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Introduction To Drag Racing

Drag racing originated in the United States and involves two cars racing side by side over a quarter-mile distance, with the first to cross the finish line declared the winner. The sport became more organized in the 1950s with the founding of the NHRA, which established various classes of competition. Drag racing grew in popularity through the 1960s and 1970s, becoming more technical with electronic starting systems and radical car designs, until achieving its modern form with sponsorship from large companies.

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Mary Felismino
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244 views

Introduction To Drag Racing

Drag racing originated in the United States and involves two cars racing side by side over a quarter-mile distance, with the first to cross the finish line declared the winner. The sport became more organized in the 1950s with the founding of the NHRA, which established various classes of competition. Drag racing grew in popularity through the 1960s and 1970s, becoming more technical with electronic starting systems and radical car designs, until achieving its modern form with sponsorship from large companies.

Uploaded by

Mary Felismino
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction to Drag Racing

Drag Racing is a form of motorsport that originated in the United States. Two automobiles usually compete in
this race from a standing start side by side on a flat, straight course, commonly 200 meters to 400 meters long
or what is called the drag strip. The elapsed time in seconds, and the final speed in miles per hour, are recorded
but mostly, the one who will first cross the finish line is the winner.
The cars used in this race can range from usual cars to the purposely built dragsters. The National Hot Rod
Association is the main governing body for drag racing. It has divisions such as Super Stock, Top Sportsman,
Tops Dragster, and Super Street.

History of Drag Racing

Drag racing started in the dry lake beds of the California deserts. When the engines got better and the drivers
got braver, speeds began topping 100 miles per hour in the 1930’s. But after the World War II, kids with cars
turned racing into something more serious.
Drag racing’s popularity grew but it still remained an underground pastime. The races usually took place on
disused military runways. The first ever organized drag racing event was held in 1949 at the Goleta Air Base in
California. Things were simple back in these days as drivers raced the length of a city block without safety
barriers. The spectators do not have any proper grandstands or seating.

As the years passed, drag racing became more organized especially when the National Hot Rod Association
(NHRA) was founded by Wally Parks in 1951. Within a decade, there were two classes of competition that
have been developed, the Unmodified Stock, and the Top Eliminator. As the sport grew, there were also drag
racing superstars that emerged such as Dode Martin and Jim Nelson who owned the Dragmaster Dart drag
racing car.
Things became more technical in the 1960’s. Before, a traditional flag man stood between the two racing cars
to start the race, but it was replaced with an electronic lighting system. Even the designs of the cars being used
changed from wide and short to long and thin. There were also a lot of organizations that emerged including
the World Series of Drag Racing.
Drag racing also brought big business involvement in the 1960’s most especially in Ford and Chrysler who
battled to make the best cars with more radical designs. The funny cars were also introduced. These are cars
comprised with one-piece fiberglass body that has to be lifted up for the driver to climb inside.
In the 1970’s, the most serious accident in early drag racing occurred when Don Garli’s front-motored dragster
suffered a transmission explosion that split his car into half and cutting off his right foot. This cause the
fundamentals of car design for drag racing to be changed. Don Garli vowed to invent a car with the engine in
the back and within two years, all car engines were behind the drivers.
Drag racing began to take its modern shape from the 1970’s onwards. In the present time, there are now
sponsorships from big companies. Volunteer crew members are also being given wages and the NHRA found a
sponsor allowing them to offer bigger money for prizes.

The Racer
In drag racing, no special skills are required to join as long as you are a licensed driver. Even kids as young as
8 years old compete in Junior Drag League events. Each race in drag racing can improve the driving skills and
it also tests the full performance and capabilities of a vehicle.

The Tree
A modern professional drag race is started using a tree. It is a device which is called a Christmas Tree that
stands 42 feet ahead of the starting line. The drivers are signaled to stage their vehicles as they approach the
starting line and start the race by watching the colored bulbs light up in sequence.
The sides of the tree have two small yellow bulbs each at the top. This signals the driver once the vehicle is on
the start line. The tree has three larger amber colored bulbs followed by a green bulb and then a red bulb. The
first bulb lights up when the vehicle is near the line, then the next bulb lights up once the vehicle moves
forward to the staged position on the line. When the green bulb lights up, it signals the driver to start the race.
The red bulb on the tree is to signal that the vehicle left the start line before the green bulb lights up. Meaning,
it’s a foul start for that vehicle and the opponent automatically wins.

The Race
As the two racers leave the start line together, the finish line will decide who the winner will be. The total time
of the race for each lane are recorded, as well as the speed for each vehicle. The timer starts when the vehicle
leaves the start line and not when the green light comes on.
Today, drag racing events are not just in the United States because there are now drag racing organizations all
over the world including Australia, Europe, South Asia, and South Africa. There are also now hundreds of
classes and each have different requirements and restrictions.
As the years pass, and as the development of automobiles advances, more motorsport events like drag racing
will be held in the different parts of the world.

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