get around, so easy that you can make it from Lakewood to Downtown Cleveland, or even
Legacy Village(neither a legacy nor a village) in less time than I have spent getting on a freeway
in Chicago.
So last Saturday I had finished my chores, it was 4pm and I was looking for something to
do, and thought, well I haven't been to a drag race in decades, let's check out Summit
Motorsports Park "Night of Fire" it was also their 50th Anniversary. So I climbed in the car
and 45 minutes later I was in Norwalk, Ohio and at the Raceway. This should be good practice
for the Lakewood Car Kulture Show this weekend!
It was much bigger than I had remembered it 25 years ago.
Much bigger!
There was a full night of entertainment planned.
Chitwood thrill show.
Cars and girls.
National Anthem played...
... on to the racing!
Proving once again motor racing is a liberated family sport. These two girls ages 8 and 9
prepare to make the quarter mile run in their Junior Dragsters. Still topping out at 80 mph.
Spiderman on a drag bike.
The some Funny Cars. If you have never witnessed a Funny Car live, it is simply something
you must do. I have heard the start of all sorts of motor racing events, and have gone to
many loud things, but NOTHING tops a Funny Car race for sheer noise and power!
The legendary John Force was there driving the Norwalk 50th Anniversary Car.
1,500 horsepower engines propelling a person to 300 mph is 1/4 mile!
Damn!
Then the night of fire got firey!
Jet Drag Racers are just nuts and fun for boys to watch!
FIRE!
That was nothing when the Jet Truck rolled out!
He was trying to burn the backdrop sign down, as the fans had voted to burn it!
Full jets powered this truck to...
Damn!!
Benny the Bomb blew himself up!
Benny has been blowing himself up every week, sometimes twice a week for over 50 years!
Followed by a motor cycle jump.
And monster trucks. Then came the rain. But people stayed in their seats, and waited for
the management to clear the track.
OK the "Spiral of Death"
I have been to hundreds of motoring events, I have never seen a car like this, this far
in the air! It landed upside down and after getting a crane to turn the car over, the driver
was fine.
But I had been there since 6pm, and had to leave for other stuff. It was just the first
of 3 rounds, and nearly 10pm this was going past midnight!
But not a fan left the place or their seats!
Thanks to the management of Summit Motorsports Park for the special tour. I will be
back next year, and plan to stay til the end.
You can see my 187 photos here:
http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/jim-obryan/summit-motorpsorts-parks-50th-night-of-fire-2013
Or see it for yourself, it is just 45 minutes west of us on Route 20.
http://summitmotorsportspark.com/
.