NHRA Full Throttle Drag races. Win or go home.

   Being an avid drag race fan for many years I had the opportunity to attend my first ever drag race in Norwalk Ohio. It was a present for my birthday on the 24^th of June. Leaving GR on the morning of the 27^th the anticipation grew as we traveled down the highway toward our destination.

This is something the both of us like to watch (even being 6 states away from each other). Sheri planned everything. When someone wants to do it let them at it.  We talked about what we would feel or think when we got there. We arrived when they were starting to qualify for Top Fuel. I’ve followed drag racing back in the Don Garlits, Shirley Muldowney, Don Prudhomme and Bob Glidden days. Some of you may remember those names from years past. Picture a vehicle possessing over 8000 horsepower flying past you at an incredible rate of speed. The track was perfect except for being a little “sticky” at the starting line. FYI cooler temperatures are better on the quarter mile. Okay back to what it feels like when 8000 horsepower turns on. We were approximately ¼ of the way downtrack and when they fired up the superchargers the ground actually vibrated underneath me. They did their “burnouts” in hope of getting the best traction for those extra wide slicks.

 At this time you should have your earplugs in because it is very very loud. I have a home theater with over 1000 watts of power and it doesn’t even come close to what it sounds like on the track. The cars first pre-staged then staged then the green lights came on and down they went. It’s like a “blur” when they go by. Your adrenaline is pumping and the fans are cheering on the drivers they love.  These cars are moving in excess of 275-300 miles per hour. 1000 ft from start to finish.

The sheer raw power of these cars is quite unbelievable. I also had the opportunity to walk thru the pit area and have autographs of the drivers and their cars.  I wore a white t shirt that the drivers signed which I will put in a hush box never to be worn again. Sheri’s daughter(Teresa) added the Full Throttle logo to the shirt(s) for me. Awesome job. I have pictures with Jack Beckman, Jeg Coughlin,Ashley Force Hood, Ron Capps, Don Schumacher, Warren (works on the Pedregon brothers car) and Bob Tasca. I took over 150 pictures over that weekend. The crowds were great. The facility and staff were great and yes there was 1.00 ice cream. Black Cherry and yummy. I never thought I would have had this much fun in 2 days. I will definitely be there next year and yes Sheri will be at my side. I’ve never had anyone remotely interested like she is. She knows the drivers, the cars, the stats etc. She was having the same amount of fun as I was. So all in all it was a great weekend one I won’t soon forget.

Robert