For fun of it not tool measuring thing.

What is the hairiest ride you have had in race car. Hopefully w/o scuffing your vehicle.

Mine was in TA/D. Helment little worn and combined with seat angel to cage . I had helmet rotat over eyes. Not once but twice in same run. First was in 1st gear.Lifted for .95 seconds pushing helmet up and hittin shift button same time. Then at half track right after hitting 3rd did same thing. Off throttlew for about .5 and back on. Missed qualifying by .012.

Lights out take whole new meaning at 190 mph. Oh did not even scare the paing job.

Since my post will list second.

Kicked rods at 1000', thought was same issue wkith tires shaking as friend who borrowed mine had week before. Did not lift. Drove las 300' could only see two orange cones and since between them was not lifting. Again thought just tire shake. Hind site should have gotten my ego off the throttle and save the parts.

So what ride got your attention real quick?

Vegas in 2001. I didn't wake up until 2002.

Bob

quote:

Originally posted by RPROGAS:
Vegas in 2001. I didn't wake up until 2002.

Bob

was that from a bad ride or the Vegas part of that?

3rd round of the IHRA bracket finals ROC at Norwalk, launched the car with a flat right rear slick, came within inches of of the wall with my R/R quarter / bumper.
Since the entire team was at the fence to use my run for their time shot, I put it back into the groove and finished the run for the MPH at least.

Broke the driver side axle on the launch at Tri-State, abrupt right turn. Aborted the run.

quote:

posted November 01, 2025 10:11 AM Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by RPROGAS:
Vegas in 2001. I didn't wake up until 2002.

was that from a bad ride or the Vegas part of that?

No Casino was involved, just one very hard wall

Bob

Once at finish line at Piedmont, no brakes. Once at Manasass, VA years ago brakes hit the floor while staging. Long time ago in WV in my Pro Stock Camaro the track made a sharp turn at the 1/4 finish line. I tore the whole side off the car sliding around on the guard rail. Bad day.

If doing stupid stuff with my race car on the street counts, 1990'ish, I pulled onto the road for a grudge race and couldn't slow down enough before a long curve after I'd put space between my opponent and myself. Passenger side went off road for a bit while I fought the steering wheel. young and dumb, learned a lesson.

Another occasion, at the dragstrip this time, had a rubber brake hose split as I was staged and tree about to start. Car jumped pretty hard when pedal hit the floor and I lost the round. Not really that scary, until realizing it could have happened at the finish line.

While not a Hairy Ride, when I first got into racing, I got a pretty good thrill in my slow street car running a trophy race on test n tune night in the late 80's. A pipe rack dragster lined up beside me, dialed at least 4 seconds quicker, likely more. I'm cruising pretty well around 65 mph through the mufflers and he comes around me, over 100 mph. The flash of him whipping by and the sudden change from quiet to his wide open engine got my attention. A really cool memory from way back then.

quote:

Originally posted by RPROGAS:

quote:

posted November 01, 2025 10:11 AM Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by RPROGAS:
Vegas in 2001. I didn't wake up until 2002.

was that from a bad ride or the Vegas part of that?

No Casino was involved, just one very hard wall

Bob

I do remember that!

Since dad can not post, hell him turning computer oin will mess it up.

Farmington 1985 teim trial with Gilmer Hionshaw in left lane, At finish line car hits dip un loads tires. Shoots car sideways, dad said he remebers thinking slide baby slide. It do not. Did the full rounds in in air. Sent engine in flight. Spinning fast enough to bend every pushrod in it. Mags do not shut off if coild fasgtened to engine. Car stopped middle of track no engone or transmission. Both his legs hanging thru floor. When they got helmet off he was smiling. Sure sign that head took some major smacking around.

I was on top end of 3 wheeler. Seeing him in flight hit throttle qnd they had small mound between track and return. Air borned it and was at car second it stopped.

Our Biggest and most replayed was Funny car at bristol 1991. Got cover of the walked aways tape and butt load of coverage on that one. Car riding on guard rails at 230 riping car in half.May have seen this one. Not My hairy moment but was for Rickey Bowie driver.

Damn no wonder we are broke.LO

Bracket race at Medford Oregon. I was coming up on the guy a little past half track and something in his lane caught my eye. It was his driveshaft. It came out of the car and took a big bounce towards my lane. I jabbed the brakes and it went vertical about 2 feet in front of the car. I pulled it back in 2nd and hit the gas hard. I drove under it while it was in the air above me and saw it land in the middle of my lane in the rear view mirror.

That was a while back as it was all caught on VHS tape.

The guy had a big block 4 speed car with no drive line hoops. He got loaded up and was headed out of the gate in record time afterwords.

Grabbed the brakes, caliper hangs, wind up behind my opponent, didn't cross center until after finish line so still win the round.