My time in Ohio
 

I had an opportunity to visit family in Columbus, OH for a birthday earlier this month and couldn't wait to get there. Because I knew we'd be close to National Trail Raceway, and I made it a MUST stop..at least for me :D, on this mini vacay. As a kid watching Diamond P religiously, I remember how treacherous the top end was to the fuel drivers. I couldn't wait to drive on Refugee Rd. and explain why there's a traffic light on a narrow, single lane road. The last pic is proof I was there, sharing the pump misery to my fellow Californians.

It's a bucket list track I'd love to race one day. It'd be great to read anyone's best..or worst..experience at National Trail Raceway. Give us something good to read in the off season.

Re: My time in Ohio
 

How fun, Justin! I love to visit tracks I’ve only heard about!

Re: My time in Ohio
 

No really negative memories about racing there, but the thing that stands out most was the mini lakes (OK, ponds) that would appear every year before they made major changes to the pits.


Though the track was usally fine to race on, I can't put out of my mind that year when the left lane had two PS cars crossing the finish line on their roof.

Re: My time in Ohio
 

I love this track. It will never be a Maple Grove (as good as it gets), or an Englishtown (RIP). But they have made very substantial improvements to this track in the past few years.

Although I will say, I really miss the "pavilion" which hosted the band during all the sports nats, the pizza fests sponsored by Jegs, and a nice under-roof area for tech, (still don't know why they got rid of it), it has become a much, much nicer facility overall in the past few years.

Yes, shutdown is tight, but its really not an issue other than the fastest cars. Certainly not a problem for us, but there have been some TS/TD cars that got into trouble if their chute didnt deploy.


The crop dusting airplanes coming in very low just over the track are also a pleasant bit of entertainment while waiting to be called up to the lanes.







Kp

Re: My time in Ohio
 

the track of my youth-raced my street cars, parents station wagon in high school, and began my addiction to drag racing there. Met Dick Baker and many other div 3 standouts there as well as they were schooling me with repeated whoopings LOL

Re: My time in Ohio
 

Grew up on that track. First as a spectator in 72 when the Springnationals showed up. In 1973 I would drive my 69 RS Z-28 and bracket race it. The 302 had been replaced with a 427 and 11.80s for a highschool kid was a pretty good gig. Back then NHRA had just switched from Class racing on a weekly basis to bracket racing. John and I ran 'Bracket 1". Later, a 383 package Lingenfelter Corvette that ran 11.50's and got 24 miles per gallon did the duties. By then they had switched from Bracket 1/2/3 to the now popular Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman, and Street. I represented them 3 times at the Bracket finals @ Indy. It was funny over there when the pit stewarts wouldn't let my street driver in the lanes because "Street Class was being run later". (It ran Super Pro). LOL.Then my cousin Wayne Campbell talked me into buying his Superstocker. At that point I was into it hook, line and sinker. That's when I met all you fellers. Since Johns death last year and the selling of the car to the Huntzberrys, I'm still at that track every couple weeks tuning on somebody's fuel injection. I have had a steady diet of NTR all my life. I have to say, it's been a constant improvement the last few years. They are REALLY trying to make it better. You can see changes monthly.

Re: My time in Ohio
 

I was there with my son in 2016 for Hot Rod's Drag Week.

It was when NHRA still owned the track and it did need some improvements, glad it is getting some love now.

He said it was funny while he did not have any real trouble stopping he said it just felt short. After his first run which he got on the brakes pretty hard he had no issues after that.

Re: My time in Ohio
 

Some fond memories on Brice Road over 20 years ago during the Mopar Nationals, people in their lawn chairs watching burnouts…at the track in the rainy mud bogs not so much. Suppose I need to wander back and check out the improved version.

Re: My time in Ohio
 

Anyone remember all the tech being done at the now defunct Eastland Mall instead of at the track before the Springnationals?

Re: My time in Ohio
 

Pretty cool Justin! I’d like to plan a trip back. Relatives and race family in Ohio, Ky, Tenn and Alabama.
Sounded like you had a good time.
Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Re: My time in Ohio
 

Remember when the staging lanes (2) were in front of the grandstands?

Re: My time in Ohio
 

Sure. It was called "Hot Car Staging". On the Night of Fires on July 4th weekends we would sit down on the blacktop with our racecar's tires being a backstop for our backs and watch the jet cars not 100 feet in front of us. What a rush. On the once a month Wednesday night "Super Gas Nights' the SG cars ran out of those two lanes and were showcased. On the regular Bracket racing weekends Super Pro ran out of those two lanes.

Re: My time in Ohio
 

Jeff, I remember those days. I also remember the springs being a full field of 128, had to qualify to get in.
I always thought it was good teching at those malls, in that it possibly encouraged locals to come out to the track. The downside, more miles and time for participants.

Ernie
SS 354

Re: My time in Ohio
 

Laying back behind the facility is what is left of the old pedestrian bridge that went across the middle of the staging lanes. Across the entire length of the bridge spelled .......
ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE. I can remember saying a few swear words towards Rader as I drove underneath. Awww F* You Rader comes to mind. LOL LOL
(It's now spelled under the short tunnel at the ready line... )

Re: My time in Ohio
 

Justin, cool that you took the time to visit the Col on your trip back east. I have watched the same Diamond P vids over the years.

First time my Dad raced a Nat event in his SC Dragster was at Columbus. in the mid/early 90's. Me, him and his best friend Bill Gerald went down from Michigan. What a weekend. Mechanical throttle stop equipped and still set it at #1 on the qual sheet w/ a 8.900 & .000 rt. The pride we all felt when we we got announced as the #1 qual as he was sitting to make his R1 bye, was amazing. Went 5 rds and put a 2 div champs and a nat champ on the trailer that day. Also remember how funny it was we had to mow out pit spot like everyone else out in the back 40...

Re: My time in Ohio
 

Thank you for sharing! I too remember watching VHS tapes of Diamond P NHRA races and being so hype when I actually got to visit a track that I only got to see on TV. My favorite was going to Atlanta the first time and remembering the Bob Glidden crash from the 80’s and it being on “And they walked away” Still mind blowing all those years later!

Re: My time in Ohio
 

I do remember that...worked there with a buddy of mine in 1978 greeting the racers and showing them which lane to get in for their class. Joe Dill asked me if I would work the tech lines a couple of weeks earlier when I went to Bowling Green for the Sports Nationals. Joe was working the scales that day. Met many racers but the one I have a vivid memory of was Judy Lily!

Re: My time in Ohio
 

I was in Norwalk last June and went down to Trails for a TnT. Pretty cool place!
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7d1d1d3a_h.jpgDSC_0234 by Bob Smith, on Flickr

Re: My time in Ohio
 

I stumbled onto an old thread, i thought id drop a line or two....
I grew up in Newark, although i didn't start racing until i moved to Texas, i remember tech at the mall, it was like the coolest car show ever for the locals and there was definitely excitement in the air. The bridge over the staging lanes and the old school tower were always cool.
I was entered for the springationals in the early 90's but my car was sickly and barely under the index so I decided not to tow 1200 miles to get beat up....its the one race I truly regret missing.