As vividly as I know that I am sitting here writing this, I can remember a conversation had over dinner in 2005 at a hotel in the Martin, Michigan area. That conversation was held on the last night of the first Hot Rod Magazine Drag Week event ever held and it centered around how many people would want to do something like this event and how many cars would be the maximum manageable total.
Well, the consensus around the table was that the event had been amazing with stories and performances no one could have seen coming out of a handful of the 40-odd cars that entered. The other consensus reached was that somewhere around 300 cars would be about it for a manageable event over five days. We also told Freiburger and there was about a 0.0% change he’d ever see that many entries….and then yesterday Drag Week registration closed after eight minutes because the event head reached it maximum car count, which is 260.
We know that the hitters like Larry Larson made it in and we’re patiently waiting for the internet sobs to kick up from the guys who slept at the switch or otherwise failed on the registration process and got left off the bus. Obviously, some people gave it an honest shot and just weren’t quick enough on the draw but there are others who just flat botched it up and they’ll be yelling and screaming in the coming weeks.
The fact that Hot Rod Magazine Drag Week sold out in less than 10 minutes says two things to us. The first is that there’s a lot of lunatic fringe people out there willing to pay someone else to torture them and the other thing is that it means of the 260 entries about 3 of them are done and the other 257 are spread across three states and will be finished on the trailer while traveling to the event. Here’s where we need your help.
Are you registered to Hot Rod Magazine Drag Week 2014? Are you thrashing on a car right up to the last minute? We want to know and we want to follow your build on BangShift? IF SO, EMAIL A DESCRIPTION AND PHOTOS OF THE BUILD TO [email protected]
The three racers who are done with their cars? Just take ’em apart again and reassemble just so you feel at home.
The winner certainly can’t claim fastest street car if only 260 entries are allowed. Not to mention you know the big players are pre signed up, those guys arnt camping out the night before to be the first within 8 minutes… Give me a break. I’m just kinda bummed that I’ll never be the first within minutes.
What exactly are you bitching about? Drag Week is currently the most comprehensive test of “streetable” cars in the US. Those outside the US who care enough to get involved ship their stuff over. No one is saying it’s the be-all end-all event or 100% difinitive, but currently is the best there is. If you don’t show up you don’t get the cred. On your second point, of course the big names don’t have to be in the rat race to sign up. The top 3 in each class from the previous year get first crack, and just like the Top-35 points rule in Nascar, can you blame Hot Rod for giving certain bad ass cars/drivers preferential treatment? If Larson or Lutz or Baily didn’t make the sign ups, it would only hurt the event and weaken the competition. No one can honestly say they didn’t run drag week because they missed out on sign ups. Just over 200 cars showed up at Bowling Green last year, leaving around 40 spots unfilled. I’m sure anyone could show up in Tulsa this year and get in because there will be no-shows!
Last year launch of Registration was sketchy.. I missed out. Got on the wait list as #11….
Got a e-mail 2 1/2weeks before the event and confirmed my spot.
Got down there.. had a great week Won “Quickest Six” For the second year and was Greatfull to be there.
This year they did a MUCH better job of letting us know When… Where… And how it was all going down… if you were not at the computer at your time zone…when it opened .. they all warned you it’d fill up fast.
I was able to get in.
Street Race Small Block Power Adder is my class.
See you then!
Scott~
1965 chevelle this will be my first drag week sign up for daily driver, but may get bumped up but that’s ok at least i’m in. the car is getting complete build the chassis is going to the sand blaster on tueday how’s that for pressure. This will also be my first LS swap. I will post some pictures on the progress of the build, the body is currently a lot of surface rust but its straight. After I post some pictuers I would like some comments to either leave it alone or paint itI have all the paint to make he viper red.
If your on FaceBook Look up a group called “Dragweekers” we have some fun on there…. all past or present Drag Week guys.