how to build a drag strip

Another major expense is equipment purchases and maintenance. and the all important hot girl in the timeslip booth. The first thing that you need to consider is the kind of surface that you want to use. This figure can vary depending on factors such as location and revenue generated by the track. If you want to own your own drag strip, then you should consider purchasing one from someone who wants to sell theirs instead of building one yourself. There are two stages to this - building the car and tuning it. There are other expenses that need to be considered such as the labor. The racetrack barrier system prevents vehicles from leaving their lane during a race by using physical barriers and/or electronic systems to detect if drivers leave their lane during a race. All You Need To know How much does it cost to build a drag strip? Performance times can be calculated from equal-distance or terminal-speed timings. My Auto World drag strip has had a lot of use at fairs and shows and at Worthing HO Racing in the eight years since I shipped it over from the States. I thought that's part of what we were paying for to race there? :biggrin: Just throwing this out there. Areas that are zoned for residential use even if they havent been developed yet may be off-limits for a commercial construction project like a drag strip. It did in Florida. If you are the owner of a track and you have previously invested money on it, then you should do your best in order to make sure that you protect it. The length of a drag strip is usually between 3/8ths of a mile and 1/4 mile long. First thing you want to consider is scale. If you want to drag race, you've got to do it on a racetrack under the proper conditions. At the rear are 30x9x15 Hoosier drag tires, with 5.50x16 Dunlop racing tires up front. It does not store any personal data. If your dream is to own your own drag strip, what do you need to keep in mind before you can cut the ribbon and drop that checkered flag on opening day? This is our journey in building a race car on a working man's budget. You still won't want to get them wet, though. RR08.2.2 Length of the strip The strip should have a timed distance of 201,16 m (1/8 mile) or a timed distance of 402,33 m (1/4 mile). And that's without worrying about building a dragstrip. Finish Line: Exit the drag strip at the gate in the right side guard wall. But after being approached by the Slamfest organisers in 2009, this is exactly what happened. South Coast Raceway has come a long way in 6 years, none of which would have been possible without the generosity of sponsors and volunteers. Drag racing is a form of motorsport that involves two or more drivers competing against each other to cover a set speed or distance in the shortest period of time. Drag racing is a competitive form of motorsport in which two or more vehicles (usually cars) race on an oval circuit where they are limited to the speed that they can achieve. A standard drag race runs along 402m of road with a run-off area that follows. In general, drag racing refers to adult male persons who are seeking to set a record for the fastest time in driving a vehicle around a designated strip of road. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. There are three main factors that affect how long it takes to build a drag strip: size, materials used, and how much work you do yourself. Cars, Gear, Fitness Whatever your interest, well keep you interested. While this is quite the wide range of prices, there are some factors that can help to determine what kind of budget a particular track needs and how much it will cost. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. However if you dont own the land but want to build on it, expect to pay double or triple what it would cost to simply build on your existing property because you now have to buy land as well as construct your track. With the continued success of race meetings the club is always looking for new members and volunteers. The next thing is the length of the strip that you want to build. These places have been around since the 1950s when they were first used by people who wanted to test their cars speed. at least concrete for the first 1/8 and asphault after that. An official drag strip requires at least 25 feet for each lane. If it is public then there will be more costs involved such as paying for insurance and maintenance costs. Thank for that info stu, a buddy told me he thought the 2 local 1/8 miles tracks here sold for around $1M, I don't think one could be built where I'm thinking for less than that for sureespecially $550k, cause real estate is getting rather expensive around herebut with the closest track on the verge of closing, your options in FTW are go to Denton which is 40 miles and is 1/8 mile, go to Ennis which is 1/4 mile but is 75 miles away Back in 1981 a friend who worked as an estimator for an asphalt company told me that a two lane road was about $1,000,000 per mile including grading, bed, and asphalt. The periods of time between races (known as eliminations) may be as long as several hours or days, depending on the number of cars in the competition. Initially the plans were to start small and keep costs down. Rent costs for your car race and drag strip business very much depends on your location. Posted March 19, 2010. Some specialized training is required before one can even be considered for membership on a professional team. Plus, you can make some money inviting other local racers to take advantage of your track. Step 1 was to register a new club and a few months later the South Coast Drag Racing Association was born. