It can’t get much better than this. Sunny, 72 degrees and the smell of burnt rubber and high octane fuel.
This event is billed as the only legal, street drags in the U.S. They block off Garfield Ave down by the harbor and let 'em rip!
Prelims held today, class matched races tomorrow (9/7/2014). Come on up if you’re in the area.
Some cities are just cooler than others.
Pretty cool Rob, even if you don’t know a woman when you see one…
How did your car do Rob?
I didn’t race. Maybe next year. Requires planning ahead (not my strong suit) as it is limited to 100 cars, and you have to have some kind of credentials from a “real” strip. Brainerd International Raceway is the closest to me (125 miles). They have Wednesday night racing for street legal cars, but I just haven’t gotten around to doing it. Next year for sure.
Do you think there’s any chance my car is faster than 11.5 in the quarter? Apparently, they require more specialized equipment if so. 428CJ with C6 and 3.25 gears - stock carb, intake, exhaust and mildish cam.
No chance in it’s current configuration. I say high 13 to low 14s, for a dialed in car & driver as described above. You have factory A/C, too, right? Still, it’s fun to make a few passes & get the car all dialed in. I haven’t been to the strip in a few years, but it’s a thrill no matter what you’re driving. 
Be happy to run anything under 15 seconds. The hardest thing is keeping the wheel spin in check. Drive like you have an open gallon of milk on the seat next to you and you will be about right. A big smoky burn out will put you into the 16’s.
A big smoky burn out will put you into the 16’s.
Smoke shows are fun and neat to watch, but don’t make you quick for sure,
OK… that’s a comfortable margin away from having to upgrade things to meet track rules. BIR lets you carry a passenger if you stay over 14.99, so I’m somewhere between needing a roll cage or slowing down to toss out the passenger.
I’m new to this idea of racing, but watching the street drags has got me intrigued. Need to put a helmet on my Santa list. I think my first run will be with the top down doing the Queen Elizabeth wave, crossing the finish line at 25 seconds and 60 mph…
When you say “dialed in” based on your passes down the track, are you re-jetting the carb between runs or something else entirely?
Does the convertible under-seat plate count as a drive shaft loop?
The underseat plate will function as a driveshaft loop. Yet, it is probably not “approved” as a safety loop.
That should not be needed. I just mean the car is running properly & the driver can launch it capably & reliably.
The event was blessed with excellent weather again this year. Great day to be outside - with the smell of racing fuel and burnt rubber.
Just as I was about the leave the show… these guys showed up…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ANaLo6XWAQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Phw2K4Gwg9Q
Drove around and took this picture from the hillside looking down on the street strip. Nice echos of engines roaring.
This eagle was catching a thermal. Went up until almost out of sight, then headed south.
Eagles (and other raptors) migrate through Duluth and you can see hundreds of hawks and eagles in a day when they are coming through.
I still haven’t got around to taking my car onto the track… nice day for cruisng anyway…
It’s that time of year again… the Duluth Street Drags are this weekend. In my typical procrastinating fashion, I still haven’t taken my car to a sanctioned strip, so I can’t run in this event. Still a fun time spectating tho. Details at DuluthDragRace.com
If you’re in the area - stop on by. I’ll have my car in the “show-no-go” area.
Mr Eos you should definately get to a sanctioned track so you can participate. Looks like a super cool event. I think rhe only thing you would need if it’s Nhra rules is a helmet.
Be sure to grab some Sammy’s pizza afterward.