How did you get started in Drag Racing?

Chipper Chapman · 02-06-2024, 12:23 PM

Second gen racer here. Mom's baby shower was held in the tower at our local track, so I geuss it was destiny lol. We raced a lot as I was a young kid and dad had a 67 Camaro E/SA at that time. He had gotten hurt and couldnt work, had to sell everything off and we stayed away a while. We were glued to any racing we could find on tv and the national dragster, car crafts etc during off time. Late 90's life was getting back to normal for us and as a pre-teen I questioned if we could start going back to the track. We went to to watch one weekend and dad asked if i would want a junior, or a big car project. The next week we had project in the yard. Later that summer we were at the track. Thing evolved some over the next few years, and in 2002 at age 15 I got to make my first passes in our 69 Camaro (dad was track announcer and pulled some strings!) going 12.0's with the secondaries blocked off. As time went on a I built and sold a few rides, always keeping an eye on class racing, knowing I'd be there someday. In 2012 got my current 69 Chevelle and cant wait for the winter to be over!

JP1738 · 02-06-2024, 02:33 PM

3rd Generation racer here, and I took the natural route most might say. Started in Jrs at 8, raced them until I was 14, started driving a junkie backhalf car at 15 and bracket/index raced it until now. Now I'm building a stocker so I can have something that is completely my own. Brand new class, car, and friends

Ellis V Buth · 02-06-2024, 04:01 PM

My dad raced when I was little. Going to the track to watch him and/or my uncle race was how the hook was set. Going to the US Nationals to watch my uncle (and then later my dad as well) run stock was how I got hooked on stock eliminator.

We got my first junior when I was 9 years old and I raced those until I aged out, but started racing my street truck in sportsman class at the local track occasionally as well. Since then, I've been actively racing on some level in door cars every season.

bigshow2966 · 02-06-2024, 05:54 PM

Watching Wide World of Sports in 1970 saw the brand new Pro Stock class and got hooked. Started buying all the car rags to follow Da Grump and Sox. I was 12. Went to US30 as a spectator in 74, made my first pass in 76.

Met up with a buddy of Lyn Smith's in the early 80s and started following Stock and SS.

Helped Mike Jeffrey with his Diplomat for awhile.

Still bracket racing, got most of the stuff to build a nice V/SA car, maybe when I retire in a year or so.

1700camaro · 02-06-2024, 06:29 PM

My Dad & Stepmom used to take my sister & I to Martin 131 Dragway in the early 70's to spectate a friend racing. It always left an impression in my mind that I wanted to try it when I got older.

Fast forward to 1990, my 1st year to race (brackets). I was book smart & had watched/observed bracket racing. I won a track championship my rookie year. My good friend/racing buddy was a rookie also. I taught him what little I knew & he took 2nd for his 1st year.

As a side note, I went back to Martin 131 Dragway in 2015 to race. My sister & brother in-law went along. We both shed a tear, because our dad /stepmom had passed well before. They were both there in spirit.

02-06-2024, 12:23 PM	#1
Chipper Chapman Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Belmont N.S. Canada Posts: 473 Likes: 246 Liked 166 Times in 71 Posts	Re: How did you get started in Drag Racing? Second gen racer here. Mom's baby shower was held in the tower at our local track, so I geuss it was destiny lol. We raced a lot as I was a young kid and dad had a 67 Camaro E/SA at that time. He had gotten hurt and couldnt work, had to sell everything off and we stayed away a while. We were glued to any racing we could find on tv and the national dragster, car crafts etc during off time. Late 90's life was getting back to normal for us and as a pre-teen I questioned if we could start going back to the track. We went to to watch one weekend and dad asked if i would want a junior, or a big car project. The next week we had project in the yard. Later that summer we were at the track. Thing evolved some over the next few years, and in 2002 at age 15 I got to make my first passes in our 69 Camaro (dad was track announcer and pulled some strings!) going 12.0's with the secondaries blocked off. As time went on a I built and sold a few rides, always keeping an eye on class racing, knowing I'd be there someday. In 2012 got my current 69 Chevelle and cant wait for the winter to be over! __________________ Chris Chapman 1969 Chevelle NHRA F-G/SA 1090

02-06-2024, 02:33 PM	#2
JP1738 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2024 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 590 Likes: 1,750 Liked 1,237 Times in 351 Posts	Re: How did you get started in Drag Racing? 3rd Generation racer here, and I took the natural route most might say. Started in Jrs at 8, raced them until I was 14, started driving a junkie backhalf car at 15 and bracket/index raced it until now. Now I'm building a stocker so I can have something that is completely my own. Brand new class, car, and friends __________________ Dawson Pauley #2827 N/SA 1980 Malibu SW 2S 305/180 #2827 S/ST 1978 Mazda RX7 w/ 383 sbc/glide

02-06-2024, 04:01 PM	#3
Ellis V Buth Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 104 Likes: 58 Liked 419 Times in 73 Posts	Re: How did you get started in Drag Racing? My dad raced when I was little. Going to the track to watch him and/or my uncle race was how the hook was set. Going to the US Nationals to watch my uncle (and then later my dad as well) run stock was how I got hooked on stock eliminator. We got my first junior when I was 9 years old and I raced those until I aged out, but started racing my street truck in sportsman class at the local track occasionally as well. Since then, I've been actively racing on some level in door cars every season.

02-06-2024, 05:54 PM	#4
bigshow2966 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: chicago Posts: 656 Likes: 679 Liked 181 Times in 56 Posts	Re: How did you get started in Drag Racing? Watching Wide World of Sports in 1970 saw the brand new Pro Stock class and got hooked. Started buying all the car rags to follow Da Grump and Sox. I was 12. Went to US30 as a spectator in 74, made my first pass in 76. Met up with a buddy of Lyn Smith's in the early 80s and started following Stock and SS. Helped Mike Jeffrey with his Diplomat for awhile. Still bracket racing, got most of the stuff to build a nice V/SA car, maybe when I retire in a year or so.

02-06-2024, 06:29 PM	#5
1700camaro Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 317 Likes: 125 Liked 226 Times in 115 Posts	Re: How did you get started in Drag Racing? My Dad & Stepmom used to take my sister & I to Martin 131 Dragway in the early 70's to spectate a friend racing. It always left an impression in my mind that I wanted to try it when I got older. Fast forward to 1990, my 1st year to race (brackets). I was book smart & had watched/observed bracket racing. I won a track championship my rookie year. My good friend/racing buddy was a rookie also. I taught him what little I knew & he took 2nd for his 1st year. As a side note, I went back to Martin 131 Dragway in 2015 to race. My sister & brother in-law went along. We both shed a tear, because our dad /stepmom had passed well before. They were both there in spirit.