New Record in Drag Racing History

[X-TECH MAN]

I dont look down on the FWD. I dont look down on any class car. I just dont care for them. Thats all there is to it. I dont look down on Top Fool either.....I just dont like fuel cars. They keep the track from rusting ! Its a matter of choice. Some of you just take offence when someone diagrees with your choice yet some bitch and complain about other aspects of drag racing and get riled up and expect for others not say anything. And by the way.....WHAT POSITION ? Im a "civilian" and really dont have the desire to be involved like I was in the past due to these very reasons. TO MUCH B.S.

[J Kuchel]

I remember when I was a young boy watching my local hero Arnie Beswick racing his funny car 4 wide at our local track. It was so loud that you couldn't even imagine. This all took place at Byron dragway.

[Bret Kepner]

I don't usually post negative opinions but, in this case, I'll make an exception.

With no offense to chris3 racing, (there's no crime in being young), the hype produced by the press releases from Pinks! surrounding Z-Max being the site of the first four-wide drag race is, at least, embarrasing and, at most, insulting.

In the sixty years of the sport, there have been hundreds, (those of you who know me realize this is not an exaggerated number but factual), yes...HUNDREDS...of dragstrips which ran four cars at once. Initially, wide taxiways and runways permitted it to be done but plenty of purpose-built strips raced in this format on a weekly basis. Many of those tracks were far narrower than current NHRA-spec sixty-feet-wide facilities. Dragway 42 was, indeed, the first to be built with two timing systems and four lanes in mind.

First to be televised? Not even within the last half-century. First with four-lane timers? Nope, although there were only a handful of tracks running four-wide which could give elapsed times and/or speeds for all four lanes. In most instances, only the first to arrive at the stripe in each lane got numbers and, if the opponent was closer then four car lengths, the speeds were goofy.

In fact, the only credit I can give the Pinks! event concerning a "first" in the sport is that, to my knowledge, the new CompULink system installed by Bob Brockmeyer included the first accurate "single win light" for a four-wide race since all four lanes are monitored. Other than that, it was nothing but a lesson in drag racing history.

I have no problem with the four-lane concept and readily admit Z-Max was worth the expense in construction. The press releases by the Pinks! organization, however, would have been hilarious if they weren't so indicative of blatant laziness by a research staff who, obviously, did nothing to verify their claims.




To Scott Kelley: Quit wasting your time arguing the point with these guys. Those of us who are NHRA National Record Holders with anything less than eight cylinders and Rear-Wheel-Drive will always be the bastard children of Stock and Super Stock racing and we've learned to accept it. You're too nice of a guy to get caught up in that argument. LOL!

[chris3racing]

Okay. This has gone real bad. Bret thanks for coming in and clearing this up. I first off, owe you a big thank-you for the comment about being young. After members here began to remind me of photos that I had seen in years past, you remember when we had all those good magazines, and I do remember that some tracks ran four lanes. The thing about it being taped and televised I did not remember. Again thanks for helping out.

By the way I'm not stealing a thead, because I started it, in some recent meetings with some old racers I was reminded of some old tracks here in North Carolina i'm not sure you have on you list. I need to give Max as call about a couple that were down in his neck of the wood. Soon as I talk to him I will send you a note. See you in Henderson.

[Bret Kepner]

Sounds great, Chris. I look forward to your PM.

[Casey Miles]

I believe that "deep staging" was started at New York National Speedway by Sam Biondo or Phil Montief, because of the one amber light christmas tree. It was almost like a pro tree except with a spot involved. If I'm wrong, I sorry to whom did come up with deep staging.
Casey Miles
248H

[Frito]

Originally Posted by Casey Miles

I believe that "deep staging" was started at New York National Speedway by Sam Biondo or Phil Montief, because of the one amber light christmas tree. It was almost like a pro tree except with a spot involved. If I'm wrong, I sorry to whom did come up with deep staging.
Casey Miles
248H

In 1970 while running a pure stock 4 speed road runner at Riverside Dragstrip in Proctorville, Ohio, I would roll the front wheels just past the stage beam and then BACK in it deep stage or a backward shallow stage. After three weeks of this (and winning) I was told not to do this or be dq. Not for rolling past the stage beam for for delaying the show. I am not saying I was the first just stating what and how I did it!!!!!! No pre stage light or reaction timers back then.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Casey Miles

I believe that "deep staging" was started at New York National Speedway by Sam Biondo or Phil Montief, because of the one amber light christmas tree. It was almost like a pro tree except with a spot involved. If I'm wrong, I sorry to whom did come up with deep staging.
Casey Miles
248H

I believe Dave Boertman became noted for Deep Staging back around 1970 with his 69 Chevy. Then even more when racing IHRA with his 1971 Rod Shop Dodges. He was one of the best at it.

[art leong]

Originally Posted by X-TECH MAN

I dont look down on the FWD. I dont look down on any class car. I just dont care for them. Thats all there is to it. I dont look down on Top Fool either.....I just dont like fuel cars. They keep the track from rusting ! Its a matter of choice. Some of you just take offence when someone diagrees with your choice yet some bitch and complain about other aspects of drag racing and get riled up and expect for others not say anything. And by the way.....WHAT POSITION ? Im a "civilian" and really dont have the desire to be involved like I was in the past due to these very reasons. TO MUCH B.S.

Terry did you ever tech in or teardown a FWD car?
I wonder about this deep seated anger you have.