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. All of these essentially work to improve both the reliability and power of your ride. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Make the solder joint small enough to get into the terminal strip and then fasten with the screw. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. That will bring sponsors and spectators. In general, the equipment you will use to maintain your drag strip is very important. Drag races are held all over the world at specially-designed race tracks or even city streets, generally on public property and with some form of oversight; however, illegal drag racing may occur on private property without police interference as long as it does not cause a breach of peace. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Again, various factors would need to be considered. Chevrolet Nova ('70-'73) Similar to every community in car culture, there's a lot of debate swirling around the drag racing enthusiasts as to which muscle car is the best. The cost of building a drag strip will vary depending on where you live and what sort of permits are required for this type of construction project, but the general consensus is that a fully functioning drag strip will cost you anywhere from $1,000,000 to $4,000,000 just to get it off. This can be a factor of negotiation when it comes to security. The fee includes use of the track and any equipment you need to participate in the race. If youre lucky enough to have a family with lots of land available nearby, then thats one less thing to worry about. The great thing is that the lane width can be widened to give more of an authentic drag strip look and have space for either Christmas Tree lights or a flag man between the cars at the start. While this is quite the wide range of prices, there are some factors that can help to determine what kind of budget a particular track needs and how much it will cost. Bruton Smith is still thinking about buying the NHRA which could mean a 1/4 mile track at TMS. 7. Popular locations would be abandoned airstrips, unutilized shipping or container warehouse facilities, or even desert areas. But does the Bexhill speed trial still run? Do not turn in front of another vehicle. Who can say that they got 20 of their mates together and built a race track in such a short amount of time and made it work that well?". Thats because drag strips arent cheap to build, especially if you want to do the job right. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Many people sell their tracks because they want to retire or they no longer have time to maintain them properly due to other obligations such as work or family commitments. Drag racing is one of the oldest forms of motorsport, if not the oldest. NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor Kevin McKenna wanted a car that was capable of 10-second elapsed times on the dragstrip and would be an effective weekly bracket racer, but it also needed to . The first part is a drag racing christmas tree with 3 yellow lights, a green light, and a red light at the bottom. These two lanes width needs to be adequate to house these vehicles sufficiently apart, allowing them to race down their lane with no obstruction from the competitors car. The cost to build a drag strip can vary greatly depending on the type of equipment used and the size of the track. Drag Strip - A simple drag strip to test on. We measured between our lower brackets and then placed a threaded rod, cut accordingly and placed it between the wheel brackets. Officials, marshals, paramedics, and pit crew have to maintain a seamless communication method from any part of the raceway. For example: If the property has a large amount of land available then you can expect more square footage in your track which will need more concrete panels. Join our forum to ask and find answers to your production-based drag racer design . This is the first time a RARS round will be run over the 1/8th mile distance. When a car leaves the starting line, it has to accelerate up to speed before it reaches the end of the track or else it will lose time because it didnt get up to speed in time. In 1999 Portland drag racers would spend their Saturdays hanging a few skids down at the local airport. The Engine Systems Kit features all the components needed to make your Drag Pak engine breathe right and stay cool. These grandstands take on pyramid type seating structure, often found on the main straights of popular racing circuits around the world. You can go tear up that quarter-mile anytime you like without worrying about paying entry fees. The display spaces provide a very viable opportunity for companies to place their brands, often through sponsorship. With all of the earnings going back into the track, the club has continued to improve the facilities including a permanent shower block, sealed return road, longer run off area and improvements to the staging lanes to name a few. 8" concrete 3000# mix w/ air 100' before starting line, 750' past starting line, to blacktop. The type of material used also influences its price tag: concrete is about two times more costly than asphalt and has higher maintenance requirements