Why Do Some Take New Production Cars

[MR P-BODY]

I am curious why some people take new or almost new production
cars on drag week... I just dont see the challenge of it... I thought
it was seeing if you can make the week with your hot rod... I've only
been twice but I seen a fair amount of new production rides....
can you enlighten me..... thanks

[Dignlif]

I'd say a few are folks who just didn't get their 'hotrod' done in time and couldn't stand to miss the event.

I know I'm guilty of taking my stock truck (tow vehicle) to the track on occasion for Wed night drags when my car isn't on the road. Hell, I've even taken a mini van out and it was dead consistent running 17.77 @ 76 mph...with slurpee in hand.

[LAGNAF]

I believe there was a gentleman from Topeka that broke his Monte on Sunday (test n tune day), so took his wifes car on DW instead...

[Beagle]

// dwv (drag week virgin) opinion=on

this is kind of a double edged question... a new car that is modified to high hell is still a hotrod to me. It may not be as dramatic as an older POS that you have to worry about everything on, but it still kinda keeps the spirit of DW alive. It's a chance to take your car and prove how fast it is and prove it is still a street car. A 8,7,6 second anything is not likely to have much "vintage" left in it. SFI certs are only good for what, 5 years?

Taking your DD for the rest of the trip after you bust your hotrod on day whatever is a logical end and a different deal altogether, that "I'll see this b*tch to the end" attitude that I find endearing in folks. That, and they've already booked hotels and the time off... might as well!

//end opinion 1

If somebody dropped off a new Shelby or Z06 at my house, I'd take it and beat it like a rented mule. Since that ain't gonna happen, the only luxury I'm going ot miss is A/C and hopefully in September, it won't be roasting hot for the whole time! I think I get your question, I'll be happy if mine runs anywhere near what I want it to because I will be the guy who bolted a lot of it together. Would I get the same kick out of a new Shelby? Maybe not, but I'd still take one if I had one.

Honestly, I'm having a hell of a time deciding on what to take. If I do the Lincoln, it'll likely be the only one out there. If I take the 90LX, I'll be pissed because of all the sorted out Mustangs that will hand it's ass to it, but it sure would be easier to do and more likely to finish under it's own power. I really want to take the LSC but I think I'd be smarter to take the LX. I know more about it's history. The ballsy thing would be the LSC, and I can see it ending up as a Freiburger deal where everything is last second and nothing gets worked out before the road trip. I don't take catastrophic failure real well.

Maybe it's something about "This *IS* my hotrod" .... a stock Corolla would be wrong. A non-stock LSx Camaro, maybe not so wrong. They'll break stock parts, it's still a test.

//end opinion part two...

[Ron Ward]

I believe there was a gentleman from Topeka that broke his Monte on Sunday (test n tune day), so took his wifes car on DW instead...

Yep! That was Geoff Zeller from Wakarusa. Geoff blew up the ring gear in his 12-bolt during Sunday's test 'n tune, so he borrowed his wife's Toyota Corolla and away they went... only to blow up a $900 fuel pump in Tulsa. It just wasn't Geoff's week, but he will be the first to tell you he had a blast and is looking forward to taking the Monte on Drag Week 2012.


Ron

[A/Fuel]

I dont get it either. Isn't 90% of it finishing it?
I've never been so I don't know the ratio or if it's a new trend.

[BBR]

It is such an epically fun adventure, I'd even do it in a 1998 Dodge Durango.

[Orange65]

In 2010 I was encouraged by a DW staffer to take my wife's 2007 HHR after my trucks engine went south the day before DW started. I really did not want the embarrassment of the 20 second ETs (kudos to BBR for doing it in his Durango!) They just like the higher car counts and want all entries to have a good time, I guess.

[bulletproof]

i understand taking a tow rig or another car as plan B if you break something on your hot rod..what i worry about as this grows is , we end up with 150 plan jane stock grocery getters in daily driver running 15s just so they can be involved...i have nothing wrong with anyone taking a stock car or even a tow rig as long as they dont force out the fast on edge cars...

[Beagle]

maybe they should get a fast on the edge forum membership like here and not get treed by the keyboard racers ... like me. Except... my crap won't be stock. Just crap.

(here comes the DD bashing?)

hell, I posted this one sober. oooops.

[Bamfster]

7:30 am on a tuesday morning and you're sober Beags?..... WTH?

[A/Fuel]

I think it would be to hard to make a new class. How would you do that, cut offs by year? What would happen to the guy with a 2012 tube chassis camaro that doesn't even have a bolt that came from the factory? Or the guy with a '32 ford with a take out crate engine?
It's probably just a sign of the times.

[BangShift McT]

If I was going this year, it'd be my Mustang just so I'd be competitive. Until the Mirada does better than a 22-sec quarter, that is...

[Russell]

I would love to take my 14 sec mustang on drag week. If it was on the east coast I would really consider going. I am sure as the economy picks by up there are going to be a lot more people that want to go on Drag Week. Everyone will have an opinion on how to determine who gets to go. The easiest thing for Hot Rod to do is just raise the cost. After that they can give first dibs to past winners, or veterans. Another way is make everyone submit a time slip and bump the slow cars. I don't know that I like these ideas but if you end up with 200 stock DDs then entertainment factor goes down.

[JeffMcKC]

I would let it play out, the ones that got in where the most interested and involved in going, word got out I am sure, we had a phone or Text Tree from here.

At some point they may call it and then add by "Saves"

DF would be Paula in this style save. Turk could be Simon.