1/4 mile dragstrip preferences

[lightspeed]

Guys, im looking to get some input on some tracks for an IA track day I am organizing.
The four tracks Im looking at are:
Steele (Alabama Dragway)
Reynolds (Silver Dollar)
Commerce
Carolina Dragway
Of the tracks, all are about the same distance, +/- 1.5-2 hours, except commerce is a little closer.
Ive never run an Steele or Carolina Dragway, so Im looking for feedback from people who have run there.
How is the track condition?
How are the other facilities?
What was your overall impression?
Please post up if you have been here.
Please also do the poll.

I am especially interested in feedback on Steele. Ive heard mixed opinions. It is the cheapest, so its very likely going to be the chosen one this time.

[rolling_trip]

I voted for Reynolds, but I have heard great things about Steele. Basicly, as long as its not Commerce i will be there.

[The Ninja]

hmm.....iono... never driven a car at a track in my life...so if i go u guys better make it a great first impression

[CHADbee]

damn u rollin trip. that was bullshit!!!

[SpooL'DGsR]

silver dollar

[IronEagle]

Silver Dollar has always been known to be fast but the last Import Showdown it was prepped pretty poorly from what I read. Plus it is over 3 hours from Gwinnett. I vote Commerce.

[tony]

LOVE Steele, moreso than Reynolds.. but Reynolds is a close second, I got 10-12 passes at Steele the day I went and the track was prepped nicely.

[pacocrix]

i'm drunk, but comerce sucks, you cant get traction at that strip, i hate everyone, i need to live closer to all atrips i'm drunk, please help me can breaK out of the `14S i suck help help help

[CHADbee]

i'm drunk, but comerce sucks, you cant get traction at that strip, i hate everyone, i need to live closer to all atrips i'm drunk, please help me can breaK out of the `14S i suck help help help

if u want help go to AA

[1439/2000]

Commerce is the closest and for the awd guys like myself, we dont give a shit about traction problems.

[Nopaintsls]

silver dollar

why cuz it's closer to you?

[Nopaintsls]

Commerce is the closest and for the awd guys like myself, we dont give a shit about traction problems.

lol... wat happend to you at Renyolds a while back?

[1439/2000]

lol... wat happend to you at Renyolds a while back?

Blew an intercooler coupling on launch and had to tape it to limp home.Of course you can't find a replacement in Reynolds on a sunday either. It sucked, thats why Commerce is better because its closer. Was hoping 12.50s this time around.

I just redid the whole IC setup since then though, I need to get back.

[ct9a gsr]

Steele, Al seems gets my vote...

[fawk_you]

Steele is mucho mucho sticky! I <3 the way they run that track!

[Jason04srt4]

Steele is mucho mucho sticky! I <3 the way they run that track!

The right lane is ok. The left lane sucks. I was spinning halfway through 3rd gear in the left lane. Plus after the 1320 mark it gets pretty rough and bumpy feels very unsafe.

[fawk_you]

To each his own I suppose.

[2.3 Evo 8]

If this is a somewhat smaller event(not like friday night test/tune), then I vote Commerce simply because it is closer.

The only problem with Commerce is the lines to wait, but like I said, if its a small event you could get in many pass's.

Silver Dollar is a good strip, but if they don't prep it good, you just drove 3 hours for NOTHING! If something breaks on your car, its unbelievably expensive to get it towed that far also.

[Member31410]

The right lane is ok. The left lane sucks. I was spinning halfway through 3rd gear in the left lane. Plus after the 1320 mark it gets pretty rough and bumpy feels very unsafe.

Ditto on the bumps and scary ride at the end of Alabama International Dragway. I vowed never to run there again until the track gets smoothed out but who knows. That shit is really scary though. They don't sell any food/drink or race gas either or at least on that Sunday I was there. I do like not having to wear a helmet and no tech inspection though.

I voted for Silver Dollar because I think it's a balance between track prep and ride distance. At Steele, I only ran three runs before calling it quits but I was hooking up nice. It was just the driving to/from there that I didn't like. Commerce is great since it's just right there for me but there have been times I just couldn't hook up. As for Carolina Dragway, I haven't been there yet.

