iflyems
Expert Class
Posts: 233
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posted October 01, 2007 01:56 PM
Which drag strip is the best, and why?
Kinda an informal poll I guess. Looking for the best drag strip in the country for traction, smooth track, long shutdown, polite employees, good pit parking, etc.
I have been to the following tracks in my 20+ years of drag racing motorcycles;
Sacramento Raceway, Sacramento, Ca. Good track, traction can be good if they prep the track. Shutdown is long, but kinda bumpy. Beware the left lane has a bit of a bump at the end. Great pit location for bikes. Very friendly staff.
Redding Dragstrip, Redding, Ca. Only raced here once, and spun the rod bearing. Not the tracks fault. Fair traction at best. Not a very smooth track. Kinda bumpy throughout. Long shutdown area, and very friendly and helpful staff.
Famosa Dragstrip, Bakersfield, Ca. I haven't been to this track in about 15 years, and I hear they have redone the track, so nothing much to say about it.
Las Vegas Speedway, Las Vegas, Nv. I haven't been to this track in about 15 years also, and I see on TV that they have competely redone the track. Used to be a great track, and still looks great.
Firebird Raceway, Boise, ID. Traction can be pretty good. Short shutdown. Pits are not good at all, lots of gravel. I haven't been here in 15 years also, so it may have changed.
Baytown Dragstrip, Houston, TX. I never made a pass at this track. The one time I went I had some electrical problems with the bike, and it rained. Looked like a pretty good track. Employees were friendly, the pits were ok.
State Capitol Raceway, Baton Rouge, LA. Good track. Good traction most days. Long shutdown area, and smooth track. The pits are only fair, you have to park your trailer on the grass. Mosquitos will carry you away in the summer, but hey, its fricking Louisiana, what do you expect. The track employess were great. This is an excellent faucility, with a little room to grow.
No Problem Raceway, Belle Rose, LA. Traction here is pretty good. Long shutdown, and great pit area. This track also has a bar that serves alcohol(I don't drink) that has a great view of the track and TV's so you can go inside in the AC and watch the game during oil downs. Very friendly track staff.
KCIR, Kansas City, MO. Traction is hit and miss. Short shutdown area. Pits are pretty good. Track staff is very friendly. No real organized races during test n tune.
I know I've missed some of the tracks I've been too, but at my age, my memory fades a bit.
  
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Ojref
Expert Class
Posts: 336
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posted October 01, 2007 02:36 PM
 Edited By: Ojref on 1 Oct 2007 15:37
Baytown, Houston TX:
This is a very bipolar track. One day, it's prepped properly, and you can hook up with 14" skinny tires on a 2000HP chuted monster, other days, the track is like wet ice, and you slide out all over the place. The track is very flat and level, problem is it's in Houston, near the bay and evening humidity and heat fuck things over about 90% of the year. They are also shitty about displaying times on any day other than Sunday. If they ran open events, with displayed time on Friday nights, they would have 10 times the turnout.
Tends to be a good track for bikes. They will not allow a bike to run a car, however, I don't know if it's a NHRA rule or not.
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2006 Kawasaki ZX-14 Ninja, Red now with mo' Brock's in my lyfe
1991 Yamaha Vmax - Because I need a mule to carry the manhood
2002 Ford Lightning - Ford GT Aluminum block engined, 802HP 911TQ now WhippleCharged
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smokinzx14
Needs a life
Posts: 10197
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posted October 01, 2007 03:17 PM
Edited By: smokinzx14 on 1 Oct 2007 16:18
Bradenton Motorsports Park Bradenton, Florida Flat as glass ... good shut down for 300+ mph funny cars .....Hooks great ...great track prep and track crew ....lots of parking in the pits ...NO friggin snow and open year around .. http://www.bradentonmotorsports.com/
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Smokin Performance Cycles..
Tampa Bay , FL .. Brocks Performance Dealer ..
Gen 2 ZX14R Best ET 8.43 , Best MPH 164.95
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iflyems
Expert Class
Posts: 233
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posted October 01, 2007 03:41 PM
Hey Lee, have you run any other tracks?? Whats Gainsville like?? I can do a google earth of these tracks, but it doesn't tell me the full story.
