Lost Drag Strips II

Lost Drag Strips II
Author: Scotty Gosson
Publisher: CarTech Inc
Total Pages: 177
Release: 2016-04-15
Genre: Transportation
ISBN: 1613252234

Fresh on the heels of the best-selling book Lost Drag Strips comes a new look at other long-lost and forgotten drag racing facilities from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. In the first volume, the author examined the birth of drag racing and its subsequent popularity that invaded every city and community across America. Unfortunately, after the initial explosion of popularity, it waned, and various drag strips closed for a myriad of reasons. Financial pressure for the real estate they occupied, suburban sprawl, and waning participation were all reasons for the change in fortunes for the small, and even not-so-small, racetracks. The first volume was great, but readers demanded more! Lost Drag Strips II picks up where the first volume left off, covering even more tracks with archival photos of racing in the tracks' heyday, the cars that ran there, and coverage of the tracks as they exist today. This volume also includes some of the tracks that survived, those that fought off the economic demons and the urban sprawl and continue to run today. Tracks in this volume include: Fort Wainwright/Racing Lions Motorsports Park, Avenue G Drag Strip, Fremont/Baylands Drag Strip, San Fernando Drag Strip, Fontana Drag City, Inyokern Drag Strip, Kahuku Air Strip, Las Vegas Speedrome, Continental Divide Raceways, SRCA Drag Strip, Southwest Raceway, Willow Run Raceway, Minnesota Dragways, KCTA Drag Strip, Detroit Dragway, Niagara Airport Dragstrip, New York National Speedway, York US 30 Drag-O-Way, South Mountain Raceway, La Place Dragway, Yellow River Drag Strip, Thunderbolt Dragway, and more.

Drag Racers

Drag Racers
Author: Jeffrey Zuehlke
Publisher: LernerClassroom
Total Pages: 52
Release: 2007-09-01
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 0822590131

Drag racing is all about pure speed. Inside and out, top fuel dragsters, funny cars, and other drag racers are built to burn off the starting line and sail across the finish line. Races take just a few seconds, but they're packed with excitement, danger, and intense competition. Even the smallest mistake can be the difference between winning and losing. In this book you will learn how the sport got its start on a lonely stretch of road near Santa Barbara, California. You'll also learn about the major classes of drag racers, how they got their start, and the drivers who push them to their limits.

Fuel and Guts

Fuel and Guts
Author: Dave McClelland, Tom Madigan
Publisher:
Total Pages: 270
Release:
Genre:
ISBN: 9781610609388

Drag Racing's Rebels

Drag Racing's Rebels
Author: Doug Boyce
Publisher: CarTech Inc
Total Pages: 193
Release: 2023-11-15
Genre: Transportation
ISBN: 161325766X

Learn the entire fascinating story of the American Hot Rod Association (AHRA) in this wonderfully illustrated color history. When the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) was formed in 1951 by Wally Parks, the reasoning for the formation was to "create order from chaos" by instituting safety rules and performance standards that helped legitimize the sport of drag racing. Some organization was certainly necessary. A postwar boom in automotive enthusiasm was reaching new heights, and Hot Rod magazine and the NHRA were right in the thick of it. The NHRA hosted its first drag racing event in 1953, and in 1955, the organization staged its first national event, which was simply called "The Nationals." The AHRA formed in 1956 as an alternative to the NHRA, where the drivers voted on the rules (rather than sanctioning bodies and tracks), and their influence on the sport was felt almost immediately. When the NHRA denied the use of nitromethane in 1957, the AHRA approved it. When the NHRA banned aircraft-powered dragsters in 1961, the AHRA welcomed them. When the NHRA said no to the emerging Funny Car in 1965, the AHRA said yes. When fans and racers screamed for a heads-up Super Stock category in 1968, the AHRA delivered. The AHRA was called a rebel association. Some say that it was more of an association that got things done—to the delight of fans and racers. The AHRA was on equal ground with the NHRA by the 1970s, drawing enormous crowds and racer entries.

In this fascinating history, veteran author Doug Boyce tells the story of the AHRA, the rise, the competition, the events, and the eventual downfall of the organization. After AHRA President Jim Tice passed away in 1982, internal fighting for control of the association resulted in its doom. Get the whole story here, and add this wonderful volume to your drag racing library.

Don "The Snake" Prudhomme: My Life Beyond the 1320

Don
Author: Elana Scherr
Publisher: CarTech Inc
Total Pages: 194
Release: 2020-10-16
Genre: Transportation
ISBN: 1613255187

Don "The Snake" Prudhomme reveals for the first time ever his incredible life and career on and off of the drag strip.

