And top-tier drag racing is coming to town on September 26th, when the NHRA brings the Midwest Nationals to Gateway.
https://www.nhra.com/schedule/2021/nhra ... -nationals
https://www.nhra.com/schedule/2021/nhra ... -nationals
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The Midwest Nationals come to StL every year and its my favorite form of car racing. There really isn't anything like it. Even if you're not a car racing fan, I recommend attending the qualifying round that runs into the night. You will not be disappointed.
Top Fuel dragsters are said to be the fastest-accelerating machines on the planet. They go from a dead stop to 330 MPH in less than 4 seconds. It's insane, really.
^In a previous life (advertising) I worked on the Pennzoil/Quaker State account which sponsored an NHRA driver. His car (funny car) reached 7,000 hp. When I told him that his hp is higher than most railroad engines…well, you should have seen his eyes.
I'd also like to point out that drag racing is probably the most diverse form of racing there is. The top levels have several women drivers who are regular winners, and other minorities are well represented too. And the open competitions welcome every backyard mechanic to race his home-built machine against other regular folks.
Mods, maybe we should change the name of this thread to better reflect all the different types of racing that happens at this venue? Maybe something like "Gateway International WWT Raceway" or "World Wide Technology Gateway Raceway"
Mods, maybe we should change the name of this thread to better reflect all the different types of racing that happens at this venue? Maybe something like "Gateway International WWT Raceway" or "World Wide Technology Gateway Raceway"
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I was just coming in here to suggest that framer 
I was given the opportunity to visit Gateway last weekend for the first time for the Indy Car race. I was in the Bobby Rahal suite because I was able to sell a lot of moonshine this month, but wow what a way to experience my first race (even though our car crashed in the first two laps)
I don't really have a point here but it's crazy how much economic activity these races attract. Hopefully NASCAR works out.
I was given the opportunity to visit Gateway last weekend for the first time for the Indy Car race. I was in the Bobby Rahal suite because I was able to sell a lot of moonshine this month, but wow what a way to experience my first race (even though our car crashed in the first two laps)
I don't really have a point here but it's crazy how much economic activity these races attract. Hopefully NASCAR works out.
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Nicely done! There are (and were) a few higher horsepower locomotives, but that's pretty tip-top. More than most fighter aircraft previous to the modern era too, though converting static thrust to horsies is maybe even more complicated than converting tractive effort. A GE J79 with full afterburner seems to come in at right about seven thousand stallions. (Mind you, the F-4 Phantom had two of them, but still . . . ) Why not just strap a rocket* to your car.shadrach wrote: ↑Aug 28, 2021^In a previous life (advertising) I worked on the Pennzoil/Quaker State account which sponsored an NHRA driver. His car (funny car) reached 7,000 hp. When I told him that his hp is higher than most railroad engines…well, you should have seen his eyes.
*Do not do this. Seriously! Serious engineers sometimes kill themselves doing silly stuff like that.
/stories/2018/12/BloodhoundSSC.jpg)
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^Heh! I don't mean to tell serious engineers not to do it, just saying don't try it at home. I'll believe that's a six or eight thousand horse funny car. Also some very serious engineering. Lord, look at the steering on that thing! And if you're car needs a vertical stab you know something got serious.
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Very cool!
And the demise of Chicagoland Speedway probably helps gateway here
And the demise of Chicagoland Speedway probably helps gateway here
It'll be good to get NASCAR back. Haven't followed it in 13 years, I used to when I worked on the Pennzoil account (Roush Racing). And when it was here, it was the just second-rate Busch (and Truck) series and not the flagship NEXTEL series. I don't know if they break those races up anymore, it's been too long and too far removed...
I didn’t realize how close WWT was to downtown. Basically just over the Musial. Should have some nice downtown views.
Quick pipe dream, Fairmount (or Fan Duel or whatever) should relocate the horse track right there with WWT and Gateway National.
Quick pipe dream, Fairmount (or Fan Duel or whatever) should relocate the horse track right there with WWT and Gateway National.
Yeah the views to the west are fantastic. But for some inexplicable reason the grandstands face east, where the view is Not Great Bob.
For the life of me I can't understand why they built the grandstands facing the massive landfill and not the iconic downtown skyline behind them.
-RBB
For the life of me I can't understand why they built the grandstands facing the massive landfill and not the iconic downtown skyline behind them.
-RBB
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Because if they faced west the fans would be staring into the sun during races
And IMO that's short-sighted (get it?)
I understand it for large outdoor venues generally but sunglasses exist and you're not staring *up* at the cars.
In this instance I think the benefits of facing west outweigh the downsides.
-RBB
I understand it for large outdoor venues generally but sunglasses exist and you're not staring *up* at the cars.
In this instance I think the benefits of facing west outweigh the downsides.
-RBB
^ Sunglasses or not, facing the sun for entire NASCAR race would probably still kind of suck.
I was talking more camera angles for telecasts. Most people going to a NASCAR race probably aren't too concerned with city views anyway. I'm still the only person I know that goes to Cardinal games to take in the cityscape and not the game lol.
I was talking more camera angles for telecasts. Most people going to a NASCAR race probably aren't too concerned with city views anyway. I'm still the only person I know that goes to Cardinal games to take in the cityscape and not the game lol.
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They don’t have to be looking up. No one wants to sit facing the sun in the St Louis heat and No one is going to a NASCAR event to grab views of the Arch.rbb wrote: ↑Sep 16, 2021And IMO that's short-sighted (get it?)
I understand it for large outdoor venues generally but sunglasses exist and you're not staring *up* at the cars.
In this instance I think the benefits of facing west outweigh the downsides.
-RBB