What is Drag Racing?
Drag racing began in the USA in the late 1920's when young people would race each other away from the traffic lights down the main `drag' (highway) of small American towns. As Police clamped down on this illegal activity, car clubs formed and these people in their `souped up' vehicles (`Hot Rods') moved from the highways to disused airfields and dry lake beds. Then in 1951 the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) was formed which established a set of safety rules. Permanent drag racing facilities (`drag strips') were then set up over the whole of the USA.
Theoretically, drag racing is a very simple sport. Basically it's a sprint race from a standing start over a 1/4 mile (or 1/8 mile) for two vehicles. The race is started by means of an electric device commonly called a "Christmas Tree" or "Tree". Upon leaving the starting line, each contestants vehicle activates a timer which is, in turn, stopped when that same vehicle reaches the finish line. This starting line to finish line clocking is the vehicles E.T. (elapsed time). So, whoever has the fastest E.T. wins the drag race.
Drag race contestants are grouped together in what are called "classes" to ensure that like is matched with like. Normally, this grouping is done by racers themselves forming clubs, specifically for a certain type of vehicle, which then separate their members into various classes.
Examples of classes you might hear about are; street, super-street, pro-street, comp-bike, funny car, funny bike, pro-stock, pro-mod, top-fuel, top-gas, super-gas, etc., etc. Each separate club has its rules about what classifies are what but all are bound by the rules of the sport's governing bodies (such as NHRA, IHRA, etc.)
Drag Racing forDUMMIES