These forums will be email enabled. Think Yahoo Groups. More info enroute eventually.
I mean...there are production cars out there that run 11s in the 1/4 and have top speeds of 190+ without any of this...why am I going to put that stuff in a car that runs 13s in the 1/4 with a top speed of 140?
Just so you know: it's useless to talk quarter mile times and trap speeds in a road racing venue. Drag racing is a different sport, period.
But anybody in their right mind running a car in a competitive wheel-to-wheel event will have safety gear. Even drag racers. It's the right thing to do and that's why the clubs are careful to check that you built the car right.
Yet even with cage, seat, harness, net, and fire system, there are no guarantees. A very bright kid in a well-prepared Honda S2000 was killed at Summit Point last fall in a NASA Time Trial. 99% of the time, the driver walks away from even the most hideous crashes. But not always.
Anyway, you can find out about that later.
Good luck at the PDX. You will have an absolute blast!
Just to add--
I'm a college student just getting involved now, I've been flagging and just ran my first PDX on that 4/4 date mentioned earlier in my SRT-4. I have a plan to go racing post-graduation, which reads like this: Purchase a cheap old 4wd crew cab for car towing, passenger needs and as a way to get to work in the snow. Otherwise I'll put few miles on it and have a cheap but fun coupe daily driver. Then I can begin searching for my first racecar, I plan to buy a built-and-sorted one instead of trying to undertake the whole building process. That's the cheap way to do it if your family does not own an auto mechanic garage. It will probably be an improved touring car (ITA, ITB something...) or a SM/SSM or Spec RX7. I can upgrade as life allows, or as I get connected with potential mechanics/crew members. (I really like Spec Racer Fords...)
You have to ask yourself if racing is important enough to you to formulate such a plan and lifestyle. To me, it is. I'll never be satisfied golfing.
-Michael Vinch
Michael, I think I ran in your group (White) on 4/4 and hope to see you in june in my Black Shelby GT.I am a 50 year old kid with a Daughter in grad school. I hope that one day I"ll be watching a race and be able to tell people that I use to run with Michael.
the best of luck
Hey thanks for the encouragement, Joe! Yes, I do believe I remember your Mustang, I was in the white group with you. I should definately be out at MARRS events in a few years sporting rookie stripes! In the meantime its one more semester, landing a job, and finding a nice enough house. Oh and if I can meet my dream girl for good measure that would be cool too.