Drag Racing: Bigger, Faster, and More Popular than Ever!
For car enthusiasts who have a serious need for speed, you probably know just how it feels to race that quarter mile dash from a standing start. It's an adrenaline rush like no other, especially if you're hitting speeds that top or exceed 100 mph! You know you've got a love for speed, but do you know how or where drag racing started? Farm Boy Garage wants to share with you a little bit of history on this thrilling sport! Check it out:
The Emergence of Drag Racing
Drag racing was born in the 1930s in the dry lake beds of the California deserts. As engines got better and drivers got braver, speeds began topping 100 mph. But it wasn’t until after World War II that drag racing became something more serious. Although popularity grew steadily, drag racing still remained largely an underground pastime. Races frequently took place on disused military runways with the first organized event at the Goleta Air Base in California dating back to 1949.
Drag Racing Becomes More Organized
In 1951, Wally Parks founded the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), and within the decade two classes of drag racing competition had developed: ‘Unmodified Stock’ and ‘Top Eliminator’. By the 1960s, drag saw things get more technical. An electronic lighting system replaced the traditional race starter, the flagman who stood between the two racing cars. The design of the cars shifted in shape from wide and short to long and thin to help improve speed and durability, and an increasing number of organizations sprung up, including the World Series of Drag Racing.
From the 1970s onwards drag racing began to take its modern shape. It was this era that sponsorships from big companies began throwing their support behind teams. Volunteer crew members were suddenly given wages, trailers were turned into mobile workshops, and even the NHRA found a sponsor allowing it to offer bigger prize money.
Bigger, Faster, and More Popular than Ever!
Today, drag racing is bigger, quicker, faster, more expensive, more commercial, and more popular than anybody 60 years ago could have imagined! Computer-equipped dragsters running at multi-million-dollar arenas are clocking top speeds that double the numbers in 1955. Rules have changed over the years to accommodate technical changes, such as fiberglass bodies, and additional safety improvements, such as roll cages and fire suppression to protect the driver.
The idea that still attracts enthusiasts to this day is the "no holds barred" expression of sheer power and speed. While drag racing isn't as popular as NASCAR or the Indy races, it has made a huge jump in popularity over the years. And any enthusiast will rightly point out the skills of the drivers of such high-powered cars, the fastest of which now exceed 300 mph in “the quarter”, is definitely worth the hype!
We're Your Go-To Muscle Car Restoration Pros
As muscle car enthusiasts, we definitely understand the hype of having power under the hood to rival any vehicle on the track or in the streets. That's why we are passionate about muscle car restoration and will gladly handle your vehicle restoration project to get you on the track quickly and winning races! Trust the experts at Farm Boy Garage to fully restore your gorgeous muscle car back to its original/super modified glory. We run a one-stop-shop here at Farm Boy Garage, and all restoration services are done on site, meaning your car doesn't leave our garage until it's completed to your satisfaction!
Farm Boy Garage
10660 E. County Line Rd.
Des Moines, Iowa 50320
Phone: 515-528-8904
Cell: 515-333-1238
farmboygarage@icloud.com
Like us on:
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
LINKEDIN
GOOGLE+
Drag racing was born in the 1930s in the dry lake beds of the California deserts. As engines got better and drivers got braver, speeds began topping 100 mph. But it wasn’t until after World War II that drag racing became something more serious. Although popularity grew steadily, drag racing still remained largely an underground pastime. Races frequently took place on disused military runways with the first organized event at the Goleta Air Base in California dating back to 1949.
Drag Racing Becomes More Organized
In 1951, Wally Parks founded the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), and within the decade two classes of drag racing competition had developed: ‘Unmodified Stock’ and ‘Top Eliminator’. By the 1960s, drag saw things get more technical. An electronic lighting system replaced the traditional race starter, the flagman who stood between the two racing cars. The design of the cars shifted in shape from wide and short to long and thin to help improve speed and durability, and an increasing number of organizations sprung up, including the World Series of Drag Racing.
From the 1970s onwards drag racing began to take its modern shape. It was this era that sponsorships from big companies began throwing their support behind teams. Volunteer crew members were suddenly given wages, trailers were turned into mobile workshops, and even the NHRA found a sponsor allowing it to offer bigger prize money.
Bigger, Faster, and More Popular than Ever!
Today, drag racing is bigger, quicker, faster, more expensive, more commercial, and more popular than anybody 60 years ago could have imagined! Computer-equipped dragsters running at multi-million-dollar arenas are clocking top speeds that double the numbers in 1955. Rules have changed over the years to accommodate technical changes, such as fiberglass bodies, and additional safety improvements, such as roll cages and fire suppression to protect the driver.The idea that still attracts enthusiasts to this day is the "no holds barred" expression of sheer power and speed. While drag racing isn't as popular as NASCAR or the Indy races, it has made a huge jump in popularity over the years. And any enthusiast will rightly point out the skills of the drivers of such high-powered cars, the fastest of which now exceed 300 mph in “the quarter”, is definitely worth the hype!
We're Your Go-To Muscle Car Restoration Pros
As muscle car enthusiasts, we definitely understand the hype of having power under the hood to rival any vehicle on the track or in the streets. That's why we are passionate about muscle car restoration and will gladly handle your vehicle restoration project to get you on the track quickly and winning races! Trust the experts at Farm Boy Garage to fully restore your gorgeous muscle car back to its original/super modified glory. We run a one-stop-shop here at Farm Boy Garage, and all restoration services are done on site, meaning your car doesn't leave our garage until it's completed to your satisfaction!
Are you ready to create the muscle car or classic truck of your dreams? Let us be your one-stop-shop! Visit our website to check out some of the recent projects we've completed and to learn about the vehicle restoration services we offer.
Farm Boy Garage
10660 E. County Line Rd.
Des Moines, Iowa 50320
Phone: 515-528-8904
Cell: 515-333-1238
farmboygarage@icloud.com
Like us on:
GOOGLE+
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