Should I drive my car to the track?

Should I drive to the track?

  • Drive it

    Votes: 73 66.4%
  • Figure out how to get a trailer behind the Jeep and haul it.

    Votes: 37 33.6%

  • Total voters
    110
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Another thing to think about: why do you want to go to the track?

If its just to get some times why not get a vector or if you have a smart phone you can down load an app. These devices will give you everything that is on a drag strip time slip. Just find a long stretch of level hiway that is lightly traveled, early Sunday morning usually works. Stop in the break down lane and launch from there.

The accelerometers in devices these days are extremely accurate as are the clock features. That's all you need to know time speed and distance. They are also extremely accurate, at least within .01 seconds.
 
If you can get tall tires for the trip, that would be my choice. I towed my Barracuda when it was a full on racer(4400 stall, 265 @ .050 and 13.5:1. 80 miles with your gears won't hurt. In the 60's I used to drive 40 miles with 4.56 gears and a 26 " tire. I'd race and then drive home. Now I drive 75 miles each way, but with a 2500 stall, 3.23 gears and a 27" tire. Around here, a U Haul car trailer is about $80 a day. That would be the best choice, especially if you have air in the tow vehicle.
 

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Thanks for all the replies.

I'm pretty sure I will drive. I have a contingency plan in place with my bud, he already knows what I am doing, he'll be home all day. His house is literally 10 miles from the track. If we assume the worst and I do break, I can have it hauled there and figure out a way to pick it up during the week.

I understand the potential pitfalls of driving this car to the track, racing it and driving it home. Was just looking for others who may be in a similar situation and how they fared. I'm confident the car will make the trip.

BTW, it's the Old Time Drags, haven't missed it for years, one of my favorite events of the summer. Tired of being a spectator.
 
A few WOT runs down the strip will always bring out any "weak links" in a car. Some of those might be repairable at the track - others may not...
 
BigWhip ,, you must be old as me,Flat towing is all we had back then (70's) anyone that had a trailer was SOMETHING at the track,I'd say 80% of the cars were driven or flat towed.My Dad or sister would bolt the slicks on while I'd put the driveshaft on.Memories......

I just flat-towed my car from Maryland to Long Island, NY and back. I didn't think anyone else remembered doing this stuff.
 
Just my two cents, I don't care if I had a 14 second street car with road gears, I would still tow it. Just my opinion.
 
Some of the best times I have had with my car where the long road trips! Those are the days that stick out in my mind from the past 19 years Go have fun!!
 
I just flat-towed my car from Maryland to Long Island, NY and back. I didn't think anyone else remembered doing this stuff.


We all do the best we can. The only bad thing about flat towing is looking in your rear:???: view mirror and wondering why the fool behind you is riding your rear bumper.
 
Well, looks like the weather might put the kibosh on this deal. Forecast says 40% chance of rain, 75% humidity, scattered t-storms, doesn't look too promising. Unfortunately the weather kind of turns it into an economics issue.

Let's add it up; pump premium gas both ways, (100-120? - gas in Jersey is $.50 cheaper than here on L.I. :angry1:) couple gallons of hi-test at the track, (40-50?) $30 entry fee, tolls, ($15) food and drinks ($15) and whatever else I might buy/need. Might only end up making one or two passes if it ends up raining.

Could be an expensive roll of the dice betting against 40% chance of rain, may not be worth it.
 
Well, looks like the weather might put the kibosh on this deal. Forecast says 40% chance of rain, 75% humidity, scattered t-storms, doesn't look too promising. Unfortunately the weather kind of turns it into an economics issue.

Let's add it up; pump premium gas both ways, (100-120? - gas in Jersey is $.50 cheaper than here on L.I. :angry1:) couple gallons of hi-test at the track, (40-50?) $30 entry fee, tolls, ($15) food and drinks ($15) and whatever else I might buy/need. Might only end up making one or two passes if it ends up raining.

Could be an expensive roll of the dice betting against 40% chance of rain, may not be worth it.
This is my same reason years ago i sold my Duster drag car and went circle track racing and did get much more excitement out of it but here i am working on another street strip project.
 
Well, the threat of rain kept me away from the event. Got up early, called the track hotline, no mention of cancellation. Kept checking the radar, clouds all over Jersey, 50% chance of rain, t-storms. One of our friends posted to Facebook that it was raining hard at the Jersey Shore. I hemmed and hawed for an hour about going. Went outside at one point and it was spitting/drizzling. It was grey skies as far as the eye could see so I decided not to make the trip. Of course it never actually rained and turned out to be a beautiful day.

Whenever I decide not to go, it turns out to be nice. Every time I decide to make the trip, it gets rained out. :banghead:
 
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