How did you get started in Drag Racing?

Billy Nees · 02-04-2024, 10:32 AM

Here ya go Keith, your words. I guess that you should get credit for this thread!

Keith 944 · 02-04-2024, 10:34 AM

Thanks, I think this will be a good start to a new thread. It may also help to show what you did to select your “beginner class”

I started at 16 at my local track after watching a funny car show the weekend before. my father and I took my 19 second Mustang II down the quarter-mile for the first time in the trophy class.
First NHRA class was super Street several years later

Regan Wilson · 02-04-2024, 10:40 AM

Friday Night Trophy Class. I20 Dragway Tyler, Tx. That and the streets.

Carl Juliano · 02-04-2024, 10:59 AM

My dad. I was brought up around racing. Spent almost every Sunday of my childhood in the 70's and 80's at NY National Speedway and West Hampton Dragway on Long Island. I learned to race in his bracket Camaro, and it grew from there.

James Perrone · 02-04-2024, 11:11 AM

My dad he was a tech guy at National Speedway and west Hampton Dragway when not racing
My firsts win was in a 1964 2 dr Malibu SW 6cylinder dial in of 2020seconds
Dad slammed the brakes every time as I watch through the back window
I was a passenger my dad was driving and we won street eliminations I was like 10 years old
Hooked ever since

GUMP · 02-04-2024, 11:26 AM

I left home when I turned eighteen. I purchased an old beat up 1969 GTO soon after that. I got in a bunch of trouble with that car....

Bob Lasko · 02-04-2024, 11:34 AM

My older brother Joe took me to Dover Drag Strip (Wingdale NY) in 1966 and that gave me the bug. My first race in my Nova was in 1972. Here I am 71 and still doing it and loving it..

Bob Lasko

Dave Ley · 02-04-2024, 12:01 PM

My dad raced and he took me with him the first time in 1966 to Atco Dragway and the rest is history.

1320racer · 02-04-2024, 12:12 PM

Started in '91. A guy that worked for me from long Island talked me into to going to Island Dragway to see what my Chevelle could run and I was hooked ever since. Raced with and against James Perrone at Island starting back in the late 90s.

Ken Kopecky · 02-04-2024, 12:29 PM

My older brother took me to the Super Stock Nationals at NY National Speedway when I was 15. I thought it was awesome and loved it. Made my first 1/4 mile pass at Island dragway when I was 17 in my 66 small block Chevelle. The rest as they say is history. LOL!

Ken Kopecky

02-04-2024, 10:32 AM	#1
Billy Nees VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: On a hilltop in Pa. Posts: 4,494 Likes: 3,596 Liked 7,733 Times in 1,739 Posts	How did you get started in Drag Racing? Here ya go Keith, your words. I guess that you should get credit for this thread! __________________ Billy Nees 1188 STK, SS I'm not spending 100K to win 2K

02-04-2024, 10:34 AM	#2
Keith 944 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dela-where? Posts: 2,193 Likes: 1,160 Liked 1,877 Times in 577 Posts	Re: How did you get started in Drag Racing? Thanks, I think this will be a good start to a new thread. It may also help to show what you did to select your “beginner class” I started at 16 at my local track after watching a funny car show the weekend before. my father and I took my 19 second Mustang II down the quarter-mile for the first time in the trophy class. First NHRA class was super Street several years later __________________ KEITH MAYERS 2-1/2 X somebody Still many X nobody Last edited by Keith 944; 02-04-2024 at 10:41 AM.

02-04-2024, 10:40 AM	#3
Regan Wilson Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 251 Likes: 158 Liked 134 Times in 70 Posts	Re: How did you get started in Drag Racing? Friday Night Trophy Class. I20 Dragway Tyler, Tx. That and the streets.

02-04-2024, 10:59 AM	#4
Carl Juliano Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Queens, NYC Posts: 294 Likes: 234 Liked 64 Times in 25 Posts	Re: How did you get started in Drag Racing? My dad. I was brought up around racing. Spent almost every Sunday of my childhood in the 70's and 80's at NY National Speedway and West Hampton Dragway on Long Island. I learned to race in his bracket Camaro, and it grew from there. __________________ Carl Juliano TS 1275 John Juliano SG 151 Carl Sr.

02-04-2024, 11:11 AM	#5
James Perrone VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: LONG ISLAND N.Y. Posts: 1,677 Likes: 3,381 Liked 1,822 Times in 426 Posts	Re: How did you get started in Drag Racing? My dad he was a tech guy at National Speedway and west Hampton Dragway when not racing My firsts win was in a 1964 2 dr Malibu SW 6cylinder dial in of 2020seconds Dad slammed the brakes every time as I watch through the back window I was a passenger my dad was driving and we won street eliminations I was like 10 years old Hooked ever since __________________ james perrone 1290 STK

02-04-2024, 11:26 AM	#6
GUMP VIP Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Shelby, NC Posts: 1,823 Likes: 2,166 Liked 2,354 Times in 554 Posts	Re: How did you get started in Drag Racing? I left home when I turned eighteen. I purchased an old beat up 1969 GTO soon after that. I got in a bunch of trouble with that car.... __________________ Daren Poole-Adams NHRA Stock/SS 2007

02-04-2024, 11:34 AM	#7
Bob Lasko Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Wilton,CT Posts: 629 Likes: 0 Liked 185 Times in 54 Posts	Re: How did you get started in Drag Racing? My older brother Joe took me to Dover Drag Strip (Wingdale NY) in 1966 and that gave me the bug. My first race in my Nova was in 1972. Here I am 71 and still doing it and loving it.. Bob Lasko

02-04-2024, 12:01 PM	#8
Dave Ley Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: South Jersey , The 51st. State Posts: 424 Likes: 1,806 Liked 241 Times in 44 Posts	Re: How did you get started in Drag Racing? My dad raced and he took me with him the first time in 1966 to Atco Dragway and the rest is history. __________________ Dave Ley

02-04-2024, 12:12 PM	#9
1320racer VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,628 Likes: 160 Liked 759 Times in 379 Posts	Re: How did you get started in Drag Racing? Started in '91. A guy that worked for me from long Island talked me into to going to Island Dragway to see what my Chevelle could run and I was hooked ever since. Raced with and against James Perrone at Island starting back in the late 90s.

02-04-2024, 12:29 PM	#10
Ken Kopecky Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Edison, NJ Posts: 235 Likes: 374 Liked 273 Times in 56 Posts	Re: How did you get started in Drag Racing? My older brother took me to the Super Stock Nationals at NY National Speedway when I was 15. I thought it was awesome and loved it. Made my first 1/4 mile pass at Island dragway when I was 17 in my 66 small block Chevelle. The rest as they say is history. LOL! Ken Kopecky