Imagine spending a year with Don "The Snake" Prudhomme, having coffee together and talking about his life, his racing, his friends, and his family. He’d tell you about how he rose from being a high school drop-out who was painting cars to a respected Top Fuel dragster driver and successful businessman. You’d hear how he toured the country with Tommy Ivo and "The Hawaiian" Roland Leong, racing all the legends from "Big Daddy" Don Garlits to "The Golden Greek" [Chris] Karamesines. He'd say how he met Tom McEwen and recall how they became the Snake and the Mongoose, leading to a career in Funny Cars that netted him four championships in a row. He'd talk about the thrill of first wins and owning his own teams but also the struggles of bad seasons, crashes and fires, broken parts, and broken contracts. Along the way, he’d speak about the people in his life, such as engine-builder Keith Black and NHRA president Wally Parks, and those who were killed in the wild and unpredictable sport of nitro racing. It wouldn’t be only racing, though. Prudhomme would share lessons he learned about business and life from such varied sources as a neighbor in Granada Hills to Ford GT40 driver Dan Gurney. He also would talk about the importance of family: how his wife, Lynn, and daughter, Donna, changed his world and how finding out about his African-American roots opened his eyes to a culture and inheritance he’d always wanted. This is the experience you’ll get in Don "The Snake" Prudhomme: My Life Beyond the 1320.

Chevy Drag Racing 1955-1980: A Celebration of Bowtie's Success at the Drag Strip

Chevy Drag Racing 1955-1980: A Celebration of Bowtie's Success at the Drag Strip
Author: Doug Boyce
Publisher: CarTech Inc
Total Pages: 177
Release: 2020-03-15
Genre: Transportation
ISBN: 1613254997

Relive the glorious first 25 years of Chevy drag racing in this comprehensive and nostalgic history. With the introduction of Chevy’s OHV V-8 in 1955, the brand’s domination on the drag strip immediately snowballed. Drag racers loved the compact V-8. It was lightweight, revved high, and responded like no other engine previously produced to modification. Chevy saw a record year in sales in 1955, thanks to a combination of a restyled body and the new mill. It was the age of ingenuity, and those who could get their hands on the new engine were swapping it into engine bays that once housed other weaker mills. Ford’s flathead, one that had dominated for so long, was rendered obsolete almost overnight. Chevy had a winner and dominated the sales charts for years to come. Aftermarket manufacturers got on board and offered up all the go-fast goodies needed to make Chevy a winner, no matter what category they ran. From Dragsters to Stock, Chevy’s success was immediate. And it was a long-term success, thanks to a combination of years of great styling and a vast array of driveline combinations. Accomplished racing author Dour Boyce takes a celebratory look at those years of success, with a focus on the first 25 years (1955 through 1980). Chevrolets gave rise to such stars as Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins, “Jungle Jim” Liberman, “Sneaky Pete” Robinson, “Dyno” Don Nicholson, Sox & Martin, Dick Harrell, Dave Strickler, and many more. World champs and fan favorites all drove Chevys. The success showed in the record books. No brand has won more races and events or has set more national records than Chevrolet. And unlike the other manufacturers, Ford and Chrysler, it was done with little to no factory support. Whether you are a hardcore Chevy fan or just love catching up on the history of drag racing during the golden age, this nostalgic look at Chevy racing history is sure to entertain for hours on end.

King of the Dragsters

King of the Dragsters
Author: Don Garlits
Publisher:
Total Pages: 246
Release: 1970-01-01
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 9780801955921

Analysis Techniques for Racecar Data Acquisition

Analysis Techniques for Racecar Data Acquisition
Author: Jorge Segers
Publisher: SAE International
Total Pages: 206
Release: 2008-05-25
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0768043794

Data acquisition has become an invaluable tool for establishing racecar - and car/driver - performance. Now that the ability exists to analyze each and every performance parameter for car and driver, accurate use of this data can provide a key advantage on the racetrack. This book provides a thorough overview of the varied methods for analyzing racecar data acquisition system outputs, with a focus on vehicle dynamics.

Boys' Life

Boys' Life
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 72
Release: 1992-08
Genre:
ISBN:

Boys' Life is the official youth magazine for the Boy Scouts of America. Published since 1911, it contains a proven mix of news, nature, sports, history, fiction, science, comics, and Scouting.