[lightspeed]

UPDATE....
OK, so Commerce is out of the running. Its so rediculously expensive to rent the track privately, due to the NHRA ownership, that its not even worth considering ($200 per car for a group rate, plus a base rental fee.) :jerkit:


Since no one has any feedback or preference for Carolina, and its the farthest (about 30 miles farther than Reynolds from downtown,) Im going to eliminate that from the list this time also.

Silver Dollar is available on a few Sundays over the next few months. Since the dyno day at Mainstream is June 11 and a lot of people seem to be going to that, the next available day is June 18th.
The fee there would be $10 admission to just watch, and around $15 additional to run.

Bottom line is, we are down to one of two tracks, Reynolds or Steele, and most likely June 18. Both are almost equal distance, right at around 2 hours. Im going to get a little more feedback on this over the weekend and think about it more, then Im going to put a deposit at the beginning of next week.

Reynolds is much more expensive than Steele, so like I said, I need to definate commitment from people if we are going to make this work monetarily. I agree that its probably a better track, but I dont know if its 2x better.

Please dont post any of this info on any other sites until I get it finalized.

[SPOOLIN]

youll hook better at steele

[lightspeed]

youll hook better at steele

some of us have AWD
I wouldnt necessarily mind to go to steele, but the great majority of people have posted a preference for Reynolds. Ive also heard several people talk about the poor condition of the shutdown area of the track after the traps at Steele. I hear its pretty rough, and I know some people are concerned about that. I havent been there personally, so I dont know for sure, but Ive heard it from at least 3 people who have.
I want to get as good of a turn-out as possible, so if more people are wanting to go to Reynolds, Im thinking thats preferred for this one. Ill just have to see on Monday.

[1439/2000]

Steele is mucho mucho sticky! I <3 the way they run that track!

What did you run there, that celica?

[drmcivicsi]

Reynolds

[SPOOLIN]

steele is a little rough at the big end. Ive never seen anyone crash or break anything because of it though and 10.5 outlaw cars run there all the time.

i get airborn a little bit.

steele is VERY lax on safety, When i started running 7's in the 8th, all they bitched about was a helmet LOL. i almost hit a 6 in the 8th an they still didnt say anything about not having a 10 point.

[lightspeed]

i get airborn a little bit.

OK, so youre not doing a very good of convincing me steele is a good place to go LOL

Steele is notorious for being pretty lax on tech. I think the track is only sanctioned for IHRA 1/8th mile, so the non-IHRA events can be more "lenient" on regulations.

The only issue I see is that they will want a cage for 10.99 and over, but they guy at Reynolds told me they werent really strict about. I guess that most of the people with 10 sec cars do have cages

[SPOOLIN]

no track requires a cage for 10.99. a cage is required at 9.99 or 135mph, whichever comes first. unless you have an altered firewall.

i go to steele frequently as its an hour away from me. ive never had any problems, the facility is setup nicely, with nice stands and blah blah. I dont really care were its at cause my car wont be done in time most likely.

[on 3]

The right lane is ok. The left lane sucks. I was spinning halfway through 3rd gear in the left lane. Plus after the 1320 mark it gets pretty rough and bumpy feels very unsafe.

its all in the driver if u can't get traction at steele u have problems
they redid there track this past winter tire toting traction aleast for me
my vote is for STEELE

[on 3]

and at steele i like how u get to stand at the track
http://www.dragtimes.com/2000-Chevro...deos-8155.html
traction is not a prob procharged vette and spraying

[Jason04srt4]

its all in the driver if u can't get traction at steele u have problems
they redid there track this past winter tire toting traction aleast for me
my vote is for STEELE

I did get traction but in the right lane, not the left lane. My main complaint is the surface after the 1320 mark, it is very bumpy and feels unsafe. The last time I was there they wouldn't even let cars with slicks run in the left lane.

[lightspeed]

no track requires a cage for 10.99. a cage is required at 9.99 or 135mph, whichever comes first. unless you have an altered firewall.

i go to steele frequently as its an hour away from me. ive never had any problems, the facility is setup nicely, with nice stands and blah blah. I dont really care were its at cause my car wont be done in time most likely.

The guy at Reynolds told me 10.99. I dont disagree that the rules say 9.99 or 135 mph traps if the firewall and floor is stock. Thats just what he told me. He might have been mistaken though.