Like at Sacramento, they VHT the track every time they open. Even on a little test n tune weekend, they spray the track, and groom the hell out of it. I haven't seen a lot of that. They did the same at State Capitol.
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smokinzx14
Needs a life
Posts: 10197
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posted October 01, 2007 03:57 PM
Edited By: smokinzx14 on 1 Oct 2007 17:31
quote:
Hey Lee, have you run any other tracks?? Whats Gainsville like?? I can do a google earth of these tracks, but it doesn't tell me the full story.
Like at Sacramento, they VHT the track every time they open. Even on a little test n tune weekend, they spray the track, and groom the hell out of it. I haven't seen a lot of that. They did the same at State Capitol.
BMP sprays it everytime its open , some twice a night if it needs it ....They sweep it every two rounds ....Gainsville is a very good track but i hear test and tune they don't prep it well ...Ran Sac 30 years ago ...Run At Ennis TX years ago good track but prep on test and tune is not great ... Moroso just sucked for hook everytime i run there ....BMP is by far the best track i have raced at .....Next to that is sunshine speed way .. They have the same owner as BMP and run it the same way ... It is the fastest 1/8 track in the USA ....Olando just plain sucks for bike or cars ...
BMP
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Smokin Performance Cycles..
Tampa Bay , FL .. Brocks Performance Dealer ..
Gen 2 ZX14R Best ET 8.43 , Best MPH 164.95
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CrotchRocket
Moderator
Bracket Racing with Betsy
Posts: 8038
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posted October 01, 2007 05:58 PM
Edited By: CrotchRocket on 1 Oct 2007 19:02
RacewayPark Englishtown, NJ !!! Clean parking lot, no dirt anywhere except at the MX track...Smooth NHRA DragStrip with a 1/4 mile shut down also smooth...You can also watch Drifting, supermoto, shifter kart racing, mx, pocket bike racing!!!
http://www.etownraceway.com/
My next favorite track is Maryland International Raceway!!!...Smooth DragStrip and 1/4 mile shut down...little bumpy on the return road but not a problem...This track is bike friendly!!!
http://www.mirdrag.com/
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Jason Miller StreetBike Seminars
*****DragRacers do it better, because they dont cut Corners*****
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Wheelie
Needs a life
Old Man
Posts: 6902
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posted October 01, 2007 06:02 PM
Yello Belly, Dallas TX wee
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Nelson Taylor
Zone Head
Posts: 927
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posted October 01, 2007 06:41 PM
Gateway International Raceway, (Madison, IL) NHRA dragstrip
Smooth track always has traction even on Test N Tune. Very long shut down
and each lane has plenty of width. Decent bike program on Saturday's.
Everything is paved. Clean bathrooms but No showers,
Must have a license and full leathers if your running 9.9's or quicker.
Staff are cool if they know you. Pays by check
Byron Dragway (Bryon, IL) 1/4 mile IHRA track
Nice track hooks well, very smooth, great staff,
Have only raced there once, and loved it.
Track has showers, majority of the pits are paved.
Pays Cash
KCIR is tad bumpy compared to Gateway.
Sikeston Dragstrip 1/8th mile Outlaw track
Smoothest of them all. All Concrete from start to finish.
Narrow lanes, not too bad though. Paved pits.
Hooks awesome, I have my best short times at this track everytime I go.
No regular bike program, Track owner has 2 special events for bikes.
Pays cash
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Best #'s
1.54
4.03
6.02 @ 121mph
(Stock Wheelbase) 2006 ZX14
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bigdtd
Needs a job
Interceptors
Posts: 4209
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posted October 03, 2007 10:30 AM
South Georgia Motorsports Park, It is all new, all concrete, like riding an a smooth rubber carpet, on site camping, race fuel,roundy round track, even the rest rooms don't smell. tell me one other track you can say that about
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2006 Black ZX-14,6 inches over,16/42, flies out,BMC Street Filter,Brock's Street Meg,Brock's Radial Mount Strap,PClll with Race map,Dynojet LCD w/Techmount, ZX-14 fender eliminator,Pilot Power2CTs,Speedohealer,Pazzo Levers,Cox Radiator Guard, Garmin Nuvi 265WT
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