than asphalt does due to its tendency toward cracking over time (especially when exposed to excessive moisture). This is a two part circuit for racing RC cars. This, however, has not yet been approved or adopted by motorsport sanctioned facilities. Including costs for lights timers, etc.. Not taking into consideration the land purchase since the land alone would vary significantly in cost. Is this track in your backyard or something you will hold races with spectators etc? Private drag strips can be very cheap to buy. You can test out cars here or host a different event in the grass. Drag strip owners make money by charging for admission, selling concessions or services, and taking a percentage of event winnings. In general, the track must be built in order to cover around 60 acres; however, there are some who build tracks in less space and still have good results (although those tracks will have smaller budgets). 1/10 gives you a few options as far as setups and chassis layouts so we'll start there. My class project/idea of changing oil at a customers place of work was shot down due to insurance liability issues. They'll be discouraging street racing in your neck of the woods any time now. How Wide is a Drag Strip? At a minimum, two million dollars could be a ballpark figure for a basic setup, not comprising the added features. Even if you have every driver sign a waiver, you will still be required to maintain liability insurance with a minimum of $1 million of underlying coverage and a minimum monthly premium of $1,500. In such cases, one might have to approach residential property owners and seek permission in addition to government permission. The land is most important when it comes to the drag strip design. These pads must be built to withstand tremendous amounts of force, making them quite expensive. Or is it just for fun? 2. Hello Andy, regarding drag racing by proxy - is that run two cars at a time and reliant upon the reaction times of two drivers or is the power simply switched on so the cars start simultaneously? Most races only last a few minutes and are in a different location, so its hard for the cops to keep up. This is determined by how much space you have available for it in your property. Drag strips are often built on private land, but they can also be on public land. Don't worry. This is why most owners want to build their own private racetrack and stop allowing anyone else to race on their property. In order to answer that question, the following must be taken into account: labor, design, concrete, land and equipment. We're very fortunate to have a dedicated bunch of guys. This Is Why Formula 1 Tires Have No Treads. With the green light, 5 trucks ran back and forth from the local quarry for 2 weeks to deliver the base for the drag strip. Today, its how to build a drag strip. To be more specific, we have to consider the list of requirements that make up the preliminary necessities of drag racing. Unfortunately, most of the drag strips are illegal since landowners tend to build them in secret. A square mile of land is sufficient to house the track and other facilities required to make up the racecourse. When the time comes for you to build your own drag strip, there are a few things that you should consider first. Drag strips are usually constructed on abandoned airstrips, which makes them relatively affordable. While a drag strip can be built on a square mile of land, the popularity of the sport has led to drag strips becoming fully-fledged motorsport environments that can occupy several square miles and more. Thank goodness the driver got out as soon as he stopped, with no major injuries or burns. If you have a large track and you have a lot of cars coming in every day, then this number can go up significantly. Many adults have an interest in drag racing for many different reasons. Being a part of a drag racing team is also becoming much more popular, where not just anybody becomes a member. 3. Next, lets prepare the wires. Duration at .050-inch is 219 degrees on the intake, and 228-degrees on the exhaust. Some strips may even have a total of four lanes for drivers. Some radials are even street legal. 8. If you own property that you want to turn into a drag strip, you will need liability insurance for it at a minimum. However, some tracks are reserved for club members only and are not open to the public. Here's how: Step 1: Buy a motor and controller Your first step will be to buy a motor and controller from your local hobby shop or online store. A standard 1/24 scale track is about 16 feet long. Drag racing is a spectator-filled sport that draws massive crowds of all age groups, keeping the grandstands full of cheer. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Initially the plans were to start small and keep costs down. There is also a World Hot Rod Association, and that is an organization that regulates all other drag racing in addition to sanctioning races for all categories. Please check your entries and try again. Plus, you can make some money inviting other local racers to take advantage of your track. Lastly, consider how much time and effort will be required on your part during this process; if this sounds like something that would take up too much then maybe look into other options instead (such as buying one already built). At the finish line, you will need a relay to power your win lights and stop light. 