Since we’re racing in Virginia this weekend and I’m highlighting Virginia drag strips, let’s take a look at what may be the most unique of all. I’m talking about Summerduck Raceway of course and the fact that the shutdown area nearly qualifies this joint as a road course as well! I have heard Rickie Smith talk about this place in funny terms regarding his time there back in the match racing days. The big hook here is, in fact, a big hook. A down hill left hander that makes up the majority of the shutdown area. This is no little slope, this thing is damned majestic!
In this video we take a ride in a 6-second (eighth-mile) Mustang that is squaring off against a fourth generation Camaro. The car is a good sounding gear jammer, likely a kid’s street car but it provides the perfect vehicle for taking us down the track and down through the shutdown area. Realize that this car is getting to the end of the track at about 100mph. There are guys and girls that go WAY faster here. Hell, it has to be kind of fun to take your stuff around the bed and down the hill with a little gusto behind it.
I have now been to 152 tracks and Summerduck is not on my list. Because of this video and Rickie’s stories I have to fix that!
Seattle International Raceway used to bend off to the left through a forest, return road was the road course back in the early 70s (last time I was there).
I have seen pictures of Summerduck for years always thought it
was a cool little drag strip but that shut down area YIKES!!! (stupid)
One more thing, Brian do you and Chad still have time to watch
My Little Pony on your VCR? LMAO SORRY, well maybe not that sorry.
Kind of cool but I’d hate to hit that with something super fast. Jeesh!!
Always thought that drop off at Cecil County was kind of weird.
I still wanna make a right turn when I get to the end of Maple Grove. Maybe someday I’ll remember they changed it!!
Way better than the almost 1/8 mile drags that happened for years at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, WA. They had 2 fatalities. and finally shut it down.
I didn’t know Everrgreen shut down! The last few years they were running more like 500 feet and calling it 1/8th but the first time I was there it was indeed 1/8th with the starting line part way around turn 4 on a ten degree slope and the finish line pretty much at turn 1. The fastest car that day was a black early Corvette (59 maybe) and it his that corner as fast as any Nascar cars would coming the other direction… but with 3 1/2″ wide front wheels and big low pressure rear slicks! The front tires were turned much sharper than it was headed and squealing with the rear slicks hopped and barked like a wounded seal!
I saw him make several runs without crashing… I was amazed.
The burnout box was pure comedy, On a steep bank and the cars turned 90 degrees sideways as soon as the tires started spinning and were pointed at the wall. Needless to say across the line burnouts would take a lot of skill.
Sorry to hear about deaths there and losing about the wildest drag venue ever.
This is one of the tracks my dad raced. Great place we called it death valley as the bleach box is cut into a hill and very little wind. At the end of the shut down area you will see the ticket booth where the return road merges with incoming racers and spectators. A friend back in the 80’s running mid 5’s passed two ladies in the shutdown area driving a station wagon. They took a wrong turn after paying admission. This is also a very narrow track with little room for error. Great memories…….