Drag City, So Cal's 1st professional strip in 30 years

So, I've been following this for a little over a year... mostly since Carlsbad was ripped up.



But from the ashes, rises a phoenix!



Yes, a true NHRA 1/4 mile drag strip in the city of Banning. A bit far out there, but about the same drive for us in the SGV as Palmddale, but to the east.

Spectators:
Half Track View - Looking down the track, spectators will notice that they are angled away from the drag strip. Unlike most drag strip facilities that built spectator stands that are parallel with the track at 0 degrees, Mopar Drag City's spectators stands will be offset 3 degrees to allow for the fans to have a better view of the whole race from start to the finish. Because our track will also be 23 feet below the natural grade, our seating area has been designed to take advantage of the natural 3:1 slopes to act as our superstructure for the stands. Both sides of the tracks will be limited to just 12 rows of seating for a "stadium" feel, that puts the fans closer to the action. We will have a total of 10,000 individual flip up seats with backs and cup holders. Seating past half track will be stadium style concrete for future expansion and used for extra seating for bigger super shows where seat cushions can be used.



The track also faces east, so you don't have the sun in your eyes in the evening (like Irwindale, or dust from the desert/motorcycles like LACR). The altitude of the track is 2100...with a correction factor of ET = .9757 MPH = 1.0255



I recently contacted the DC operators and asked about a group day/run. I was thinking that Team Transport would coordinate a Super VQ Showdown, where all the hottest VQs would come out to run against each other for trophies and bragging rights. Additionally, we'd run a bracket eliminator to even the field against the FIs and encourage more participation...letting driver's skill, as much as the car, speak for themselves.

Anyone interested? I need to gauge the participation to understand whether we run as part of the public time, or our own private time. The track is not scheduled to open until sometime in the Fall, but these events need a little planning...so let us know!

Cheers, Ted

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Ted it would totally depend on the date for me... I cant preplan as I have a lot happening this fall... So when you get specifics let me know and I can then say if im in or out...

Schel

 

they've been talking about this forever, what is the current status on the track, not really into drag racing, but its close to me, about 20 minutes away

 

I'm all over it!!!!!!!!!

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Great find!

 

My car would be turbo'd and tuned by then! add me to the list

 

I'm so in.....smoking you all

Do you know what the elevation is out there? My guess it's pretty high...but maybe we get lucky for once...

 

2100' but, it is a NEW drag strip.

You ain't gonna get anything better in SoCal for a long long time...if ever!

-T

 

I think it might be difficult for you to get only VQ's to fill it up. I'd suggest setting something up like Alternative Motoring does at Cali Speedway: 60 cars min, 80 cars max...$100 a person. That way the track can get their costs covered and we can still have mucho fun out there.

 

the VQ is a widely used motor, 60 cars could be done

 

I see 4 people on the list....54 to go....

let's get this list filled up

 

Im down for this...

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I might as well "officially" add my name to this

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I know in the above post you stated the track isn't scheduled to open until the fall, but don't you mean Feb. 2006???

San Bernardino Sun 08/24/05:
In Banning, the $10 million Mopar Drag City a quarter-mile drag strip for professional and amateur drag racers awaits construction. It has been in the planning stages for more than two years.

Preliminary work water, streets and lights was completed in June 2004, and the construction of the drag strip is slated to begin in the fall, said Andy Marocco, president of Drag City, the company building the drag strip.

Marocco said the drag strip should be completed by the opening of the National Hot Rod Association's 2006 season in February.

 

on that same note I heard on Wednesday that LACR will close next year...

 

LACR is closing??!! There have been rumors before, but it makes more sense now since Drag City is an NHRA sponsored venue.

I don't have exact timing when the facility will open. But, I'll get on it as soon as there are opening dates. From their website... "The Drag City racing facility itself will take several months to complete and is slated to open in the Fall of 2005."

But that hasn't been updated all year, and they are not responding to emails.

Keeping a list here so I can manage expectations and planning when more info is available.

-T

 

they are just saying it will be done beforehand, not that february is when it will be done.

 

Regardless of when it should be completed, they still have to start on the actual construction, no? Not to mention they probably want a 'grand opening' type of celebration in conjunction with the NHRA, I would imagine.

 

Well, you know, you're probably right. I thought they had already begun construction and we're just being lazy on updating their site.

I'll call them later today and get an updated schedule.

-T