Voorwoord:
In een poging ons schrijftalent een iets internationaler karakter te geven, hebben we (Ilya en ik) vorig jaar eens perskaarten versierd voor het jaarlijkse nitro-festijn, nl. Nitrolympx in Hockenheim.

In 2007 kwam de stortvloed aan geuren en geluiden mij als een tsunami tegemoet. Eén jaar later stond ik er dan met camera en 400mm lens in de aanslag. Dankzij de nauwe samenwerking met de jongens van TBAP (zie vorig artikel) is dit vrij goed verlopen. De afhandeling was helaas een stuk minder (fout van yours truly).

Het geschreven artikel kwam wat laat, en eens opgestuurd was de door ons aangeschreven pers niet geïnteresseerd.  Een laatste poging zorgde voor een herschreven versie die het huidige seizoen algemeen benaderd. Bokehs krijgt nu de twijfelachtige ‘eer’ een laatste toevluchtsoord te zijn voor ons schrijfsel.

Lees hieronder het begeleidende artikel voor seizoen 2009 of download hier de full version van Nitrolympx 2008 (engelstalig).

Getekend: Wim, Ilya

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TBMP

Drag Racing Season 2009

Text: Wim Gielis, Ilya Slijters Photos: Wim Gielis

Ever driven really fast ? Maybe 150, 200 km/h ? Speed is a different experience in everybody’s rulebook, but try imagining going almost 500, and reaching that speed in less than 5 seconds. That’s mind boggling, even for Formula 1 drivers.

Now that spring is into town, drag racing fans are already looking forward to the upcoming ’09 season. What is the real attraction to this peculiar branch of motor sport? Heck, what is drag racing anyway?

The ingredients for drag racing are quite simple though: a 400m long stretch of straight pitch black tarmac, 2 lanes, a red light and a couple of powerful cars. A simple concept, and they kept it that way since it all began in the 30s. The whole idea is built on the adrenaline rush that creeps up on us when we’re waiting for the red lights to go green in everyday traffic.

When Detroit produced some of it’s finest muscle cars in the 60’s and 70’s, the sport grew in popularity. To keep things fair and exciting, different classes were used to divide the growing field of competitors. Nowadays the machines range from stock daily drivers, ‘pro modified’ and ‘super gas’ cars all the way to 8m long nitro methane injected speed monsters.

Maybe it’s our lack of straight roads, but in Europe it’s a lot less popular compared to F1 or Rally. Like most racing events, patches of green grass are layered with tents, caravans and barbecue sets. In drag racing there is one difference though: don’t bother bringing an alarm clock if you’re planning to stay the night. Chances are that a big V8 rumble will wake you up as early as 8 o’clock in the morning, sending a big roar in the surroundings.

Intense.

Drag racing is an intense sport as well, meaning that the races happen quickly after one another. Helped by the fact that these guys only race one-way, a run doesn’t last much longer than a full minute. So cars and bikes are carefully lined-up to keep things going, with a couple of runs for every class. And your own garage-built vehicle is welcome too. This is no rich man’s sport.

But of course, the faster you want to go, the more it’s going to cost you. A single run down the line will cost a Top Fuel team (the highest class in drag racing) 800 euros on fuel alone. Many parts are often replaced after even a single run. More than 7000 BHP can wear down the metal a bit.

Drag racing is very much a professional game. But ticket prices are affortable for everyone. And when top competitors leave the line, car alarms go off on the parking lot. Because you get to see the entire track without getting out of your seat, it’s easy to see the appeal. With five events in the UK, Finland, Sweden and Germany the FIA Drag Racing Championship is again ready for the new season.

Text: Wim Gielis, Ilya Slijters – Photos: Wim Gielis

Copying of this text is permitted if we are notified. Pictures are the property of the photographer and has to give permission. Our thanks go out to the organizers of the terrific Nitrolympx event at Hockenheim. You can get tickets at their website.

This post is tagged article, artikel, drag racing, hockenheim, nitrolympx, true blue avia press