Hot Rod DRAG WEEK 2019 is stopping at Atco Dragstrip on 9/11/19

[IROCZman15]

I've always read the articles in the magazine for a long long time and watched some of the video content online during recent years....and I was thrilled to see that it was coming to the East Coast this year...specifically, making a stop on Wednesday 9/11/19 at Atco. I think I am able to get the day off to go there and spectate for the day. Anyone else planning on going?

https://www.hotrod.com/events/drag-week/


for those who don't know what Drag week is, it is a 5 day event. Competitors race their cars at 5 dragstrips in 5 days and have their best times averaged together. the kicker is, that ALL cars must be street driven, and can tow a small trailer....BUT the competing car itself can not be on a trailer. there are checkpoints along the way and many cars have mechanical problems. Usually the route covers close to 1,000 miles. There is everything from 6 second outlaw (almost pro-mod level) cars to daily driver classes, power adder classe, and N/A, etc etc.

youtube some videos of it. if you are curious.



I think I am going to make the trip down there. Anybody else ?

[sweetbmxrider]

I'd love to, probably be a rare opportunity and a great time, but I'm getting married that Saturday and I know its going to be too hectic to sneak away. Post up your usual pics, vids, and detailed recap plz

[BonzoHansen]

I think BTK and i will be there.

[Joey D]

Dave, I'm in. Leaving super early and gettn back late? Gota decide tonight if im brngn minime or rearranging sitter.

[IROCZman15]

sounds good fellas

congrats on the upcoming wedding adam. enjoy !

[Featherburner]

I'm planning on going.

[sweetbmxrider]

Originally Posted by IROCZman15

sounds good fellas

congrats on the upcoming wedding adam. enjoy !

Thanks sir! Caught wind that a "racing team" is staying where our hotel block is. Thinking its someone for drag week. I'm sure Bls will make friends/post pics

[IROCZman15]

some updated info:

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/drag...aking-classes/

has # of cars in each class..
...unfortunately I can't find an actual full list of competitors anywhere online though.. hmm

[jmi88SC]

I plan on going; l live in the area. I believe they start running at 8am and go till 2pm, to allow competitors travel time to next day's venue.

$20 admission, gates open 7:30am.

Should be a cool event with lots of F-bodies, of course.

Joe

[67SS396]

Originally Posted by jmi88SC

I plan on going; l live in the area. I believe they start running at 8am and go till 2pm, to allow competitors travel time to next day's venue.

$20 admission, gates open 7:30am.

Should be a cool event with lots of F-bodies, of course.

Joe

I wonder what hotel they are staying at. I might drive around tuesday night to a couple of the local ones.

[Dave Nelson]

I'm 20 minutes away, think I'll take a ride.

[BonzoHansen]

Originally Posted by jmi88SC

I plan on going; l live in the area. I believe they start running at 8am and go till 2pm, to allow competitors travel time to next day's venue.

$20 admission, gates open 7:30am.

Should be a cool event with lots of F-bodies, of course.

Joe

Atco site says gates open at 630

[IROCZman15]

I’ll be leaving my house around 5 am or so . I have a long drive.

Had anyone been able to find some website that has a list of competitors
In each class and live timing or times from yesterday??

[BonzoHansen]

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/hot-...-race-results/

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/drag...te-entry-list/

https://st.hotrod.com/uploads/sites/...gistration.pdf

[IROCZman15]

We are here

It is awesome

[Blackbirdws6]

Originally Posted by IROCZman15

We are here

It is awesome

Enjoy! Love them dearly so they come back next time.

[67SS396]

I drove by the track this morning on the way to drop the kids off at school. It looked good. I should have taken off from work.

[Jersey Mike]

Seeing some media from you guys this morning was awesome. Even more impressive behind the scenes. Can't wait for Dave's photo dump!

[Dave Nelson]

Some nice/fast cars there today.

[IROCZman15]

Short version:
I had a freakin' blast. Was very cool to see real deal race/street cars doing business. Race cars with trailers, what a sight to see! Weather was hot but humid. Cars broke, cars went fast, lots of spectators, good times. took a bunch of photos and videos (to be uploaded in a few days time though)


Long Version:
Since racing began at 8am and ended at 2pm, I made sure I left my house early (5:20 am). arrived at the track at 7:30 just after Billy, Scott and Joe got there. Walked the pits, watched some of the cars pull in towing their trailer and watched as they transformed from street driver to race duty. taking off street tires, changing engine configurations and fueling up. I just happened to be walking past the maroon chevy nova (easily a $150,000 car) and heard an angle grinder. looked over to see the driver taking a cutting wheel to the front/bottom of both rear wheel well openings. I guess something happened where the drag slick now started contacting the sheetmetal. I watched in shock as he did what he damn well had to do, and cut metal and beautiful paint off of what had to be a $20,000 paint job. (I took a video, will post later).

we hungout in the staging lanes watching cars roll past and behind the burnout box. PolarBear and Dave Nelson arrived and we went to watch some racing from the grandstands, right below where David Frieburger and Brian Lohmes were giving track commentary. Some vehicles busted rear axles, driveshafts etc. One guy dumped a few gallons of fuel out of the car as he made a single digit pass, many wheelies, Tom Bailey ran a 6.18 second pass, even a 1919 Franklin (bone stock) ran down the track at 45mph and a 30.x second e.t., and some Tesla cars run mid 10s.

We took a break from the hot sun, got lunch and waked the pits. chatted with a few racers (many 3rd gen fbody guys) and also watched as the competitors who were satisfied enough with their best e.t. and they decided to convert their cars back to street mode. dave, btk, scott, joe and james left. I had some time to kill between then and 6pm, so I walked the pits a bunch. hungout with Finnegan and Tony of Roadkill, the Austrailian chevelle guys, the guy with the broken truck rear, the Austrian team (who arrived at the track with only 10mins before the track closed and managed to make a single pass!), Alex Taylor's team, and some others. I had something monumental (for me) at 6, so I found a place to grab some buffalo wings and killed time. At 6, I had setup a visit/meeting with the guy who owns my late uncles 1975 pro street camaro (see my other thread) and I went over there to see it for the first time since 1991 when my uncle took me or a ride at age 7, a few years before he ended up selling it.

Hot Rod Drag Week was super cool. This is the first time in the 15 years of drag week that they have come this close to our territory. I don't see it happening again anytime soon, but who knows. My hats off to all the competitors who truly battle their way through their event. super cool !


here is a link to yesterdays live feed video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB9e8Dal-2o

live feed today is also on youtube.

[IROCZman15]

My photos and videos are at this link:



https://www.flickr.com/photos/iroczm...57710827832227



and here are some of them.

[IROCZman15]

more photos and videos:

[IROCZman15]

last group of photos
...for more, click the link

https://www.flickr.com/photos/iroczm...27832227/page3

[IROCZman15]

some videos:



















IMG_3423 by David Martin, on Flickr

[sweetbmxrider]

That looks amazing, what a crazy day. Probably helps you appreciate the event so much more in person.