1/8 vs 1/4 mile drag racing opinions

[Pops]

OK we have no 1/8 mile tracks around here. What are the comments you guys have between the to tracks. Is one more fun than the other? Which one is more competive? Do you need to change driving styles? Add any other comments to this for us Northern boys!

:burnout: :banana2::burnout: :banana2:

[FordNut]

I prefer 1/4 mi but it's over 100 mi for me to drive to find one. There are 3 1/8 mi tracks really close to me and 2 more just a bit further down the road. I'll go to the 1/8 tracks to practice launching but otherwise it just ain't as much fun as the 1/4.

[Blown3.8]

Same competition. Maximized 1/4 mile car is more streetable. Maximized 1/8 has a higher gear poor gas mileage.

I think quater mile is more fun also. You get to go faster and the run lasts a little longer.

[SC Cheesehead]

Thanks for the comments, Brian.

Others? Pro's, con's?

Keep the input coming guys, this is good stuff.

[MarauderTJA]

I do not like 1/8 mile at all. Only 1/4 mile tracks for me. Love the speed at the big end.:banana2:

[Pops]

Tom is that because you always raced 1/4 mile or because your car needs the whole track to work the best? Seems like 1/8 mile leaves no margin of error!

[MarauderTJA]

Tom is that because you always raced 1/4 mile or because your car needs the whole track to work the best? Seems like 1/8 mile leaves no margin of error!

I have always raced 1/4 mile with all my drag cars over the years. Like Brian said, 1/8 mile is good for practicing launches, sixty foots etc. Just to short a track for me. And yes with the Marauder I like having more track for hte beast to get rolling. Margin of error I would think is really no different with both tracks IMO.

[Paul T. Casey]

I like the 1/4 better also, but the 1/8 is a lot of fun too. On the 1/8 with a somewhat stock Marauder, you have to be careful when you pick your heads up battles. Many cars I'd pass on the big end of a 1/4, I can't get by on the 1/8. I do most of my bracket racing on the 1/8 tracks in the greater Tennessee Valley area. A big plus of the 1/8's is it's a little cheaper. Great place to practice lights, launches, 60's. There also seems to be more of a varience with the actual lengths of some of the smaller track too. I recall my first trip to Northern Alabama a few years ago. My car was a few tenths off what I had expected for the weather and track conditions. I figured something was wrong until I read the whole timeslip. I was a few tenths off, but I was also 8 to 10 mph fast. The track is a little more than 1/8.

[Bradley G]

Since the past few turns at the track only yielded three passes in 7 hours,
I'm not cuttin' the race in half.

[fastblackmerc]

Isn't there less wear 'n' tear running the 1/8 mile?

[Pops]

When you guys are running 1/8 mile what gear are you getting into? Do you hit 3rd with 4.10 gears?

[Blown3.8]

You should get third but just barely. Thats why a maximized 1/8 car is hard on fuel on the highway. Thats if you want to be as quick as you can in the 1/8.

[Pops]

Hard core would use a lot of gear I take it Chris?

[Blown3.8]

Hard core would use a lot of gear I take it Chris?

Yes sir. Sherman hits 3rd about 50-100ft before finish line.

Isn't there less wear 'n' tear running the 1/8 mile?
yup

Roots car better in the 1/8 than centrifugal with stock torque converter and gear.

[BUCKWHEAT]

Since the past few turns at the track only yielded three passes in 7 hours,
I'm not cuttin' the race in half.

Don't know if it was the track, but I spent a lot of time at the 1/8 mile track in Denton. Never had any long waits in the staging lanes. It seemed like they just kept it rolling. They also ran till 2am on Fridays, so I could stage almost as fast as I could get down the return road.

[Paul T. Casey]

When you guys are running 1/8 mile what gear are you getting into? Do you hit 3rd with 4.10 gears?

With the stock gears it's a sometimes. Shifts right at the line.

[Paul T. Casey]

Isn't there less wear 'n' tear running the 1/8 mile?


Neither seems to be an issue with this car as far as reliability.