(By Greg Rourke) – To paraphrase The Stranger from The Big Lebowski, sometimes there’s a drag strip, it’s the drag strip for it’s time and place. It fits right in there. Conesville Dragstrip is just such a place.
I’m embarrassed to admit I didn’t know about this place until last year. George Ray’s makes this place look like Pomona, but that doesn’t mean it’s a major drag plant. Far from it, it’s like so many tracks were in the fifties and sixties. A narrow two lanes amongst farm fields. I haven’t yet been there, but that situation will be rectified this year. Not much info on the place that I could find on the web, other than it seems to be a place for general mechanical mischief. Car and motorcycle drag racing, burnout contests, mud bogging, it’s all there. Live bands after racing is done. Among the very few rules is a strict “No MC Colors” policy. But then they have a “What Tee Shirt” contest, so there’s that. Did we mention that most events are Over 21 affairs? This is the place Mom warned you about.
If there’s something I like better than a little drag strip road trip, it’s hitting a proper supper club for red meat and refreshments after a day at the races. Directly behind the burnout box is the Thirst Camel Supper Club. No, I don’t mean across the street, I mean a big piece of plywood is preventing rubber build up on the restaurants tin walls.
Gosh, I hope a jacket and tie aren’t required.
Have been up there to a couple of bike rallys and one heads up drag race.
Its a neat place has decent facilities and the strip is all concrete.
Its also go like nine feet of shutdown that isn’t corn….
And a cross walk at about 330 feet….
The track is 660, shut down is paved 660 and 100 feet of sand after that. We have had some 4 second cars out here and they shut down just fine!
That is super short. Have to be on the binders with the chute out pretty quick.
Must be a short 21 y/o to fit in that Jr. Dragster at about the 13 minute mark in the video.
The 21 and over is bike rally only. You are correct. That kid is 7 or 8 years old
The old biker rally was 21+ the Rumbles are family friendly. “No rules”..you have to wear a helmet. No prep, just water in the “water box”…but you can put your own prep down if you like. No “tree” just a light or arm drop. No times, just a spotter at the end of the track. They do the muddin deal on Sunday.
It’s a blast. They started doing a “cash days” style event late last year.
We have 9 scheduled events a year 2 of them are 21 and up. The rest are family friendly. We have an 1/8 th mile street style track, 200 foot mud pit,3 bars,4 stages hot showers and free tent camping!! If you dont have a good time down here its your own fault!!!
Dale, Please contact me at [email protected]. Thank you.
That pretty much sums it up – sounds good!
Wow, looks like a seriously FUN place!
I’ve taken my bike to race at the last 3 all bike events they’ve had. Never had a bad time there and everyone is awesome there. I always have a lot of fun and will continue to keep showing up to race there at every bike event they have.
I didn’t see what state?
They are located near Conesville IA.
I’m the old guy on the V8 Chopper trike that does the colored smoke burnouts. Conesville is one seriously neat place to party. Very few rules and no grumpy tech inspectors trying to ruin your weekend. My only complaint is I have too much fun and the hangovers can be an issue. Try coming once and you will be hooked.
I’d like to know the secret about those colored smoke burnouts.