First MW Dodge Challenger Sighting & other American Muscles at Irwindale Dragstrip

[HeilSvenska]

5/29/08
Location:
http://pix.epodunk.com/locatorMaps/ca/CA_10319.gif

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I went to the Thursday Night T-N-T drag race at Irwindale Speedway with my good friend 79TA. It's a weekly event where amateur to pro-ish drag racers compete with each other in 1/8 mile drag race.

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/6669/1003187vc0.th.jpg (http://img147.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1003187vc0.jpg) http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/1259/1003188fr6.th.jpg (http://img77.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1003188fr6.jpg) http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/1618/1003189hx4.th.jpg (http://img77.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1003189hx4.jpg) http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/2667/1003190uu9.th.jpg (http://img145.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1003190uu9.jpg)
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/8835/1003192ek6.th.jpg (http://img151.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1003192ek6.jpg) http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/7754/1003193vc5.th.jpg (http://img145.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1003193vc5.jpg) http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4894/1006408rc6.th.jpg (http://img88.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1006408rc6.jpg) http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/2314/1006410uz4.th.jpg (http://img88.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1006410uz4.jpg)
http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/7825/1006412sf4.th.jpg (http://img49.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1006412sf4.jpg) http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/582/1006421rj3.th.jpg (http://img48.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1006421rj3.jpg) http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/3202/1006422qr4.th.jpg (http://img49.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1006422qr4.jpg) http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/1121/1006423wn8.th.jpg (http://img48.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1006423wn8.jpg)
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/8149/1006425el8.th.jpg (http://img91.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1006425el8.jpg) http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/8383/1006426uw8.th.jpg (http://img49.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1006426uw8.jpg)
As our luck would have it, we saw a Dodge Challenger there. I've been reading reports that the Challengers should be arriving at dealerships now, but I didn't think I'd see it so soon. It's the first time I've seen the production version and it looks awesome. Unfortunately, the lady who drove it wasn't very aggressive with it, but it comfortably dispatched other stock/near-stock cars without a fuss.

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/3832/1003207kl6.th.jpg (http://img91.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1003207kl6.jpg) http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/6346/1003216by1.th.jpg (http://img91.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1003216by1.jpg) http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/6170/1003222rw5.th.jpg (http://img91.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1003222rw5.jpg) http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/8897/1006407dt0.th.jpg (http://img144.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1006407dt0.jpg)
Of course, the drag strips are preserves of American big blocks as you can see. They are ear-splitting loud, and insanely quick.

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/5460/1003208hj3.th.jpg (http://img91.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1003208hj3.jpg) http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/8893/1003254pz8.th.jpg (http://img77.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1003254pz8.jpg) http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/5543/1006416ri6.th.jpg (http://img49.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1006416ri6.jpg) http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/8593/1006429bf4.th.jpg (http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1006429bf4.jpg) http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/8494/1003308hh1.th.jpg (http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1003308hh1.jpg)
Another favorite among the low cost drag cars are Mustangs. There were lots of Fox body Mustangs.

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/255/1003244ed8.th.jpg (http://img77.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1003244ed8.jpg) http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/2374/1003246wv0.th.jpg (http://img77.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1003246wv0.jpg) http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/4512/1003317lv2.th.jpg (http://img67.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1003317lv2.jpg)
Trucks are amazing. Don't let the size and weight fool you. These are quick. Their engines (lots of them diesel) produce massive amount of torque, making them indecently quick.

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/3548/1003270mr6.th.jpg (http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1003270mr6.jpg) http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/5562/1003304da1.th.jpg (http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1003304da1.jpg)
As you'd expect, there are Japanese cars. Most were disappointing. They dont' have enough torque to really push themselves hard. Both of the cars that broke down on the strip tonight were Hondas.

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/2295/1003294mr1.th.jpg (http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1003294mr1.jpg) http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/475/1003247yy6.th.jpg (http://img77.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1003247yy6.jpg) http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/6204/1003248gc7.th.jpg (http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1003248gc7.jpg) http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/3232/1003313ne5.th.jpg (http://img67.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1003313ne5.jpg)
It was a night of mismatches. There were lots of dubious pairings, except for one little car, the brown Dodge Omni. Don't let the small size fool you. The speed at which it travels is unholy. As I recall, it did not lose a single round.

[jagermaster]

dude im like 2miles from the track, used to drag there when i owned a car on thursday nights

[79TA]

the anatomy of getting owned . . . :-)

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2056358&l=d31ab&id=19907323

[nthfinity]

http://www.motorworld.net/forum/showpost.php?p=832273&postcount=56

Stan? :P

Great photos Heil!

[HeilSvenska]

http://www.motorworld.net/forum/showpost.php?p=832273&postcount=56

Stan? :P

Great photos Heil!
You don't count. You live too close to Detroit and you have connections. Kidding. ;-):mrgreen:
Was it just doing burnouts on the streets? A customer car?

And thanks!

[nthfinity]

You don't count. You live too close to Detroit and you have connections. Kidding. ;-):mrgreen:
Was it just doing burnouts on the streets? A customer car?

And thanks!

First Challengers I started seeing on the street was already 6 weeks ago.... but the photos while driving didn't turn out so well.

Then I didn't have a camera for nearly a month.

This car didn't have an M plate on it, so I assume it's a customer car... but some M cars don't have M plates. I don't know the driver myself.

Yes, he did a burnout in the street :)

[Smartdriver]

Really cool theese tapes of races! :thumbup:
Night shots are my favorite :-)

[HeilSvenska]

Now featured on Jalopnik.com :mrgreen:
http://jalopnik.com/394258/dodge-challenger-races-honda-civic-si-at-drag-strip

[79TA]

^ woo!