60ft or around 20m would be regarded as an acceptable width for the two lanes, from side to side. Thunder Valley Dragstrip. The average cost for building a drag strip starts around $1 million and goes up to about $5 million. Quote. Building a 7sec 87GN Drag-n-Drive car with V6 Stage 1 heads! But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. DP2000 Drag Racing Timing System For Slot Cars. I was erring towards Tyco track as the lane spacing is slightly wider, but the . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. They are the primary safety zone for vehicles and spectators, as well as a place to stage cars before they take off. View attachment 266260. Concession stands typically give an extra percentage of their sales back to the track owner. Even though there are specific rules in most states regarding where you can build your drag strip, there are still many who use their land to build and run their own private racetracks for those who want to race but do not want to wait for all the permits and other requirements. the average price of a used drag strip is $30,000. Step two, once youve found the ideal location and purchased or leased the land, is getting started on construction. All these materials combined with the labor factor could make your track up to $1 million in price. Wild, custom Harleys are cool and all. The slot car drag strip is 24 feet long, with a timed 1/4-mile (in HO scale) and eight feet of shutoff. This is how dead strips can send a signal to lap counters. The Make a Wish Foundation is also an integral part of the event. Youll be in this for the long haul even with sponsorships from racing events and product manufacturers, it will likely take you a long time to recoup your money. For example, if a hot dog stand sells 100 hot dogs at $3 each, they would give back an extra $300 to the track owner after paying their expenses (rental fees, utilities). GMHTP Project Power Trip 10-Second Turbo-T, 05 Turbo hyabusa street/strip/show 400+ hp. Race your customs or see how Snake goes against Mongoose with this 1:64 scale drag strip and racing track. Always looking for ways to give back to the community, South Coast Raceway is very proud to have raised over $22,000 for the foundation over the past few years. You can either go for asphalt or concrete. After barely 20 days of build time, Troy's coupe made it to TROG in Riverside, California . As Scott points out, Basically weve been going out to track every weekend for the last 6 years. The cost of building a drag strip depends on the size of the track. While drag strips can, theoretically, be only one lane with measurements taken, they are typically at least two lanes wide. For 1/10 scale cars, there are a few different popular styles. Today it is one of the most common forms of motorsport in the United States and Canada with professional competitions such as NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series being broadcast live on television. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); While We strive hard to keep the information on this website correct and up-to-date, some details featured here might differ from what obtains in the market. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Then you have all the wiring, fencing, control tower, concession stands, timing equipment, tree, scoreboards, track prep equipment, firefighting equipment (I'll never forget one night at Capitol Raceway when a car wrecked near the finish line and burst into flames - the announcer came on and asked that anyone with a fire extinquisher please go to the finish line! And do not forget about the drag strip racing supplies! These are all important decisions and the wrong choices can severely impact the performance of your drag car. C10 Drag Engine Bay Mods. Most consider that the land price accounts for about 80% of the entire investment since it involves how much land you will need to build the track and how much money you need to spend in order to satisfy all government regulations regarding the construction of a drag strip. 16 Pins 5y D Collection by Daniel Parris Similar ideas popular now Layout Drag Racing D Daniel Parris Slot Car Drag Strip layout D Daniel Parris Slot Car Drag Strip layout Slots Slot Cars Stripping I'll not hear a bad work said against builders thank you. A dragster is a vehicle that uses nitromethane fuel, usually in the form of liquid spray, and is controlled by computers, while a Top Fueler is a car that uses nitromethane and allows drivers to set their own engine. But I did want a medium-term solution using plastic sectional track. Assemble your track pieces. Designing your comic strip is easy because each template comes with complete page, a blank page, speech bubbles and two pages of illustration sets. The longer the track, the less time it takes for this acceleration, so long tracks allow you to go faster than short tracks do. The total track length should be around 1202m. What about an old airstrip? These tracks would often have longer run-off areas or greater allowance in the distance from the one-kilometer speed trap to the area where the vehicle can be brought to a complete stop safely. Given that the new age drag strips are nothing short of full-on race track type facilities, one would need to fork out a considerable amount of money to put this into action. Heres What It Could Be, 6 Most Impressive Car Paint Jobs to Inspire Your Next Project. Dec 17, 2003 (Edited) Cool!!