots of fast cars but as Mike, Larry and others have said, scary merge into one lane a little past the finish line. If you lost the laundry or brakes it would be ugly.

Bob

So Cal Pro Gas racers had the same concerns about Barona and got chastised for it...

Mike, was just stating what was being said at the last Irwindale race. Who knows guys could have been full of BS..I was kinda shocked there was a new track being built anywhere in California myself. I know that the main promotor from Irwindale already has an event scheduled at Famoso in February. So if the info from Kern was correct that makes little sense. But just what was being told.

Either way they are bot a long was for us to go to a one day race. From Phoenix Bakersfield is a long trip for a day. No "easy way to get there. And for me in Vegas its 330 miles from my house one way.

Mike:

To avoid the LA and the Grapevine traffic we skirt around LA on the East

I-8 from Lakeside to
I-15 to
I-215 to
138 (Lancaster) to
14 (Palmdale) to
58 (Tehachapi) to
99 (Through Bakersfield) to
65 (Porterville Pike) to
46 (Famosa Road)

275 miles (Easier towing, far less traffic)

Bob

quote:

I was kinda shocked there was a new track being built anywhere in California myself.

Banning Drag City should be almost done by now!

quote:

Banning Drag City should be almost done by now!

Jack Rabbit races every night Michael, pitiful purse!

Bob

Michael Beard wins the post of the year award!!!

Bob, I work at Bakersfield 12 to 15 times a year and I very rarely have a traffic problem on the grapevine. The Cajon pass on the 15 is back up daily

quote:

Originally posted by Mike English:
Michael Beard wins the post of the year award!!!

Bob, I work at Bakersfield 12 to 15 times a year and I very rarely have a traffic problem on the grapevine. The Cajon pass on the 15 is back up daily

Towing a trailer 15-20mph up the Grapevine is a lot different than going 70mph out in the fast lane Mike....Believe me big rigs and idiots get in the way all the way up......Both ways !

I remember back in the early 90s in my 77 Gas dually towing over the Grapevine in the heat of summer, finally made it over the top and when I turned the AC back on it threw all the belts off, lost the power steering and hydro boost brakes on the downside, that was a real bad feeling going down hill , it took a bit but luckily was able to get it to stop using the electric trailer brakes.

If you haven't broke down on the grapevine you haven't drag raced in socal. Oh by the way broke down on the 138 going to palmdale a few time also. Or 395 going to inyokern.
Back in the day drag racers didn't complain about traveling to race. Now well!

Jerry

Dave, you won’t go 15 or 20 on the Cajon pass, it’s a parking lot.

I try to choose all of my races a 2 hour tow or less unless it is a really special event. I would not be making a 4 or 5 hour tow each way to regular bracket race every week. I might have when I was younger or when gas was under $2 a gallon but now not going to happen.

California is about to introduce their new "Low Carbon Fuel Standard" at more than $6.00 a gallon. Fewer racers will be willing to invest $550 in tow vehicle fuel a weekend to go racing. I predict that 2025 will be a tough year on the few remaining drag race tracks in California.

The bad news for you racers in the other States is to expect our "Tree Hugging/Climate Changing" Democratic Governor (Newsome) to run for President in the next election. He will bring that particular brand of financial misery if he's elected.

Bob

Bob, try and introduce and hopefully it fails

A few decades ago when I worked for TRW I attended a C.A.R.B. meeting in LA. The topic was allowing Japanese "take out engines" to be sold in California. NONE of these junk engines met CARB compliance (Smog) standards so the Engine Re-manufacturing Industry was at a substantial disadvantage. At that time Japan required engines to be removed and replaced at 50,000 miles. Those engines which did not meet CARB compliance were sold through California Distributors like Sun Engines, Wantanabi and several others. It killed the Japanese Engine Building business which was exploding in popularity at the time. There was no debate, C.A.R.B. ignored California Engine Builders, this was a pre-determined one sided debate. I learned a valuable lesson that day, that C.A.R.B. Officials could be bought off.

When is money is involved corrupt California Officials can be bought, skrew the public!

No Michael, I have absolute confidence C.A.R.B will pass the Low Carbon Fuel Standard. The EV Industry is the beneficiary.

You and I will pay to own and drive a gas power vehicle until they outlaw gasoline entirely.

Bob