What I Like About Drag Racing
It’s not all about the visceral, physical and visual aspects, though. Joe Scheil, a long-time hot rodder from California, eloquently expressed a philosophical bent on the sport’s appeal. “If you put a car on a drag strip, whether it’s for four seconds or 15 seconds, you’re risking everything,” he said.
“When that car finishes and comes off clean and hasn’t been wrecked, even though it may not have won, that car is suddenly more honorable because it risked everything and survived. If you go to a car show people like to look at restored cars, but they’ll spend more time looking at a race car. A Dick Landy car is revered not because it’s a Hemi GTX, but because it’s a car that has survived 5,000 runs. It’s a warrior and represents everything you want it to be.”
Truer words were never spoken. I was reminded of this at a recent ADRL race when a competitor slapped the wall, causing mostly cosmetic damage to the flank of his car. No matter, a large crowd gathered when he returned to his pit, and this car that no one had paid any particular attention to when it came off the trailer was suddenly one of the stars of the meet. It had raced and survived, albeit a little worse for wear, and everyone wanted to see the battered warrior.
Perhaps the greatest attraction of drag racing, though—or any racing, for that matter—is the likelihood of a good story. Like a great movie or novel, a great race involves heroes and villains, thrilling and poignant moments, intense rivalries and displays of sportsmanship. It inevitably offers excitement, surprises, disappointment, and triumph.
And no matter what, there’s always going to be a happy ending for someone.
I commend you on this masterpiece. I always find myself quiting half way throu reading articles. But this is just above and beyond. I am going to use it in my automotive class. You hit the nail square dead on the head. Battered warrior & so much more. Captivating all the way to the end. My son, friend and I built our own promod in our back yard. We won a local championship at NHRA's Sunshine Dragstrip, Clearwater Fl. We are now under going changes back in the shop getting ready for Feb. I would be honored if you look at our web site, sign the guest book if you can, Best regards Joe link: http://www.mendola.org