Drag is dead in Japan. Or at least that is what everyone assumes. The reality however, is quite different. There’s no doubt that the zeroyon scene has quietened down a lot compared to those golden years that spanned from the mid-eighties to the end of the nineties, but those that have nurtured this passion for [...]
Becoming a Speedhunter has really opened my eyes to all different types of car culture. It is so easy to be narrow minded about what cars or racing one likes or dislikes. I have realized that I am a fan of motoring in general. If it has four wheels, then I want to know about it. I want [...]
Ever since I returned home from the California Hot Rod Reunion on Sunday evening, I’ve been experiencing strange sensations. As I crawled into bed on Sunday, tired and maybe smelling a bit like nitro, I closed my eyes my mind was filled with the sights and sounds of drag racing – screaming engines, burnouts, wheel stands, and parachutes. This is actually a pretty common thing for me, where if I spend an entire day doing something my mind continues replaying it until I fall asleep. A strange mix of exhaustion and excitement I guess? Of course given my line of work, 99% of these visions are related to cars in some way.
Of all the venues the Speedhunters team travels to in pursuit global car culture, Famoso Raceway in California may be the least notable. To be frank, this quarter mile dragstrip located amid farmland about 20 miles north of Bakersfield is a pretty boring place. There are no famous corners. There is no beautiful scenery. There are no plush pit facilities. It’s a dusty old place in the middle of no where, but I love it.
It’s time to finish off our coverage from the 2012 Brisbane Jamboree, an event that for many memorable moments will be stuck in my mind for a long time to come. Getting to witness – at eyebrow frying range – just how far the Australian four, six and rotary drag racing scene has progressed since [...]
. While the popularity of sport compact drag racing has appeared to have lost its shine in other parts of the world, it was more than clear looking around the pits at the 2012 Brisbane Jamboree (aka J22). The Australian scene is bucking the trend. The Land Down Under has enjoyed a strong sport compact [...]
It’s the biggest and best sport compact drag racing meeting anywhere in the world, bar none. For 22 years Queensland’s annual ‘Jamboree’ has been one of the most anticipated events on Australia’s modified car calendar. The 2012 edition might just go down as one of the best yet. It’s been a long time since I [...]
There’s a lot for drag racing fans to enjoy on Speedhunters right now, with my coverage from the NMCA event at Famoso now being joined by Dino’s look at the Motor Head Zero-yon meet in Japan. Two events in completely different settings, but held with the same love for raw acceleration.
With that said, let me go ahead and continue my look at the NMCA WEST season opener.
Over the past few years I’ve had many opportunities to cover drag racing events for Speedhunters, and Auto Club Famoso Raceway near Bakersfield in particular has become one of our go-to spots. Famoso is most famously known for the March Meet and the California Hot Rod Reunion – two of the world’s most famous nostalgia drag meets held there annually.
I found myself at Famoso once again this weekend, but this time I’d be aiming my camera lens at slightly different type of drag action.
As promised, I’ve gone ahead and uploaded some high resolution desktops from last Saturday’s Eagle Field Drags for you and your computer’s enjoyment.
Among the images available are the scene above of a sweet Willys Gasser coming out of the hole…
I’ve been trying to pinpoint what exactly it is that makes the Eagle Field Drags so great, and I think I may have figured it out.
Whether you are talking about a street legal car or a Top Fueler at the NHRA Winternationals, drag racing is a numbers game. It’s about reaction times, 60 foot times, trap speeds, and of course the all-important ET.
At Eagle Field it’s different.
I’m right in the middle of my coverage from the Eagle Field Drags at the moment, but I want to take a break to do a quick spotlight on one of the day’s stand-out cars.
Based on the classic Ford five-window Coupe, to me this is the perfect Hot Rod.
For a few years now, a dedicated group of gearheads have been bringing drag racing to its roots at a dusty WW2-era airfield in Central California. After my first visit to the Eagle Field Drags back in 2010, I was hooked and the events became a favorite on my yearly schedule.
Over the last decade and a half I’ve attended more than my fair share of drag racing events. Witnessing the first 10-second pass by a Japanese car (in New Zealand) in 2001, was a highlight, as was watching the Heat Treatments Racing Skyline GT-R go from a stripped-out and roll-caged street car to the absolute [...]
Events like the March Meet bring all sorts of vintage race cars out of the woodwork, and one of my favorite parts about the event is getting an up close look at these cars in pits. Among my finds this year was a ’65 Mustang Fastback known as the Yankee Peddler. Based out of Long [...]
