It's Sunday. You must be on the phone swiping through social media, bored and looking sick. Did I get it right?
Hope not. But if that's the case, Razão Automóvel is the best remedy to end boredom and give some encouragement to that finger that is losing faith in social media.
Let's talk about Drag Racing?
But before I start, I want to tell you this: we are going to launch a Youtube channel. The messages they sent us asking for a YouTube channel were all read. And we also felt this need…
We got the team together, studied what's best on Youtube (outside and in...), we thought about the format, and started to work. We've been on recordings for months. We have to admit: we want it to be a great channel! Not because we want to be the biggest or the best, but because we feel we have that responsibility.
We are one of the most widely read media in the country, we are permanent members of Car of the Year in Portugal and the only Portuguese representatives at the World Car Awards — alongside some of the most prestigious specialists in the automotive world. It's not meant to be a joke, saying a larachas and making a video. The respect we have for you is Rule #1 of Reason Automobile.
Summing up. We want to take to Youtube, the Razão Automóvel that you've got used to reading in the last 5 years. Quality, exemption, information and passion for cars.
We will have tests, reports, Vlogs, international presentations, classics, your cars(!) and lots of exclusive content.
I confess. I'm better at communicating behind a monitor than in front of a camera. But the path is made by walking and therefore I make the appeal: subscribe to our channel!
I want so much to subscribe!
The first steps will be small, but only those who don't know our history will be able to bet against us. We can only thank you for your unconditional support!
Are we going back to Drag Racing?
Sorry for the litany (I stretched...), but we are really committed to making our Youtube channel a reference. The day we stop wanting to evolve will be the end of us…
Returning to Drag Racing, I could immediately answer the title question: Why are «Drag Racing» tracks 1/4 mile long? But we believe the full story is worth reading.
Let's go back to the 1930s, when the plains of Lake Bonneville, a huge salt desert in the state of Utah (USA), was the «Mecca» of speed lovers.
Speed racing in Bonneville became so important that the need to organize events professionally was soon felt. The SCTA — Southern California Timing Association — was created, the entity responsible for organizing the races held there.
Among the board members of this association was a young man: Wally Parks. It was he who in 1937 founded the Road Runners Club.
The Road Runners Club was, above all, a group of friends who got together to compete in starts, side by side — a characteristic that would come to define Drag Racing. But we'll come back to Wally Parks later…
Drag Racing and the post-war
In 1945, after 6 years, the world finally came out of one of its darkest periods in its history. World War II ended, Adolf Hitler was defeated, and the Allies restored world peace.
A feat that would have been impossible without American intervention.
When American soldiers returned from the war, it was not easy for many to return to routine. Post-war peace and economic growth was all they wanted, but something was missing… adrenaline.
With the galloping economic growth experienced at that time, no one cared about used cars. Everyone wanted new cars. Everyone except the young people... some of them ex-soldiers from the war.
Now add to this equation galloping economic growth, full employment, cheap cars and mechanical knowledge acquired in the army. It was the perfect storm!
For all these reasons, the “Hot Rod” culture reached its golden age at this time. And of course, its size has grown so quickly that it has quickly ceased to be a Lake Bonneville exclusive. In the US, Hot Rods were everywhere.
It was no longer just about preparing the cars. It was more than that. It was a way of life, a personal statement.
Illegal races began to be frequent. Sometimes in an organized way, sometimes in a spontaneous way, it was enough for two hot-rods to find a red light and the outcome was the one we all know. But there were also races organized on airfields. Airfields, departures… This sounds familiar to you, doesn't it?
But why 1/4 mile?
As we have seen, Drag Racing races were born illegally, regardless of any rules. This is where we drop the facts and start with the assumptions.
Reportedly, at that time the average distance of a block in the US was 201 meters (1/8 of a mile). As most traffic lights used to be two blocks apart, races ended up being held over a distance of 1/4 mile (402.34 meters). Makes sense, doesn't it?
But there are other reasons. The fact that the distance was relatively short favored other important factors for the popularity of this “outlaw” activity:
- Competitiveness. If the distance were greater, the most powerful car would always win. That was how the driver's talent was rewarded.
- Show. The 400 meters allow viewers to see the beginning and end of the race.
The professionalization of Drag Racing
You haven't forgotten the young Wally Parks I was talking about a moment ago, have you? Wally Parks is considered the «Father of Drag Racing», just as Rui Veloso is considered the «Father of Portuguese Rock».
In 1950, Parks was involved in the construction of one of the first drag racing tracks, the Santa Ana drag strip. The following year, taking advantage of the visibility that Hot Rod magazine gave him — of which he was editor — Parks created National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), establishing the first technical regulations for Drag Racing events. A step that was taken with the full support of government authorities, as it was the only way to take racing off the street.
Wally Parks, Founder of the NHRAFor me Drag Racing is a combination of many factors. Hobby, fun, serious business, engineering, challenge and overcoming.
From illegal start races, Drag Racing inherited almost everything: the 400 meters (although races are held at other distances) and the stopped start. The traditional “quarter mile” was preserved for the reasons mentioned above and also for economic reasons.
Longer distances result in higher speeds and longer braking distances, so… more tar and more costs.
Wally Parks died in 2007, had a long life and was always connected to cars. In addition to «Father of Drag Racing» he was also one of the founders of Road & Track, one of the references of Razão Automóvel.
Asked in an interview about what motivated him to develop this modality, his answer was clear and passionate:
Wally Parks, Founder of the NHRAI just didn't want to grow up.
Like Wally Parks, we too believe there is something magical about starting a car. The tires bending, the sound of mechanics, the shaking of the parts, the acceleration… finally. Long live the cars and drive with prudence! And don't forget… subscribe to our channel!
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