Definition of a "street car"

I made a big mistake the other day, i posted about the street car race on another web sight. I received all kind of hate mail about it not being fair to the ones that live way off not allowed to bring their cars on trailers, I have always driven my car to all events, (have been up to 500+ miles), I never even thought about a trailer. Have been doing this for ten years , and have only broken twice,one time my fault ( broke the chunk with slicks) one time freak accident. So i'm going to ask you all. what is your opinion on this, Should a TRUE STREET CAR be allowed a trailer or should a true street car be pulling a trailer? I found this in a popular mag a while back" Definition of a true street car", "A car that can be driven to local service station topped with pump gas, driven 100+ miles to drag strip, without stop, make three passes back to back all without opening hood or trunk" Of course we are talking a car with tag and insurance. My car is capable of this although i usually do unload the trunk and allow cool down. Let me hear what you guys think.

 

a drag car...you drag it around on a trailer ...a street car ...you it everywhere and anytime. another note...if i see a car on a trailer i think it is broken down...no matter how good looking or how fast it looks .
...not a drag racer fan Frank...

P.S. i'm a pipe and chain type of guy.

 

At the tracks where we do those street races its the same rules no trailers and there policy on it is if you don`t like it go somewhere else. And they always have a full field. I drive my mustang as much as possilble when we go to a far event I trailer it and park at a lot somewhere unload and drive to the event. As the rules want and not complain about it.

 

"A car that can be driven to local service station topped with pump gas, driven 100+ miles to drag strip, without stop, make three passes back to back all without opening hood or trunk" Of course we are talking a car with tag and insurance."

I`ll add to that "without having to stop on the side of the road along the way to fix or troubleshoot any problems."

My car can do all of the above, but I prefer to trailer it because I have the sense to know that It, just like ALL mechanical things can break...and the idea of getting stranded at the track or on the side of the road doesn`t appeal to me.

I guess its just a matter of personal preference.


"You Could skydive without a back up chute to prove a point...but would you want to?"

 

That sounds good to me, so where does the trailer part enter into that definition?

Here are some other things to consider from the "other side":

(1) I wore out a pair of BFG Drag Radials on my car in 1000 miles of normal driving. ($350)

(2) Truck has A/C , runs along on 87 octane fuel, and gets 15 mpg pulling the car.

(3) Radiator and windshield are not full of bugs when I get to the track.

(4) If I broke (which I haven't), I would not be stranded and relying on someone else to get me and my car home.

(5) Your car could be damaged racing at the track by some other moron. (I have seen this first hand more than once)

(6) I can use a particular tire for racing only (see #1) and I don't have to crawl around at the track to change them.

I understand your concern about cars that are really stretching the limits on what a true "street car" is. There is also a small group of people, who I believe, are jealous that they don't have a truck & trailer, so they hammer on the people who do.

No big arguement, just some food for thought.

 

Pretty much sums it up,my car can ,and has,but in the back of my mine i'm thinking "did that last clutch dump hurt something?,will i make it home?"I'm not easy on the car.Derek.

 

Does a tow bar count ?

That is I how I do it !

 

100 miles and make 3 laps with the hood closed.. good thing the track I plan on racing at is 40 miles away.. does this count ?

 

I think there too many cars that are claimed to be "street cars", when in fact they are full-race cars that someone managed to get license plates for...

 

Again, there is a fine line between a street car and a drag car. You cannot have both in the same car! Eventually most people figure that out...

 

i have license plates for my 71 but it is not a street car. when i build my sprint it will probably be faster than my race car but if it ever goes to roundup it will probably be trailered, yet it's not a race car.

 

If it is street "legal"...

 

the 72 I'm building now is a street car, but for all practical purposes, it will be completely worthless as one. yes, its street legal, and will have all operational equipment needed. so is it a race car? no,....it probly wont be quite right there either. what is it?.... for me?... its fun, no one else has to understand it, and most probably wont

or as john ford likes to say,...I'm just building another useless show car

 

thats my understanding..

drag car has to be trailered... street car is driven

 

Well, it's 121 mi one way to Pacific Raceways from my house. I've done it a few times, so I guess my car is a street car.
It's a lousy street car. It's noisy enough that you need earplugs for that long a trip, it has a spool so it's really not a great idea to drive it that far, especially if there's a chance of rain (this in NW Washinton. There's always a chance of rain), it gets around 4MPG that must be premium. Overheats in heavy traffic. No radio. No A/C when it's hot, you need to have the heater going instead to help with cooling. Only good thing about a long trip in the thing is getting there and getting out for a while. Oh and the seats are nice and comfy.
...in the market for a trailer.