FireFly

Table of Contents

Introduction
A Quarter-mile History
Drag Car History
The Builders
Racing 101
Car Classes
Top Drivers
Women in Drag Racing
Legends
Schooling and the New School
Glossary
Acknowledgments/Credits
Index

Introduction

Once considered the "bad boy" of motorsport, drag racing has evolved into one of the most technically sophisticated forms of motorized competition. And it produces some of the most exciting racing, based on a simple premise: two drivers race their vehicles, from a standing start, over a measured distance (usually a quarter-mile), competing for the shortest elapsed time.

From its California roots after World War II, drag racing spread throughout North America in the 1950s and 1960s, and today there are close to 400 facilities devoted to straight-line racing. As well, this motorsport has crossed the ocean and established itself in Great Britain, Europe, Australia and New Zealand -- something other forms of auto racing can only dream of.

Drag racing has also broken out of the men-only traditional mold when it comes to competitors. It has always welcomed women racers, some of whom have become major players in the sport. It has also embraced youth like no other form of racing, with programs such as Junior Dragsters and Tuner car events where young people can compete.

Fans of drag racing enjoy an atmosphere that allows them to walk through the pits at the track and watch the teams at work on their cars between races, something unheard of in other types of racing. Fans can also, at times, meet their heroes in the pits, and many a child has gone home happy, after getting a hero-card autograph or a chance to sit in a race car.

From the pioneers and their crude homemade cars built with no after-market speed equipment and raced on impromptu tracks with virtually no crowd control or fire and safety gear to today's multimillion dollar touring teams and professional racing venues, drag racing stages an assault on the senses like no other form of racing. It entertains in a colorful, loud, fast-paced environment that explodes upon the viewer. Some classes of cars literally shake the ground with the body-thumping vibrations of the loudest mechanical vehicles on the planet. Just watch a person who is witnessing a Top Fuel match-up for the first time. When the tire smoke clears, their jaw is still wide open and their eyes are as big as saucers.

Drag Racing not only talks about where drag racing has been, it also talks about today's racing and the current trends that will help form the future of drag racing. You'll read about the legends of the sport, and how the various sanctioning bodies have shaped drag racing. You'll learn the basics of the sport, and about the makeup of a 7,500-horsepower missile-on-wheels. You'll also get a better understanding about the importance of youth in drag racing, and read about some of the more prominent builders in the sport.

So get staged and watch that Tree!

 

Encompasses all aspects of drag racing, from a strong segment on the history of the sport to today's top drivers in the NARA and IHRA. There is a section on all car classes, from Stockers to Top Fuellers, a drag racing "101" primer, which delves into the mechanics of the sport, and chapters dedicated to women in the sport and legends in the sport. The book is profusely illustrated with exciting and colorful photographs. The book also employs a bevy of illustrations of drag racing cars and other items related to the sport presented in a realistic fashion.
-   draglist.blogspot.com  2009 11 23

Readers can almost smell the rubber burning in this glossy overview of drag racing.... Not an encyclopedia--it doesn't list titles or records or have an A-Z format--Miller's work provides a chapter-by-chapter introduction to the rules of the sport, the classes, and the drivers, both legendary and contemporary. From an explanation of the iconic "Christmas tree" lights that start a race to a diagram that plots the quarter-mile of a contest, the text is enthusiastic but not fawning. Over 160 photos, mostly color but some vintage black and white, make up half the book. The confusing array of classes--fuel, alcohol, pro modified, pro stock, and sportstman--are explained. Women are especially well represented, in both a separate chapter and in chapters on legends and top drivers.... Essential for drag racing fans and libraries in communities where drag strips draw crowds.
- Susan Belsky, Oshkosh Public Library, WI  Library Journal  2010 02 15

With graphics and color photos that demonstrate the intricacies of the sport, this book is a great way for the beginner to get acquainted with the different classes of cars and different techniques employed in drag racing. There is also a summary of the history of the sport.
-   National Speed Sport News  2009 11 11

Simply fascinating comes to mind when describing the latest book on drag racing... Tim Miller has proven that not all books on drag racing are the same as he explores many elements that often elude other authors. One area of discussion that Evo commends Miller for covering is the achievement and impact of women on the sport. Whether you're just learning about the sport or have been an avid enthusiast for decades Miller's style of writing and awesome photography appeals to the racer in us all.
-   Evo Street Racers.com  2009 11 05

Loaded with great photos, a number of which never before published... Tim's book would make a great gift for anyone with even a casual interest in the sport of drag racing... Burn rubber, eat smoke and feel the earth rumble in Drag Racing.
-   Performance in Motion  2009 12 01