Dutch dragracing in the Netherlands...

[BigBlockMopar]

Here's a clip of mostly Dutch racers battling it out on the 1 and only Dutch dragstrip (which is currently out of commission) in the town of 'Drachten'.

Drachten Dragracing 2006

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n09GsC4BVng

Compilation clip of 2005

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reC8WqjbArw

[Freiburger]

Re: Dutch dragracing in the Netherlands...

Looks just like here! Incuding the fact that the track is closed. Why? Are all those guys street racing now?

[BigBlockMopar]

Re: Dutch dragracing in the Netherlands...

Well it's a kinda long story, but I'll try to crush it down a bit.

The dragstrip is actually a 3117' long airstrip at 14' elev. where only ultralightweight planes and sometimes small business planes land.

We usually have only 3 drag-events here. In 2006, when we just had our 2nd event (which was the best in it's entire Dutch history), the mayor of the town (who also happens to be the chairman of the local airplane club on that strip) suddenly decided the excess rubber on the strip was a hazzard for airplanes when it would rain and would also make the airstrip lose it's status as an official Dutch airport.
So, 'the town/airplane club' hired a cleaning company to chemically clean the runway. But these cleaning-guys did such a thorough job, they also blasted away the toplayer of asphalt which now exposed loose gravel at places... rendering the strip totally useless for serious dragracing.
The organizing dragrace club filed a claim of lost revenue and costs for the already planned 3rd even of the year if the runway wouldn't be restored in proper time.
The mayor didn't take responsibility for this screwup and hid behind the fact it's still an airport and not a dragstrip.

It turned out later, this particular airstrip didn't have to be cleaned at all, because it easily could be exempt from government regulation because there's only ultralight planes and airtraffic here.
Also, back in 1999, the dragrace club already had once paid for brand new asphalt on the runway. And now the (new) mayor just waved 32 years or dragracing on this location goodbye... :-X

A few locals recently started a petition and demanded dragracing would return to the location. The entire county was in favor of dragracing returning so they put some pressure on the mayor to resume talks with dragrace club again and make sure dragracing would continue.
The major was not at all to pleased about this and tried several ways to get away from his responsilibillity again. As a result, there was no dragracing in the Netherlands in 2007, all because of 1 person.

But things seem to be looking brighter now on the horizon.
The asphalt will be repared and hopefully there was also mentioning of a small return road, but I don't think that will happen.
The entire dragracing community in the Netherlands have their fingers crossed for next year...

[DanStokes]

Re: Dutch dragracing in the Netherlands...

I'm absolutely blown away that a nation the size of some of our bigger cities can field a full complement of interesting race vehicles and get them down the track. Sorry for the idiot mayor, but sounds like things are straightening out. Best of luck on that.

When you coming to the States. When you do, we need to get you to Maxton. It's REALLY rural and grassroots, and an absolute BLAST! Let us know and we'll help you get there.

Later
Dan

[BigBlockMopar]

Re: Dutch dragracing in the Netherlands...

I would love to visit some speed-events again one day.
It's been way too long since I've been to the States. I need to start planning I guess.

Here are two more clips I found on the Tube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV_7O43r9sQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpoPt7t04BE

Some more pics;
http://www.explosiondragracing.com/h...2006/DII/1.htm

[450dart]

Re: Dutch dragracing in the Netherlands...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV_7O43r9sQ

Hey! That's my Dart at 2:25 minutes! Next year I will be there also burning some rubber ;D

[ethelkilledfred]

Re: Dutch dragracing in the Netherlands...

Do you know about BIRKA CUP?

[BigBlockMopar]

Re: Dutch dragracing in the Netherlands...

Can't say I have. But it sounds Swedish I think?

[ethelkilledfred]

Re: Dutch dragracing in the Netherlands...

Can't say I have. But it sounds Swedish I think?

You may be right, or Norway. PM sent.

[jdustu]

Re: Dutch dragracing in the Netherlands...

Is that anywhere near Lauren? My wife and I visited there two springs ago, her aunt lived there at the time. What a cool place I was cracking up at a guy in an old gm c body(i think it was a caddy) wearing a cowboy hat and blasting country music driving down the side canal streets in Amsterdam! That car was definetely not built with europe in mind 8)

[QuarterHorse]

Re: Dutch dragracing in the Netherlands...

I'm pretty sure the Birka Cup is Swedish. There are some SERIOUS cars in that too.

[BigBlockMopar]

Re: Dutch dragracing in the Netherlands...

I just found a nice pic on my computer of how a bunch of local guys from my hometown went to the dragraces in 2004 together...



It would be cool to say the drivers 'were flown in', :D but alas,
they just tagged along behind the truck with their vans and pickups... ;D

[BigBlockMopar]

Re: Dutch dragracing in the Netherlands...

I'm pretty sure the Birka Cup is Swedish. There are some SERIOUS cars in that too.

Don't try this at home guys... ;)

( click image )



The teaser;
http://www.birkacup.com/modules.php?...op=getit&lid=2

[The Chief]

Re: Dutch dragracing in the Netherlands...

I guess that we are lucky i the UK with 2 drag strips of which one is supposed to be the best in europe! they have top fuel rails and funny cars all year along with plenty of other events. Havnt been much in the last few years as it has got expensive but hope top be racing this year

[BigBlockMopar]

Re: Dutch dragracing in the Netherlands...

Well, after months of incertainty we finally have a GO! for a 2008 racing season again!
All issues with the local city and airstrip holder have been solved and an agreement has been signed which allows us to go racing on this location again for at least 5 years from now.

Even better, the airstrip is being altered aswell. We now don't have to cleanup any excess rubber on the track anymore.
The track is made longer by some 200 meters, so it measures just over 1 kilometer (3412 feet) now. The first 310 meters wil be used for dragracing only, and the remaining track will be used for small airplanes, but dragracers will use this part as runout ofcourse.

As I type this, a contractor is digging and moving dirt on the premesis and will be laying down new asphalt this week.

There are some pics and also a PressRelease (english) on the Dutch Dragracing website I maintain;
http://www.explosiondragracing.com/

I can say the entire dragracing-community is thrilled! 8)